The Evolution of my 55gal FW

[Euporie]

Back in April, I decided to give my boyfriend's 55gal tank a huge makeover. It was sitting in his basement covered in black and green algae with only a goldfish and a granulated catfish. The substrate was a black, neon orange, neon pink, and neon yellow combination. He had a algae covered skull and a slate rock cave for the catfish.
We drained all the water, removed the fish, and took it outside to scrub every inch of the tank to remove all the algae. Got new more realistic substrate, two plecos, a few glowlight tetras, a water sprite, red wendtii and a large amazon sword with runners. Here it is after the make over:

I had decided i wanted a livebearer tank, so a few weeks later we went out and got a bunch of fish - Mickey Mouse platys and Riot platys. Also figured out that the amazon sword's runners did best if planted.

Meanwhile, the huge piece of mopani driftwood was soaking in a cooler on our front steps. The next step was putting the driftwood in the tank.

BAM! Driftwood.
We managed to obtain a gold algae eater, a second feeder goldfish (Orville), from random people and places.
By this point we realized that the reason the tetras were disapearing was because the Goldfish (Lochlan) was hunting them down and eating them. We also noted Lochlan easily uprooting the plants due to the large substrate. A decision was made to turn the 10gal Nursery/Quarentine tank into a Goldfish Bachelor Pad to save the remaining tetras and help get the plants established.
So, wanting to dive deeper into having a successfull planted tank, we decided a substrate change was in order.
After a 6 hour substrate change of the tank:

Hello! A mud tank!

[Euporie]

With the goldfish now in the 10 gal, our plants were finally staying put, and no more glowlight tetras went MIA.
Orville and Lochlan's New Bachelor Pad:

Breeder net contains a few platy fry. Only two have made it to adult hood- Juno and Overander.
We received an Eheim canister filter for $80 from my boss, as well as a air pump.
Since the Goldfish were no longer a problem predator in the main tank, we were able to get a new species!

YAY! Amano shrimp! I love these little guys. Blue, busy, and fearless.
Speaking of the main tank, the dust had finally settled. My boyfriend fell in love with the Bala Sharks at our LFS. We got two, though the only reason I was okay with this because their mature size pretty much locked us into getting a bigger tank later on. My dream is to have a ton of planted tanks to design and care for, as well as experiment with different fish species and breeding. got two new plants: Lutea and Red Arrowhead. Red Arrowhead did not survive.

[Euporie]

A few months later we special ordered a few new plants from our LFS: Dwarf Baby Tears, Dwarf Hairgrass, and Broadleaf Ludwigia. We also purchased a new more plant friendly light.

Next we got my favorite additions to the tank: 3 female Blue Gourami

Then, the results of the new light became extremely apparent.


Our next project is to get a CO2 injector. Will post more pictures once we complete the next water change with some pruning.

[Euporie]

Dwarf Hairgrass and Dwarf Baby Tears a few days after planting:


The Dwarf Hairgrass and Dwarf Baby Tears earlier today:


Please ignore the water quality, I had just finished culling a 95% of the floating Dwarf Baby Tears that had taken over the top of the tank. Their roots were EVERYWHERE. Tomorrow is water change day, so I'll take more pictures then.

[Aeonflame]

Are you really keeping two goldfish in a ten gallon?

[Euporie]

Are you really keeping two goldfish in a ten gallon?

Yes. I know it's not ideal, but we do frequent water changes and keep everything under control.
I haven't been able convince my boyfriend that they need something bigger. Personally I'd be fine with giving them to the LFS, but they belong to the boyfriend who doesn't want to cull them or give them away.
This is an ongoing argument in my house. *sigh*

[Aeonflame]

I do hope he reconsiders. Even if the water conditions are maintained, the size of the tank is an issue for fish that will soon outgrow it and still become stunted in the process. Then again, I'm sure you've told him that. The well being of the animals we care for should come first.

[Goes to 11!]

Get some research together [Google is your friend] to show him how big they get and see if some cold hard facts will penetrate his illusion that they live in a suitable environment - They don't.

Twice the tank isn't enough for a single one of them.

Good luck

[Euporie]

Get some research together [Google is your friend] to show him how big they get and see if some cold hard facts will penetrate his illusion that they live in a suitable environment - They don't.

Twice the tank isn't enough for a single one of them.

Good luck

Thanks. the reason he doesnt want to get rid of them is because Lochlan was the only fish that survived college with him. He's got some sentimental attachment to him. I would *LOVE* to give them away and start a betta tank or cichlid tank or some kind of adorable nano with like all dwarf plants, driftwood and a few ember tetras.
I just need him to get interested enough in the goldfish do some research and get the big picture. He seems to really like big fish -hence the Goldfish, the two Bala Sharks and the Granulated Catfish. Ah well, he wants the big fish, He's gonna pay for the tanks and equipment.

[Goes to 11!]

I just need him to get interested enough in the goldfish do some research and get the big picture. He seems to really like big fish -hence the Goldfish, the two Bala Sharks and the Granulated Catfish. Ah well, he wants the big fish, He's gonna pay for the tanks and equipment.

Understood & I like your plan, Here's to hoping it's effective.