Fish fascination!

**MandyK** · 06-28-2012, 11:23 PM

Good luck! I can't wait to see what you do.

I am currently planning a new scape myself, and I'm extra excited!!! I'll be looking forward to hearing how this goes for you so I can perhaps benefit from your experience.

Have fun on vacation!

**Azurescriber** · 07-06-2012, 12:40 AM

I did it!! I did it today! I swapped my tanks around as planned (almost, anyway) and realized I need more plants, lol. I will have pics up within the next few days but tonight the lights are out...waaaay stressful for all of us!

Initially it wasn't so bad. I took all the decorations out of the 10g and netted the cories and the DG. Temps were the same so I plopped them in the newly decorated 20g. DG is chasing the tetras a bit, but hopefully he will settle down. The cories looked ecstatic, swimming ALL over the tank.

Then I drained most of the water and netted my neons...not fun. I put them in a bucket with the heater while I splashed water EVERYWHERE scooping out the gravel.

Then I took the decorations out of the 5g and scooped out the frog and my betta, put them in a big bowl (not ideal, but I forgot to buy another bucket). I scooped all the pretty black gravel out and dumped it in the 10g. By now everyone is stressed and tired, lol.

Put in new water and decorations, then had to wait for what seemed forever for the temperature to rise. I guess the water cooled down a lot from the sink to the tank..I don't have a python. And since I no longer had a bucket, I had a 3g water bottle to carry it in.

Now time for the fish! I netted the frog first...but he leapt out! He fell into the bag of old gravel...I was so terrified I would hurt him getting him out..he is so small. He looks fine though, now...but mommy had a heart attack, lol.

Then I netted the neons out of the bucket. My BLACK bucket. Oy, that was tough to see them. Ended up dumping the last one into the tank with bucket water..they all look ok so far, but definately are schooled tight together.

Then betta was last....he was pretty much the easiest one. He is playing nice with the neons for now...keeping an eye open. He is all over the tank.

So that's about it...it took at least two hours (my timing isn't precise) and my floor is soaked, even with towels. I hope I didn't do any damage to anything!

Sorry for the long post. :)

**MandyK** · 07-06-2012, 02:20 AM

I can't wait to see the pics!!! I'm really scared about changing up my tank soon as well.

**Azurescriber** · 07-06-2012, 07:13 PM

Lost one neon in the switch. :(

Actually, I thought I had 9 but now I have only 7 and one carcass...so...I must have lost one before and never knew. Darn things are hard to count.

Everyone else seems fine though!! The betta is ignoring the neons and they have spread out a little. Dougie the frog is hanging out like usual.

The 20g seems to be doing ok still...the DG is very shy in his new home, so still waiting for him to settle.

Pics soon, I am going to feed them all tomorrow. :)

I need more plants!

**Azurescriber** · 07-08-2012, 07:31 PM

Yay pics! I need many more plants, but for now...

Pic1 is my new 10g!
Pic2 is my betta! He is more dark purple and red than blue I think.
Pic3 is my new 20g! Needs taller plants
Pic4 are my cories! Coming to say hi, lol

**Gogi** · 07-08-2012, 10:37 PM

beautiful betta. I really like the colors

**MandyK** · 07-09-2012, 06:40 PM

Great job! Everything looks really great.

**Azurescriber** · 07-11-2012, 05:19 PM

Thanks all!

Now I am torn which direction to go in for finishing the tanks. I have limited funds. :(

I think I want to try my hand at some easy, live plants in the 10g. OR I can fill out the plants in the 20g. OR I can fill out the fish in the 20g (this is where I'm leaning, lol). Oh and I already have a black background for the 10g, just need to stop being lazy and put it up (with pics!)

All this will happen eventually. So how about a vote on what first?

Live plants?

Finish decorating the 20?

More fish?

Other?

**Azurescriber** · 07-20-2012, 12:42 AM

Black background on the 10g! I love it! And it seemed to actually calm my betta down a bit (he's always attacking his reflection).

I played around and tried it behind my 20g too...now I am desperate for another black background there. Going to look into that contact paper idea I heard about...these plastic backgrounds are expensive!!

Pics up after the weekend!

**Azurescriber** · 07-26-2012, 05:53 PM

Couldn't help myself....6 new red phantom tetras! There was a bit of nipping and chasing from the black skirts, but I put a blanket over everyone and hope it all settles down.