90 gal FW journal - wish me luck!

**Lady Hobbs** · 07-01-2012, 12:32 PM

I have rainbows with my angelfish and am going to rehome the rainbows to my sons tank. And I only have 4 in a 55 gallon with my angel.

Rainbows are very fast, very active fish and angels are laid back and slow moving. Infact, all the fish you have selected are fast movers......rainbows, roseline sharks, congo tetras. I would leave the angels out of this mix simply due to all this fast activity around them.

Remember, too, that 90 gallons is the same footprint as a 75. Lengthwise, it doesn't take long for a fish to go from one end to the other in a 48" length tank. Especially those fast movers.

With this being an office tank, I would go the easy route myself. Since this tank is at your work and your time is limited for playing around with plants and all the trimming, taking care of algae, etc, I would toss in lots of branchy wood, some rocks and make this a fancy goldfish tank or fill it with tetra's.

And make sure this tank is set up near a water source. The last thing you need at work is hauling buckets of water. You must have a good boss. Most would not like getting stuck with the electricity bill for an employee to have a large fish tank.

**fishmommie** · 07-01-2012, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Fishies' Mom

I highly recommend the black background, as well

.

It does come with its challenges - namely you can see every speck of dust/hair on it/the glass. I posted the following with some tips to help get a dust/hair-free application: http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...68#post1016268

Off to look at your pics =o)!

Thanks for the tip Fishies' Mom. Some how, I managed to get the black background up and kitty and dog hair free. Not sure how that happened but one has to get lucky sometime :o) Of course, I don't have my led lights or water in the tank yet - who knows what might show up once she's all lit up. Fingers crossed because once I get this tank in it's final resting place, there will be no moving it.

**ScottishFish** · 07-01-2012, 01:14 PM

Loving the new avatar

**fishmommie** · 07-01-2012, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

I have rainbows with my angelfish and am going to rehome the rainbows to my sons tank. And I only have 4 in a 55 gallon with my angel.

Rainbows are very fast, very active fish and angels are laid back and slow moving. Infact, all the fish you have selected are fast movers......rainbows, roseline sharks, congo tetras. I would leave the angels out of this mix simply due to all this fast activity around them.

Remember, too, that 90 gallons is the same footprint as a 75. Lengthwise, it doesn't take long for a fish to go from one end to the other in a 48" length tank. Especially those fast movers.

...I've discovered (with the purchase of my school of Colombian Tetras) that I love tetras. Have also fallen in love with the rainbows and the roselines. So many cool fish! I've been studying and per the compatibility chart on the forum, it would appear the angels would work in this mix. BUT, I have never known you to give unsound advice so I have to consider making a change - even though I've had my heart set on angels ever since I started this accidental hobby. My LFS guy is willing to work with me and rehome/trade the angels if it becomes clear they are not comfortable but I get attached so that will be hard for me to do.

So, having said that, if I forgo the angels :o( would you have a suggestion for a larger, showy fish that would add some color and be compatible with the rainbows, tetras, and roselines? I know you love your parrots, Could I possibly have one or two in this tank?... Any other suggestions? Would a severum be possible? Or a JD electric blue? I want something showy but I also want compatibility....

With this being an office tank, I would go the easy route myself. Since this tank is at your work and your time is limited for playing around with plants and all the trimming, taking care of algae, etc, I would toss in lots of branchy wood, some rocks and make this a fancy goldfish tank or fill it with tetra's.

...We are thinking alike on ease of maintenance. I've got a huge branchy piece of driftwood (link in an earlier post to my snapfish album) that fills the tank beautifully. And I've also added some nice sized rocks that I've been collecting. The office is my home office and I'm my own boss so I can take the time I need to maintain the tank BUT I do want to keep it simple. I'd at least a few plants for color and movement and am still in the decision making process about how to proceed - artificial or real. I have some really nice and very natural looking artificial plants in my 30 gal that I think would be nice in this tank BUT I may try a few potted live plants and some floating plants. Someone also suggested a moss wall and I'm going to research that more thoroughly before I make a decision there....

And make sure this tank is set up near a water source. The last thing you need at work is hauling buckets of water. You must have a good boss. Most would not like getting stuck with the electricity bill for an employee to have a large fish tank.

...After using buckets for almost 3 months with tons of water changes cycling my 30, I bought an Aquean water changer. I LOVE it. Believe me, before I even considered the 90 gal, I checked to make certain it reaches. No more buckets for me

thanks again and I look forward to hearing back on your suggestions for something to replace the angels.

**fishmommie** · 07-01-2012, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by ScottishFish

Loving the new avatar

me too! thanks for bumping me.

**fishmommie** · 07-01-2012, 04:21 PM

Hi again
Well, change of plans. I was planning to start fishless cycling this week but have made the tough decision to postpone until early August.

So many have suggested that I attempt some live plants that I think I might do it on a limited basis ... so, even though I'm postponing the cycle for a month, could I still fill my tank now, get the filters going and start my plants growing? Or in absence of fish to provide fertilizer, would it be pointless?

Either way, couple of questions about plants.
again, I need low maintenance. low light. no co2
Recap: 90 gal FW. UGF with twin power heads + 1200 Cascade canister. aquarium stone substrate. 1- 3 ft LED lighting strip.

I know my live plant choices are minimal. Thanks to someone's suggestion, I'm thinking of a plant wall - using walmart craft mesh - moss, fern and Anubis. So I think I'm set and know what I want to do there.

Also, I have a beautiful big piece of driftwood with many long arms. I was wondering about tying plants to some of the arms but do no know what would be the best choices. Could someone give me some suggestions?

I may try setting a few potted plants into the substrate and would also appreciate some suggestions.

Also would like suggestions for floating plants.

Oh - here is a list I found that would be suitable plants for beginners but I don't know which ones would go where -

Ceratopteris thalictroides (Water Sprite)
Hygrophilla angustifolia (Willow Leaf Hygrophilla)
Hygrophilla difformis (Water Wisteria)
Hygrophilla polysperma (Small Leafed Hygrophilla)
Vesicularia dubyana (Java Moss)
Other sturdy plant species:
Anubias barteri (Anubias)
Echinodorus Bleheri (Common Sword plant)
Limnophila sp. (Ambulia)
Microsorum pteropus (Java Fern)
Valisneria spiralis (Valisneria)

thanks everyone.

**Lady Hobbs** · 07-02-2012, 02:35 PM

Depending on what kind of fish you have will be the difference in what plants you get.....or none at all. You mentioned severums but some will uproot plants so if you wanted those, then I would suggest plants attached to driftwood like the java fern or anubias.

The Hygrophilla angustifolia you mentioned is one fast growing bad boy. That plant just goes nuts and is a great plant (IMO). It actuallys grows to the waters surface and draps over like an umbrella and almost makes up for not having floating plants. It spreads and gives you lots of plants and does not need bright lights or CO2 to go bananas.

You could have some swords on one end of the tank, that hygro on the other end and the anubias or java fern attached to the driftwood. Another that will do OK for you would be Crypts. I started with 3 and now must have dozens. That looks cool planted around the driftwood.

You can certainly have angels if you want angels. I just would not have them with rainbowfish again in a 48" tank. You can definately have a mated pair of angelfish but only a mated pair will get along. Of course you will also have spawns if you have mates. You can have one if you don't want the spawning going on.

Yes, I LOVE my blood parrots! They love a family unit and are fine with larger tetra's. Many fish I have not had but of all those I have had, they are my absolute favorites. (And they can not spawn and have babies!!) Spawn yes, but no babies! yeaaaaaaaa

You can plant your tank whenever you want to.

**fishmommie** · 07-02-2012, 07:57 PM

thanks again for the great advice on both the plants and fish.
I'm going to take a closer look at the Blood Parrots. They seem very appealing and personable. And I had a thought. Maybe I could move my colombian tetras out of my 30 gal to the 90 with the rainbows and roselines (instead of getting the congos) ,then add a single angel to the 30 as my showpiece fish. If I get it as a baby, it won't bother my neons for a while and perhaps if it grows up with them established in the tank, it won't eat them :o)

thanks again

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

Depending on what kind of fish you have will be the difference in what plants you get.....or none at all. You mentioned severums but some will uproot plants so if you wanted those, then I would suggest plants attached to driftwood like the java fern or anubias.

The Hygrophilla angustifolia you mentioned is one fast growing bad boy. That plant just goes nuts and is a great plant (IMO). It actuallys grows to the waters surface and draps over like an umbrella and almost makes up for not having floating plants. It spreads and gives you lots of plants and does not need bright lights or CO2 to go bananas.

You could have some swords on one end of the tank, that hygro on the other end and the anubias or java fern attached to the driftwood. Another that will do OK for you would be Crypts. I started with 3 and now must have dozens. That looks cool planted around the driftwood.

You can certainly have angels if you want angels. I just would not have them with rainbowfish again in a 48" tank. You can definately have a mated pair of angelfish but only a mated pair will get along. Of course you will also have spawns if you have mates. You can have one if you don't want the spawning going on.

Yes, I LOVE my blood parrots! They love a family unit and are fine with larger tetra's. Many fish I have not had but of all those I have had, they are my absolute favorites. (And they can not spawn and have babies!!) Spawn yes, but no babies! yeaaaaaaaa

You can plant your tank whenever you want to.

**fishmommie** · 07-22-2012, 08:55 PM

It's been a while since I posted - have stalled out a bit due to business trips and vacation. But I've made some progress.
http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/th...NAME=snapfish/

Added a few more photos of hubby helping me wash gravel - in 98 degree heat no less. Also a new photo of the tank with driftwood, rocks and a very few artificial plants. Plan to get real plants later but for now, must stick with silk.
Stocking list has changed only slightly. Still going with congo tetras, roseline sharks and rainbows but instead of angels I'm going with blood parrots. Hate to wish my summer away but I'm eager for the end of August when I can finally start my fishless cycle.
Until later ...

**fishmommie** · 08-26-2012, 06:25 PM

I can't believe after looking at the empty 90 gallon tank for almost 2 months now, I am filling it with water today.
I have my filters all hooked up.
My substrata has been washed and ready for a long time.
I've bleached and dried all of my beautiful rocks I've gathered from the lake.
I've added a few silk plants - for starters, will go for real later.

But the best part is, it's filling! I'm actually on my way. Will start the fishless cycle yet today provided all my filters are up and running when I'm done.
Yea! It's a good day.