number20121 2,663 Posted February 18, 2013 Alright. I FINALLY got around taking a halfway decent photo of the community tank and also got an 8 minute long video of me messing around with the tank and the betta girls messing with me The cabomba shrunk a lot because I failed to realize just how much light the floating plants (duckweed, water lettuce, frogbit, riccia natans, hornwort) were blocking out. Initially I thought the shop light was a piece of poopoo and going dim, but then I saw what was really going on. I skimmed off 80% of the small floating plants and fed it to the goldis, moved some of the hornwort out to them as well, and now the tank is nice and bright again. I still got quite a few stems of cabomba so I am certain it will recover if I keep the water surface clear enough Anyway, here's a few pics and a rather long video of the betta girls. Don't even bother turning up the volume - unless you want to listen to the audio of Vanilla Sky "Full tank shot". As always, crappily photoshopped together Some closeups of plants. I had two anubias flower (see top left corner in the first following photo) and the vals are growing wonderfully. A bit too much algae on the anubias but that might be due to the fact that I got the lights on about 15 hours a day. No joke. This here is interesting. It is cabomba, topped with java ferns, topped with hornwort, topped with various floating plants. It's like a bizarre sculpture And, last but by no means least: 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarajo 566 Posted February 18, 2013 Its so gorgeous!! That last picture is hilarious 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gcourtney 854 Posted February 18, 2013 It so green that last picture made me lol 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
motherredcap 6,284 Posted February 18, 2013 Plant goddess! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cathface 161 Posted February 18, 2013 I love this tank and your sorority! also LOL @ the last pic! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
number20121 2,663 Posted February 18, 2013 Thanks guys! I'm glad it all worked out this well 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thaoster 82 Posted February 18, 2013 Hahaha the last picture 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goldenhero 338 Posted February 18, 2013 I'm so jealous of how tall and beautiful your plants are! The whole tank is gorgeous and I love that plant sculpture. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shellbell4ever 1,381 Posted February 18, 2013 Looks great!!! love the last pic too so funny 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aquariummaniac 37 Posted February 18, 2013 (edited) gorgeous! do you use co2? I never have, but my plants seem to grow pretty well without it. I love keeping betta girls in a community tank. I have one at the moment, but I used to breed them. also, how do you get such a crisp full tank shot? i cant seem to do it Edited February 18, 2013 by aquariummaniac 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fantailfan1 26,742 Posted February 18, 2013 Wow Fang!! I am soooo impressed with your tanks. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alvintran1998 156 Posted February 18, 2013 Oh wow. That tank is so beautiful! Can you come over and plant my tank? I'll pay for airfare, transportation and hotel. Lol. Seriously though, good job! Also, what's your lighting setup? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
number20121 2,663 Posted February 18, 2013 gorgeous! do you use co2? I never have, but my plants seem to grow pretty well without it. I love keeping betta girls in a community tank. I have one at the moment, but I used to breed them. also, how do you get such a crisp full tank shot? i cant seem to do it It's actually two separate photos since I can never get one in one shot either. One of the left and one of the right side, and then crappily photoshopped together I don't use CO2 but am supplementing with a liquid carbon product by API Also, what's your lighting setup? It's just a shop light from Home Depot with two 32watt T8 bulbs in it. Not quite as pretty as actual aquarium light fixtures, but much cheaper! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jhortensius 101 Posted February 18, 2013 Beautiful plants!! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alvintran1998 156 Posted February 18, 2013 Also, what's your lighting setup? It's just a shop light from Home Depot with two 32watt T8 bulbs in it. Not quite as pretty as actual aquarium light fixtures, but much cheaper! Yay, I do the same thing too. So I'm guessing your tank is 50/55 gallons? And do you hang it from the ceiling or lay it on top of the tank? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
number20121 2,663 Posted February 18, 2013 55g, yes. I just got it laying across the tank. I don't trust it enough to be hanging from the ceiling 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
4prettyfish 2,702 Posted February 19, 2013 You did a beautiful job making an awesome home for your betta's. I love all the plants you put in the tank. It looks so healthy and green. I Love all the plants on the surface. I bet they are loving their new spacious home. They have so much room to swim and explore. Thank you for putting up a video for all of us. I was really looking forward to seeing this. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yafashelli 9,540 Posted February 19, 2013 That last photo should be in one of the photo contests! Your fish are so cultured!! Your tank is so lush and green. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Narny105 1,992 Posted February 19, 2013 It looks amazing Fang! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
number20121 2,663 Posted February 19, 2013 You did a beautiful job making an awesome home for your betta's. I love all the plants you put in the tank. It looks so healthy and green. I Love all the plants on the surface. I bet they are loving their new spacious home. They have so much room to swim and explore. Thank you for putting up a video for all of us. I was really looking forward to seeing this. Thanks! I too think that they are quite happy with all that room. I don't think I'd ever keep a female betta by herself in a small tank anymore, but rather in a sorority or community - unless a specific fish is a big drama queen of course. That last photo should be in one of the photo contests! Your fish are so cultured!! Your tank is so lush and green. Maybe I'll enter it And thanks! It looks amazing Fang! Thanks, Alex!! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haley_tichonuk22 1,157 Posted February 19, 2013 So gorgeous as always!!!! I just LOVE how natural it looks and how happy the fish look 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
