Regular Member Black Posted May 2, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 Hi guys, I'm getting pretty bored. Not with Googs and his friends (just to clarify!) but bored with the tank itself After yesterday's WC, I emptied it and took off the background and this is what it looks like now: Restrictions/needs: - Googs is a sinker, and there's not much floor space so I can't have much on the bottom. He also gets stuck very easily! - my little fish need some enrichment in the upper area of the tank - I can't have live plants (I have an algae type that eats them) Does anyone have any ideas? I feel like I'm all out of inspiration 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helper FishyMandy Posted May 2, 2015 Helper Share Posted May 2, 2015 Maybe you could get some fake plants and (forgive me if there is no way this will work, it just popped into my head), pull the stems out of the base and put them in suction caps and attach to the sides of the tank around the upper/mid level? Like bigger versions of betta beds? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Black Posted May 2, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 That's a good idea! A lot of my fake plants are coming apart anyway and this would be a great way to recycle them! Thank you 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Black Posted May 2, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 These are some of the ways I've had my tank previously over the years: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member motherredcap Posted May 2, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 I really liked the air bar on the side, as in photo 1 with the terrestrial plant growing down the outside back of the tank. That, plus the upper-level fake plants might look nice. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Black Posted May 2, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 I liked the plant on the outside too, but I have to keep it growing up high now because of the bunnies I've heard Pothos is poisonous. I'm definitely thinking about moss balls as I think they'll survive in my water and will be soft if Googs bumps into them and I might copy Georgia and have a black background 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Mr. Hyde Posted May 2, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 Good idea about the moss balls. Your last two tank pics are my favorite. Good luck. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Daniel Posted May 2, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 (edited) I think duckweed would add an extra element, Charlie. It'll be small enough to fit in the canopy/water line gap and should look quite interesting once it throws some roots down. If you can get it in the UK, azolla pinnata is even more interesting. It looks kind of like a floating fern, covers like duckweed and is a bit wider. It turns a vivid red under too much light. Edited May 2, 2015 by dan in aus 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member DawnMichele Posted May 2, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 Hi Charlie!!! Hope your doing well!!!! I love the first tank with the bubble bar on the side. I like to use river rock's. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporter Daniel E. Posted May 2, 2015 Supporter Share Posted May 2, 2015 Moss balls would be cool. Maybe add a small dish with glass beeds. I'm thinking some kind of zen thing going on. Can you do bamboo that comes out of the water? Just a thought. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member motherredcap Posted May 2, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 I like that azolla! Right now, I'm engaged in intensive negotiations for some water lettuce. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Black Posted May 2, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 Good idea about the moss balls. Your last two tank pics are my favorite. Good luck. Thank you Hyde Dan, I like that idea Would the duckweed etc survive in my tank considering the black beard algae problem? Thank you Dawn, I hope you are well too! I will move the air stone to the side again then Susanne like it too Daniel, I love seeing tanks with bamboo but I've got a really awkward tank lid I could barely fit the recent heater I bought, I had to unscrew parts of the lid! Really like the Zen idea Loving all these suggestions Have just ordered a new black background and 3 little moss balls. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Black Posted May 2, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 I've looked up duckweed, and the problem is that my water outlet runs the length of my tank and I have a feeling it would get messy. I could probably do the idea of using tubing as a barrier but I think it would get fiddly. Azolla seems tricky to find so I'm now looking water lettuce! Susanne, did you say once that you had the same water issues as me when it came to bad algae destroying live plants? Have you successfully kept water lettuce before? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member motherredcap Posted May 2, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 2, 2015 Exactly, Charlie, sooner rather than later the algae will destroy whatever I stick in the tank BUT my son has duckweed in his tropical tank without problems so I thought water lettuce might work with the goldies. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporter Daniel E. Posted May 2, 2015 Supporter Share Posted May 2, 2015 Frogbit is another cool one. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Black Posted May 3, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 3, 2015 Frogbit is another cool one. You & your frogs! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member 4prettyfish Posted May 3, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 3, 2015 hehe That was cute what you said above to Daniel. Always thinking frogs. haha I like the idea of using moss balls also. They'd be soft when Googs bumps into them, liked mentioned above. Charlie, however you design Googs tank we all know it's from a special loving care you have for your special fish. It's going to look wonderful however you have it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Daniel Posted May 3, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 3, 2015 Charlie, the only thing that might be attacked by algae would be the roots, but considering floating plants tend to be rapid growers, there should be a continual turn over of you removing excess plants every few weeks. The water lettuce is nice, but might prove too big. They can get quite large. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Black Posted May 3, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 3, 2015 hehe That was cute what you said above to Daniel. Always thinking frogs. haha I like the idea of using moss balls also. They'd be soft when Googs bumps into them, liked mentioned above. Charlie, however you design Googs tank we all know it's from a special loving care you have for your special fish. It's going to look wonderful however you have it. Thank you! What a lovely thing to say Charlie, the only thing that might be attacked by algae would be the roots, but considering floating plants tend to be rapid growers, there should be a continual turn over of you removing excess plants every few weeks. The water lettuce is nice, but might prove too big. They can get quite large. Could I trim the roots if they get too long? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Daniel Posted May 3, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 3, 2015 Could I trim the roots if they get too long? Of course, although on smaller plants like duckweed, it would be easier to throw portions out. I did some digging (well, a Google search) and azolla was banned in the UK last year. Apparently it was getting out of ponds and ruining native waterways. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Black Posted May 3, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 3, 2015 I didn't know that! Theres plenty of duckweed about so it's ok 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Black Posted May 3, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 3, 2015 I've had this rock for ages. If I give it a good wash do you think it would be tank safe? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Black Posted May 3, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 3, 2015 I did the vinegar test and there were some tiny tiny bubbles when I poured some vinegar on the bottom. It did the same with water so I'm thinking the rock is porous, rather than it fizzing in a reaction. Are porous rocks safe? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporter Daniel E. Posted May 3, 2015 Supporter Share Posted May 3, 2015 That looks like limestone. It will increase ph and kh over time. Bad for softwater fish but I would not see a problem with goldfish. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member motherredcap Posted May 3, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted May 3, 2015 I would use it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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