Chuckie Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 I have another 2' tank I need to tart up. I have already bought driftwood for it, which I am soaking. So far, my plan is to use more coarse river sand over potting mix to make a fairly deep substrate, and in it plant a good-sized diagonal clump in one back corner of banana lillies, allowing the leaves to reach the surface. In the middle at the back I am going to plant a few actual water lily corms (will be interesting to see what they do!). On the other side at the back/side, taking up a diagonal 1/3 of the tank, I am going to plant a bunch of aponogetons, and in the front, Japanes spatterdock and tiger lotus. This tank won't have lids, so hopefully I will get some emergent plant behaviour (eg flower stalks, etc). As for inmates, what do people suggest? It will naturally be a blackwater tank, between the peat in the potting mix and the driftwood. I am thinking a colony of wild bubblenesting bettas (imbellis? brownorum? coccina?), or sparkling gouramis, and a good sized school of glass catfish. Maybe some weather loaches and/or a few species of cories. Any other ideas? I want to avoid fish like neons, cardinals and rummy noses. They are all lovely but I want this tank to be a bit quirky, so that the beauty of the inhabitants isn't instantly obvious and you will have to look intently into the black water to even see the inhabitants! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beano Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 gouramis!!! Do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 i like it!!! and a fat snail called Ned!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted May 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 today, got spatterdock, 5 banana lillies, some narrow val, an aponogeton, and 4 sparkling gouramis. oh, and some good substrate, coarse river sand and fine pebbles. I have noticed that glass cats would look ridiculous with gouramis this small, the ratios will be all wrong. I am thinking of getting some honey blue eyes, which are available at Auburn at the moment. They are small enough to look ok with the gouramis. Here is a link to a photo: http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/images/1744.gif http://www.australianrainbowfish.com/austr...1.htm~mainFrame Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 honey blue eyes they are so alluring at auburn, i gather you saw the rhads too? good link to some info http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Mellis.htm they are endangered so the more we can do to further them in the hobby the better! Good Luck with your aquarium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 The honey blue eyes are gorgeous! Their fins are soooo cool. They look like they're swimming upside down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted May 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Thanks for the info Daniel, that's really interesting. Do you mean rhadinocentris? Phil bought some rhadinocentris "teewah". Unfortunately they didn't have a pair, so he got 2 males and put his name down for some. I want!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beano Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beano Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 LOL, I just googled sparkling gouramis, and one of my betta fry looks like one! I know they're related but it's quite a resemblance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted May 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 You can't take photos of the tanks in this room, due to reflections and glare :wub: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celeste84 Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 lilli, what kinda potting mix did you use??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettc777 Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 I am thinking of getting some honey blue eyes, which are available at Auburn at the moment. They are small enough to look ok with the gouramis. Here is a link to a photo: http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/images/1744.gif http://www.australianrainbowfish.com/austr...1.htm~mainFrame Would these little guys be classed as tropical fish? as im sure in South East QLD it would get very cold in winter at night... just wondering if these guys can be kept without heating the tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted August 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 I don't know. I heat the room the tanks are in so they are at a steady 28C. Unless I'm wrong, they are an endangered species. I probably wouldn't experiment with these particular fish FWIW they seem very hardy - I have had no losses since setting the tank up in May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettc777 Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 How much do the little guys cost in the LFS? I was reading on the Department of Primary and Industry that with some endangered species they were looking for people to keep them and breed them up. Forget which types of fish they were ill have to find it again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted August 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 i can't remember how much they were. something like $40 a pair, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettc777 Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 I found a supplier of Pacific Blue-Eye and possibly Honey Blue-Eye They are an hours drive from my house!!! Heres the link if anyone is interested. The place is called South East Queensland Fish . Not sure if they will sell to the public... might need an ABN... i have one so thats not going to be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettc777 Posted August 22, 2007 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 Just got an email back from South East Queensland Fish. They dont have honey blue eyes in stock but can get them. He didnt mention price. He sells pacific blue eyes for $1.50 each Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.