FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Man! That baby is tiny! How exciting!

I understand your camera situation. There's always something else to spend that money on & not enough to go around.

I know! We had one all picked out then realized that we should probably fix our cars instead.

So you've been teasing us with talk of getting a camera. We've been getting all excited for nothing Seriously though, there's always some sort of expense that eats away any extra cash you think you have for luxuries (like cameras).

Pleased to hear the baby continues to do well.

Cheers
TW

1st year teachers really don't make enough to have toys like nice cameras.

I really thought we were going to get one too. Then a couple of things needed fixed from our cars and we made the wiser choice.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Quick update, more to come at a later time. I brought home the schools camera for the weekend so I will have a few pictures to post later after I crop them and such.

Also, my BN just spawned for the third time. Only one has survived from the first batch but I have quite a few from the 2nds stuck to pretty much anything in the tank. I will try and get a picture of the eggs today but they are not in a good photo spot (Stuck way back down in a wooden cave).



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Here are just a couple of pictures.

These are all the same tank
Center
Left
Right

Nana Roots
ET

Male Cherry

Giant Danio

Male BN
Female BN
Baby BN One
Baby BN Two
Baby BN Three
Baby BN Four



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wow wings.......your tank in turning into a jungle!
Awww those babies are so tiny! And your plants look so good on closeup!

fish patty,

Thanks! Any ideas for the left side of the tank? That is the side I am not really happy with.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I think it looks great wings. Those babies are awesome, congrats! I really like the center part of the tank. It's nice to see swords being used after all the negative commentary they receive. I just think the left needs a little taller hardscape and it would fit in well with the rest of the tank.

BTW where does one find hollow DW like the one where the BNs are hanging out in/on? Is it real? I've seen it elsewhere and it looks pretty neat.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

My idea for the left side of the tank would be to put a tall plant in front of that equipment, or else a piece of driftwood with plants attached or even moss on it.

BTW where does one find hollow DW like the one where the BNs are hanging out in/on? Is it real? I've seen it elsewhere and it looks pretty neat.

I actually found it in a river back home in MI. So yes, it is real.

The other half of it(I cut it in half so it wasn't so huge) is poking out in the foreground on the right hand side.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings ..Great shots mate ... especially of the BN Babies ....Love what you've done with the tank ...very lush . If it were me I'd have a beach on the left side just to give a contrast to the jungle.

Garry

If it were me I'd have a beach on the left side just to give a contrast to the jungle.

That is kind of what I am thinking. I have a guy I am going to make a plant trade with here in a couple of weeks or so. My anubias for his ET and some stems.

Thanks for the comments!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

You certainly have lush green plants growing and the fish must love it if they are breeding. You know what happens when fish breed tho? Another tank required = mts.

You certainly have lush green plants growing and the fish must love it if they are breeding. You know what happens when fish breed tho? Another tank required = mts.

Thanks for the comments on my plants. The fish do seem pretty happy in there.

MTS... Right now I am running three tanks. Before I moved from MI to NC I had six running. I know all about MTS!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Hi,
I guess it's just old age, tired eyes, or not enough
coffee in the morning...but, When I look at the pictures
of "Tank One, Tank Two, and Tank Three, I could swear I'm
looking at the same tank, a 55 gallon tank, in three
different views. In which they were tank front, a little
left, and a little right?

I was expecting three tanks with vastly different
arrangements.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Frank,

Sorry! Let me change something for you.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I am not much of a fan of vals. I see nice fat leaved plants in the middle and then skinny stuff in the back.
I would get more amazon sword or even a mottley marble sword for contrast.
The left side corner in front of the rock needs a little something but I don't know what. Something to frame the picture like a special plant?

Wings,

Albeit you got some quite large plants in your tank, usually an entity that makes a tank look small, this is the largest your tank has ever looked. All looks healthy and your hardscape is nicely visible, I like it.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Brengun,

Not a fan of vals? The plant I think you are referring to is my Crypt balansae (just to the right of the sword?). I do have vals in this tank but you can't see them in the picture. They are in the back ground on the left side. They are spreading but not growing tall.

LF,

Thanks for the nice complement. How do you think it would look if it removed the big rock on the left and filled in that space with more ET?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

That's a really nice looking set up Wings. I like it a lot

Cheers
TW

Well it has been a few months since I last posted some pictures. The tank has changed just a little bit. Let me know what you think!

Whole tank from back in the room.
Whole tank from the right.
Left side.
L. repens.
A. reineckii.]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/55G%20new/55G%20Feb%2007/Alternantherareineckii.jpg[/link
Rotala I
Rotala II

Overall I am becoming very happy with the tank's layout. I am still unsure what to do with the right side but for now it works.

Any ideas on the actual species of rotala? I got them from two different people here and I am not quite sure? Roundifolia and Indica?

Also any tips to growing Alternanthera reineckii? It seems to be getting a little better but the leaves are still tiny compared to the ones that melted off when I got it.

Thanks for looking!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings... Fantastic mate ...love the right to left slope of the scape . Its got a hint of Island about it as well when you look at the longer shots . Very good scaping to give hints of a couple of different styles in one scape.
I wouldn't change to much if it were me . Well done .

Plant growth as always looks very healthy .

I'm sorry I can't help with your plant questions ..don't get to see rotala much around here and Alternanthera reineckii is something I haven't tried because of it's reputation as being hard to grow .

Garry

Wings,

Tank looks wonderful, I like the scape and all. Given that you show a full shot of the whole setup, how about doors on the stand?

With the Alternanthera: can it be that the Star Grass sucks away all the nutrinets from it? Also, it seems a little shaded and it does not like that at all.

Rotala Shmotala, LOL: I think in this hobby the names rotundifolia and indica are used interchangably, but HERE IS A LINK that speaks about them as two plants. As you will note, indica is mentioned as an annual plant.

Give us a head on shot of the tank please to judge the scape proportions better

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Nice tank.

The first Rotala looks like Colorata, but it's hard to be sure. These plants grow differently under different conditions.

I like the open cabinet look. That's a hell of a feed bag you have there. Do your fish end up on the wall if they get too big for the tank?

Looks great wings!

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thanks everyone for the comment! I will get back with you a bit more this weekend about them. Until then here is a picture of just the tank.

Just the tank

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Great plant growth you got there Wings! But then you always do. It seems you are more into scaping than you used to be.

Given that you show a full shot of the whole setup, how about doors on the stand?

I would eventually like to close it in but as of right now I don't have the time, tools or space to do so. The stand serves its purpose of holding the tank and equipment so I can't complain.

With the Alternanthera: can it be that the Star Grass sucks away all the nutrinets from it? Also, it seems a little shaded and it does not like that at all.

Interesting thoughts. Shade might be a little more of a problem than anything though. Star Grass grows pretty fast. It is in need of another trim and thinning this weekend.

Give us a head on shot of the tank please to judge the scape proportions better

Its posted so let me know what you think!

Wings... Fantastic mate ...love the right to left slope of the scape . Its got a hint of Island about it as well when you look at the longer shots . Very good scaping to give hints of a couple of different styles in one scape.

Thanks Countryfish! I seemed to be influenced by many different styles and it probably shows.

I like the open cabinet look. That's a hell of a feed bag you have there. Do your fish end up on the wall if they get too big for the tank?

Funny funny! But they really funny thing is I have Convict that I have had for about 6 years. I think when something happens it it I might try and get it mounted. It's small so it wouldn't cost an arm and a leg.

It seems you are more into scaping than you used to be.

Not that I haven't been into it but I think I am figuring some things out now.


Thanks everyone for stopping in and for all the comments and complements! Keep it coming because I probably wont have new pictures for a while.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

That is fantastic looking Wings. I love how you have the upward slope. Is it a lot of work to keep the slope so even.

I'm sure, being the youngster you are, you know all best the photobucket linking tricks. Hope you don't mind an oldie asking why you don't post pics from photobucket using [IMG][/IMG] choice. Your pics are open for immediate view (no need for lazy bones me to click each link). You can still put multiple pics one post. Best of all, your admiring viewers can look at several pics at a time, instead of looking at each pic individually.

Eg pic loaded as photobucket [IMG][/IMG] choice
Same pic loaded as direct link: http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l128/TankWatcher/000_1307.jpg

I'm a premie member here, but prefer to post my pics this way. Just my 2cents.

Back to your tank, I love your work - keep it up

Cheers
TW

For some reason this forum won't let me do that. I think it is because I am a not a premium member. This is what happens when I try it.

[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/55G%20new/55G%20Feb%2007/wholetank.jpg[/ IMG]

Is it a lot of work to keep the slope so even.

Well I have only been running this set up like this for maybe a couple of weeks so I am not sure yet. I am going to need to do some more trimming today as the star grass is getting huge and super thick. I will let you know how it goes.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

For some reason this forum won't let me do that. I think it is because I am a not a premium member. This is what happens when I try it.

[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/55G%20new/55G%20Feb%2007/wholetank.jpg[/ IMG]

Ah, that explains it. I wondered why you didn't use that option, as I thought it worded for premmie & non-premmie alike. Look forward to hearing how your timming goes.


Cheers
TW

As my eyes travel to the right upwards, your nice fully planting becomes thin with your long thin plants (Crinum?) and breaks down the slope. Perhaps something fuller that will grow into the upper right-hand corner will help to create a better sense of the overall shape of your scape. But hey, you've definitely got quite a nice tank.





--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

As my eyes travel to the right upwards, your nice fully planting becomes thin with your long thin plants (Crinum?) and breaks down the slope. Perhaps something fuller that will grow into the upper right-hand corner will help to create a better sense of the overall shape of your scape. But hey, you've definitely got quite a nice tank.

Over time the Crypt balansae should fill in. I am however thinking of pulling up that area and making it an island feel. This might be a few weeks down the road though. I need to make sure I have enough ET to fill in the area.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

TW,

This one is for you! I trimmed the Star grass and Rotala. Pretty much everything else stayed the same.

Full tank shot

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings ... The more I look at your scape the more I agree with the idea of going to an Island look...I think it would be spectacular .



Garry

I guess married life agrees with you. The tank and picture look excellent. I would tighten up the rotala group (too wide across the back) and is it possible to get a full foreground or is it too narrow and shaded.

My Scapes

Wings ... The more I look at your scape the more I agree with the idea of going to an Island look...I think it would be spectacul

Thanks for the conformation on what I am feeling.

I guess married life agrees with you. The tank and picture look excellent. I would tighten up the rotala group (too wide across the back) and is it possible to get a full foreground or is it too narrow and shaded.

Wow tetra lives! Thanks for stopping by! Married life is good. If I end up doing the island thing they the rolala group will be tightened up for sure. Right now I am using it to take up space. As for the foreground, I am slowly working on thickening it up. My plecos do a number on up rooting my new plants of ET. The space in the front of the tank is pretty small in places though and the A. nana is starting to crowd it even more. Or at least shade it out.

I will post a few more pictures later. Thanks!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Thanks for the pic Wings. I think this is nicest version of your tank that I've seen. Incorporating an island would make a great look even better.

Do you have a camera, or are you borrowing one more often now?

Cheers
TW

Do you have a camera, or are you borrowing one more often now?

Borrowing more often. It is the schools that I work at. I have been using it for some science stuff lately.

And here are a few more pictures. Some of the shots show the ET and foreground pretty well. Tetra might be interested.

ET
Left side
Leftside from a bit farther out.
A Cherry Shrimp on some DW
Rotala with some bubbles

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Thanks for the pic Wings. I think this is nicest version of your tank that I've seen. Incorporating an island would make a great look even better.

WD that is quite nice of you! I am pretty sure I am going to go with the island effect unless someone can convince me not to.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings ...soooooo ..have you changed the layout yet ?????


Garry

I did about two weeks ago now. I am waiting for the ET to fill in as right now it is kind of thin. The rest is looking alright from the redo.

Last week I did a major trim job on the star grass and rolata in the back. Both will need to grow out a little bit. Maybe I can get some pictures this week if I take a camera from school again.

Today we are going to do an experiment to show how plants use CO3 and fish create CO2. I might want to take some pictures of it.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well here are just a couple of pictures. Let me know if you like it. I have more that I will post when I have the time and energy. I am pretty hapy with the tank right now. It does need a trim job and that will happen either tonight or tomorrow. The trimmings this week will go into the container pond I am starting tomorrow.




55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wow, that looks great wings. I'd like to see it after you shape the rotala a bit. I can picture in my mind how stunning it would be.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thanks Matt! I will post some close ups and post trim pictures tomorrow after the bubbling is done.

Here is what I did today!


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Here is a picture of after the trim. I will post some close ups sometime later.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Stunning Wings. I like it. I see you're able to post direct now, instead of linking?? I think before you said that wasn't working for you??

Cheers
TW

Stunning Wings. I like it. I see you're able to post direct now, instead of linking?? I think before you said that wasn't working for you??

Thanks TW! I broke down and paid the cash for the premium membership. I had quite a bit in my paypal from selling plants on another website. Makes life a bit easier.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I broke down and paid the cash for the premium membership.

I wondered that, but as I can't see an avatar, I thought not. That's good you made a little cash from plant sales. I just bought some off a hobbyist here in Oz - you'll wonder why I'm excited, but here you just can't find NL.Java Fern at any LFS or on-line. We only have the wide leaf version. Cost me $50 for 2 small pieces (the wide leaf stuff is cheap as anything) - but I'm happy as I've been looking for this plant ever since the old planted gang used to talk about it when I first found the FP. No idea how this guy came across it, but just glad he did.

Cheers
TW

NL Java Fern is not super common here either but probably more so than over in your part of the world. It really depends on your area too. I live in a fairly small city with one LFS that doesn't do much plants. Other hobbiest seem to me the way to get my hands on most plants. In fact... I think all the plants in my tank except the A. nana came from other plant geeks online. The A. nana came into the LFS I worked at back home from a hobbiest. The crypts might have too...

Point being, I find it much easier and the prices, quality, and quantity much better.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Other hobbyist is certainly a good way to go. Unfortunately, not even they seemed to have NL Java fern. Aus has such super strict custom import restrictions - I think maybe for some reason this plant didn't make it on the "allowed" list - otherwise you'd be able to get it somewhere, even if on line from the other side of the country. I have no idea how this hobbyist got hold of it, but just glad he did. I've wanted it for a very long time. Always thought it looked better (in the pics) than the thick clumsy looking version we have here. Think it will make the tank look bigger, using the narrower leaf.

For the time being, it's just tied to a piece of wood & thrown in the tank, as the 7ft has been ordered & that will be it's home. If I can grow enough of it, some will spread across to my other tanks. For now, I only have 2 small pieces.

Keep up the pics Wings

EDIT: Why no avatar, Wings?

Cheers
TW

EDIT: Why no avatar, Wings?

For some reason it was giving me problems. I will try again later.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings .. TW stole the word that sprung to mind . Soooo , Brillant ...amazing ... ...take your pick ...I love it . One question...why the gap in the Rotala behind the island ?? .

I can understand why your happy with it ... I think this is one of the best Island theme scapes I've ever seen . Should look even better over time .

Extremely well done mate .


Garry

Here is an updated picture from tonight. As you can see things are a little messy. I will explain more later.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Here is a full tank shot. As you can see the main group needs a pretty big trim. I did not do one this week as I am waiting for the small group to grow out a bit. I did a major cutting on it last weekend. I also foresee a replanting of my ET as it is starting to up root. That will have to wait until I get back from my trip to MI once school is complete.

Here is the smaller group that is now starting to grow out a little bit.

The next two pictures I thought were decent plant pictures.


Here are a couple of shrimp, one amano and one male cherry.

This is a snail that we got in for our classroom aquariums. They were labeled as pond sails but I am pretty sure it is a nitrate snail. Can anyone confirm this?
This last picture is of my new fish. I was down to two Giant Danios in the tank due to jumping issues. I traded them and some plants in for 7 white clounds. One died a few hours after I got him in the tank but the rest other six are doing very well. I plan on added about 12 or so more to the tank in the next week or so.


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

One more thing, the dog likes TFH too!


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Very nice photos wings. I like the layout of this tank a lot. I really like the blyxa in the corners. I wish I had gotten that to grow well for me.

Cute dog too!

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Loved all your pics, thanks for sharing. Have to say my fav is the dog pic, though you do have some great pearling going on in the tank.

It's good that you can now share pictures with us more often.

Cheers
TW

Hi,
I'm not familiar with a "Nitrate" snail...
Could you have been thinking of the Nerite snail?

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1906&articleid=3174

Its a reef snail so I doubt it would survive in a
freshwater tank.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Matty,

Thanks for the comments. I really like the blyxa too. I tried to grow it in MI but I think the water was too hard. Down here in NC it grows really well for me. As for the layout I am more happy with this one than any other I have done. I do want to rework a couple of things though.

TW,

All the pearling was because of the water change in this set of pictures. I do get a pretty large amount of pearling on a normal basis though.

Pictures... well I needed to take some pictures of the kids this last Friday so it gave me a good excuse to bring the camera home from school. It might be a while before I get another set of pictures up.

Frank,

You are right with the name Nerite snail. I know some people are keeping some types of them in Fresh water. The link below shows you some.

http://www.planetinverts.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=72&zenid=1d01c8a2736b8029eb6449213db6a6a7


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Here are a few more pictures. The first is of a couple Amano Shrimp chowing down on some broccoli. The second and third are of a nice red Cherry Shrimp. The last two are of one of my two remaining Tiger Shrimp. I started with six. When I find another good deal I would like to add some more.

Enjoy!! Comments and criticisms are more than welcome.








55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Hi,
Are these shrimp all in the same tank?
They don't interbreed or fight?
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Here is another link for the snail.
http://www.wilmasthecause.org/Neritesnail.html

Frank,

I have never noticed any aggressive behavior between the shrimp. The Amanos tend to be pigs but they never pick on the other shrimp.

It is my understanding that the three types will not breed with each other. Amanos need salt but the Tigers and Cherry can breed in fresh.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings ... Looks Fantastic .. like the Island a lot...did you trim the Rotala bunch to the right ?.
It looks that way .
Matty is right the Blixa looks brilliant ..glad its going well for you ..I can't get those sort of
grass like plants to grow in my water either .

Well done... great design executed brillantly .
Few more close ups of the plant groups would be great ..the ones you did were great shots
...so clear ..not easy in a 100kb shot ...well done..

Love to see more .

Garry

Looks Fantastic

like the Island a lot...did you trim the Rotala bunch to the right? It looks that way .

Well done... great design executed brillantly .

Few more close ups of the plant groups would be great ..the ones you did were great shots
...so clear ..not easy in a 100kb shot ...well done..

Love to see more .

Countryfish,

First off, thanks for your comments and complements. It is nice to have people stop by every once and a while. Half of the problem is I don't have a camera on any sort of a regular basis. With that said, I would love to take some more shots but I probably wont have a camera for a while. School is out and I had been using the schools camera.

Rotala ~ Yes I did trim the right grouping of rotala. It took it about two weeks to grow back from the major hack job but it looks much better now. Doing a full bunch trim keeps the stems all about the same length and much bushier. Last weekend I did a major hack job to the left grouping of rotala. It hasn't grown back too much yet but I am sure it will in this next week or so.

Design ~ Thanks for the complement. I must say this is probably my favorite layout I have done yet. I think the biggest thing I have going for me is a nice solid mid ground of anubias on rocks. I do plan to continue to change a few things but I am not in any sort of a rush. None of the plans are for any kind of major change. Just a handful of little things. For instance, I would like to try and create some more depth by bring some blyxa on the right farther forward and adding in a little more rock work. The other change is the main grouping of star grass and rotala on the left. I would like to layer the rotala behind the star grass to try and create a little more depth there also.

New Fish ~ About three weeks ago I removed the last two giant danios and replaced them with 6 white clouds. Last weekend I added 12 more white clouds of the golden verity. There is certainly a lot of life moving around in the tank now. This gives me a total of 18 white clouds. I think I would like to add a few more regulars to balance the school. I am really enjoying these new fish. They are very active and display to each other often.

Thats it for now on this log. I will also update the Container Pond thread too.


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I like the great pearling shot of riccia in your signature wings.

PS. I scored a lucky buy with a new camera. It is still a a simple kodak easy share, but at least it is new & it is 5 mega pixel & my old one was only 3.

Last weekend I walked into my local BIG W store & they had a table with marked down stock. I was sure it was an error. The box contained the kodak camera plus kodak easyshare picture printer (doubtful I'll ever use the printer). Original price was $250. It was marked down to $50. The store assistant & I could find nothing missing - the only thing seemed to be that the box had a tear in it.

I grabbed it straight away.

You just never know wings, what might come your way. I'd love one of those super duper cameras, like LF or tetra's. But like you, I'm not prepared to spend that sort of money at the moment, just to take pictures of my fish. Fish & aquarium plants seem to be the only things my simple little camera struggles with. Family & other shots are just fine. I haven't tried the new one yet, or I have, but can't download. I have to get around to downloading the software. The software for the old camera doesn't seem to work with this one.

Cheers
TW

You just never know wings, what might come your way. I'd love one of those super duper cameras, like LF or tetra's. But like you, I'm not prepared to spend that sort of money at the moment, just to take pictures of my fish. Fish & aquarium plants seem to be the only things my simple little camera struggles with. Family & other shots are just fine. I haven't tried the new one yet, or I have, but can't download. I have to get around to downloading the software. The software for the old camera doesn't seem to work with this one.

I have come across deal like that before for film cameras. Actually my current film camera was that deal. I think it was a 250-300 dollar camera and I got it for 70 bucks.

I think the biggest reason I don't have a digital camera yet is that my wife was once a photo major so she doesn't want just any camera. I think she has her heart set on a Rebel Xt. Mean while I would much rather have something like the waterproof/shockproof point and shoot from Olympus. This is something I could take out on the trail when I got fishing and not have to worry about it getting wet or anything like that. There is no way the wife would let my out of the house, heading to the stream with a Rebel Xt. Nor would I really want to carry something like that around with me.

If I do happen to come across something cheap however I probably wont pass it up.







55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Shockproof, Waterproof, Freezeproof and Dustproof design gives active people the confidence to take this camera anywhere and shoot in nearly any condition. Plus, the wide-angle lens lets users capture more of what they see. Great for divers, surfers, rafters, skiers and anyone with an active lifestyle.

Sounds like just the camera for an active guy.


Cheers
TW

That's what I was thinking!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Just a little update:

I returned home (NC) from my trip back home (MI) to find the 55G in good condition considering it was left for over a week. No major algae issues or anything. I did however loose a couple of white clouds. I only found one body during the water change. I was rewarded with white cloud fry swimming around the top of the tank. I am guessing I have somewhere around 5 or so of them. I don't plan on doing anything special for the fry so I hope they will do will on their own.

In preparation for the trip I stopped dosing ferts on my normal day (Thursday). I cut the noon burst light off so I was only running just under 2 WPG. And that was pretty much the existent of things.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Congrats on the fry! Glad the tank was ok.

Wings - Where in NC are you? I'm wondering where the good fish stores are in the Charlotte area.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I am outside of Charlotte by maybe an hour. The only LFS I have been to in the Charlotte area was Fintastic]http://www.fintastic.us/[/link]. They probably has some of the better plants in the area which isn't saying too much. There is another pretty nice store in Gastonia called [link=Wetpets. This store is well kept but the plant section really bites!

In my new home town there are two LFS's. One has some nice Salt stuff while the other is more into freshwater. The one into freshwater just opened maybe two months ago and they started out with some nice plants but they don't seem to know how to keep them alive. The one into salt is mainly stocked with my trimmings in terms of plants.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I was hoping you wouldn't say fintastic had the best selection. I found them when I made a short visit a few weeks back. I mean, their plants were ok, and the rest of the stock was really nice. The store and staff were good, but their prices are probably 3-4 times what I see around here.

I'll have to check out the wet pets place in gastonia, thanks. There were still a couple I found in the phone book that I have to see too. Hopefully something can at least come close to the selection and prices I'm used too here. Otherwise I guess it's internet shopping for me!

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Are you now living down here or planning to move down here?

I also think fintastic was high but I really don't head over that way a lot. Pretty much everything I need or want I either get at the LFS here in town or via another forum's swap and shop section. In fact, I think all the plants in my tank came from other hobbyist.




55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I'll be down there mid july. I visited a while back to check out the apartment and area I'll be living in. I also scoped out for jobs.....and most importantly fish stores .

I was hoping the reef club there was active, unlike the one here.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I haven't really looked into clubs yet but I might sometime soon.

What brings you down here?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

My girlfriend already has a job there and I decided to follow her there. There's going to be more opportunity there for me from what I've seen anyhow. There's not a big job market here. in buffalo.

I don't know what freshwater or planted clubs are in the charlotte area, I haven't looked yet.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients