What to do with my 100 Gallon tank

[Amandas tank]

Oh my, you must be kidding LOL! Buenos Aires Tetra? I was going to get some of these guys to put with my Puntius Denisonii and then I ended up with Angelfish that needed a home ASAP and a Betta also in immediate need of a new home, so no Buenos Aires for me! They are not only plant eaters but excellent fin nippers too Let me guess, you like the Red Eye tetra too? Online it doesn't look very nice but in person they are quite pretty.

You take very good pictures. Thanks for sharing you "shameless, shamless enabler" Ha!!! Too funny. They look beautiful together. Some Lemons and some Red eyes would be amazing in this group!!!

[Amandas tank]

Originally Posted by tomfromstlouis

Dennison barbs look pretty cool, but if they get 6" you are right I doubt you could house many more. I KNOW angels and the betta and the loaches are interesting, so maybe what you need here is a mental adjustment.

Don't give up on me yet! Consider this: what if you viewed your tank as an aquatic garden that happens to have fish, instead of as a fish tank? You have not told us about the plants and surely we cannot let that go. When I visit the botanical garden I do not wish for more active animal life. I am pleased to see any at all and amused with their interaction with an awesome space. Angels are full of character, so are bettas. My initial impression is that you have been conditioned by TV to expect drama and action every minute. But the true beauty of a planted tank is the calm of the little things that happen with a complex interaction over time of natural elements compressed together.

That said, the skittish fish might benefit from a larger school; I have no experience with dennison barbs. Kuhlis like larger groups too. If you want to add a new element consider amano shrimp. They are large enough to not be eaten by the angels and fascinating to watch.

Hey TomfromStLois! If you are still following this thread, I wanted to update you about a question you had asked...what plants do I have. Well, I have had some help from TPT folks, especially OVT and HighDesert and now have a great prospective plant list. Here it is!

~2-3 Red Tiger Lotus
~2-3 Green Tiger Lotus
~5-8 Amazon Swords
~15-20 Rotala indica (Rotala roundifolia)
~20-30 Echinorodus tenellus (Narrow Leaf Chain Sword)
~4 Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis)
~2-3 Water Sprite
~8 Ludwidgia repens
~2 Bacopa Australis
~2 Rotala Rotundifolia 'green'
~3 Asian Ambulia
~3 limnophila sessiliflora
~4 Hygrophlia Kompact

Now all I need is to find some folks who have these plants available. You really gave me that push in the right direction to help me fall-inlove with this hobby again. I feel great about the plan I am now taking for my "Aquatic Garden". This tank will be my Zen when it is finished. Thank you so much Tom and everyone else who has been helpful offering suggestions, tips and helping out with water issues etc.
You are all great and I appreciate every one of you!

[driftwoodhunter]

I wish I could help you out on your plant quest, but I don't have any of those. I USED to have some, but they got eaten ; )

I've never paid attention to the red eye tetra - I know Petsmart has them, but I guess they never jumped out at me. (I was going to say they never caught my eye...) I did just now google them, and they get to be bigger than I realized, a plus. The scales look like they'd show up large and very metallic, too, like an Odessa Barb (another one I'd like. No room for any more tanks!) So I may have to give them some thought. I wonder how well they school? I've considered Congos and Diamond tetras, but I don't think they school well enough for me - that's my #1 priority. Yes, I know all about rummy nose, but I keep reading how ultra sensitive they are. Scared me off. Now you've given me an idea for a new thread in the fish forum...I guess you're the enabler now - lol.

[Amandas tank]

I've always read Rummynose Tetras are good for beginners and that they have a warning for their keepers. They're red nose will "go out" when the water quality is poor.

Male Odessa barbs are gorgeous. Someone suggested the Diamond tetras because as they mature they become very beautiful and shimmer under light like diamonds. That's pretty cool.
The Red eye was never impressive to me either until I watched some youtube videos. That's a good way to check out fish to see how they look and behave in home aquaria. I too have concidered congos. They are awesome in planted tanks but their colors diminish in sparsley planted tanks. All the videos I've watched of them shows them schooling together, but I've read they are shoalers rather than schoolers. I spose they school when someone is close to the tank and that's why they are always schooling in videos. Hmmm.

I fish I absolutely love, but can not have is the Rummynose Rasbora. So beautiful! Blue body and red head. Requiring very cool water, among other things, they have needs that I cannot meet with my current fish. If I could have another large tank, I would definetely concider 40 of these!

Going to find your new thread now

Originally Posted by driftwoodhunter

I wish I could help you out on your plant quest, but I don't have any of those. I USED to have some, but they got eaten ; )

I've never paid attention to the red eye tetra - I know Petsmart has them, but I guess they never jumped out at me. (I was going to say they never caught my eye...) I did just now google them, and they get to be bigger than I realized, a plus. The scales look like they'd show up large and very metallic, too, like an Odessa Barb (another one I'd like. No room for any more tanks!) So I may have to give them some thought. I wonder how well they school? I've considered Congos and Diamond tetras, but I don't think they school well enough for me - that's my #1 priority. Yes, I know all about rummy nose, but I keep reading how ultra sensitive they are. Scared me off. Now you've given me an idea for a new thread in the fish forum...I guess you're the enabler now - lol.

[driftwoodhunter]

My lfs always has diamond Tetras onhand, and they are absolutely gorgeous. It's as if they were rolled in giant hologram sequins. Like many fish, they look at their best when natural light bounces off them.

I did watch quite a few vids on the Rummynose tetra, and I simple must have some - lol I have a total of 4 tanks to fill, so two have now had fish selected ; )

Apparently Odessa Barbs prefer cooler water - in the mid 60s to low 70s - will the Rummynose Rasbora fit that requirement? maybe you could have both...

[Amandas tank]

Originally Posted by driftwoodhunter

My lfs always has diamond Tetras onhand, and they are absolutely gorgeous. It's as if they were rolled in giant hologram sequins. Like many fish, they look at their best when natural light bounces off them.

I did watch quite a few vids on the Rummynose tetra, and I simple must have some - lol I have a total of 4 tanks to fill, so two have now had fish selected ; )

Apparently Odessa Barbs prefer cooler water - in the mid 60s to low 70s - will the Rummynose Rasbora fit that requirement? maybe you could have both...

Well, the Rummy nose tetra can handle from 76-80 degress F and the Odessa barb up to 77 degrees F. So, I would aim to keep the temp at 77.

You are so lucky to have 4 more tanks to fill! I only have the one (and my QT)

[driftwoodhunter]

Oh, I was thinking of the Asian Rummynose & Odessa for you - lol

[Amandas tank]

Originally Posted by driftwoodhunter

Oh, I was thinking of the Asian Rummynose & Odessa for you - lol

Lmao! That is funny! I will have the Asian Rummynose one day for sure. I love it! And the Odessa are so awesome and would be nice in a 6' + tank with other cooler water fish...barb species tank would be sweet So many great fish and not enough tanks. I need 9 tanks LOL!

[Amandas tank]

Your close ups look great! Can you post a full tank shot? I'd love to see

[GMYukonon24s]

You have some beautiful fish. Nice Job with the picture taking!

[driftwoodhunter]

Originally Posted by Amandas tank

Your close ups look great! Can you post a full tank shot? I'd love to see

Do you mean me?

[Amandas tank]

Originally Posted by driftwoodhunter

Do you mean me?

Yeppers

[Amandas tank]

Originally Posted by GMYukonon24s

You have some beautiful fish. Nice Job with the picture taking!

Not sure if your talking to Amanda or Driftwoodhunter. I agree Dirftwoodhunter has awesome pics though if that's who you're talking to! I love the Tetra closeups! Gorgeous!

[driftwoodhunter]

Took me a while to take a shot, but here it is, it's only a few months old and I have a lot to do to it yet. Being a low tech tank the growth is very, very slow, but I like it that way...



The crinum on the far left were just planted yesterday and will straighten out more, the clump of foating plants on the right is Brazilian Pennywort and it broke loose from the stems planted in the middle of the tank. It makes such a great floater that I'm going to leave it (although spread it out some)

[Amandas tank]

Originally Posted by driftwoodhunter

Took me a while to take a shot, but here it is, it's only a few months old and I have a lot to do to it yet. Being a low tech tank the growth is very, very slow, but I like it that way...



The crinum on the far left were just planted yesterday and will straighten out more, the clump of foating plants on the right is Brazilian Pennywort and it broke loose from the stems planted in the middle of the tank. It makes such a great floater that I'm going to leave it (although spread it out some)

Holy Cats! I am blown away! Your tank is incredible! It looks like it never ends and you could just swim under that huge piece of wood and away in an underwater forest! I have my Pennywort doing the same ting. My Betta and smallest Angel like to "creep" through the stuff all the time. The little Angel actually positions itself completely on it's side and slices through it. First time I saw this, I ran to the tank really upset thinking s/he died and was stuck in the plants!

I just saved this to my desktop so I could get a closer look. Breathtaking!