BKK Money Pit *Mystery Deaths*

[Betta Maniac]

Multiple tank syndrome strikes again ... Right now I’m planning to house just Taiwan Bees* in the tank. This tank is mostly about aesthetics for me. I just love the way BKK look.


Crap Cell Phone pics of my TB in their breeder box attached to my CBS tank:




TANK
Mr. Aqua 720

SUBSTRATE
ADA Aquasoil Amazonia (New)
BorneoWild Bacter

FILTER
Aquatop Hob w/UV (Seachem Matrix and Purigen)
Large Sponge Filter (seeded from my CBS tank)

LIGHT
Finnex FugeRAY

HARD(ish)SCAPE
Manzanita
Cholla Tubes
IAL

PLANTS
Needle Leaf Java Fern
Xmas Moss
Peacock Moss
Frogbit
Dwarf Water Lettuce
Salvinia minima
Red Root Floaters
Fissidens

Water will be RO reminerialized with Nutrifin Cichlid Conditioner (as per Speedie408, the source of my shrimp)

*If I fail at creating a self sustaining population, I might add some high-grade CBS down the road. But this isn’t ideal IMO.

[Betta Maniac]

You can't really see it in the pic, but the Extreme Ruby Red has the coolest black swirls! He's like a little dragon.

[BeachBum2012]

Sounds like its going to be a very cool project and those are some very nice shrimp.

I have a Ray 2 over my Mr Aqua 720 and love it for what its worth.

[IWANNAGOFAST]

if you're going for those plants and no co2, I would go for the fugeray instead, it's lower light so you won't run into co2 issues.

[Betta Maniac]

Thanks, LOL! Back and forth I go on the light ... Aqua Forest has a nice one too in the same price range, but it's out of stock per the website.

I've been obsessing about BKK for a couple years. Now that their price is more in line with other "nice" shrimp, I can justify getting them. They’re actually CHEAPER than the branded lines of CRS/CBS!

[BeachBum2012]

Originally Posted by IWANNAGOFAST

if you're going for those plants and no co2, I would go for the fugeray instead, it's lower light so you won't run into co2 issues.

This is a good point about the Ray2 vs Fugeray. I have my Ray2 hanging 6 inches above my tank because it is so strong. I'm dosing and injecting co2. Might be a bit much for low tech.

[Betta Maniac]

Well it sounds like I've found my light then.

[Green_Flash]

If you could I would wait and see if the BW or benibachi soils will be available then (last I heard end of year?) I like ADA aquasoil, its great for plants. But I feel the next step would be specialty shrimp soil.

Also I would go with the 60-P, it is very nice in person and TB's look great in nice displays.

[Betta Maniac]

Originally Posted by Green_Flash

If you could I would wait and see if the BW or benibachi soils will be available then (last I heard end of year?) I like ADA aquasoil, its great for plants. But I feel the next step would be specialty shrimp soil.

I can't find any firm dates (or even vague dates) about when either of those might become available here. “Soon” on a website--the best I can find for Benibachi and more than I can find for BW--could mean anything from next week to never. If you've found something specific, point me to it, please!

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by Betta Maniac

TANK
ADA 60-P or Mr. Aqua 720

LIGHT
Finnex FudgeRAY (I think, haven’t bought it yet)

PLANTS
Java Fern
Xmas Moss
Peacock Moss
Java Moss
Anubias
Frogbit

Those plants can grow with sunlight from a south window. Thus a single tube SolarMax light strip would work. You can get 1 for $30 at petblvd.com

[somewhatshocked]

I think you'll enjoy the FugeRay (FudgeRay made me laugh! And made me hungry.) on your tank quite a bit. And you'll never have to replace LEDs.

Looking forward to seeing where this tank goes. Really nice to see more people raising TBs.

[Betta Maniac]

Apparently I have Christmas Fudge on the brain, LOL! I'm really excited about the BKK. They're just very, very cool.

Here's a shot of the murky tank. I ended up picking up some wood at Albany Aquarium when I was there and made an arching "cave" out of it. Also added some micro chain sword that Speedie408 gave me. Will add more when the cholla shows up and I can finish scaping.

[Betta Maniac]

Filter showed up busted. *grrrr* Supposed to have a replacement tomorrow. And so it goes ...

[BeachBum2012]

That's some pretty cool looking wood you've got there. Sucks about the filter though.

[Betta Maniac]

New one will be here tomorrow. In the meantime, I've got a little powerhead moving the water around and tonight I seeded the tank with a sponge and mulm from my CRS tank.