Hypoptopoma Haven

[toksyn]

Well, I've been on this forum for surprisingly long without ever having shared an aquarium journal. That's not to say that I don't have any (5 active right now ) but I wasn't really prepared to share them - my zeal definitely outstripped my reason (and capacity), and they showed it.

So, here's to changing all of that!

First, I made a stand for a 48G GLA tank. Actually, I made two. I tried my hand at using a rickety circular saw for the first one in conjunction with applying the "measure once, pay twice, rush-it-like-it's-gonna-run-away" rule, which resulted in a not-quite-square finish with haphazard doors. It also developed some lovely character (read: it's sagging under the weight of the tank because what-does-an-electrical-engineer-know-about-bracing-sigh).

Then I procured a proper table saw and switched my strategy to "measure seven(teen) times, cut once". I assembled the now perfectly square pieces and beheld:



Seemed almost criminal to paint over that. Almost.



Those soft-close hinges from Blum are just too much fun! In fact, if anyone else sees this thread while trying to decide on their stand hardware, I would highly advocate these hinges (from Rockler) over the variety from Lowes or Home Depot. I've tried the full-overlay hinges from both, and the ones on this stand just blow them out of the water, not to mention having integrated dampening. /gushing-about-cabinet-hardware

As I alluded to earlier, the aquarium is actually running, cycled, and populated. It's also barely planted and lit with ... a halogen floor lamp. For now. That lamp has grown the lushest java moss I've ever seen in my tanks though, and that's without CO2. I don't even like java moss.

I promise an FTS once I've moved it over to the new stand and ... revised ... the lighting scheme but here are some shots of the inhabitants in the interim:

Parotocinclus cf. britskii




Hypoptopoma sp. Peru

[toksyn]

Reserved this spot for the future.

[Rush3737]

Stand looks great, and those are cool little fishies!

[toksyn]

Originally Posted by Rush3737

Stand looks great, and those are cool little fishies!

Thanks! Also, I love your avatar.

Danger zone!

[seanski21]

Woah another person in gainesville! I'll have to follow this one.

[Rush3737]

Originally Posted by toksyn

Thanks! Also, I love your avatar.

Danger zone!

Nice! The last few weeks have been greatly improved by having the show back!

[kwheeler91]

Looks like you did a good job but... I demand more pics! Especially a FTS!

Is there anything else in the tank with them?

[crazydaz]

Hey man! Nice fish!! I'm really starting to get into them myself recently.....any idea if the top species is related to the "Moth Cats" in Southeast Asia?

Wish we could see a full tank shot......would be kinda nice to get some sort of perspective on this tank!

[tex627]

That stand looks so clean and polished! Looking forward to a full tank shot.

[toksyn]

Originally Posted by kwheeler91

Looks like you did a good job but... I demand more pics! Especially a FTS!

Is there anything else in the tank with them?

FTS will be revealed soon enough . The only other things are some miscellaneous snails, a pair of assassin snails, and a lone Amano shrimp. There are 15 Parotocinclus and 14 Hypoptopoma in the tank.

Originally Posted by crazydaz

Hey man! Nice fish!! I'm really starting to get into them myself recently.....any idea if the top species is related to the "Moth Cats" in Southeast Asia?

Wish we could see a full tank shot......would be kinda nice to get some sort of perspective on this tank!

Thanks! I think they are only related insofar as being catfish. The Parotocinclus are more closely related to Plecostomus (family Loricariidae) while Hara jerdoni is in family Sisoridae. The Parotocinclus are also from Peru. That said, I'm not anything close to an ichthyologist so I don't really know what I'm talking about .

[toksyn]

Originally Posted by tex627

That stand looks so clean and polished! Looking forward to a full tank shot.

Thank you .

[toksyn]

Despite not having any CO2 or better lighting yet, it seems that the plants in this tank are doing quite well!

I moved all of my Cryptocoryne cordata "KR01" into this tank, and they have turned a very nice metallic pink / maroon:



I managed to capture some of the glittery characteristics of the leaf in the photo. Quite a neat transformation for plants that were just green with darker green tiger stripes prior to the transplant.

[toksyn]

Hypoptopoma sp. Peru


I know it's not the FTS, but here's another photo of the Hypoptopoma! They hang out like this, in a tight group, every night. It's quite something to see all of them together. The group isn't as dense as it could be since the lights have been on for a bit.

[toksyn]

Hypoptopoma gulare and Hypoptopoma sp. Peru


Nannostomus beckfordi

[toksyn]

Did some more planting, but I suppose there really is no reference to compare the current state to what it was like before. It's still nowhere near where I want it but I'm working on it in bits and pieces. Need to remove at least one rock and fill in the background, as well as move some Cryptocoryne around. Can't wait until I get rid of all the Wood Tight. Also, ignore the power cables. I promise they'll go away .



Nannostomus rubrocaudatus


Hypoptopoma sp. Peru




Amano Shrimp Squad


Parotocinclus cf. britskii


There's a >ahem< healthy amount of BBA springing up everywhere. The tank is definitely still in its beginning stages (the right side especially). What's odd is I'm not sure I mind the look of the BBA on the rocks. My priority is for the fish.