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small things make a big difference

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  • small things make a big difference

    The 135 tank I have set up... I bought used..and just set it up the way he had it... only a trickle bio wet dry filter with little tono flow.. some lights that are made from upside down gutters..(really) and the random coral.. (south african cichlids)  and filthy gravel..... so the tank has been up and running for a week now.. I did not do any major cleaning.. I justset it up to put the fish back in... Well the fish were none active.. hiding .... I introduced a couple new fish and they took the same stance.. non-active..... It worried me.... I did searches and ask friends and questioned the fish stores...... so friday I took all day, I cleaned what I could, I vaccumed the gravel and did a 50 gallon water change.. I re-did the lights,, (gutter DIYl lights  0and added some rocks and some clay pots and tried to give each fish a cubby hole...... when all was said and done.... same reaction.... non active  hiding fish...

    today saturday I went to aquarium world.. (man what a awesome place) anyway   I picked up some new bulbs, I got a water circulator, and some holy rock... went back to the tank and set this stuff up...... activity at last.... the fish seem to like the current and the new lights.. I also replaced the ballist on the lights... this DIY set up is a mess of inventiveness... it works but I think It will be replaced soon.... so the lights are not flickering, the water has current and the rocks are a added visual plus..... and my fish seem to respond...  

    Am I nuts, or did this really help the fish?  

    pic of new setup... notice the lights... I re-did them... upside-down gutters  ballist remote mount..
    Had about 900 gallons now I am tired and selling them off...

  • #2
    Re: small things make a big difference

    They were probably stressed out. After they settle in they'll become more active.

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    • #3
      Re: small things make a big difference

      looks nice cope........im sure the fishies appreciated the change from that coral.....

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      • #4
        Re: small things make a big difference

        notice the before picture above...
        I painted it today.. major difference..   notice to the right.. I made up fish profiles for all the fish I have in the tank... photo with thier species name..
        Had about 900 gallons now I am tired and selling them off...

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        • #5
          Re: small things make a big difference

          might be a better picture..
          Had about 900 gallons now I am tired and selling them off...

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          • #6
            Re: small things make a big difference

            looks great.
            I like the fish name tags
            Scarecrow : I haven't got a brain... only straw.
            Dorothy : How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
            Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
            Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.

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            • #7
              Re: small things make a big difference

              Cope -- Did you paint it black or the same color as your wall ?   Which one is the new paint ?
              I like your setup.. did you change the plumbing around to make it more efficient ?

              What fish do Jesper have
              180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
              110
              Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
              58 S. Decorus

              "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

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              • #8
                Re: small things make a big difference

                No I painted it black.... and I left the plumbing as is.... it seems to be working just fine... I purchased a currnet maker... notice the small fan motor on the right side inside the tank.... makes a nice current and the fish seem to like it..
                Had about 900 gallons now I am tired and selling them off...

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                • #9
                  Re: small things make a big difference

                  Tim  ..as much as I love to talk about my fish... I can not get any work done by standing around the tank..LOL  so since I own a sign shop.. I thought how cool would it be to make samll signs for each fish.. that way people can identify the fish in the tank... I think it's a one of a kinda idea... I also believe I have gone over the edge with all this fish stuff..... LOL
                  Had about 900 gallons now I am tired and selling them off...

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                  • #10
                    Re: small things make a big difference

                    looking good cope

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                    • #11
                      Re: small things make a big difference

                      Looks great with the black paint! You might have started something with the fish signs  
                      215g Malawi Peacocks and Mbuna
                      180g Tropheus Ikola and Bemba and Clown Loaches
                      58g Bristlenose breeding and grow out

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                      • #12
                        Re: small things make a big difference

                        Agreed - The black really makes a nice contrast to the bright colors of the gravel, fish, plants, etc.  Almost makes the pic with the old colors look "washed out".

                        Good idea on the fish signs - a nice touch to those curious who may not want to ask.
                        The ultimate oxymoron - Narcolepsy and ADHD.
                        Who says you can`t have it all??!!

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                        • #13
                          Re: small things make a big difference

                          i think it looked nice before too.....but it still looks good too now......and the fish id's were a good idea....
                          way to go cope......

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                          • #14
                            Re: small things make a big difference

                            cope - just noticed this, big difference in my opinion, looks awesome, the signs are cool, so how's mrs. coping with all this attention to fish :)
                            65 gallon - ADA 120p - planted
                            55 gallon - AGA standard - mix cichlid
                            30 gallon tall - eclipse acrylic - semi-planted

                            live and let live

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                            • #15
                              Re: small things make a big difference

                              Who cares.... :)

                              Just kidding.....I'm sure she is 100% on board..... :)

                              I like how the hardware on the stand, really stands out on it's own now too.

                              CF
                              Truth is the cement that holds the bricks and stones of a sane and civilized society together. Remove the former and the latter will crumble.

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