Hello :)

[Oldsgirl]

Hi everyone!

I just came across this forum, and it seems really nice.  I live in the Pasadena/Deer Park area, and have two 150 gallon tanks, and also a 1,500 gal above ground pond in my deck.  The direction I'm taking with the two indoor tanks has changed, and I want to use one to try my hand at live plants (though I really don't know too much about this and will need help!!) with smaller fish and other interesting things in there, like shrimp, etc.  

I'm glad I found a local forum for this, and look forward to learning more through the site.

~Eileen

[Nickintex]

Re: Hello :)

Hi there and welcome to HFB.

[fishboyt]

Re: Hello :)

Welcome!  :)

[greg_tsam]

Re: Hello :)

1500 gal above ground pond/pool?  What's in it?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Hello :)

Welcome to the Box!

[Somefishguy]

Re: Hello :)

Hello and welcome

[fishlady]

Re: Hello :)

welcome to the fishbox...
there are a ton of peeps on here that can surely steer you in the right direction as far as planted tanks go.....
tell us about what substrate your looking at using.....what kind of little fishies you've decided to go with....
are you going to put a co2 system on the tank?....

[CichlidFan]

Re: Hello :)

Welcome to the HFB

CF

[Fire_chair]

Re: Hello :)

Welcome.

[Oldsgirl]

Re: Hello :)

Thanks guys :)

Without getting into too long of a ramble about my tanks, here's how things have gone:

My first big tank: I had my seamonsters in it.  Had 2 red belly pacus, one black pacu, an oscar, and a RTC.  Of course they all got too big for the 150, so I built the pond outside so I could put them out there (really for the RTC, he was my favorite).  Before I got the pond up and running, the RTC died, and the tank wasn't so crowded anymore (he was super messy) plus to avoid trying to figure out how to heat the pond, I decided to just put koi in there (and a few lucky feeders!) and that's how the pond sits now.

The 2nd tank:  Picked it up for a really good price, plus I had the room, so this was going to be my planted tank.  Bought some sort of fertilizer to mix with the substrate (I don't remember specifically what it was) and set it up with rocks, driftwood, and fake plants just to get the look going.  I had 2 freshwater moray eels, that ate the other fish, and then they later died too (this is over a longer time frame... just condensed to make for shorter reading).  I still hadn't gotten any real plants, then found someone who was moving and bought a ton of convicts and cichlids for $15, so that tank ended up being redecorated by the new inhabitants.  

Hurricane:  Power is out, I go home, and my big pacu and oscar are dead.  I put the other 2 pacus and the bigger cichlids in the pond so they would have a better chance of living.  I drained their tank because I needed to move it to clear an additional filter, then when it got too cold, I put the pacus in with the cichlids, since their tank wasn't up and running.  I also acquired a royal clown knife, who is in that tank as well.

So I have the original seamonster tank empty, and though the big pacus look funny in the other tank, I think they're fine.  I think I'll put them back outside again when it warms up anyway.  I'm sure it's not unusual that I want to have a nice planted tank without spending a fortune on it, but I'm not sure how realistic that is.  I'm also not able to devote that much time to it, so I'd need a setup that's pretty bombproof, if that's possible.  I love the big fish, and would like to build a larger setup soon so I can get another RTC, but I think I want to do a tank with lots of smaller schooling type fish, and I've always like interesting little creepy crawlies, like shrimp, crabs, and crayfish.  

So much for keeping it short  :?
Here are some pics

This is the pond.  It's 8'x8', made of landscape timbers


I don't really have any of the old seamonster tank that are any good. This is all I have.  Now I only have the smaller red belly pacu, and the black pacu (he's in there... but its' really hard to see him)



This is the 2nd tank, from when I first set it up.  It's now the only one running, and thanks to the cichlids has new landscaping and floating fake plants

[fishlady]

Re: Hello :)

that is a gorgeous pond you have.....
and those are really nice tanks too Eileen.....
thanks for sharing your pics with us....

[wesleydnunder]

Re: Hello :)

Howdy! Welcome to HFB.

Mark

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Hello :)



Yep, you found the right place.   Big fishes, llittle fishes, green growies, creepie crawlies, bottom feeders & skum suckers.  We love 'em all.

[CichlidFan]

Re: Hello :)

Well ...I'm not sure about the scum suckers.... :P   Okay, I'm sure there's a place in the hobby for scum suckers too...

CF

[Zulaab]

Re: Hello :)

Welcome to the HFB !!  

This is a place of joy and fun !!