Rob's 9g Journal

[misterking]

I just think bettas are soooo overdone in small tanks! I love them but, I'm more a sucker for natural colours (I only buy wild-coloured angels, I only buy wild-coloured discus, no albinos etc etc). And as I said in the other thread, I don't think I'll get the girls in my house on side with me having a frog haha.

 

[Fishman1995]

hmmmm well then, why not do a Red Flame Dwarf Gourami (very beautiful as i have one with Felix in my 5 gallon) with a small group of BB shrimp and either a small group of Rasbora's or Dwarf cory cat's?

 

[misterking]

I gave up on the idea of dwarf cories a while back because there's not much swimming space on the bottom of the tank. I may replace the pygmy gourami with a dwarf or honey gourami if I can't find one, it's definitely on the cards. But again, I'd go for the natural coloured ones, no "cobalt blues" or "red flames".

So the plan:

Pygmy gourami (if I can find one)
6 ruby tetras
bumblebee shrimp.

 

[Fishman1995]

bingo lol, i think that sounds great

 

[riseabovethesun]

I think that plan sounds very nice I also like the natural colors. Plus, you're getting shrimp!

 

[misterking]

That I am Though at the same time I've been looking at prices, and bumblebee shrimp are a bit beyond what I'd want to pay. So I'll be going for either natural coloured cherry shrimp, or Caridina temasek. They're kinda boring colour-wise (see-through/brown/green, kinda like smaller amano shrimp) but hey they'll be cute I think Especially if I've got the strong colours of my ruby tetras and my centrepiece.

 

[riseabovethesun]

I love the natural colored RCS, I'm pretty sure I have some because on the shrimp forum I took photos to have it identified and they just called it "a wild cherry shrimp" and it is like brown and marbled like splotchy, REALLY pretty whatever he is. The bee shrimp are a bit pricey, I think I paid 2.99 a piece for mine and 12.99 a piece for my CRS.

Ghost shrimp are totally cute and they're see through so I'm sure the other "boring" kind will be great! I think the shrimp and fish will really compliment one another if you do get those ones.

 

[HEADIN]

Been readin this thread as its bn growin and starting to Love the sound of a smaller dedicated tank to just 1 or 2 little groups. If I ever get the chance 2pick up a small tank at any stage wud defo give it a go. Just listenin 2every1s diff ideas n inputs is enuf to really get the imagination workin OT! Keep at it MK.

 

[misterking]

I actually just found bumblebee shrimp for muchhhh cheaper off another website. All this depends mainly on what's available at the time, as I said I want my first inhabitants in during my reading week which should be around mid-october, or maybe earlier if I have a free day I can take delivery in, depending on how long the cycle takes

 

[misterking]

I've decided I'm not actually going to stick to a plan with my shoal.. I've been doing YET MORE research (which I can't seem to stop doing) and found that the comments on a website about the rasbora-types weren't necessarily true, and having read accounts on another forum it seems I could easily keep them. So, my shoal more depends on what is available online at the time and what impulse actually takes me when I'm buying haha However the shoal will definitely consist of one of the following species:

Sundadanio axelrodi
Microdevario kubotai
Trigonostigma hengeli
Boraras brigittae
Boraras merah
Axelrodia riesei

Google the above and let me know your personal favourites. Will be interesting to hear I'm sure this'll be one hell of a decision when I come to stocking... They all require basically the same water parameters, and all stick to roughly 2/3cm, and they're all gorgeous. If I could have all, I would

 

[misterking]

Well someone has at last bid on my tank. It has about an hour and a half left, hopefully more people will bid so I get more money for it, but I'll be getting at least £50 for it so will be able to buy the rest of the equipment I need as soon as I get the money

 

[Thyra]

I'm curious - you are looking at fish, etc. on line and I gather you are expecting to buy that way because you have mentioned being home for delivery. Are shipping charges that much less in the U.K.? I have checked here on live plants and fish and it looks like the minimum shipping charge for anything alive is $30 - even if you just order a $3 item. Some times there are ads for "free shipping" if you spend over $175 or in one case I saw over $500!!

 

[misterking]

The delivery charges are quite expensive yes, about £15/$23 for the fish, but the fish are fairly cheap (more so than in stores) and it's the only way I can get hold of the fish I want. The plants are vastly cheaper at about £4/$6 so not so bad there. If I can find any of the plants I want in store at a good price/quality (more so in the case of the vallis which will almost certainly be available) I'll buy it there.

 

[HEADIN]

Mk buy most of ur gear of ebay. Specially ur plants. A lot of sellers give free delivery.

 

[misterking]

That's true, definitely need to have a proper look at some plants on ebay.

The tank sold, for only £50. Whoever won it got a frickin' steal..

 

[HEADIN]

Absolutely mate. All my stuff of late ive bn getin, my filter, heater, moss, snails etc all free delivery. And alot of sellers do the plants in bundles. Well worth a look.

 

[HEADIN]

An added note mk just on ebay here and all shrimps. Red crystal shrimp, orange sunkist shrimp, bumble bee, 30 red cherry shrimp for 20quid free p&p.

 

[misterking]

Well it would appear the buyer of my tank is messing me around, 4 days and 2 emails later I've had no reply from him. I've opened a dispute on ebay and I guess we'll see.. If it doesn't sell I'll have to wait even longer to buy equipment :/

 

[ZackLanduyt]

I hate baf ebayers they suck so much I am sorry to hear that mk

 

[misterking]

I move into my new house tomorrow And it's suddenly struck me.. I always knew where my tank was going to go in the room but never considered if the set of drawers would hold the weight of the tank.. >.<

It did hold my weight for a good 10/20 minutes while I was vigoruously painting the ceiling, I think it should be fine? If not there's always my desk which is very sturdy but I don't wanna take up too much work space.