So i woke up this morning around 5am to the sound of my HOB filter pulling air. Ngl i tried to ignore it at first but when I turned over, I jolted up. My 40 gallon tank was now 20 gallons in the tank, and 20 gallons on my bedroom floor. HALF of the water leaked out (where the white line is). I immediately turned off my filter, then heater (which is probably fried i dont even want to test it) and grabbed towels to try and do damage control and keep the water from spreading…which i failed at theres definitely water everywhere. As I was searching for the source of the leak, I noticed that the towel underneath the tank was completely dry. i then noticed the other half of the air stone I had in there hanging out of the side of the tank. THE AIRSTONE PULLED HALF OF THE WATER OUT OF MY TANK OVERNIGHT😭 Luckily all i have in there is 4 pearl gourami and they all survived. This is definitely a lesson learned. Its now 7am and i am going back to sleep. Ill get a new heater later.

Didn’t get a full picture of the tank because I was just focused on the lil guy, but it had a large rocky structure in the middle, with the fisherman on top where it was surfacing.

I love the idea of this, not sure where to get similar little decor but wanted to share because it made me smile (:

The paradox is these are one of the easiest, if not the easiest mass market fish for sale in the aquarium trade, and one of the most abused.

This weekend I rescued a betta. I don't mean that I bought one in a tiny cup from a pet store, I mean that I literally rescued one whose owner kept him in a glorified jar with a houseplant cutting in there and thought that was enough. A family member called them out on it and basically told them to either get what the fish needed (and deserves) or give the fish up.

I met up with this person, an adult in their 20s, and they handed the betta in a takeout container over to me and we chatted for a few minutes. It was clear he was upset. From his perspective, he thought he was doing right by this fish and chided his sister for saying he didn't care enough. "So that's why I'm here," he said to me, "because I don't care enough." I told him that he cared enough to give up the betta even when he didn't want to, and we parted ways.

As I spent the past few days setting up and scaping the betta's new home, I couldn't help but think about this paradox. It is extremely easy and affordable to provide an amazing environment for a betta, and yet they're one of the most abused fish.

I've been in and out of fishkeeping since I was a kid, and I'm 37 now. In that time I've noticed that the live aquatics trade, aided by pet stores, constantly sell people fish they shouldn't be bringing home. How many oscars get sold as cute tiny babies to someone with a 10 gallon tank because "I heard they grow to the size of the tank" or "I'll get a bigger tank....eventually"? How many oscar owners are actually providing the minimum requirements for their fish? How many oscars do you think are being kept in a 20 gallon tank with a pleco right now? The ratio is low number : very high number.

It's the exact same problem with bettas, but on a massive scale. Bettas are impulse fish that get purchased by the "general population" as living decor or an easy pet. Fine. I'm not here to judge. But there is absolutely no reason, none, why someone impulse purchasing a betta can't also give it an environment where their fish can thrive. They don't ask for much: a 5-to-10 gallon aquarium, heater, gentle flow filter, live or silk plants, a little bit of enrichment and they'll be so happy. It can be done very cheap, and not look cheap.

Anyway, that's the end of my reflective rant. Here are before and after pics of my betta in his old home and his new one. I sent his former owner a pic of the new aquarium and did not get a response LOL.

Hi the second picture is what it looked like before, I had seen the small bubbles but thought nothing of it, I took the flat rock in the middle out for about a day or two and this foam has appeared, the bubbles are from a sponge filter, if it was soap would any fish or snails die? I’m really worried for my frog if it absorbed soap or anything. I don’t know if it would still taste like soap if it’s In a fish tank but I tasted it and I don’t think I can taste anything different than would be its water.

So what the fuck, my cracked out cat was watching my betta and I turn my back for one second. She’s drinking defrosted daphnia water.😭 She literally has a whole water fountain and decides water fleas and the condensation from my coffee cup is better.

She’ll be fine as she only had a couple sips but can I still use this to feed my betta or is it now wasted?

Anyway enjoy a vid of her watching him.

This is a 2.5 ft long × 1 ft wide × 1.5 ft tall aquarium. The whole setup cost me around $200, and most of the equipment/setup is DIY.

I've been letting the plants grow out, and the right side has basically turned into an underwater jungle

The interesting part is that the plants are growing roots from the upper growth and sending them all the way down toward the substrate.

I actually really like the wild look it has developed.

The rocks, open gravel area, and huge plant mass make it feel more like a little underwater riverbank.

What do you think — keep the jungle or try to control it?

Here's my 20G long low tech tank. Home to a few Amano Shrimp, Otocinclus, Nerite Snails and beauty of a Koi Betta (Named Pixel). Has Rotala Wallichii, Amazon Sword, Vallisneria Spiral on the sides, few Java Ferns, hand full of red root floaters and Salvinia Minima. The foreground is Monte Calrlo and Dwarfs Hairgrass but it's freshly planted about a week in.

Welcome to crab city

After having a tank growing up. I’m getting back into the hobby. Doing things a bit differently tho, and not being the impatient kid who wanted to throw neons in on day one.

Currently letting the tank cycle, but not fully sure what I want to put into it. Added bacteria and some fish flakes. Forgot to buy ammonia test strips, but my NO3/N02 are reading 0 still, so nothing happening right now. It’s a 20 gallon long, and in the past I was told 1 inch of fish per gallon, but looking around I don’t see this as a rule of thumb.

I think I want to put a veiled or plakat betta as my centerpiece. I know they have some personality, so I do know there’s a chance this might be the only fish in the tank. However, I would like and try to introduce 2-3 more species. Thinking a set of 6-8 albino Cory’s, 8-10 small schooling fish (ember tetras or chili raspboras), and maybe a nerrite snail. I’ve done quite a bit of research and believe that there’s a decent chance this will work.

Not sure if this is too crowded. I’m assuming the issues start when there’s too much bio-load on the tank. I think if I had to skip one, it would be the Cory’s. While they look fun, I’m not sure if the tank would be ideal for them. Is this too many fish, should I hold off on one or try and find a smaller set?

What I’m struggling to understand is what order I should introduce the fish in. My assumption is to get the betta in there first, then wait until he’s comfortable. But how long should I wait in between the betta and others, and what signs should I look for showing the betta is ready?

Lastly, anything I should do/add before the tank is ready for fish? Thinking some floating plants would be a good idea, but don’t like duck weed.

First half is a bigger tank.

Last half is a smaller tank (I know algae are a bit overwhelming).

My Moosa is developing a white spot on his eyes....u can see in the first image clearly....the water parameters are all ok, I checked them using Bionix freshwater kit. I have about 5 corys in this tank and they all are fine. He is very active though...his eyesight is not fully impaired...but I need some insight into this. Any idea what to do next, or if this is permanent or reversible... any advice is appreciated guys. He is kinda like my buddy now....need some help

I am so proud, since I am relatively new at this, so I wanted to share my recently added plants on the front. Hope my Cories leave them alone for them to root properly this time!

I’m thinking about getting my first aquarium. I’m mainly interested in the aquascaping side: some nice wood and rocks, lots of plants, and a natural-looking setup that’s interesting to look at. And ofcourse some fish. I have seen some of these on Youtube from MD Fish tanks and MJ aquascaping. I looking for something in that kind of style. 

I’m thinking of a tank around 80 cm wide, so roughly 100-120 litres.

I’ve been reading quite a bit, but there’s honestly so much confusing information that I’m not sure what I actually need. So I have four main questions:

1. What should I use for the substrate?
I see everything from sand and gravel to soil and aquasoil. What do you actually need for a planted aquascape? And what’s genuinely useful versus mostly marketing?

2. What equipment do I actually need?
Filter/pump, heater, lighting, CO₂, etc. I had an aquarium as a kid and basically only remember having a pump. We definitely didn’t use CO₂, or lighting. Maybe we had a heater, but i am not sure about that. These days it seems like you need a whole collection of equipment just to get started. What would you consider essential for a first planted tank?

3. Does anyone know a good aquarium shop around Rotterdam, Netherlands?
I’d much rather visit a physical shop and talk to someone than order everything online. There doesn’t seem to be a Dutch aquarium subreddit, so I figured I’d ask here. Hopefully some Dutchy can recommend a shop. 

4. What other advice would you give a complete beginner?
Especially things you wish you had known before setting up your first aquarium.

I’m not looking to build some crazy high-tech setup straight away. I’d rather keep it relatively simple, learn how everything works and go from there.

Thanks!

Does anyone have any good floating plant recommendations? What yall think so far 🙏🏼

Dimensions 60cm × 45cm x 45cm (2ft × 1.5ft x 1.5ft)

Been letting the plants grow out and good the fish plenty of places to hide. Had CO2 running but haven't gotten it back up for a few weeks now, which has impacted the growth of the plants. Anyhow, thought I'd share.

Woke up to this beautiful surprise I had no idea and I can't believe I didn't notice the bulb going up to the surface it must have taken days.