Journal The “Won’t Someone Please Think Of The Children!” Build

[NC AL]

There are lots of baby fish in my 20 gallon. They are from two different broods. The first had 2 grow up and the second has about 8. It is not certain which fish they are, but based on tail fin structure I am confident they are platys. Now the funny thing is, I am fairly certain my platys are all female. This is based on a knowledgeable guy at the LFS and my research into distinguishing between the two sexes. I have had the platys for less than 3 months, so they must have been getting it on in the fish store.

Anyways, I feel I am at my max bioload for my 20g tank and definitely don’t need one of the babies being a male and reaching sexual maturity. I have always had a kind heart for animals and can’t bring myself to eliminate them. Soooooo…….

Excuse for me to get another tank. This will be a temporary housing until they get old enough for me to sell or give away. Also lets me practice a little more aquascaping.



I started searching for smaller tanks on Prime Day, but ended up finding a great deal on Waterbox Clear Mini 6. So good I bought 2. My coral frag tank is getting an upgrade too! The Fzone nano light was on sale, and I thought for $60 it is worth a try. I set it up today. I really like the light. Very powerful, too powerful for my current needs. Very adjustable using a basic user friendly app.



This is my tentative hardscape. Suggestions and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.





Plants will be ready next week. I am using a few new ones and a few from my 20g. The plan is to make this heavily planted so that there will be very little maintenance and eventually only monthly water changes (if any). It will have a tiny nicrew HOB filter, but that is mainly for a little water movement.

Things should start to come together quickly over the next week.

 

[JayP]

When I started my first tank, I got an extra fish mixed in with my Cardinal Tetras. It was too small for me to identify for a long time, but I gradually suspected and confirmed it was a Platy. I didn't want it to be lonely so I got 2 more and I thought they were all female. It wasn't more than a month later that I first spotted babies. Before I knew it, I had about 40 Platys. I gave all away except for about 3 small ones that I couldn't catch. Now, as you can see in the reel below, I have a bunch again. I don't want to be a fish breeder but these guys are the friendliest fish I have, They're like puppy dogs. I've decided I'm going to build a tank just for them and let them go nuts. Each time it gets too out of hand, I'll just give a bunch away.

As far as the 3 months...

Key Facts About Platy Reproduction

• Gestation Period: A single pregnancy lasts about 21 to 35 days.
• Continuous Pregnancy: Platies can store sperm from a single male inside their body for several months, meaning a female can deliver multiple batches of babies back-to-back even without a male present.
• Brood Size: Each time, a female gives birth to 10 to 50+ fry (babies), depending on her size, age, and health.
• Lifespan/Maturity: Platies reach sexual maturity at around 4 months of age and can start reproducing immediately

 

[JayP]

By the way, I've had one of the Fzone Nano lights for some time now and I really like it. It replaced an ONF Flat Nano light that died after about 6 months.

 

[NC AL]

• Gestation Period: A single pregnancy lasts about 21 to 35 days.
• Continuous Pregnancy: Platies can store sperm from a single male inside their body for several months, meaning a female can deliver multiple batches of babies back-to-back even without a male present.

Yep, but assuming these are correctly identified as female, hopefully, eventually they would have to stop having babies...

• Lifespan/Maturity: Platies reach sexual maturity at around 4 months of age and can start reproducing immediately

The older babies will be easy to catch. For the last week or so, I have been moving my net around in the water as I feed my fish. They currently swim up to and in the net now. Like you said they are very friendly and don't shy away when my hands are in the tank. The younger ones come out and swim around the top around feeding time. I guess I just have to get them out before they turn 4 months old!

• By the way, I've had one of the Fzone Nano lights for some time now and I really like it. It replaced an ONF Flat Nano light that died after about 6 months.

I have only had it running for a day. My only "complaint" is that it is a little too strong for my purpose. I have it maxing out around 20% and I think that will be too bright. Maybe not. Its hard to say without everything in the tank. The adjustment intervals are pretty small, so that is a really good feature. The plan is for this tank to be a low energy tank.

 

[NC AL]

Completed the hardscape today. I also built and stand for the light. This should make it easier to move around and out of the way. It also gives the light a little more elevation above the tank. I am pretty sure I am going to move the filter onto the other side. In the back, the flow is harsh where my taller plants will be planted and doesn’t really get a good enough flow throughout the tank. If this doesn’t look good, I might have to go to a little canister filter.

 

[Koan]

That wood looks great! Always surprising how much better they look wet

Do you remember where it's from?

 

[NC AL]

That wood looks great! Always surprising how much better they look wet

Do you remember where it's from?

Yep, I was hoping to get one more small piece in, but everything seemed too cramped.

I bought it off Amazon. Here is the link. Decent price and came with 3. It’s always a gamble buying off Amazon, but you get 3 chances to get a nice piece. I actually really like 2 of the pieces. The third was ok.

Aquarium wood

 

[JayP]

You're doing a pretty good job on these, for a saltwater guy.

 

[NC AL]

You're doing a pretty good job on these, for a saltwater guy.

Ha!, thanks. I have really enjoyed dabbling in the freshwater side. I really contemplated switching my 65g to freshwater. I just don’t think I can do it. I am really good at the saltwater side. And too be honest, at this point, I make more $$$ than I spend on it. I seriously made close to $1,000 just this summer selling coral. It’s paying for my freshwater expenses! Seriously though I have discussed with my wife getting two 50g tanks, slightly scaling down the reef tank and a significantly upgrading the freshwater.

 

[MrJG]

Awww the little tiny baby co2 diffuser!

 

[JayP]

And too be honest, at this point, I make more $$$ than I spend on it. I seriously made close to $1,000 just this summer selling coral. It’s paying for my freshwater expenses!

That's awesome! I'd heard and read that the coral frag market has been a bit down for awhile. I've also read that pricing is crazy. I occasionally check out the frag tanks at a local higher-end LFS and their prices seem high, but then again, their prices are high on everything.

 

[NC AL]

That's awesome! I'd heard and read that the coral frag market has been a bit down for awhile. I've also read that pricing is crazy. I occasionally check out the frag tanks at a local higher-end LFS and their prices seem high, but then again, their prices are high on everything.

I am just a small time hobbyist. The majority of my stuff, I sell dirt cheap. Usually $10-$20, less than 50% of what retail is. I usually give extra too. I have been helped out in the hobby so I try to return that. Most of my stuff is easier to grow, so it appeals to a wide range of hobbyist. I don’t have a large frag system, just my little display tank. I am always breaking off pieces of the harder coral when cleaning. Keep it for a month or two and then when I have enough, I put it up on Facebook marketplace. Post up on Thursday and most of it is sold by the end of the weekend.



I have just put together a little (like super little) grow out tank to keep my display tank more tidy.

 

[Koan]

(On principle )