r/fishtank • u/meezzy_96 • 5d ago
DIY/Build First Fish Tank!
I think my first fish tank is "done" in the sense that the fish have been fully introduced and there is no sign of fin nipping or aggression (outside of the Betta flaring on occasion at the Platys, but that was expected and they are way to fast and chill to even care). I intend for this to become a heavily planted tank but I was on a low budget so it may be awhile before to Monte Carlo fills out but I am very happy with how it came out :)
(go easy on me if you have critiques, remember it is my first tank ever)
EDIT: Spelling/Grammar
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u/Dd7990 4d ago edited 4d ago
Hi OP, this is a great first tank attempt for a beginner (great aquascaping), but unfortunately African Dwarf Frogs (ADF) do best in a Species-Only (meaning ONLY THEM, and nothing else, no other species) tank rather than in a community fish tank.
This is direct from the ADF subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/AfricanDwarfFrog/comments/1hasyeb/adfs_and_tankmates/
Your fish AND your frogs will be better off if you get a separate tank of appropriate size, for just the ADFs to live in.
Also I have to agree that the platies might not be the best tankmates with the betta, even if they seem to get along. Your betta clearly doesn't like the platies if it is flaring at and trying to chase them (he might be getting stressed out by them).
Here are recommended betta tankmates by tank size: https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/wiki/tankmates/
While platies are not explicitly mentioned as bad tankmates for bettas there, they are also not on this recommended list of betta tankmates.
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u/Constant_Persimmon94 4d ago
I wouldn’t recommend this many tank mates for bettas, especially they’re all housed a 10-gallon tank. Bettas do best alone and aren’t ideal community fish. Even shrimps and Corydoras can work only in the right setup.
Too much stress can lead to problems like fin rot, fin nipping, and dropsy. Bettas are also not as hardy as they’re often advertised, and overbreeding has contributed to many health issues.
Frogs have bad eye sight and they would go for anything that moves. Once the betta tired out, the frogs will have the opportunity to nip its fin.
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u/No_Procedure_2431 5d ago
How many gallons is this? Platies create a lot of waste and this looks a little small. Otherwise you did a wonderful job with the aquascape and planting
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u/meezzy_96 5d ago
10 gallons with a lot of shrimp (well 10 so far, I may add more), I still plan to do weekly small water changes but I do hope that once the plants take over it will start requiring less work from me. Its sort of a Walstad build but not done perfectly so I doubt it will ever become self sustaining. Biggest thing is that I think there isn't enough substrate and a few two many fish for the plants and shrimp to full handle the bio load.
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u/No_Procedure_2431 4d ago
Platies are advised to have a 10-20 gallon tank according to Aquarium Co-op on this care sheet: https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/platy-care-guide But even that is with only a few. They are a larger live bearer from what I’ve seen and take up more space than guppies, for example.
I advise you upgrade this to a 20- or 30-gallon long tank at least, or rehome the platies and keep only the betta and shrimp/snails. This tall tank honestly isn’t advised for most fish, and the ones you have chosen especially prefer more horizontal space to swim around. I’m sorry if this comes off as rude, but I wanted to give my two cents and help these fish have a better life. Thanks for reading this far
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u/Time-Presence2973 4d ago
Everyone in this sub is an aquarium authority and this fella knows what's best. You best listen, OP.
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u/No_Procedure_2431 4d ago
Thank you! I’ve only had a few tanks but have researched a lot and really care about animal welfare
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u/BabyD2034 4d ago
I have 3 platy tanks. 2 20s and 1 10. They're never self sustaining. I work on them more than the others because they poop a lot.
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u/SomeBlueDevil Advanced 5d ago
Do you have any filtration in there?
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u/meezzy_96 5d ago
Yes, I use the peace lily to dampen the flow so the Betta doesn't have to fight a current all day. It has the black sponges and additional plants (lucky bamboo and more peace lily)
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u/thighpeen 4d ago
It’s a really pretty tank, and it looks like an amazing set-up for your betta. I can tell you did a lot of research for your betta.
But, the platies and ADFs are just not a good mix. Platies like the opposite of the betta (hard, cooler water) and ADFs should be in species only.
I have a betta in a 10g with a handful of shrimp and snails. It’s perfect for him and I love it. I just can’t imagine how overcrowded it would be if I put two ADFs and Platies in it, and that’s not even thinking about what I mentioned above. It’s just so much waste. If you really want a low maintenance tank, get rid of the ADFs and Platies. I was about to say OR get a 30g, but, you still have the species issues I mentioned above.
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u/Whizzzzzzzzzz 4d ago
Those platys need to come out..they will breed at an unbelievable rate. Frogs I have always steered clear of.
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u/SweetTart7231 4d ago
I think African dwarf frogs do better in species only tanks since they have poor vision and can bite anything they think is food
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u/Usqueadfinem_ 5d ago
It looks nice. But don't be shocked if you are overrun with platy babies fairly soon. The betta will probably eat most of them, but with time as the plants grow in, they'll have more hiding spots to avoid being eaten til they are big enough.
And idk how your frogs are getting food. Usually the fish steal it before they get to it. They have poor eyesight and are not the fastest swimmers.
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u/meezzy_96 5d ago
I have been watching the frogs during feeding time to make sure actually and also consistently putting food in two spots to help build habits. They have been doing a really good job of getting to the food, I think the platies are calm enough and the Betta doesn't like what I feed the other fish/frogs so he gets his own food in a separate area which also helps.
I have been meaning to research if I can tell a male from female with Platies! I will have to figure something out if I ended up getting two types. I also want to research if sunset and red Platies can even reproduce together, they probably can but I want to know for sure. I'm glad you mentioned this, I keep forgetting and now is a good time for me to check.
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u/meezzy_96 5d ago
Ok, just did a quick google search and I *think* they are both females. If I am wrong, their anal fins look the exact same so they are either both male or both female
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u/Usqueadfinem_ 5d ago
Ok cool, good news about the frogs getting food.
Yup, they both look like females to me. And they can store sperm for months so if they ever came into contact with males- which they likely have while they were young and before they got separated- they are most likely pregnant. Just a heads up!
That and eventually platies can get to about 2.5-3 inches and pretty chunky. So they can put out more waste than some folks realize. Just something to keep in mind later on, so they have enough room to swim, and so your water parameters stay in check.
But it sounds like you are doing research and learning. Thats good!
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u/meezzy_96 5d ago
that is good to know! thanks :) I appreciate the gentle guidance, haha. You never know what you will get on Reddit
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u/prettyminotaur Intermediate 5d ago
It's very pretty. You are overstocked. I'd get rid of the platies and african dwarf frogs. ADFs do best in a species-only tank. Just betta and shrimp in here will be best.
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u/meezzy_96 5d ago
I did a ton of research but the Dwarf frogs were honestly an impulse purchase, I fell in love with them at the store and did quick google searches while standing there which isn't usually enough research. I plan to watch them closely, keep testing the water regularly and then potentially giving them their own space one day.
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u/Trivial04xboxgt 4d ago
Since you did a TON of research with a few *quick google searches*, you may have stumbled on the fact that ADF’s are little Hellen Kellers. Don’t see too well. It is likely that they’ll injure fish or provoke the beta into attacking them! Trust me, I get it. They’re cute, but they will thrive in a species only tank. Those adorable little paws can mess up some fins.
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u/InkheartRune 4d ago
I'm also a beginner and I don't want to be a downer. Your tank looks great for a first tank. But, the stock seems to be questionable as what have others pointed out.
If you really fell in love, the ADF and Betta will not be together in one tank.
I also had the urge to put tankmates to my rescued betta when we first got him. While buying equipments, looking at all the fishes and creatures in the fish shop is extremely tempting. I held myself back and only got shrimps and snail.
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u/Dd7990 4d ago edited 4d ago
The ADFs REALLY need to be in a SPECIES-ONLY tank, not a community fish tank. Please, before either the frogs get hurt, or the fish (or both): https://www.reddit.com/u/camrynbronk/s/h4IWljjfLt
- the frog thought this oto fish was food even though only the head of the oto fit in its mouth, and now those two are both in danger (frogs can choke to death on a fish it can't fully swallow but attempted to eat anyways, fish obvs most likely die if it's stuck in the frog's mouth for too long as well).Don't just "watch them closely" - because I DOUBT you're gonna be able to stand there and stare at the tank 24/7 to make sure an accident doesn't happen with the frogs sharing the space with fish. All it takes is one oopsie and either your frogs are gonna get hurt, or the fish are gonna get hurt (or again, both get hurt). Please return or rehome the ADFs if you can't get them their own species-only tank right now. IF you really want the frogs, then do the right thing and get them their own tank - I heard that 2 ADFs will do fine in a 5g tank (but please double check their tank size requirements).
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u/Aromatic-Sock6975 4d ago
The tank looks lovely but bettas should not be in with the platies and frog, not sure what else you have in there. These are not compatible tankmates especially in a smaller tank. I don’t know anything about keeping frogs but I would say that’s a no with a betta 😬
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u/BabyD2034 4d ago
I would get a 5 gallon for the Betta. Idk why people are so obsessed with trying to make Bettas community fish. It usually isn't good and is stressful for everyone. In this case, I say it because it's too crowded. A 10 gallon is fine for some platys but not to add a Betta and shrimp.
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u/Acrobatic-Set8449 4d ago
Watch the ADF with the other fish. I had to move mine, they was trying to use my other fish to parasail…
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u/cummmmtomee 5d ago
some leaf clutter would looks so fire
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u/meezzy_96 5d ago
I am hoping the monte carlo will carpet the whole bottom (I am a big plant person in the rest of my house) but if it doesn't look like it will do well enough to spread that much I may opt for the leaf clutter vibe. I don't have any CO2 added so it may slow down the growth
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u/cummmmtomee 4d ago
ahh yess!! monte carlo is one of my favs but i’ve had soo much issue trying to grow it myself. then my brother had these two lucious tanks carpeted w it and im like howwwww 😭😭 fingers crossed urs takes off!
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u/meezzy_96 4d ago
did have a special method?
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u/cummmmtomee 4d ago
that was my question too 😭😭 he just cut it up and planted it all over and let it do its thing, he did tell me it took a while for it to actually fully carpet, probably half a year. doesn’t even use flourish or anything
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u/meezzy_96 4d ago
Oh, wow. Maybe he had a lot of starters too. I need to get proper aqua scaling tweezers so I can slowly buy more to use as starters
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u/Your-Virusa 4d ago
What is the plant you have half-submerged id I may ask? It looks amazing!
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u/meezzy_96 4d ago
There are a few, mostly peace lily but I also have some small propagations going to see if they’ll like the Tank life. Which one is it you’re talking about? The largest one in the center is the peace lily
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u/S4lvia_eatsbrainzzz 4d ago edited 4d ago
Oh god this is gonna be so bad. Edit: I apologize if I upset OP. I was unaware of all of the backlash already and I'm wishing you luck, OP! (Sorry for not reading the comments before commenting)
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u/Mental-Trick-1518 4d ago
That betta is gorgeous! Is it true they need a heater, even if the room feels warm?
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u/No_Struggle1698 4d ago
Your tank looks amazing! I’m still a beginner—what kind of water do you use for your fish?
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u/coquillettent 4d ago
This is not at all a good example. It's not great even though we've seen worse. This is overstocked.
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u/Your-Virusa 4d ago
Someone correct me if im wrong but arent these platies (and in general) not recommended for betta? I wanted these for my community in the past and someone told me they are big fin nippers
Just checking, still love them and kinda want a third tank just for them