Roach's Fishroom Nest

[cockroach]

Some pics of the first 2 rescapes in the rack. Mixed the fish around as well. Still 3-6 tanks to go depending on how energetic/creative i feel in the upcoming months.

Top tank - now a panda garra and neon rainbow fish tank. There has already been spawning action but was a bit late to the party and all eggs were grazed. laying was done between the crypto leaves and stalks. Males breeding dress was nothing short of stunning! Left to right progression.


Middle Tank - Decided to split the Lep species. The Strawberries are a bit more brutal than the Orto's. Them (6) and the Anostomuis ternetzi (4) get on very well and feed differently so very few issues. Thinking to add some corries. thinking duplicaerius as they are a warmer water species. A red tail black shark lurks around and only seems aggressive while eating. I think I have observed that any fish with darker orange, red, pink color is on their hit list.


The top 2 tanks as they currently stand.

 

[Abominus]

Awesome aquascape cockroach . From the looks of it you definitely put some effort into it. Take it from a guy who spends hours rearranging decors only to end up with a murky soup of fake plants and rocks.

 

[cockroach]

Awesome aquascape cockroach . From the looks of it you definitely put some effort into it. Take it from a guy who spends hours rearranging decors only to end up with a murky soup of fake plants and rocks.

Thanks for the compliment I really appreciate it.
I love the planning and research phase of it. I treat each change as it's own project.
The actual physical part of putting it together does not take too much time. However, the prep work is what I spend a lot of time on.
BULK of physical labor is done:
Deconstruction of tanks
Cleaning of glass ( I HATE IT)
Scrubbing décor (not too bad as I am not that fastidious)
Cleaning and packing away things I will not use immediately

Brain Drain
I spend a lot of time mentally designing the layout
I sketch a lot
Make a lot of notes on diagrams
Once I keep coming back to the same idea, I chose it and go with it.
Then I have to design the deconstruction steps
Also, layout purchases to make
And what I need to do when scaping/building.

I know it sounds laborious when laid out like this. But I have very limited free time during the day. Evenings are busy with a young family, cooking, cleaning etc. So only after 20:30 at night do I get to feed and maintain tanks. So planning helps me get it all done as quickly, efficiently and most important, cheaply as possible.
The design part is definitely my favorite. I can do this mentally while commuting to work and home. While running or hiking.

The process is think of fish and plants then research. have ideas for the layout, setup in a rough sketch. Usually starts something like this:


That leads to a more detailed idea. Whole tank idea:


Portion of tank idea:


Which through more research leads to a slightly more refined idea drawn with stationary, or on my tablet:



A larger project I am working on at work.


Once I am settled on the design, the fun starts with planning the process and different materials/parts:

 

[puffers4puffers]

cockroach
My compliments to you artistic skills!
You obviously have given a lot of forethought to your aquaria

 

[jjohnwm]

Immpressive planning, organization and follow-through. There's a special satisfaction to be had from formulating a plan, refining it, accounting for all the details, and then putting it into effect.

Or so I've heard...

 

[Parka]

I can do this mentally while commuting to work and home. While running or hiking.

That's what I call, Day Dreaming with a mission! And I love your sketches, very nice!

 

[cockroach]

cockroach
My compliments to you artistic skills!
You obviously have given a lot of forethought to your aquaria

Thank you that's kind but hardly skill. Like many things, the more you do it, the better the end product looks. I have drawn innumerable renditions over the years.
Forethought moves you forward.

 

[cockroach]

Immpressive planning, organization and follow-through. There's a special satisfaction to be had from formulating a plan, refining it, accounting for all the details, and then putting it into effect.

Or so I've heard...

Absolutely....that is half of why I do it. take a hair-brain notion, turn it into an idea, formulate a plan and execute.
If you fail....it never happened.
If you succeed....post it on MFK.

 

[cockroach]

That's what I call, Day Dreaming with a mission! And I love your sketches, very nice!

I like that......day dreaming with a mission. LOL
The doodles often start in drawn out meetings when my brain will do anything to escape. That's where it started with the hillstream rack.

 

[puffers4puffers]

cockroach
I see your tanks..shallow glass
Did you make the tanks that are on the racks?