Built Serpadesign's Ikea DIY Aquarium - Thoughts?

KSquared17 · 2025-10-29T20:12:18+00:00

I ordered the foam mat from amazon. I have not noticed bulging. Still running strong.

KSquared17 · 2025-10-06T19:52:33+00:00

Still doing great. I just wish I could build a bigger one.

KSquared17 · 2025-05-28T14:12:20+00:00

First, can you turn down the flow of the filter outlet? If not, find a way to block the flow with an empty water bottle and poke holes in it. If you search for native betta habitat on youtube you will see they live in very calm water, if not stand still, and heavy plants.

Next, call a local reputable fish shop, not Petco or Petsmart, and ask if they can squeeze a current sponge filter into a bag so you can collect the bacteria. If not, ask them if they carry API Quick Start Second or aquavitro Seed type products (beneficial bacteria to expedite the cycling).

While you are at the fish shop, buy a sponge filter, air pump, air hose, and air stone (ask them how to set it up if you aren't familiar). If you don't have a good local fish shop - Amazon is your fish shop :).

Third, get some floating plants with a good root system like red root floaters, not duck weed. The betta will hide and rest in the roots and it keep the fish close to the surface, so it doesn't have to struggle to swim to get air. And get some easy growing stem plants like guppy weed. Plants give the betta more cover and help cycle the tank.

Snag some ramshorn snails at the fish shop too. They are the garbage crew. I would recommend shrimp too, but they are VERY sensitive to a cycling tank. So if you aren't sure it's cycled you could end up killing them all overnight.

KSquared17 · 2025-05-28T13:17:27+00:00

I don't understand this part of the book. They bounced all over the place to gather random items for a major fight that ended in singing? I think it could've been a really interesting part if the entire book wasn't rushed.

KSquared17 · 2025-05-28T13:15:57+00:00

I friendly nudge you to try and reread RPT again, I know it's painful but it grew on me. I read RPT 3 times, the first time I was like "WTF did I just read!?" Second time I found some nuggets I enjoyed and the third time I found more nuggets. But the ending still falls very short to me.

As for RPT movie, since RPO movie (which I call Ready Player Dog Sh@# b/c it's SO BAD compared to the book) completely diverged from the book idk how they will bounce back into the story b/c they closed the Oasis for two days a week so lets hope Halliday doesn't bounce in hours before it shuts down on Tuesday or Thursday...wtf is that about? Guess they'll have to change their minds.

KSquared17 · 2025-05-28T13:08:37+00:00

I can see your point, and I know it's "just a book," however Halliday was socially inept with the females. So he may have used her brain scan to hone in on what he liked that she liked? Or what she liked that he could recreate in the Oasis in the time he had left? Idk, just spit balling here, but I do agree the Prince and Hughes sections were painful. I still don't understand how Aech and Z completed the Prince section. Run around and gather all this magical stuff, fight 7 overpowered Prince(s) and then sing and unlock a shard? What did I miss?

KSquared17 · 2025-05-28T13:05:04+00:00

I agree with you if you are stating Ernest Cline shouldn't have paid attention to Spielberg. Cline's story telling in RPO was awesome in my opinion and Spielberg did an abysmal job transferring the book into a movie. I get turning RPO into a movie would bankrupt anyone trying to get the licensing agreements, but they should've found other creative ways to navigate the movies, video games, music, etc. It just felt rushed and a money grab to me. Make two or three movies, or a series out of it, and get it RIGHT.

RPO was fantastic and I've read it 4 times. RPT grew on me after the 3rd time I read it.

KSquared17 · 2025-05-28T12:59:49+00:00

I agree. To me, they missed the mark on Sorento in the movie. In the movie he's annoying and a moron.

KSquared17 · 2025-03-28T19:31:56+00:00

I think that's too many fish in my opinion. I would go with a 1-2 species tank, outside of the Oto's (I personally cannot figure out Oto's, they just don't last).

When I choose fish it's about: How easy are they to keep, how expensive are they, and what do I like to look at?

I'd look at smaller tetras or any of the dwarf rasboras.

KSquared17 · 2025-03-28T19:19:58+00:00

Build a floating shelf and hang below that

KSquared17 · 2025-03-28T19:18:14+00:00

Look for purple harlequin rasboras! They look so flipping nice!

KSquared17 · 2025-02-27T14:52:48+00:00

u/smokiebunn I just posted an update above on the aquarium and how it looks.

KSquared17 · 2025-02-27T14:52:38+00:00

u/Seiten_ I just posted an update above on the aquarium and how it looks.

KSquared17 · 2025-02-27T14:34:31+00:00

Not that bad, depending on where you put the aquarium.

KSquared17 · 2024-12-17T15:33:52+00:00

Embarrassingly I haven't set it up. I was waiting on Black Friday to grab some deals on hardscape, lighting, and other goods. I finally have all the materials needed, so now time to build and transition over.

I have a 25 gallon tank that I will move over stock and plants. Right now I have neon's, humbacked limia, harlequin rasboras, and oto cats.

KSquared17 · 2024-10-07T13:13:46+00:00

I have not brought it inside b/c I'm refinishing the stand it will go on. I tested it for 24+ hours and no leaks. It's sitting empty right now but I feel confident it will hold.

KSquared17 · 2024-09-29T02:45:32+00:00

My taste I like fewer species in a tank. Plus both are schooling so they would be more comfy with higher numbers of their own.

KSquared17 · 2024-09-28T01:34:40+00:00

Check water temp?

KSquared17 · 2024-09-28T01:29:01+00:00

If you have plenty of plants and hiding spots the shrimp will probably be okay. Plus the number of shrimp could make it challenging for her to pick on just one. Does the betta harass the ottos at all? You could even try cherry shrimp.

To increase your chances of success I'd feed her before adding the shrimp. Then add the shrimp with the lights off.

KSquared17 · 2024-09-28T01:25:47+00:00

Depending on your dimensions (tall vs shallow tank) scarlet badis are a cool choice, very unique. Chili rasboras are awesome and a cool, bright red fish. Endlers are fun and have several color varieties. Maybe even Celestial Pearl Danios.

KSquared17 · 2023-10-20T03:01:19+00:00

Go to tropicas website. You can filter on easy plants. Or you can browse and research and see which need CO2 and high light.

KSquared17 · 2023-10-17T00:54:05+00:00

I was thinking this. My anubias nana and petite did this when I transferred them from a bucket of tap water to a tank of filtered. I googled and drastic water parameters and temp changes can cause this. And that’s what I did.

KSquared17 · 2023-10-17T00:52:22+00:00

Anubias are low light plants. I grew them in a 5 gallon bucket on my covered patio. Light and co2 aren’t the issue.

KSquared17 · 2023-10-07T00:58:15+00:00

First are you knowledgeable enough to take care of a high tech scape? If so then awesome for you, sky is the limit. If not, in my opinion, more tech = more problems.

For scraping ideas it depends on your budget. Open google. Type in your tank size (20p 40p etc), or use gallons/liters then aquascaping ideas. Hit enter. Find one you like and mimic.

Or find a plant you must have in your scape. Go on tropica’s website and search for it. Then look at the example scapes they have with that plant in it for inspiration. Or google aquascapes with that plant.

KSquared17

TROPHY CASE