The Grotto under the stairs is a hub of activity
November 21, 2023 | Articles, Memories
To be honest, the old place was in shambles.
The floor was rotting out so bad that any day the bamboo trees and soil container could break through, and sink to the bottom of the tank.
Fortunately, the one remaining solid post was supporting the soil container, the other 2 posts were bending. A cave in was inevitable.
Watch the fish tank here.
The platform had originally been added for a turtle area. The turtle never happened. My wife, Ivana had noticed that the fish enjoyed swimming above the platform, and she called that area the Penthouse.
Our fish consisted of bala sharks, a variety of Platys in different colours, and a few gouramis, of which only one golden remains. One to four inches in length, keeping under the inch-of-fish to gallon of water rule of thumb. A variety of silvers, reds, yellows, and blues.
One day I brought home some new live plants, including a pair of six inch Lucky Bamboo, one for each of us. The roots need to be planted in water with their leaves above the water line. The platform was perfect.
I fashioned a couple clear containers into a holder, and planted the bamboo into a few inches of soil and pebbles. It was placed on the platform, with some more soil and a few placed placed around the container.
The fish swam through the bamboo often. They hung out in the bamboo. An immediate hotspot.
The penthouse was no more.
The “Bamboo Lounge” was born.
The fish had clearly found the cool spot to be. The lounge area was a flurry of activity most of the time, and home to the coolest mix of colours to be found in the tank.
Except for the Bala Sharks, they didn’t go in that area much. I suppose it was too crowded for their liking. The sharks were, and remain, always very chill, and get along well with everyone. Sure, they are voracious eaters, but they let everyone else eat, too.
I swear the fish held organized meetings in the lounge. All would arrive at the same time, sitting still in between the plants and bamboo for about 60 seconds. As soon as the meeting was adjourned, they would all tear off at once, in many directions.
Clearly, each had their own important role in the mission.
Ivana and I loved watching our fish. We had a Lazy Boy loveseat recliner, facing the tank and TV. We would watch both about half the time.
Pro tip: Have your fish tank in sight while you watch television. See which you watch more. My watching choice is often dictated by the score in the game. If the Maple Leafs don’t have any jam and are down in the third, cue ‘Fish TV’.
Ivana was always on the alert for aggressive behavior, and would give the fish shit if they were being pricks. Ivana could be strict, and ordered the death of a couple of fish she deemed “unable to play well with others”. We tried to keep a proper balance of males and females in the tank, but once the platys started breeding on their own, who knows?
It’s usually difficult to tell the sex of a fish. I can tell the female platys only when they have a belly full of babies. You can see the black dots (heads) move through her skin.
Anyway, back to the lounge. I borrowed Dad’s workshop (I live in a condo) and made a new platform out of three-quarter inch plywood and some dowel. A couple small barriers were added to keep the soil in place. For the turtle, Ivana and I had bought casted plastic steps leading to a basin above the waterline, but never put them in the tank. I put the stairs on the platform. A nice tunnel to swim through, and a grotto under the stairs were incorporated into the layout with the bamboo trees.
There is no ‘end result’ with a fish tank makeover. Live plants make this a living habitat, changing as the plants grow, die, and move about the tank. The wood will weather, and moss and algae will hide the unnatural surfaces.
As soon as I took my hands out of the tank, the fish were exploring the new lounge. They would move away a bit while I was working, then zoom in to check on progress. They seemed happy about the construction, but I recognized the “It’s about time!” face. Whatever. Don’t choke on your dried shrimp.
While there is a bit of adjusting to do next water change, the tank looks good. All the fish, except the sharks, hang out in the Bamboo Lounge. A lot. I bought more fish, and they all dig that area too. A constant hustle and bustle around and through the bamboo. I’ll get some low profile plants to enhance the lounge some more.
The golden Gourami has claimed the lower lounge for sleeping. Positioned kind of like a doorman. He’s the muscle of the tank, not the brains, but that does get him choice of sleep spots.
I have noticed a lot of traffic around the grotto. I deliberately designed the entrance for small fish only, and it could be perfect for baby making. Or baby (fry) developing, out of sight of the sharks and gourami who will eat the very young.
The grotto is also where the tank problems of the day are discussed and solved, over espressos and cannolis. I’m sure this article will be on the next agenda. I’ll keep the dried shrimp coming, if I know what’s good for me.
The fish dig the Bamboo Lounge. They totally chill in the coolest part of the tank. Now to remake my living room into a Bamboo Lounge. Without the water.
I have posted some videos of my fish tank. YouTube link: www.youtube.com/channel/UCpqIDxj8PoFFSn8hnzIxn3w
