Deployment secret fish build thread

[McCarrick]

Hey all!
I am currently overseas on deployment and I acquired a betta fish. I'm making this thread to see how far I can get in building a cool tank with very limited supplies. After being unsuccessful trying to convince the locals on base to bring me a fish, a friend of mine stumbled upon someone trying to sell one that the bought off base. So far I have just cleaned the tank out and replaced most of the water with new distilled water (a little inconsistent to find) and have taken out the plastic duck decorations. I'm going to wash some coarse sand from outside and start slowly replacing the rainbow rocks with the sand. We can order some stuff on Amazon so after a few tries, found a light that will ship to my location as well as a plant. I'm debating trying to also get a better tank. Anyways, say hello to Augie

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Best of luck with the tank! Betta fish have always been interesting to me

 

[ISFNick]

Do you have a HOB filter?

 

[McCarrick]

All I was given when I got him is just the tank, net and food. I'm getting a plant to put in there this weekend. Part of the challenge is that I have limited access to power and the power I do have runs off of a single 220v outlet

 

[ISFNick]

Awesome, a plant will be great to clean up the water. Would recommend a small HOB filter and heater when you can. Otherwise you have a pretty simple system on your hands! Wishing the best

 

[vandy]

That’s hilarious I did the same thing when I was overseas.. went downtown in aman and found some red caridina shrimp and a betta.

 

[McCarrick]

If I can figure out how to get some shrimp I will. I spent some time trying to convince the local contractors to smuggle a fish on base for me and only got as far as getting a phone number. I don't think a hob filter is in the books. At home, none of my freshwater tanks have filters but they are also HEAVILY planted and this one.... not so much (yet!). I think I'm going to prioritize a heater since it's pretty cold in the barracks all the time.

 

[McCarrick]

Awesome, a plant will be great to clean up the water. Would recommend a small HOB filter and heater when you can. Otherwise you have a pretty simple system on your hands! Wishing the best

I feel pretty confident in this so far even with such a bare bones system. I've been keeping fish for close to 20 years so I knew I needed to acquire one to make it through this deployment. Also I just wanted to know if I could pull off getting a fish, and prevent my command team from finding out!

 

[vandy]

I feel pretty confident in this so far even with such a bare bones system. I've been keeping fish for close to 20 years so I knew I needed to acquire one to make it through this deployment. Also I just wanted to know if I could pull off getting a fish, and prevent my command team from finding out!

Do you not have a shipping address? I was able to get most things from Amazon within 10-14 days. Only place it took longer was in Iraq

 

[kevgib67]

Thank you for your service!

 

[McCarrick]

Do you not have a shipping address? I was able to get most things from Amazon within 10-14 days. Only place it took longer was in Iraq

I do have a shipping address, it takes about 2 weeks to get anything. The main issue is the limitation on what I can seem to get here. I had a hard time finding any plants that would ship here (I wound up with one small anubius that hasn't arrived yet) as well has needing to search around for a light that could ship here. I'm not sure if it'll get stopped at customs or not. But the major limitation to equipment such as lights, heater and filter, I don't have endless access to power. I only have one power strip running off of a single 220v wall outlet- for me and the fish. The breakers are constantly blowing so I can't plug in too much stuff.

 

[McCarrick]

Update, the light came today! Also the plant is picked up now will be getting a bit of light. The roots seem to be doing well with a little bit of new growth so that's cool! Sand will hopefully be arriving this week and a small anubius. I also did a water change and am trying to get a small plastic tube so I can do water changes more easily. Once new plant arrives with the sand, the plastic plant can finally come out!

 

[McCarrick]

Got new sand! Yay for finally removing the rainbow rocks and the radioactive sand! Plants hopefully be acquired this week!