Edition: Edition
Continued from:
>>2210700
Discuss anything aquarium related here, including inhabitants, decor and issues.
Google is your friend.
Feel free to ask questions but know that there are a lot of resources out there that could answer your question a lot faster and accurately than /an/.
Make sure to include these things in your post before asking because we can't help you if we don't have the full picture:
-tank size
-parameters
-any and all inhabitants + how long you've had them
FAQ Section:
>How to handle algae, snails, lighting, easy plants for beginners, substrate choices, youtube-channels etc.) :
http://pastebin.com/mCeEhYoH
Links:
>How to cycle your tank: http://pastebin.com/x4WnB0Ah
>General aquarium care sheets - http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/
>Livestock and plants for sale - http://www.petsolutions.com/ http://www.aquabid.com
>Useful & Extensive database for aquatic plants and their parameters - http://www.flowgrow.de/db/aquaticplants
>FUCKING GOOGLE
Can I add that we should ignore or report anything Bugguy says? Also, my mudskipper says hi to you all. Does anyone know where I can find a color other than Blues and Blacks for aquarium backgrounds? I'm kind of tire of seeing my wall behind my mudskipper tank.
>>2214917
Most of the chain pet stores have a good selection or Amazon or eBay has precuts for your size tanks. Walmart also has some in tubes in there pet section.
>>2214917
Oh my god he's so cute!
I spray paint the back of my tanks. Can't do that when it's already set up though.
So I've been in here a couple times bitching about my fishtank that wasn't working. A girl at the LFS suggested platys for my community tank with a betta, saying they were compatible, and no surprise my betta got ripped to shit. Platys out and the betta didn't make it. So I got this 10g tank with a dwarf frog in it, and wanted to stock a dwarf gourami and some neon tetras. So I went back to the store and it just so happened the only worker on the floor was the same girl. I wanted someone else. I explained what happened to her, she was all, "Wow!! I've never heard of platys nipping before!!" and so I asked for what I wanted and she told me she did not want to sell me neons because african dwarf frogs eat them. She said they are very good hunters and will eat them all in a night. I explained that I had a DWARF frog, not a clawed frog, and she told me they were the same thing.
I hate this place.
>>2214936
Dwarf frogs are practically blind. But they will eat the smaller fish. It sucks there's so much misinformation in the community and employees believe they are gods and refuse to do research when told they're wrong.
>>2214926
I wouldn't do that even if it was torn down. The tank was give to me by the National Park I volunteer at, for being a big help for the Park itself(working on their aquariums, and teaching the public about the native, and non native wildlife). I actually worked on fixing this tank when it had a severe hardwater staining that made the tank barely usable.
Also, learned this back when King of DIY called himself UaruJoey, when vinegar won't fix hardwater stains, use bar keeper's friend. Works a whole lot better!
>>2214922
I want a dull color so the attraction is the tank itself, I've already got an average blue for my reef and a black for my fresh, I'm looking for a gray, blue-grey, blue-green, brown, or even teal. I know I have a 25% increase of getting jumped at my local walmart so I'll try Amazon first, thank you!
>>2214952
Try a frosted window privacy film. They're really neat and you can find them at big store hardwarestores (homedepot)
Or:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B010HHDKQG/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1473642116&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=frosted++window+film&dpPl=1&dpID=51EHBLpFFGL&ref=plSrch
I always thought it might look neat
how do I feed my fish? what types of foods do you guys feed your fish?
>>2214952
That's awesome, how big is it? I would love to work at an aquarium!
Spray paint can be easily scraped off, but a background is easier in your case anyhow. You can really use just about anything as a background: vinyl stickers, poster board, cloth.
>>2214936
You should complain about her... It's one thing not to know better, but another to be spreading so much misinformation.
>>2214964
I'm guessing that I could also get some spray paint too and color it just about anything, sweet!
To thank you, I'll show you a troublesome mangrove I found, that I grew from seed in the mudskipper tank. I had to "modify" the lid to help it grow.
>>2214968
Depends on the fish. I give all mine fish flakes I buy in bulk maybe 4 times a week.
>>2214971
It's a 20 gallon long. And it's not really an Aquarium I volunteer at, it's a national park that just had some old tanks people donated. And instead of throwing them away, decided to use them to educate people at their front desk.
I'm thinking about making a green text thread about my history with the park being it's their 100th anniversary and they want me to help them with some awesome shit in November and I feel really humbled and excited by how much they appreciate me and put me in such big positions, even though I'm not going to be 20 until the end of the year.
Look at this guy's marble fishtank that he continually hand crafted for 3 years... And he wants to put feeder guppies in it. Still sweet tank tho, incredible attention to detail.
http://imgur.com/gallery/ggKAz
I used an experimental 5 gallon tank to breed ghost shrimp, unfortunately I didn't wait long enough for the tank to cycle. So now the tank is full of dead shrimp and wisteria. I am thinking of using it to grow wisteria instead and transplant it to my main 10 gal. So here's the setup:
>Course gravel only substrate.
>Dead shrimp
>Fish food flakes
>13W CFL bulb
>2 wisterias
>1 peacock fern (surprised its still alive buts its been two weeks and it hasn't died yet)
>no filter
>Air pump with no air stone
Should I keep it as it is? Should I remove the shrimp/food from there or let it rot there to get bacteria and and nutrients for plants? What else do I add to make it a haven for growing plants?
Also my wisterias are growing root like arms from their sides, are these leafs or runners?
Have a tiger oscar for 5 plus years. Lives in a 50 gallon tank. gravel and a few rocks. One of them a flat rock. Just found out that my oscar is female, cuz laid alot of eggs. She seems to be protecting them.
Is it normal for a female oscar to lay eggs even without a male to fertilize them?
What will become of the eggs?
Guys what's that disease you get, a bacterial infection from aquariums, where it paralyzes your hand or something?
>>2215043
They will eat them or they will mold and rot
>>2215061
psychosomatic paralysis
>>2215104
I mean like the bacteria that causes the disease, sorry
>>2215105
christ you're dumb
>>2215029
whats the k range on your bulb?
>>2215029
wisteria is mad easy to take care of. I don't care for it personally cuz it makes a mess. here is a care sheet for you: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=768+1632+824&pcatid=824
take the food and shrimp out of there, that is nasty. I'm impressed you managed to kill ghost shrimp in such a short time, they're pretty hardy.
>>2215126
looks like you got some hair algae on your bacopa there. I hate hair algae.
>>2215189
I don't really know how to get rid of it. I only hate it when it gets long and dark.
>>2215198
Do you have issues with other algae or just that one? I just pull it out. Be careful not to let it escape into the water column.
Other tips:
-reduce the time your lights are on
-add more plants
- reduce nitrates and phosphates
>>2215186
Wait but can I just leave the shrimp in there? I know its nasty but really I have no animals in there and since the gravel isn't fertilized i think it could provide good nutrients for the plants.
>>2215229
get a splitter and add a daylight bulb.
guys im so close to just dropping 40 bucks and buying some bumble bee cats and ghost shrimp for my first tank, but I'm not 100% sure it's ready, but fuck im tired of waiting.
help.
>>2215241
???
>>2215231
Yeah it's alright
Anybody here experienced with some nanofish >1.5-2 inches? I'm interested in hearing your experiences
Specifically pygmy corries and a general how to care for them?
>>2215270
I have corydoras habrosus instead of pygmaeus, but they are similiar, only difference is, that pygmaeus sometimes like to swim to the mid level of the tank.
For 10 -12 dwarf cories, get a 10 gal, footprint is more important than height.
sand or a small grain substrate that's not coarse, so they can sift through the detritus
Leaflitter of oak, indian almond leaves, birch etc. so they can graze on the micro organisms
Feed frozen bloodworms/cyclops and bottom feeder pellets
Use driftwood/rocks to form caves for them
You can plant heavily to supply shade for them.
They prefer a medium water flow.
/aq/, help me decide if it's a good deal. Craiglist pics incoming
>>2215415
Obv the decor would have to change. I couldn't afford to buy new gravel right now so that's one thing that's stopping me. I have plants that could go in and can get some wood pretty easily.
>>2215422
Pretty sure it doesn't come with that cichlid which is fine by me.
$80
"Yes it has everything(filter, stand, lights, hood, fish). It could use another hood and light but the one i have does work"
Lives 40+ minutes away is another downside.
>>2214917
Where'd you get him? He's adorable
>>2215430
It was a freak thing my LFS got from their shipment, and I just so happen to have an extra tank, and the rest is history.
>>2215415
Get rid of the shark asap. They get fuck huge and require 500 gallon or more of space. The Oscar is already cutting it. But it's a good deal.
>>2215426
That's an albino bullhead. That nigga has a ridiculous bioload. Good deal even without fish. Sell the fish to a lfs and get some better fish.
>>2214915
how does it look unhealthy? I can understand the photo is a little blurry but.. are you a crab expert?
>>2215426
Jack Dempsey, a channel cat, a iridescent shark, and a fucking pacu in the back. Holy fuck.
>>2215426
Looks scratched as fucked
>>2215499
I can provide a crazy amount of filtration, but you're right. I'd probably end up selling all but two bullheads and just keep them in really filtered water.
>>2215500
They're so pretty ;-; I'd probably keep them for a while and then sell. If they've all made it this long in a tiny 55gal, they can survive til I get over them and sell them, right?
>>2215542
>And a small Oscar
You mean Ocar, it's a rare species in the same genus as the Oscar that only this CL seller knows about.
>>2215422
You can get a 50lb bag of pool filter sand or black blasting grit for about $7. The stand is the most expensive part. He probably has a pretty good filter if all those fish made it that far.. plus you can flip the fish for more than you paid.
The tank does look scratched, but that's the cheapest part anyways.
>>2215270
They don't too well in tanks with sharp edges such as your cut up solo cups. Also don't too well with trash.
>>2215542
The scratches on glass is not a easy fix unfortunately
>>2215545
The bull heads are fine in the 55 they look already full size. Just the shark needs to go as they get massive. 3ft or more.
>>2215613
pfff my mollies love trash
if they can't handle a few jagged edges they gon' learn.
>>2215617
I thought it wasn't fixable at all.
see if only 1 face is scratched up, if so just turn it around.
>>2215631
>>2215617
>>2215533
Most of my tanks are hella scratched. Back when my brother used them and did those 100% percent waterchanges, he decided to use steel wool to get rid of scratches. After upteen years, I don't mind them.
>>2215565
I got my pfs for $2.54, I got it half price after heckling the home depot manager because they all had holes in them. And I'd have to say that you can use other furniture for a stand. I've used and end table, tv stand and now I use a credenza for my aquariums, and I've even used DIYed stands as well. And if you are going after certain plants/corals, a light can be the most expensive.
>>2215644
>to get rid of aglae.
>>2215644
jesus, steel wool? that's nuts.
55 gallons are pretty heavy so there's not too much most people have that would work safely... a credenza ofc can take anything. very unlikely you'll find great lights in a craigslist deal, and sand and dirt can be gotten for free if you're willing to clean it before you put it in the tank.
It's gonna flower OwO
Can I put swordtails in a 20g? Not looking to jam 10 of them in there, just a breeding pair or trio.
>>2215731
Yeah, 20g is okay but that'll take up most of your space.
>>2215757
Yes aka the freshwater barracuda. Im searching for red tail currently.
My cories are picky eaters. What do you guys feed them? I put some extra flake food in that will fall to the bottom but I feel it is not enough, especially since my amanos steal it rather quick. I tried some Hikari cory pellets but they completely ignore those.
They will eat bloodworms but I don't feed those every day, typically once a week.
>>2215565
>>2215644
What brand sand or give me a link to nice cheap sand/substrate? There's a bunch of options and I wouldn't like to kill these fish (if I end up getting them). I'd like something BLACK, but cheap, fine and smooth, however I don't mind white if it meets the other requirements. How many 50lb bags would I need? Just one or two?
Also is this a good idea?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Mosser-Lee-5-lb-Black-Sand-Soil-Cover-1112/205930128
The only other thing I found that I was ok with was
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-50-lb-Pool-Filter-Sand-115350/202314677
>>2215842
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/black-diamond-medium-blasting-abrasives
Sand is inert so it's not going to release anything into your tank. Put it in a bucket and wash it until the water is smooth. White has more options, I like the pool filter sand sold at Ace because of the larger grain. Kitty litter is okay as well but it's not as nice. Rule of thumb is 1-2 lbs of sand per gallon.
The manufacturer says the sand you listed isn't safe for aquarium use not to mention it'd be super expensive.
>>2215630
What made you try the upside down jar thing anon? Besides all the nasty trash I think it's unique
>>2215851
What's the difference between that one and the fine?
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/black-diamond-fine-blasting-abrasives?cm_vc=-10005
Yea, realized the soil cover would be super expensive too. I think the white would look dirty all the time, which is why I want dark.
>>2215866
Medium is generally better: allows roots to move through the sand easier and prevent compaction. White looks nice until it starts growing algae. The one I like isn't pure white but it's more expensive. http://m.acehardware.com//product/index.jsp?productId=11683357#showReviews
>>2215815
I use wardley shrimp pellets, only a couple a day usually. unfortunately my puffer has quite a liking for them and will eat them until he nearly explodes so I really have to limit it
Having some problems with my plants not sure what is eating them.
A little help?
my black skirt tetras are bloated af.
Not feeding them for a few days not doing much
they eat like theyre starving too.
what do?
>>2215964
probably either nitrogen or phosphate deficiency.
>>2215965
get a frozen pea, take the skin off, feed to tetras. it helps with the constipation.
>>2215967
feed it frozen or thawed?
>>2215968
Thawed, just toss one or two (depending on how many fish you have) in a small pot of boiling water until it's soft. Then take the skin off and feed to your fish.
>>2215973
I thank the dead fishy for contributing to my tank as plant fertilizer and fish food. if it's a small tank you might want to find it though, decomposing fishies can cause a big spike in nitrogen.
>>2215870
Makes sense. Roommate is trying to dissuade me so I'll probably not get it sadly. :c such a nice tank ugh how could I not though
I think this is the "small Oscar" offered but in a different tank with the catfish
>>2215976
why is your roomie trying to talk you out of it? I have a 55 I got off craigslist and I love it so much. so much room to play around with.
I've heard oscars are fun fish.
>>2215853
nowhere in particular just saw it on youtube.
and I'm sick of you guys calling my cups nasty. I didn't get them out the fuckin trash I bought them new.
>>2215985
don't post your tanks if you don't want people to comment on them.
I'm guessing you got that mushroom container new too, huh?
Post em up
>>2215990
I would but mine needs a rescape. I just threw my aponogeton bulbs in randomly before I gave a shit and now it looks messy. The roots take up about a 3rd of the tank so it's gonna be hard. But have lots of plantlets and seeds forming.
>>2215985
It's not that the cups are physically dirty, its that they add a cheap and tacky "white trash" feel to your tank. If you like it that's really all that matters, to each his own I say.
Checked new tank parameters today, ammonia at .25ppm nitrite at 0 and nitrate at 2.5ppm~ above zero but below 5ppm. Is it normal to see low ammonia with 0 nitrites?
>>2215990
>>2216053
this is me
yes I need more plants, when I am ready for fish I'd like to get a pair of dwarf gouramis, what is anons favorite floating type of plant?
>>2216057
also will the "tea" color of the water fade after enough water changes? It is new driftwood so I was expecting some coloration, soaked it and drained a week before putting it in the tank but it still seams to color the water.
>>2216059
It'll go away over time. Tannins are good for fish like bettas and gourami and most fish honestly. But aesthetically it can be unpleasant depending on tank.
>>2216057
floating plants are very useful, but very annoying since they grow quickly and shed or die off. they make a huge mess of your tank.
-cardamine lyrata: just arrived today so no opinion on how annoying it is yet, my guppies and fry love it and it's really beautiful.
-duckweed: gets everywhere, gets sucked into filter. you'll never get rid of it.
-water spangles: hasn't done well in my tank for some reason. pretty inoffensive.
-water lettuce: very striking in the tank but the roots shed and get all over the tank. fish like it.
-riccia: extremely annoying. I might try it again if I do co2 though.
there's more but that's all I have experience with. and yes, don't worry about the color of your water, it'll decrease with every water change and the excess tannins will make your future fishes less stressed anyhow.
>>2216072
I have some ivy leaf duckweed
>>2216075
yeah I remember your posts trying to ID it. all duckweed is evil stuff, it's a great plant tho.
>>2216077
I'm not that anon. I bought mine online. It doesn't over run and it balls itself up. It neat to see small fish and shrimp running in and out.
My thread is ded so I guess I'll post this here
So my sister had an axolotl for 10+ years until it died
Since I liked these little goofballs I cleaned up the tank, dechlorinated, and got myself a couple of ~2.5 in juveniles
However after a week of having them I find out I should've cycled the tank for like a month before buying them
They're fine for now, I'll get a test kit this week and see how the water is
How bad did I fuck up? I don't remember my sister doing anything special to the previous axolotl's tank (besides dechlorinating) and we 100% cleaned the tank monthly
Are my axies going to die?
Should I get them to a food container or small tank (separate) with daily 100% water changes for a month while I cycle the tank? Would they survive that? (woulnt that stress them?)
>>2216100
neat, I've never seen that sold online. duckweed isn't sold so many places since it's p. invasive. it's definitely a very pretty variety.
>>2216103
I'm not familiar with keeping axies, but you should never change 100% of the water. 30% is normal in the aquarium hobby. there's a guide to cycling in the OP you should check out... I would do 30% water changes a few days a week for a bit, and pick up some floating plants like the ones that I mentioned >>2216072. they do a great job at sucking out the ammonia and stuff that would be toxic to your axies. make sure you check out care sheets on them to make sure your tank is large enough.
>>2216106
Right now they're in a regular sized tank, but they're like 3 inches.
I will get a 75 gallon tank (there's going to be three of them)
When I get the tank I'll make sure to cycle it accordingly.
Will get plants tomorrow, thank you!
So I think one of my amanos somehow climbed or otherwise jumped out of my tank.
How far can these little bastards go? Are there specific places I should be looking or is it just a lost cause?
>>2216127
Follow your nose anon!
Are there any shrimp that are not prone to jumping out of the tank? I'd like to get inverts but do not have a lid on my tank
>>2215769
Theyre not hard to come by, guy
>>2216131
I've kept cherries in a variety of tanks from 2-55g, never had one jump.
>>2216133
I would love cherrys as they are very pretty, but They are expensive and I'd hate my first shrimp die to some dumb mistake on my part.
>>2216133
cherries are significantly smaller than my amano, so I doubt they could climb up my filter waterfall like the one that got out probably did
the question is however, will my betta tear them to shreds because they're so small?
>>2216132
In my area they are. When they do pop up they are a fuck ton. I'm about to order one online sight unseen if no one can get me one in the next two weeks.
Please help me save my loved one's fish. It's 1 our time so a trip to the fish store is not in the works right now.
Facts - 5 gallon tank, 2 blue platies, 2 orange tuxedo platies. Blue platies are several weeks into this tank, tuxedos are new additions as of Saturday.
She leaves her room to go work out, and returns to find one of the blues dead. She says it was mobile and ate when fed approximately 2 hours earlier.
She also noticed the remaining blue has a "chunk" (her words) missing from his head. Whether this was inflicted by trauma (tuxedos?) or disease is unknown.
She loves animals and I've never seen someone so wracked by the death of a starter fish before.
The water is somewhat cloudy. She was previously giving goldfish pellets as food, as recommended by a store employee. They were too big for the fish to consume entirely, and were accumulating. She has since switched to tropical fish flakes, as recommended by a more senior employee. She is working on rock agitation and cycling the water, but it is still murky.
Can anyone offer any suggestions? Should she isolate the blue in a cup of dechlorinated water overnight to protect it from further damage as a result whatever caused it? Does anyone know the possible source?
>>2216144
can you take a better photo?
>>2216150
I'm away currently and she's taking the photos, but we can certainly try. Of which? The living blue? I can also ask for pictures of the deceased blue.
>>2216144
it's hard to know exactly what it could be parasites, fish TB, or some other bacterial infection. it wasn't caused by the other platies. it's almost certainly related to the water quality- it's cloudy because of bacteria.
5 gallons is very small for those fish.
-is there a filter and a heater?
-is she changing out some of the water?
-do you guys know about cycling?
a cup is too small, but if you have a larger tupperware or bucket that would work fine. there's something called melafix you should pick up, it's an antibacterial medicine that'll help his wound heal. if you go to the pet store, bring in some water for them to test.
>>2216153
oops, didn't notice the filter in the photo
>>2216150
>>2216153
Here's a better photo of him.
What fish can happily exist in a 5 gallon? That's the limit allowed by her housing.
There's a filter, but the tank is approximately room temperature (high 70s right now).
She has been changing water, but I don't know with what frequency.
What should she know about cycling? (Sorry for sounding down and dirty, and maybe even disrespectful. I'm just trying to help her the best I can from a distance).
>>2216156
get a heater to keep the water at a consistent temperature, make sure to chlorinate any water you put in for water changes.
>>2216157
chlorinate, or dechlorinate?
>>2216156
don't worry about it, keeping fish is more complicated than most people think. it doesn't help that most employees aren't very helpful.
here's a link that explains cycling: http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php
I'm pretty certain that it's a bacterial infection. the most important thing for her to do right now is change out something like 75% of the water.
5 gallons is too small for most fish, but any shrimp, a single betta, or about 3 male guppies would be fine in there.
>>2216157
>make sure to chlorinate any water
other way around, kek
>>2216160
melafix tomorrow is still the best solution as well?
>>2216165
yep! I hope they make it.
>>2216166
me too. she's been having a hard time, and dead pets, no matter how small, is not what she needs right now. thank you for the help.
>>2216173
If she truly cared she would have done more research. Not being a dick but this is very common.
>>2216173
Platys get big(for a 5gal), If I were you, I'd turn the tank into a shrimp tank or keep african dwarf frogs or as suggested endler guppy males.
But as of now, you need to make help her fish to go back to full health. The things the others suggested are great. I would add that she should get some indian almond/catappa leaves and/or alder cones.
These things contain tannins/humine acids, which are anti bacterial/anti septic, when you put them in the tank. Don't worry about the water getting tea-coloured. Via waterchanges, you will get the tannins out.
Also make sure she keeps up a water change schedule (like 50% a week) and doesn't overfeed her fish, helps a lot with water quality.
Introducing fast growing stem plants like Elodea or Cabomba will also help buffer the bioload a lot, not to say that for a 5g, platys are general too heavy with their waste, but as of now I think they are still juveniles, so that should give you time to rehome them.
My tank currently. 19 neon tetra, 3 angels (2 veiltail one normal), 7 khuli loach, 5 otocinclus. Ship is only there as I didn't have anything else at the time for khuli loaches to hide in.
Planning a decent redesign at some point, hate the fake rock and ship. Also need to do more research into plants, and make a co2 diffuser/reactor.
>>2216211
Forgot pic
>>2216211
You posted in the other thread, where it was about bioload. I remember that I gave you some advice. It was a 30g, right?
Nontheless, I'd get rid of the gravel and get a small grain or sand substrate with malaysian trumpet snails. Much easier maintenance, and great for your kuhlis.
You can get Lavarock or Dragon Stone really cheap and scape around. Some Javamoss, Hydrocotyle to bind to them.
I'd also get a big Amazon Sword as a centerpiece plant. They get huge and give your fish some shade.
As for Co2, it all depends how demanding the plants you wanna keep are. I do use co2, but if you don't wanna use carpeting plants or red plants. it's not a necessity, still I would recommend it if you want thicker and faster growth.
You seem to have lots of verticality, so you could also think about some big Ludwigia Repens Stems and Pogostemon Erectus.
>>2216219
Yep that's me, thanks for the advice by the way. Silver shark is gone now at least. It's about 42g.
Yeah I agree sand would be a lot nicer. I got the tank from the brother in law for replacing the clutch on his car. Came with the gravel, fake rock etc. It's always once you get more into things that you realise there are much better ways to go.
You are spot on with the vertical, it's pretty boring. Would love to get some ground cover, and as you said something like a sword. Would love some reds, so I think co2 will be necessary at some point. Will probably collect some lava rocks, slate, sand etc and order the plants and do a big remodel one day.
Do the tumpet snails breed as rapidly as I've heard some do?
>>2216246
Trumpet snails, like any aquarium snail, only breed heavily when you overfeed. But even then, you won't really notice them, since they stay underground most of the times and mostly come out at night.
You could also keep their bigger cousins, the yellow rabbit snail. They only produce one offspring per snail, each time. Since they get bigger, I wouldn't start with more than 3-5 in a 42gal. Especially since you have a small footprint.
Any tips when using these machines?
>>2216313
Go for the ones that aren't moving.
Anyone here have experience qting?
I did a lot of reading about it and a lot of aquarists recommended chloroquine phosphate over copper medicines. The thing is, I can't find it anywhere. I want to avoid copper in the qt tank because I don't want the bacteria to die and allowing ammonia to go unchecked.
Or should I just dose with prazipro alone and call it good? I'm leaning towards this idea.
>>2216214
>>2216211
You should get some red solo cups
>>2216523
And instead of mushroom container use a styrofoam egg container
The light bulb is a 14 watt 5k CFL. I'm trying to grow different types of duckweed in this. It was slow growth but was working with the few hours of sun. Would this be fine? I change some of the water and add a bit of ferts. Trying to propagate it for a project.
>>2216141
You US? UK here and can order them in quite easily
Maybe retarded question, but if I had a 20 gallon tank and I live near a lake, could I just fill my tank up with 20 gallons of sand and lake water and put some of the lake minnows in it? Would it still have to cycle?
>>2216633
you could do that, it still needs to cycle though.
>>2216633
>lake minnow
What species of minnow are we talking about?
>>2216173
If those are plastic plants in the tank then have your friend remove them ASAP. Plastic has sharp edges and that may be what took a slice out of the poor fish that's still alive. Swam up against it at the wrong angle and WAM! World's worst paper cut.
Try and convince your friend to order some silk plants online, from amazon and such. Those don't have sharp edges and are safe for fish.
And better yet, convince her to order some java moss, it grows relatively fast so you'd only need a small handful to start out with, and is so low maintenance/low light that it should survive just fine in your friends tank. Live plants like java moss do a great job of sucking up fish waste (it's basically liquid fertilizer) and thus help filter the water.
If your friend can't order live plants online, then have her go to a local store like walmart or lowes, and buy either some lucky bamboo, or pothos vines. Submerge the roots of either plant in the water while keeping the leaves out in the open air.
And don't worry if the pothos vines is already potted and rooted in the dirt. Just take some scizzors, search for the little brown nubs on the vines, and cut it so the little brown nub is at the base of the separated vine. Put the cutting in the fish tank and the little brown nub will sprout into roots and will start filtering the water.
>>2216640
The bacteria don't live in the water, they live on surfaces. You would get some with the sand, but probably not enough to support the whole tank
>>2216214
>>2216211
You don't have to get rid of that ship, just buy some java moss or marimo moss, and tie it to the surface of the ship. You'd have to cut the marimo open first, though. Not entirely certain, but I've heard that marimo is actually hollow!
After it settles in and takes "root" you'll basically have a hollow log/rock appeal going. And for dirt cheap to boot!
>>2216646
Assuming you're talking about sand from the lake, that is
>>2216638
mosses are pretty well known for growing slowly, including java
>>2216640
keep in mind how much larger a lake is than your tank. you have to build up colonies of bacteria that convert your fish waste and prevent it from poisoning your fish. the bacteria lives mostly in your filter cartridge. if you do it, collect a bunch of plants while you're at it.
Picture of my tank, 4 Trachemys dorbigni share their space with 3 Kois and an uncountable number of Astyanax
>>2216679
Looks neat
>>2216648
I did an experiment with mine, and yes, Marimo is hollow! Depending on what size you get, the inside may also just be solid dirt, but you can still cut them open and flatten them into a blanket! This plan would look very interesting, maybe before you junk your ship you should try it just to see.
>>2216649
>>2216646
>>2216655
I get it now, thank you. And yes, I would definitely go diving for some plants, I really want to create an environment tank. Athough is it ok to put animal bones or antlers in an aquarium? Deer shed their antlers in the woods outside my house and I collect them, I thought they would make a cool centerpiece. Would it raise the pH at all?
>>2216753
It will leak calcium in the water and is generally not a good idea as the bone will break down, unless you coat it first in something waterproof and safe for fish
>>2216756
Ok, unfortunate. Thanks
>>2216753
assuming they're very clean (no organic material) it should be okay. it'll raise pH, but most fish will be okay with that.
How do you guys feel about this 65G + stand for $200? Petsmart is doing a sale and it seems pretty damn good. I'm pretty indifferent about the stand itself, which why I'm assuming it's on sale. However I really like the dimensions of the aquarium itself.
Also fuck the guy who said my crab looked unhealthy. Made me all self-conscious. I got some red seaweed, a cuttlebone and some random dried mango/cantaloupe treats meant for birds. I'm gonna feel weird putting this cuttlebone in the tank.
>>2216808
It really does look unhealthy. You feeding it tropical freshwater fish isn't helping.
>>2216808
If you bought today they had a $7 of $7 or more coupon but only good for today
>>2216820
>It really does look unhealthy.
How do you know? It looks perfectly fine to me. Just like all the other images of it on google. I'm pretty sure you just think it's unhealthy because there's bad lighting in my room.
>You feeding it tropical freshwater fish isn't helping.
Do you have a source for this or are you just talking out of your ass? As long as there's no thiaminase I don't see what problem there could be. Part of me just feels like you're trolling. There's not a whole lot on the web about marine hermit crabs, which leads me to believe you don't know what the fuck you're talking about.
>>2216822
There was a sticker on it saying the sale was good until 10/2 so whatever. Don't get paid til' Thursday.
>>2216827
0/10 b8
>>2216833
So you were just bullshitting. Alright, thanks.
>>2216808
It'd be a good deal if it was LED instead of fluorescent.. you'll find better deals black friday. I get all my tanks off CL though, wayyyyy cheaper.
>>2216835
You can find the info yourself
>>2216838
Yeah I have been looking on CL lately. I'm a stickler for buying things new though. Just makes me feel more safe. I have a Marineland reef LED already too, though don't use it at the moment cause it just causes huge algae blooms.
>>2216839
Burden of Proof is on you my friend. Just stop replying if you have nothing to contribute.
>>2216846
buying things new makes you feel safer? you sound like a true american.
as far as the algae, is your tank planted or no? reef is definitely overkill if you don't have corals or plants and cuh.
20gallon long anon here, ok guys low ammonia and nitrite and 5 ppm, so did a small water change and got 2 ghost shrimp 1 cherry and a snail and one meme ball, hopefully they don't all die.
>>2216879
ghost shrimp are pretty territorial. rip lil cherry :(
I have green thread algae on the glass in my tank. The amanos do a good job of keeping the plants and gravel clean but not the glass. My oto seems to be a lazy bastard who only eats algae wafers when I give them once a week.
Besides scraping it off how do I go about keeping algae off the glass? I inject CO2 and keep the lights from 10 to 12 hours a day.
>>2216881
Nope
>>2216879
Amanos are cooler. Active little guys that clean better than ghosts.
>>2216882
stop feeding them algae wafers, ofc they aren't touching it when you feed them plenty. amanos are the best thing for it.
hair algae is caused by excess phosphates and nitrates. do more water changes, add more plants. when your plants are doing well they outcompete the algae.
>>2216881
really? I hope not, he seems the most active swimming the perimeter of the tank, he also has trouble when he gets close to the filter intake, it's like he's not strong enough to break free from it so i've turned it down all the way.
>>2216887
I plan to get amanos this is just cheap stuff I bought on a whim at petco, also got a snail
>>2216886
yes, although it depends on what sp. the ghost shrimp are.
>>2216875
>buying things new makes you feel safer
lol.. makes me feel safer about the aquarium not breaking or whatever.. and if it did I'd hopefully be able to return it. Not the case with CL. Yeah I originally got the light because I wanted a reef aquarium. But my CUC crab became a reef destroyer crab.
>>2216889
What kind of snail? Any idea>
>>2216895
Hehe should have done more research. Naughty.
>>2216902
I think it is a mystery snail, I will take a photo of it and post, its yellow.
>>2216888
More water changes as twice/week? I currently do 15-20% every 7 days. Should I do 15-20% every 3 days or how should I go about this?
>>2216889
Also if you plan on keeping small shrimp like RCS you might want to get a prefilter sponge. They love to eat off it and you can keep your filter full blast and they can easily just swim on/off it.
>>2216917
This is exactly what I was thinking of, I was going to use a mic cover but it is too small will get one soon.
here is snail chan
>>2216908
She was just an itty bitty lil' baby when I got her. Couldn't have known. But oh well I don't regret it.
>>2216914
it's not a set amount, you just have to reduce either lights or nutrients. the water changes are only to get rid of some of the extra nutrients. I'd try 30% weekly and reducing your lights to 8 hours on, but there's no exact number I can give or anything.
>>2216895
I understand, I just thought it was funny. I love buying off Craigslist though... 3x the stuff at less than half the price.
>>2216679
How do you prevent your turtles from eating the fish?
>>2216924
Get a cuttlebone for your little snail bro.
I filled my 10 gallon a few days ago and tomorrow I wanna start adding ammonia to it
I read the tani cycling pastebin but it didnt explain water changes during the cycle
I've been doing 50% water changes daily and leaving my light on for 6 hours a day, because I read somewhere thats what you do in a new tank
Should I keep doing the daily water changes once I start adding ammonia?
I'll put this webm on my post so its more noticeable :)
>>2216986
I would do about 30% a week for a new tank personally. Light depends on whether you have plants or not... 8-12 is p. normal, less time on controls algae.
>>2216980
what are the benefits of a cuttlebone for snails? I was also thinking of getting one of those mineral rocks that shrimp and crays love
>>2216986
you don't ever do water changes during a fishless cycle.
you shouldn't do them with a fish-in cycle either unless your fish are dying.
>>2217002
For healthy shell growth
>>2216986
>I've been doing 50% water changes daily
YAMERROOOOOOOOOOO
He dead. What do?
>>2216882
How many otos do you have?
>>2217033
Viking funeral anon
>>2217043
You just got prankd. He's being a little bitch because I turned the light on for a minute.
>>2217044
your fish don't like the lights on?
>>2217045
He was sleeping. His bed time is 9:30pm and woke him up at 2am to make sure my shrimp are doing fine.
>>2217002
It prevents their shells from getting nasty. Or damaged easily. Plus, it will really make the snails natural shell colors really pop!
>>2217033
He's not dead until he's floating belly up.
>>2217046
I caught my betta sleeping for the first time at about 5:30 this morning
I guess he sleep on this flat edge of slate rock near the top of the tank
What are good shrimp species to start a shrimp tank with? I've heard cherries are hardy.
>>2217713
either ghosts or cherries are good for beginners. ghosts are dirt cheap, cherries breed like crazy.
>>2217713
Basically any Neocaridina (which also includes cherries) and amano shrimp (don't breed in freshwater) aswell as babaulti shrimp (change colour) from the Caridina Genus.
Cherries, white pearls, wildtype (brown/grey) and yellows are the cheapest neocaridina. Any other colour involves more selection and is mostly more expensive. Especially if you never kept shrimp before, it is advisable to start with cherries, because they are so cheap (0, 50 $ -1, 00 $ per shrimp).
Lupdiesel did an amazing video on cherries that covers almost anything.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cFMDt2EOm7A
Keep in mind, that you can sell your cherries later on (and get a profit via their breeding) and invest in a more intermediate species or expensive colour.
Pic attached is a current overview over all the neocaridina colours.
Are there any freshwater fish with colors/patterns similar to koi? I currently have some harlequin rasboras and want some showa/sanke swordtails but I am having trouble finding them. Anyone have any ideas?
>>2217738
How big is your tank? If you can't find the swordtails, I'm sure you'll find one of the countless platy morphs.
Found a snail in my tank that I definitely don't remember putting in there. It's also too big to have hitched a ride on a plant as is so I'm baffled as to how a snail hid in plain sight for two months.
No idea what kind it is but it's kinda off white with a a matching shell that's spiral cone shaped.
Little bugger's fast too, been making his way downtown in the tank for the past five minutes and he's almost there.
>>2217721
>cherries are .50-1.00 each
guess that means I gotta order them online? fucking petco sells them for 3.99 each
>>2217053
Is it safe to put in a tank? Seems like it would leak calcium in the water
>no one selling cherry shrimp locally
>dont want to play $40 shipping for 5 shrimp
I have a cup full of uprooted glossostigma. This shit gets everywhere jesus christ. Do people buy this shit or should I just toss it in the yard to die?
Also do Kuhli's eat platy fry? I just moved my bettas out of my 60 gallon tank back to their 10 because reasons. There are now 30ish platy fry of varying sizes hiding among my plants in the 60. I'd like to toss a handful of kuhli's in there but ive grown attached to these fry after months of tending
what do? i'd post pics but my water is too green to see anything through
>>2217800
It's about the same online. They last awhile though and breed a lot. Just get 3 or 4 to start and if you get even 1 male you'll have a good amount of cherry shrimp.
>>2217800
Just contact some local cherry breeders via facebook or craigslist. Chances are, you can find someone in your town, unless you live in a really rural area. This way you dont have to pay shipping.
If you buy from a breeder, not a shop online, chances are he'll include the shipping cost, if you buy in bulk.
>>2217861
I want to get some cherry shrimp for my betta to chill with but I only have a 6 gallon tank, what do I do when I have too many of them? I'm a student, so I can't exactly sell them on craigslist or give them away. My uni has some zebrafish they use for experiments or something, could I give the extra shrimp to them? Or set them free? Or what... Also my substrate is pretty large gravel, pieces about the size of the end of a pinky finger. would shrimp be ok to walk on that?
>>2217945
why can't you sell on CL? you can also ship them to people, I'd gladly pay for shipping.
your betta will eat many of the young, or you can put them in jars around the house, or euthanize them. or collect hundreds and mash them into a shrimp patty and eat them.
I've been looking up a lot of fish medication and I'm seriously still wondering if it's fit for human consumption? Every survival blog and stuff I read (great info, I know but I'm still going on a lot of other sources like special forces stuff) has said they're decent for treating some stuff.
I have a superficial infection on my thumb because I bite my nails (stopping) and it's very slowly going away but it's still annoying. When I had insurance I went to the doctor and got some antibiotics and it cleared up the next day almost. I don't have insurance anymore and I can't even afford the prescription or minute clinic visit.
Any experience on taking Fish Mox or anything similar? Apparently they're basically the same as human stuff in case someone ingests them in an overdosing fashion.
>>2217980
yes, it's fine. it's not exactly the same because there's nowhere near as much quality control... but it's a pretty low risk. I wouldn't take antibiotics for just a small infection like that personally... keep your hands clean and it'll go away. use an antifungal/antibacterial like tea tree oil, it'll taste nasty too.
>>2217945
if you cant find a way to get rid of them
just catch em bag em and toss em in the freezer, then throw it away after they're dead
>>2217988
Well, I'm going to give it tonight and if it doesn't show either signs of improving or going away I'll try the fish stuff. It's been around since yesterday and I've been putting neosporin on it and keeping it clean. Don't have tea tree oil.
Thanks for the reply.
>>2217738
Koi betta
Someone sell me some shrimp. I've got some money left in my Amazon payment account.
If no one knew get but petco has some fish 5 for $5 which includes White Cloud Mountain minnows
Also what's the deal with this weird leaf that sprouted from my aponogeton crispus? They don't have these shaped leaves.
>>2218107
Forgot pic
Sup /an/, long time hobbyist here. I'm moving to a seaside house in Maine next year, and I've always been into keeping local fish as much as possible, to educate my kids among other things.
I was looking up if there's any regulations about pumping seawater in and out of a tank (maybe a particulate filter on the incoming end to eliminate debris), particularly in regards to disease.
Also I know that catching and breeding fish requires a different permit from catching and eating fish, but if it's all done on my property or from my boat, will anyone give a shit?
Thanks in advance
>>2218143
Depends on the fish. Here with my fishing license I can catch and keep most native fish as long as I don't release them. Breeding and catching doesn't require a license. Either way as long as it isn't invasive or on any protection list you are fine and most people don't give a shit. Especially on your own property you don't need a license. Here anyway.
>>2218110
flowers.
>>2218110
They're flowering anon! How neat!
>>2218171
I'm talking about the leaf negro
>>2218160
Eh, figured as much. Will probably have an amicable chat with some folks over at the Rod and Gun club when I move, or just go to the town hall and see if I can get a straight answer.
Also why is pumping a continuous flow of clean sea water through an aquarium so rare? I can't find shit about it online, and I can't be the first guy to get the idea.
>>2218175
beautiful
So I can't find my one red cherry today, I guess the two ghost shrimp did eat him. whoops :(
>>2218175
I meant the odd leaf at bottom of the pic.
>>2218185
Some aquariums do this if they're close to the ocean. Just gotta clean the glass or you'll get barnacles.
>>2218212
Oh, it is pretty weird. it's attached to the plant right? Maybe it's phosphorus deficiency?
>>2218217
I fert them twice a week. It's the shape and length. The others are about 15 inches long this one is like 2 inches and looks like another species leaf. Coming from the same plant.
>>2218212
some plants give different leaves during reproduction. many aponos in the hobby are hybrids, yours might be one.
>>2218051
This. Koi betta look like mini kois with cooler fins, so cute. I see them at Petco now too.
>>2217721
What happens if you breed a bloody mary with a fire red painted? Or a blue velvet with a blue dream topaz? Or an orange sakura with a yellow neon?
Since they are all bred from different and distinct ancestors, would the offspring still retain their colors, or would they all be wild colored?
>>2217815
Sure, people do it all the time. And a little calcium in the water never hurt anything.
>>2218276
they get muddied colors. it's nothing too exciting, they aren't distinct beyond color.
>>2218284
well, it does depending on your fish. it's generally okay.
>>2218176
>>2218212
It looks like it's floating on the surface, which means if it spends the majority of it's time in open air then it has adapted to living in fresh air, rather than submerged.
Lots of aquatic plants can and are grown in open air. To the point that a lot of people who grow and sell them do this. It's called the "dry start method" and that's why a lot of plants melt, aka shed their leaves, when planted in tanks. Because the leaves the currently have aren't adapted to being underwater. So the plants cannibalize as much as possible, kick them off, then grow new leaves that can survive underwater.
BTW, the dry start method is the best method for establishing carpeting plants.
>>2218288
As long as anon has at least one live plant then it should be ok. Most people don't realize it but plants need calcium too. In fact, if you don't have enough calcium then it can fuck them up. I know this because my family often grows their own tomatoes and such. If the plants don't get enough calcium then not only do they wind up stunted, but all of that plants harvest winds up with these ugly brown patches, instead of a solid red or green, (or whatever color the individual vegetable is)
>>2218310
a cuttlebone is going to change the pH. one plant isn't going to make a difference.
>>2218276
The guy you replied to here, in most cases the offspring will be wildtypes, it all comes down to genetics, mutations and generations. You may get some non wildtypes here and there but their colouration will be most likely not stable and worse off than the ones of the parent bloodlines. That's also why we officially don't have pink or purple shrimps yet. Many report some odd mutation, but making the mutation stable takes a large scale breeding operation, good selection and many generations.
>>2218303
Well that's the thing. It's was grown from bulbs over a month ago and this random leaf appears.
>>2218366
totally missed that. seems like that is the case.
>>2218375
yep, dunno which one it is, but it's almost certainly one of the two. I haven't kept apontogen so I'm not sure if that's normal when it's flowering. it doesn't look like any sort of deficiency at least.
>>2218375
>>2218378
also I'm happy you didn't see it, I was worried I looked like an asshole when I linked my response.
>>2218409
>>2218414
NO NO NO WE ARE NOT GOING ON A FEEL TRIP TODAY
>>2218422
t-too late
How necessary is an aquarium cover?
If it isn't necessary is it still worth the investment?
>>2218480
Depends on the species you wanna keep. Some like to escape or jump.
Can someone please tell me how hepatitis gets in a tank? And what are symptoms in fish?
All that Google is producing is warnings about spa fish pedicures spreading hep.
I don't think my aquarium is infected, but a friend mentioned it to me while we were talking about diseases that would make it hard to reuse a tank (apparently hep is very hard to get rid of?)
2 questions:
1) How bad would it be to get a swordtail breeding duo? I know a 1:2 ratio of males to females is better to prevent too much female stress but would they still be able to give birth?
2) Do I need a HOB breeding area? My guppies seem to have been pregnant for months but I only see 1 fry in the tank.
What is a good vacation feeder. I will be gone for 2 to 3 days. Last one I got kept my fish alive but left nasty residue.
I have a betta in a 10G and 12 inches of tropical fish in a 20G.
>>2218652
>2-3 days
Just don't feed them. They'll be fine.
>>2218480
depends on the species. You also have to top off the tank way more often because of evaporation.
>>2218610
I think your friend was wrong, fish can't get hep.
>>2218646
they can still give birth but the female will be more stressed. those special breeding areas stress out the fish and don't even do a good job at saving fry. you need live plants for them to hide in, I like water lettuce best for that. anything bushy is fine.
>>2218652
don't feed them at all.
>>2218652
Your betta will be okay for that long, in the wild they may go for up to a week without food in between rains in the floodplains. Your other fish should be fine for only 3 days too, as long as you don't have any that would eat your smaller fish as a snack.
I just got some mollies from the store.
I just noticed I have a male and two females and that one female has signs of pregnancy; should I be worried? I didn't prepare myself for baby fishies.
>>2218920
don't worry, they're gonna get eaten.
Any advice for starting a 75 gallon tank? I've owned fish for years but never anything this large. Previous best was 29 gallons. I already have a filter, heater, and aeration pump. I bought some fluorescent light holders, do I need full spectrum bulbs or are whites fine? Any opinions on sand vs gravel for substrate?
>>2219007
Do you want plants? Any idea what kind of fish you want?
>>2219008
Debating between getting mainly mollies with a few angels and a pleco or just going down to the river and getting wild minnows and stuff. Obviously mixing store bought and wild fish is dangerous, so it's going to be one or the other. I am going to have some plants, not sure what kind yet.
>>2219012
since you plan on getting plants, I'd look at sand, dirt, or the fancy gravel they make specifically for plants. sand is probably most common/easiest.
if you have a tractor supply co, this stuff is very popular: >http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/black-diamond-medium-blasting-abrasives
otherwise, any pool filter sand is okay. sand is also okay for all fish, unlike gravel.
you definitely want to go with full spectrum. I have a t8 work light and it's about the same price for either light. you'll need at minimum 1-2 watts per gallon.
>>2219016
Thanks senpai
>>2219020
np bby
>>2219020
No t8. Go t5 for plant growth. T8 is okay but inferior to t5 and t8 is phasing out.
>>2219030
he already has a light, that's why I mentioned both. I did forget t12 though, that's even worse.
>>2219031
I found a t12 fixture and it had two 40 watt bulbs new in it. Boy they sucked dick and were full spectrum.
>>2219034
I have a t8 with two bulbs, it does a good job. I would've gone with something different if money wasn't an issue though.
I finally got a clear picture of my pleco! Who can ID him?
>>2219049
rubbernose pleco. that was a 10g right? he's gonna be too big :(
>>2219050
wew that was quick af. yeah 10 gallon. the store lady shilled me into buying it, telling it would only grow to 4 inches. Isnt that enough?
>>2219055
5-6 is much more accurate. To my knowledge, only Clown Plecos stay in the 4" zone, and even they require about 29 gallons of water. Rubbernoses do best in 30 or more
>>2219064
>29
I meant 20
>>2219055
4-5 inches. It'll look small but it will work for awhile.
>>2219049
Definitely rubber lip pleco (l402) 10 gallon will be fine for now until you upgrade. Once they hit 4 inches the growth rate slows down.
>>2219055
I remembered your post from last time so I already knew it was one of three. rubbernoses get a little bigger than that.
10 gallon guy again. I have this 5 gallon sort of setup below my main 10 gal. What can I put there? Ded shrimp and fish poop is in it right now meaning the water is probably toxic but I have a few plants cleaning up the water rn. What can I add once it properly cycles?
Setup an old tank
Need to get a light for some planted plants I'll be putting in. What's the cheapest best aquarium light I can get for a 20g? I'll be keeping tetras, a dwarf gourami and a guppy.
http://www.lowes.com/pd/Bayco-150-Watt-Incandescent-Portable-Work-Light/3122291
>>2219093
Which light bulbs should I get?
>>2219103
http://www.lowes.com/pd/SYLVANIA-2-Pack-23-Watt-100W-Equivalent-6-500K-Spiral-Medium-Base-E-26-Daylight-CFL-Bulb/3202347
there's a website called renovopower that generates coupons for lowes, too. you might need two fixtures depending on how long your tank is/how much wattage you want.
I found a nice smooth granite rock when I was hunting n the woods a few days ago. It would go really nice with my aquarium. Problem is that it was next to a pine tree and had a little sap on it. I boiled it and scrubbed it down with hot water and have been letting it sit in bucket since then.
Would it be safe to put in my aquarium?
>>2219105
Thanks my dude. Will pick them up tomorrow.
So any reefers here? What are the best LED options?
>>2219117
So since I'm going to Lowe's tomorrow, is there a good substrate there for aquariums that won't cost an arm and a leg like the brands from fish stores? It's any sand ok?
>>2219153
pool filter sand! although, if you have a Tractor Supply Store they have the absolute best sand, it's called Black Beauty.
Guys my cherry shrimp is not dead I came home today and saw him with the 2 ghost shrimp, praise jesus!
>>2219159
Black beauty is iron slag used for sand blasting metal
>>2218480
It can cut down on water evaporation, making your over all tank more stable. Plus, as other anons have said, it's good at preventing certain species from committing seppuku.
>>2218652
Just make sure to feed them literally right before you walk out the door for the last time. They will be fine when you get back.
>>2219238
I used it until my fish died from it cutting them up internally and magnetic particles stuck to my magnetic cleaner
>>2219246
weird, did you use it a long time ago? it's just coal now, not iron.
lots of people in this thread http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/12-tank-journals/153192-black-diamond-sand-tanks-lets-see-them-blasting-away-here.html have been using it for years without any issues.
>>2219247
ok I see I said black beauty originally, it's black diamond that TSC carries.
>>2219247
Yeah
>>2219007
Follow the directions in this link for best results for live plants. Since you have such a huge tank it will save you a small fortune down the road in fertilizers and root tabs for all of your plants if you should choose sand or gravel.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/library/52554-how-mineralized-soil-substrate-aaron-talbot.html
If the ingredients in the link aren't an option for you, then simply go to a local store and get some chemical free all natural potting/gardening soil. I've heard good things about Miracle Gro Organic Potting Mix online. And if that isn't an option either, then simply grab a shovel and find some nice dark rich soil around your property that you can use.
Just remember to soak it in warm water and then rake it out to dry in the sun at least once. And to sift out all the larger debris before putting it in your tank.
>>2219254
Thanks dude
my 20gal long has 2 creamsicle lyretail mollies, 2 dalmatian mollies, 1 plecostomus, and 6 albino cories. for a while i just had 3 albino cories in there but last week i got 3 more and put them in expecting them to school in immediately with the other 3. except, the new ones mostly stayed by themselves while the 3 originals were still in their own little clique. today when i went to clean the tank, i discovered one of the newer cories was dead... with it's face, tail, and internal organs all eaten.
is there a chance my original cories went silence of the lambs on this one? the newer cories also have black rings around their eyes but i haven't found anything that indicates if that's an illness or just a birthmark
Favorite YouTube aquarium keepers? Pic related.
Would it work?
Has science gone too far?
>>2219328
I don't see why it wouldn't
why tho
>>2219329
>why tho
Because I'm upgrading to a bigger tank and sumps are scary. I might just hook them up individually.
>>2219277
Mollies can be dicks and the pleco will eat the slime coating off a dead fish. Corys would also pick at a dead one. Some times they are racist though. As most of the time they won't school with others of a different species.
>>2215977
So much room, you need at least 100 gallon to sufficiently house SA cichlids.
>>2219333
Depending on species as they range from 3 inches to 2+ft.
>>2216986
What are you going to house in a ten gallon? Sooooo small.
>>2219266
Welcome! Also, nice dubs.
>>2219332
>foreskin
Gross. This is a blue board, anon!
>>2219085
Make it a sump. You'll be the only person with a sumped 10g.
>>2219330
Just do a sump. If not, make the two filters completely separate. Or just get a bigger filter.
>>2219226
So I finally ordered some fish, 1 bumble bee cat, 7 white clouds, and 3 albino cory cats, I want to get 2 more dwarf gourami, but i feel like i need more plants first.
>>2219356
This, the two filters, though identical, will have slightly different output pressures, thus one feeding into the other will likely damage the motor. It is much safer to put them on their own individual loops.
alright i took the cups out
i hope you fags are happy
>>2219404
They're reaction images, they add meaning to the conversation. This is like, the chillest general... don't ruin it with a bunch of rules.
>notice worms in my substrate
>suddenly notice worms on the glass and a few twitching around in the water
>notice hundreds of something ELSE all over the glass
Absolutely fucking disgusting. I don't think im cut out for this fish-keeping shit. I can't keep up with maintenance and now I dont even want to touch the water
>>2219404
I'll post what I damn well please
>>2219394
Noice
>>2219404
You quoted some reaction images nigger.
>>2219591
Just skip feeding your fish for a day or two. Then stir up your substrate. All the worms will be flushed out into the open and your fish will gobble them up in no time.
>>2219817
i'd do that if I could but I have a carpet (which is probably why I have worms)
>>2219591
aren't those worms pretty much harmless?
They're gross to look at though
>>2219826
im sure they are but that doesnt make me want to touch my water
>>2219105
So I they were out of stock of that bulb at Lowe's so I picked up a 1600 lumen 5000k bulb instead. Is that OK? Do you running I need another one? The picture doesn't really show exactly how bright it is.
Also I don't think the plant trimmings are going to make it. Maybe one or two but...
do amanos often have blue on them?
I noticed my larger one has a little patch of blue near the base of its tail
My betta is currently digging through the rocks on the bottom looking for the broken sinking wafers I dropped in there for the shrimp
You'd think he's starving or something when I just fed him
>>2219856
Added some rocks. This is the best I can do without buying substrate. Still need to get more plants.
>>2220308
Oh! Found an inhabitant! Do you think he's happy?
I just noticed a little snail in my tank. Almost certainly hitched a ride in with the amanos I bought at petco
Is it going to be a problem later?
>>2220373
Probably unless you have something that eats snails.