/aq/ - Aquarium General

>>2392947
First

File: 20160830_093438.jpg (2MB, 4032x3024px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4032x3024px

What's a good tank and filter combination for my friend here

how do i make money out of this hobby? should i consider breeding the fish i have?

>>2393027
Git gud
Get a species that's deficit in your area
Learn to breed it

Alternately get something that breeds at the speed of light, like shrimp.

File: 20170528_172141.jpg (1MB, 2560x1440px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 2560x1440px

My tank is literally the only reason I haven't killed myself yet. I think about it constantly but then I remember my happy innocent little fish and shrimp and I know that I just can't leave them alone in this world.

>>2393027
Watch Aquarium Co-Op's Breeding for Profit videos. Basically breed small stuff that people buy all the time. Dont be a douchebag to local shops. Be a loyal customer and seller. Recommend a competitive price. Stuff like that.

>>2393007

55g-75g if male, +90g if female. Or just a large stock tank/pond instead, even more so if you have multiple turtles
Canister filters are prefered with turtles and you'd want at least x2-x3 times the filtration your tank holds, as turtles are really messy (i.e a 75g needs to have filter rated up to 225 gallons)

As for filters themselves, many of them are really good but are fairly pricey (Fluval FX series are really great). But there's budget ones that still work just as good, like the SunSun canisters (can be a bitch to prime with lowered water lines though) Ideally you'd want either one really big, powerful filter or at least 2 good ones. As long as it adds up to x2-3x the tank size, you're good to go.

Do I need to vacuum my gravel if I have shrimp, and if I do, how often?

I'm scared they'll get sucked inside the gravel vac if I do.

>>2393007
>>2393098
do people really keep turtles once they require tanks up to 90 gallons? i thought most people released them to their local lake

I like this thread but I don't have an aquarium. Maybe once I get one I'll bother everyone with the newbiest questions.

File: IMG_1392.jpg (953KB, 1632x1224px) Image search: [Google]

953KB, 1632x1224px

>>2393121
Most don't, if not for that then for having to care for a turtle for decades on end. It because of that, there's a shit ton of turtles in a local park that never had them before

I currently have a 8" female in a 90 gallon right now. Had her since I was still in middle school and was about a few months old; about 13 years old now

Pic related

>>2393128
or you could use google unless you cant find the answer

>>2393069
>>2393060
Thanks, Im already trying to breed cherry shrimp for color. I can breed tiger barbs or boseman rainbowfish. which should I?

>>2393133
what about lakes and ponds that already have them? Would it be bad if they were dumped there? Assuming that anyone that managed to grow a turtle that big wouldn't have a disease that could wipe the lake, pond, etc.

>>2393141
Disease is definitely the main hazard towards wild populations. Along with making sure in fact that they are the same species to begin with, as red eared sliders are notorious for pushing in the shit of different native turtles due to growing larger and having a more aggressive nature. Plus introducing turtles in a manmade pond/lake that never had them will probably end up overrunning anything else that lived there

What snails/shrimp should I put in a 10g with a Betta? I'm not too concerned about ammonia production/bioload, I'm running an aquaponics tray above the tank.

>>2393166
bamboo shrimp are probably the safest. the cohabitation with small shrimp species depends on the individual betta. some murder them, some don't care. snails should all work

>>2393170
I also forgot to ask how many.
How many snails/shrimp?

>>2393138
>breeding tiger barbs
Might as well breed common plecos and goldfish.

>>2393193
is that an insult or saying i should breed them

>>2393007
I would recommend keeping them in a 150 g rubbermaid stock tank. 90g, IMO, isn't enough for a turtle that may grow to a foot long.

>>2393062
I'm feeling the same thing, anon.

>>2393102
You can skip gravel vacuuming if your tank is very heavily planted, but otherwise you're leaving a bunch of shit and leftover good to root in there.
Just be very careful when you do it and move slowly so any shrimp can flick themselves out of the way.

>>2393121
That's why nonnative RES populations are such a massive problem. Don't be that guy.

>>2393166
Bamboo shrimp can be difficult to care for. I've never heard of anyone having trouble with bettas and Amano shrimp, and ghost shrimp tend to be fairly safe. Whether or not cherry shrimp will work is entirely up to the betta, and you won't know for sure until you try it.
For snails, anything should work besides maybe very small pest snails. Personally I prefer nerites as they're aesthetically pleasing, have a low bioload, and work well for algae cleanup.

>>2393102
I have cherry shrimp and gravel. I vacuum it once in a while with a vacuum cleaner I bought from eBay from a chinese seller (those transparent ones with the blue airbag they sell for $2).
The adult shrimp will jump away if I come to near to them. Just gotta be careful and slow.
Baby shrimp however will get sucked in. That's why I use a bucket. After cleaning I search the bucket with a flashlight and put the babies back in the tank (can be a major pain in the ass though).

Alternatively, you can use the method which youtuber Rachel O'Leary showed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ok3qBVKHq8

>>2393251
>>2393256
Thanks anons. How often would you recommend vacuuming the tank?

I want to see pictures of aquariums, please and thank you.

>>2393274
In my shrimp only tank with lots of plants I do it maybe every 4 months, most likely when my stem plants need a trimming so I pull them out, cut them and plant the top again. Pulling them out gets a bit messy so I clean the gravel then.

I'd suggest doing it 3-4 times a year, but it depends on how many fish & how often you feed.

There are small acrylic or glass bowls for shrimp feeding. Idea behind them is every time you feed an algae wafer or tablet, you put it into this bowl so when the shrimp feed on it the mess stays in the bowl and won't get into the substrate. That would lessen the need for vacuum cleaning even more.

>>2393138
Im gonna breed tiger barbs. Would that net me some money or that a no go? Like i said i already am breeding rcs and i have guppys in my res tank so i guess i could sell some if they overpopulate
>>2393208
This is not me but >>2393193 im wondering what you mean by this as well. Whether you are saying tb are difficult to breed or they are shit easy

File: aga_2010_davechow.jpg (2MB, 2661x831px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 2661x831px

>>2393284

File: maxresdefault.jpg (111KB, 1280x720px) Image search: [Google]

111KB, 1280x720px

>>2393287
Huh, I used to vacuum with every water change before I got the shrimp. Good to hear it's not necessary.

I don't have a separate bowl to feed the shrimp in and there's no way I'm going to sift through all my wood, moss and hornwort to catch them all. How often do you feed your shrimp algae wafers, by the way? I've heard everything between twice a week and once every few months. I also plan to give them cucumber instead of wafers sometimes because I've seen videos of them eating cucumbers and it looks cute as fuck.

On an unrelated note, why are shrimp so fucking based?
>cute as fuck
>keep your tank clean
>barely eat and barely shit
>eat faggot snails
>you can put hundreds of them in a tank that would be too small for the tiniest goldfish

I can't believe I've been in this hobby since I was a teen and I've never thought to get them before.

>>2393296
>filename
Uh huh, okay...

> 10 gallon tank

How many cardinals and albino cories can I fit into this bitch, maybe with a few plants.

Also what's a good substrate option?

File: 20170528_234342.jpg (2MB, 3264x1836px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 3264x1836px

>>2393296
Where do people get these scraggly looking rocks on the right in this?

>>2393062
Honestly, same here anon. The only reason i'm not dead yet is because nobody around me can be trusted with my pets if I die. Watching the fish swim around and do their thing is pretty therapeutic, too.

>>2393322
Get a real tank. problem solved

>>2393170
>bamboo shrimp
>with a betta
I gotta know, are you retarded or just incompetent?

File: 2016_11_28_Blue_Dream.jpg (3MB, 2848x2136px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 2848x2136px

>>2393297
>there's no way I'm going to sift through all my wood, moss and hornwort to catch them all
I meant catching the shrimp that got sucked in into the bucket after vacuuming. I did not mean that you have to catch all shrimp + babies out from the tank just to vacuum. That would be autism over 9000.

>How often do you feed your shrimp algae wafers
I have a bajillion different shrimp foods here and the get something different every day. Algae wafers/tabs once a week I'd guess.

>I also plan to give them cucumber
I do that too, once in a while. I peel the piece and dip it in freshly boiled water for 20 sec to be on the safe side.

Shrimp are based. But mine eat & shit all the time. More than any fish do. It's just that their bioload is not that huge.
Which shrimps eat snails, though? Never heard of that.

File: 5c1dc390e019442301073831f5ab0ac8.jpg (78KB, 576x432px) Image search: [Google]

78KB, 576x432px

What else would go well with pentazona barbs and harlequin rasboras? Not counting my cleaning crew of albino corys and SAEs...I was thinking of getting neons for a bit of colour, but other suggestions are welcome.

>>2393344
Will my shrimp be ok if I only feed them once every 3 or so days and the rest of the time they live on tank algae and bits of food that my fish drop?

With regards to shrimp eating snails, my resident pond snail laid eggs today and every time I look, I see my Australian amano digging through the little pile of eggs and clearly eating something.

>>2393322
Go by the inch per gallon rule. Cories and big tetras grow to about 2 inches so I guess you can get away with 5 fish in total which isn't remotely enough for either species to school comfortably.

Why not get rasboras, endler's livebearers, pygmy cories, ember tetras, etc? There's a nice variety of fish that does well in small tanks but cardinals and regular cories aren't among them.

>>2393208
>>2393294
He's probably saying that there isn't a demand for hobbyist bred tiger barbs.

File: IMG_20170529_114430.jpg (2MB, 4160x3120px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4160x3120px

>>2393284

File: 2016-01-Red_Neo 062.jpg (3MB, 2848x2136px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 2848x2136px

>>2393352
Yeah that would be perfectly fine.

Never had Amano shrimp, interesting to hear that they eat the snail eggs. Hungry little fuckers.

>>2393322
10 gallons is too small for cardinal tetras or albino cories, but if you can find some micro rasboras and pygmy cories, it's big enough for 5-8 of each pretty easily.

>>2393332
Looks like seiryu or ryuoh stone, either one of which you can buy online for $$$$.

>>2393346
Pretty much any small peaceful fish would work with those. Coral pencilfish can be a but sensitive, but they have some fantastic red color to them. Cherry barbs are also very nice and hardier.
If you want a lone or pair of non-schooling fish as a centerpiece, Microctenopoma species, small to mid size gourami, ram cichlids, or Apistogramma would work.

>>2393359
I loved yours man, i wouldn't mind more pics if you have em, building an aquarium folder for future reference, if you don't mind helping another anon out

>>2392947
Says the discord invite expired, are invites closed?

>>2393356
>>2393367
Thanks, anons. Gonna go check out rasboras today. Think I'd still have space for a few ghost shrimp?

>>2393367
Thanks anon, I'll check them all out and see what would fit best

>>2393379
Yes. Shrimp add very little load on a tank, so you can basically add them to anything as long as they won't get eaten.

File: IMG_20170529_122553.jpg (3MB, 4160x3120px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4160x3120px

>>2393372
Thanks very much. IMO it gets less nice looking the closer you look at it, but the fish are all happy and I enjoy watching them.

File: IMG_20170529_122602.jpg (4MB, 4160x3120px) Image search: [Google]

4MB, 4160x3120px

>>2393391
The Limnophila needs to be trimmed.

File: IMG_20170529_122610.jpg (3MB, 4160x3120px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4160x3120px

>>2393393
African butterfly fish. There are two in the tank, but I don't see them together very often.

File: IMG_20170529_122642.jpg (4MB, 4160x3120px) Image search: [Google]

4MB, 4160x3120px

>>2393394
Combination of window light and filter output flow has made the right side of the tank go crazy.

File: IMG_20170529_123731.jpg (2MB, 4160x3120px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4160x3120px

>>2393395
And this is a little riparium-style platform I made for emersed plants. The Fittonia is doing better than I would have expected.

>>2393379
I have a tank smaller than yours with dwarf rasboras and shrimp. Water parameters are perfect and all the animals are happy and healthy. It can totally be done as long as you watch your parameters and do regular water changes. This is not the kind of tank you can leave for a month.

>>2393128
>>2393136
Nah I like answering stupid questions, puts my aquarium knowledge to use and makes me feel like I'm helping.

>>2393128
I wouldn't recommend it. Everyone in this thread is retarded. Make a fishlore account -- they were much more helpful to me than /aw/ when I first started out. I would definitely stay off this thread until you know what you're doing enough to distinguish between good and bad advice.

File: 1495681965751.jpg (12KB, 471x480px) Image search: [Google]

12KB, 471x480px

A bunch of my shrimp molted in the night. I woke up to find a pile of the little skins and thought they were all dead. I was about to start crying like a fucking faggot and then I lifted up a log and the little cunts were under there, laughing at me.

Why did nobody fucking tell me about this? Call me retarded but I had no idea they do this shit.

>>2393492
Haha crying like a little bitch

File: DSCF0496.jpg (141KB, 492x369px) Image search: [Google]

141KB, 492x369px

I haven't had an aquarium ever since I was a child, but I've been doing my research to get back to the aquarium scene a little more seriously. I want to get a 40 gallon, plant it with some nice anubias and java moss, and get an african clawed frog, some white skirt tetras, ghost shrimp, and a big apple snail (I know someone who has some big ones, and could hold on to one until I can get it). Does this sound ok? I know the ACF will probably try to eat the shrimp and tetras, but maybe if I plant it enough they could hide, or could be a supplement to the frog's Reptomin. On that note, if the frog WAS eating the fish, how could I adjust its diet accordingly? Should I just have 2-3 frogs instead of the fish?
I've also been looking into substrate for the plants. How earthy is Eco-Complete? Is it small enough that the frog wouldn't have an issue if it were to ingest it?

>>2393583
>Fish could be a supplement for the frog.
That's an expensive supplement. Get some feeder guppies if that's the way you're going to go. They'll breed and the frog can eat the fry.

>>2393492
>Didn't know shrimp molt.
Did you do any research at all before purchasing those shrimp?

>>2393608
Was thinking of doing this too. Just trying to pick between tetras and guppies, both are nice fish anyway.
What about the shrimp and snail? Any thoughts on those?

>>2393617
It just depends on the size of the snails. The shrimp might be safe, as long as they're too big for the frog to swallow. And being heavily planted gives it a great environment for everything to coexist.

>>2393583
Full grown skirt tetras would be very difficult for a clawed frog to eat, but that won't necessarily stop them from biting chunks out of them. Same goes for shrimp, but ghost shrimp are cheap and a good source of protein, so that's not a bad thing. If you get a bunch of moss, you might be able to have a sustainable cherry shrimp colony for the frogs to pick at.
Zebra and leopard danios are usually pretty cheap and very fast, so they would be better at outrunning the frogs.
Any snail ¾ inch or bigger should be fine.

Alternatively, you could get some African dwarf frogs instead of the clawed frogs. They're smaller and generally more peaceful. And they're just as goofy.

>>2393648
>zebra and leopard danios
Hadn't thought of this, thank you.

>you could get some African dwarf frogs instead of the clawed frogs
I'm trying to choose between the two. It really depends on what I want to do: if I want the frogs to be the main piece, or if I want the aquarium to be about the fish. I love both kinds of frogs, so I'll be fine with whatever.

>>2393620
Thank you, anon. I'll probably let the plants grow for a while until I introduce any of the animals, I don't know which I should put in first though.

otos or cories?

File: 12.png (188KB, 1008x778px) Image search: [Google]

188KB, 1008x778px

What should I do with my 12 gallon long?

>>2393912
Cories are hardier, come in more varieties, and are more likely to be captive bred.

>>2393611
I spent weeks talking to local shrimp breeders about how to take care of them. I'd much rather speak to an actual breeder than to some idiot on the Internet. None of them mentioned molting.

>>2393973
They probably assumed you had already researched the basics because that's what you should do before asking an expert for detailed information.
Just go to your local library (seeing how apprehensive you are about online resources) and read a book.

>Call me retarded but I had no idea they do this shit.
You are retarded.

>>2393981
I accept that I'm retarded. Have a nice day.

File: IMG_20170530_114009168.jpg (2MB, 4160x2340px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4160x2340px

Decided to add 3 not amano shrimp to help for of this algea bloom. Currently 5 amano (including the 3 new ones) 9-12 guppies, 1 pygmy Cory, 1 dwarf gourami, one nerite snail, a fuckton of trumpets ramshorn and pond snails. Is this to much for my 20g long? It's got a lot of plants and a 5g hob filter/plant bed.

File: bladder snail laying eggs 1.jpg (31KB, 500x375px) Image search: [Google]

31KB, 500x375px

How the fuck do I get rid of bladder snails?
Tried putting down a lettuce leaf. They weren't interested (maybe my shrimp scared them off since they swarmed it immediately)
Tried boiling the wood and decorations. Didn't even make a dent in the population.
I'm reduced to picking up any snails I see and crushing them every day. Every fucking day I see more eggs and more baby snails chilling on the glass.

Can't add snail-eating fish because they'll murder my shrimp.

File: IMG_20170530_120154927.jpg (3MB, 4160x2340px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4160x2340px

>>2394076
They seem to be enjoying themselves. I had forgotten how small amano are when you first get them. The other 2 are easily 3x the size of the ones I just got.

>>2394076
>1 pygmy Cory
Why would you do this? Get him friends. You have plenty of room for it.

>20g long
>guppies
>5g hob
And why would you do this?

>>2394099
Add some assassin snails and watch them ruthlessly hunt down the pond snails.

>>2394102
I don't know where I can get one. No pet stores around me stock them. The nearest supplier I found online is many miles away and doesn't ship.

>>2394099
Squish every single one you see every day and manually remove egg sacs.

or

Accept your new tenants. They really aren't that bad.

You can try >>2394102 but ime assassin snails are really slow. Too slow to keep up with a hearty snail population. They're cool to have either way, though, and if those ones breed you can sell them for $.

>>2394101
It's what I had at the time, wanted extra filtration so I made the hob out of a critter keeper. Cory was a gift from a friend. I'm planning on getting more pygmys, but don't want to do it before I move at the end of June. Wife got me the guppies as soon as I had my tank running. I really really hate when people gift me fish.
All I wanted were some peacock gudgeons, some snails, and a pack of pygmys.

>>2394109
I wouldn't mind them if I wasn't paranoid that they'll fuck up my water parameters. How much do they contribute to bioload?

>>2394100
I don't get why people hate snails so much. They help keep your tank clean. When I set my aquarium up I would have the pet store guy scoop me up as many MTS and ramshorn as he could whenever I got a new fish.

>>2394114
Meant to quote >>2394099

File: aquarium-flake-fish-food.jpg (282KB, 900x506px) Image search: [Google]

282KB, 900x506px

How often do you guys feed your fish and what do you feed?

Not asking for advice or anything, just curious about your feeding regimens. Mine is a pinch of Aqueon flakes, half a shrimp pellet or algae wafer, mysis shrimp and bloodworms. The flakes are every day, the others are just supplemental. I skip days maybe once or twice a week.

>>2394110
Wait you mean the hob is actually a 5 gallon container? That would be awesome. It sounded like you were saying it was a filter rated for 5 gallons, which would be pretty pathetic trying to keep up with guppy shits.

As long as you can keep the guppy population manageable some gudgeons and more pygmies would be fine.

>I really really hate when people gift me fish.
I think the way I talk about my fish has successfully scared everyone I know into never doing that for me. I just ask for equipment if someone wants to get me something.

>>2394115
Again, I don't give a shit but I'm scared of how much they contribute to bioload. I'm running a nano tank and I'm already as stocked as I can comfortably be.

>>2394124
Gallon size? Fish in it already?

I have two small mystery snails in a 2 gallon with my betta. They don't seem to affect levels of anything, but I change the water about 35% once a week.

Once they get bigger I'm going to move them to a 10 gallon but they eat algae like nobody's business.

>>2394112
No more than shrimp.

>>2394120
I usually feed 3 or 4 times a week. Frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and cyclops, Omega One brand dry foods, dried nori from Walmart, frozen peas and broccoli, and live crickets for the butterfly fish (or my beastliest of cherry barbs if she gets to it first).
I don't have a particular schedule for anything. It's just whatever I feel like.

>>2394123
Oh yeah I guess I worded that poorly. I have 2 internal filters on one side and the hob 5g sump on the other. Haven't measured the input/output of the sump but it moves a sizeable amount of water.
I'm really trying to find a way to get rid of the guppies without just straight up murdering them. And I had dawrf gouramis die of iridovirus so I wasn't expecting him to still be alive.

>>2394127
5 gal. 4 dwarf rasboras (about 1.5cm each) and about 15 shrimp.

>>2394135
Good to hear. I read on some fish forum that they have a large bioload because they're herbivores like goldfish.

>>2394139
I mean, yeah, they shit a lot, but the same goes for shrimp. There's just not much substance to it. Like rabbit turds.

Goldfish are dirty fucks because they have no stomach. They're just poo tubes.

File: IMG_8230.jpg (3MB, 4032x3024px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4032x3024px

Just picked up some cherry shrimp. This is my first time w/ cherry shrimp, so you guys got any tips for breeding them? Some are already berried. I've got three females and one male.

>>2393983
Im not even going to tell you how long ive had fish but this week i realized one of my favorite goldfish that was at least 8 years old and a hard to find variety is gone from my pond. Not even like a dead body just gone. Its kind of messed me up.

File: foosh.jpg (75KB, 360x417px) Image search: [Google]

75KB, 360x417px

Rate my feesh

>>2394478
8/10, docked points for ancient camera quality & boring looking tank

>>2394486
Don't worry he has silk plants and a shrimp friend so he's not bored.

I'm being 100% serious when I ask this

Can I keep my african dwarf frog in an UTZ cheesball container successfully? It's 28 oz. but there isn't much in terms of footprint

>>2394495
Just get an actual fucking tank, christ.

>>2394495
yes you could, but be aware that unless you put a small filter in it you will have to do a 100% water change at least once a week, which is a hassle.

>>2394510
I'd do it much more than once a week if I were him.
>>2394495
I can't really see a frog having a good life in such a container. You have to actually consider the animal's welfare, not just how hard to clean it'll be.

>>2394509
I have enough tanks and everything ive read says 1 gallon is enough

>>2394510
I already change out his water every 2-3 days. He's in a 3.5 gallon currently with my betta but he goes after the bettas fins whenever I go to feed them

>>2394514
that's what im considering. Nothing ive read says anything about a footprint. Just clean water, a softish substrate and hides. What would be an actual minimum for such a frog? do they care about the tank footprint?

File: 1496221993987.jpg (33KB, 500x389px) Image search: [Google]

33KB, 500x389px

I adopted my friend's dad's fish after he decided he didn't want them.

He gave me:

>(1) Gold Gourami
>(2) Red Skirt Tetras
>(2) Glass Catfish (bought 4 more later to keep them company)
>(1) Unidentified pleco-looking fish

I already had in the tank at the time:

>(4) Pearl Gouramis

I noticed that the larger gold Gourami seems to hate the Pearl Gouramis and chases them all over the place whenever it spots them, yet it ignores all the other fish.

How do I get this fat fuck to behave himself? Am I witnessing some sort of fish race war?

File: GloFish-Danio-Group_1024x1024.jpg (37KB, 600x500px) Image search: [Google]

37KB, 600x500px

How does /aq/ feel about Glofish? I think the concept and execution are cool, but the fish themselves look disgustingly trashy and shouldn't be appealing if you're over 13 years old.

>>2393365
That substrate though,
how'd you blend it so well?
what did you use?

File: 1920.jpg (125KB, 1920x1080px) Image search: [Google]

125KB, 1920x1080px

>>2394894
>tfw they are illegal where you live because politicians think people would eat them

>>2394894
I feel they're absolutely unnecessary. Naturally-colored fish are much more beautiful. Gladly we don't have them in my country, I imagine they are subject to neglect more often than other fish just for being marketed the way they are

>>2394905
They were initially created as a bio-indicator of pollution. It should've ended there but someone thought he could make a quick buck selling them to kids.

>>2394903
Fucking kek, where do you live?

>>2394894
yeah, you've got it

>>2394908
How do they work as bio-indicators of pollution, anyway? Is it just because its easier to see if their colours get full due to poor water conditions? Are they still being used for this?
Also,
>Right after I said we didn't have them here my local LFS said he'd be getting some soon
Well fuck me then

>>2394921
>Their goal was to develop a fish that could detect pollution by selectively fluorescing in the presence of environmental toxins. The development of the constantly fluorescing fish was the first step in this process, and the National University of Singapore filed a patent application on this work.

>>2394120
Flakes every day or two, frozen cube of bloodworm every 3 days, and the occasional algae wafer

>>2394908
Cuckifornia

>>2395060
ahaha trust Californians to eat genetically modified aquarium fish

File: glo fish bent.jpg (9KB, 300x201px) Image search: [Google]

9KB, 300x201px

>>2394921
My LFS has a huge tank with about 100 of them, all different colours. Makes me sad to look at those poor freaks of human intervention.

My sister had a tank full of pink ones. They're very weak and sickly fish. The oldest one lived to about a year and unlike my zebra danios they never grew any bigger than they were when we got them. Shortly before they died they all started looking bent, as if their spines were broken in several places. Never seen this happen to my or my sister's other fish.

>>2395093
A nearby building had them in the window and recently removed them and I can't see them anywhere in the building. I hope one of the employees took them home but they probably just got flushed.

>>2394883

>fish race war

It's just asserting dominance. Don't be a retard.

>>2394903
>>2395060
>>2395088

you what? People sell these all over the place here. I just saw them in Walmart yesterday and I know for sure that both the local petco and petsmart have danios

File: red-tiger-barb-group-3-flt-website.jpg (169KB, 800x533px) Image search: [Google]

169KB, 800x533px

>>2394894
The red tiger barbs look super fucking cool to me, very 80s-tacky but neat. I don't care for the other ones.

File: 20150324_212723_cropped.jpg (3MB, 2007x2491px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 2007x2491px

>>2394901
I used very fine aquarium sand and black gravel (0,4mm-0,8mm grain size). Wanted to have the black gravel on the right and the sand on the left.
Pic related, it's how it looked in the first month (the hairgrass died).

Then, the Cories, Shrimp and the water flow mixed it all up and I was not autistic enough to pick every dark gravel grain from the sand every week so I let it mix up and be me a lesson to not mix 2 very fine substrates ever again.

File: Aqua 27.07 010_small.jpg (472KB, 1280x960px) Image search: [Google]

472KB, 1280x960px

>>2395198
After 1 year or so, it looked like pic related.

Would /aq/ rather put bleeding heart tetras or lemon tetras in a tank with angelfish, and why?

>>2395225
Lemon tetras, but that's just personable preference. I don't like lots reds or oranges on schooling fish, it's a distraction from centerpiece fish like the angelfish you'll have.

>>2395173
iirc, the ban was lifted last year

>>2394883
Gold gourami are like that. You'll probably have to get rid of it or get it a separate tank.
Be wary of the pleco, if it ends up being a common or sailfin pleco.

>>2394894
I don't have a problem with them, and some of the colors look okay under normal lighting, but it's easy enough to find similar coloring in other, non-GMO fish.

>>2394903
>>2395060
They're no longer illegal in California.

>>2395093
A bendy spine is either from a critical lack of nutrients or camallanus worm

>>2395184
The red barbs are very cool looking, but male cherry barbs in breeding condition look similar without costing $9 apiece.

>>2395234
It's all personal preference. Bleeding heart tetras get larger and are nippier, but personally I think they look a bit nice than the lemon tetras.

>>2395261
There were other fish in the tank, and not one of them, not even the zebra danios we got from the same tank at the store, had anything like it.

Every single one of the pinks died that way, while the normal danios thrived. One of them is still alive and about 5 years old.

>>2394534
I personally would not keep anything in a one gallon tank, especially with those dimensions. Just try to think about how the frog's really going to utilize that space. He can swim up and down in a tiny area and that's really it. Does swimming up and down in an utz jar for years sound very stimulating to you? Sure, it'll live and be healthy as long as it's in clean water and good food. But the same could be said for a fishbowl. Yes, one gallon is the bare minimum, but if you aim to take bare minimum care of your pets, you may want to reconsider if you actually want them. I mean, come on, it'd cost you ten goddamn bucks to buy an actual tank.

>>2395320
well the money isnt the issue. I already have 6 tanks and really dont need another one. Especially since I don't have anymore space to set up tanks. Anthropomorphizing aside, all Chopper does IS swim up and down for air. When he was in my 10 gallon, all he did was sit in a corner or in the hide and only come out for air or food. On top of that ADF are damn near blind. He isnt missing much, stimulation-wise

I already know all the things you're telling me. What im asking for IS if some minimum footprint is a known requirement because if there is one, I havent seen it online anywhere

so /aq/, what can you put in a 1 gallon bowl? i have an one gathering dust and i was thinking of putting some shrimp in there but i doubr ird be easy to cycle. I could just pour water from my main tank but would the shrimp even survive with no filter? Plus, plants probably wont grow so no oxygen either

File: Brine-Shrimp1.jpg (113KB, 488x300px) Image search: [Google]

113KB, 488x300px

>>2395334
brine or fairy shrimp

>>2395337
No cherry shrimp? idk where to get brine. probably online but then shipping would be an arm and a leg

>>2395339
you don't buy living brine shrimp. most pet stores hould have eggs, otherwise you can just buy them from amazon or something

>>2395339
You can hatch brine shrimp with a 2 liter bottle, light, and a bubbler. I'm hatching a batch every day or so to feed my guppy tank.

>eye balling my guppy tank.
>Notice weird things on center piece decoration.
>Fucking things moving.
>Look closer.
>Holy shit Ramshorn snails.
Anons, am I fucked? will they eat all my plants? Think I'm safe keeping them as clean up crew?

>>2395387
ramshorns are pretty useful in a 10g+ tank as they keep it clean and their large numbers are not usually distracting.

if you don't want them, the fastest way to get rid of them is by using coppersafe. copper kills inverts even in small amounts.

>>2394894
I think the Tiger Barbs look cool. I also think too many nerds REEEEEEEEE about them.

I'd never get them, however. Simply put, $10 for fucking Danios and Tetras? No thanks.

They look neat under certain lighting conditions and in certain tanks, but there are cheaper alternatives that can be made to look just as nice.

They also make the Anti-GMO retards mad, so that's cool.

>>2395263
Also, cherries do good in community tanks, as well. At least, smaller community tanks.

They're nice fish to have.

File: Untitled.jpg (337KB, 1062x774px) Image search: [Google]

337KB, 1062x774px

I have this algae growing on some of my plants. It's a very bright green and looks kind of like a vine/seaweed as it grows out and floats in the water. My fish like to munch on it sometimes too.

Is it going to take over my tank and be a pain to deal with? I actually like how it looks right now. Kind of hoping it attaches to my driftwood.

>>2395442
Might be hair algae. Does it feel like wet hair when you touch it?

File: 1495052658074.jpg (130KB, 1200x1135px) Image search: [Google]

130KB, 1200x1135px

I want a single fish aquarium.
I have a 25g tank ready to go.
Any suggestions on fish? Preferably something that will push the stock limit of a 25 gallon.

>>2395466
What are the dimensions of the tank? Long? Tall?

>>2395468
W70 x D35 x H40cm

>>2395464
It feels kinda like slime.

>>2395490
Probably just your basic green algae then. Keep an eye on it and adjust things to prevent an enormous bloom.

Either adjust your lighting (Shorten/Stagger), Reduce excess food, and if you're dosing it with anything like flourish or excell consider adjusting the amount you do put in the tank.

>>2395474
25g Is such a shitty size for a single fish honestly. All the cool stuff wants a minimum of 50g and up. For you? Maybe a single male Gourami, lots of plants and stuff.

Honestly if you want to do a single-fish tank, and not a Species tank, you need to go bigger. a 75g could house an Oscar.

>>2395474
>>2395466
You could get away with a single Discus, If people keep a breeding pair in a 25 long for years you could comfortably keep one in a 25 for life I assume?

Well, it wasn't what I was expecting, but my more calm betta that I moved to a five gallon is actually getting along pretty well with the calmer of the two paradise gouramis I got. I don't plan on putting any other fish in their obviously, but so far they have gotten along the best.

The first day the betta did chase the gourami a little bit, but this I noticed only happened when the gourami got to close to his fins. I do think he wanted to try and bite them, but after that first day of chasing he has since stopped.

They don't seem to mind each others presence so far and eat side by side without a fuss...again, so far.

I got 90 days to return them, but tomorrow I'm going to return the other one that I couldn't get to get along with anyone and I'm also going to take in my fiances oscar and see if they will take him off our hands.

After that I'll probably give him one of my bettas and help him get some plants growing in their with some of my own sprouts.

As for Sinbad...well, I'm going to try a small school of neons, and if those don't work out, I'll take them back or give them to my partner.

>>2395466
A goldfish. They're pretty interactive and fun to watch, and live a good while, and don't need a heater. Might want to get two since they interact with each other.

>>2394424
>tips
Feed them high nutrient meals. Don't overfeed.

>>2394424
breeding is mostly a matter of keeping them alive. If you ever want to see any of the shrimplets, make sure you have a filter that wont suck them up like a box or sponge filter

You can also tie a sock to your intake but that needs to be 100% secured

>>2395517
SinbadAnon, does your fiance still have the blind Oscar?

Now I know why you have yo sneak around Sinbad when feeding. My Betta will hound me at the corner of its tank as soon as it sees me feed my lone Convict.

>>2395538
No no no no no no no no no

>>2395557
Yea but I'm going to take that oscar to walmart tomorrow and hope they take him from me.

I tried to warn him but he didn't quite get how fucking messy they are. But I think he'll be happier with a newly empty twenty gallon because he'll have a lot more options.

As for your betta, play with him. Get up close to the tank and talk to him and move your hand around and shit. Maybe he'll learn that you coming near his tank doesn't always mean food time....not that my bettas have, but you never know!

>>2395560
Well actually that's not a horrible idea for that sized tank. If he goes with a fancier type that doesn't get like a foot long and ONLY gets two, it could be done.

So long as he understands just how fucking messy they are, they are friendly fish.

>>2395594
>>2395560
>>2395538
Tropical only lads, sorry.

>>2395594
Goddamnit, this is the problem with posting with a name on. I always forget to take it off.

>>2395598
Maybe one of the dwarf plecos then?

>>2395598
Get a Giant/King Betta

Maybe get a Dojo Loach if your water isnt too warm. Dojos will eat out of your hand and cling to you when you stick your arm in the tank

>>2395466
Research brackish aquaria and get a figure eight puffer.

File: Jar-Terrarium.jpg (129KB, 728x578px) Image search: [Google]

129KB, 728x578px

>>2395310
Were the pink danios and the regular danios kept in the same tank at your home? Your sister could just be a worse fish keeper than you.
Although I will say my experience is similar. I work at a pet store, and the glo danios turn up dead much more often than the regular ones, and the glofish are always smaller than the regs.

>>2395326
I'd be more worried about parameter and temperature swings causing problems for the frog.
What if you got a 1 gallon hang on breeder box and put the frog in that? That way the container is still connected to the full ten gallon tank.
Something like amazon.com/dp/B00KAJEAJS

>>2395334
>>2395339
Hatching brine shrimp is super easy, but actually raising them is a bit of a bitch, and you'll get salt crust everywhere. A few cherry shrimp in a planted one gallon will do okay, but they'd be better off in a larger, filtered tank, and they won't breed in a one gallon.

You could get some live plants and make the bowl into a miniature terrarium.

>>2395387
how do snails magically get into a tank


t. non fish owner

>>2395690
eggs hitchhike in on new plants and decos

File: 2017-06-01_13.48.36.jpg (329KB, 1045x1238px) Image search: [Google]

329KB, 1045x1238px

>>2395671
They were in the same tank. I did some research and discovered this. Looks like the GMO fish age twice or 3 times as fast as normal fish.

>>2395738
I know nothing about this particular subject.

But please stop calling cross breeding and cross pollination "gmo," it's fucking really annoying. I don't know if the fish actually was genetically modified, but I assume not, I'm just jumping in to make sure you aren't mixing up terms like the fucking assholes that call bananas "genetically modified."

>>2395739
Nah, this one in particular actually has jellyfish genes in it.
I've forgotten exactly what was modified, but I know it impacted the fertility negatively.

How expensive are bettas in the US? In my country bettas cost more than $140 dollars, with basically every other fish being between less than a dollar and $20 dollars. And it's not just one LFS that do this, basically all in my area sell fish for these prices.
I've been thinking of getting a betta but the fish costing more than a tank+plants makes me think I could just pick up other fish instead

>>2395812
In a big chain store like Petco or PetSmart, you can pick up Veil Tail Bettas for like $5-$6 dollars. Everything else is $7-$25 depending on the fin type and rarity.

>>2395743
Alright my bad friend. I just don't like when people get that mixed up.

>>2395863
how about reading the thread first instead of going off an autistic rant embarrassing yourself?

>>2395856
Do not shop at petsmart, a HUGE number of animals are infected with mites, disease, are inbred to literal mental retardation and I'm sure the fish have diseases too. Petco is alright if that's all you can get to.

>>2395869
autism

>>2395812
Have you looked online? It may be cheaper for you to have one shipped.
Anyways, they're pretty cheap. A lot of bettas are just 3 dollars at my LFS, and they come from a local show breeder. At chain pet stores, i've seen bettas being sold for as high as 30 bucks.

>>2395867
It's really hit or miss at any of the chain stores, considering they likely get their fish at the same damn places. The folks at the Petco and the Petsmart in my area use the same wholesaler for their fish, so nothing I can do to avoid buying shit fish. They also both get deliveries on the same day each week.

>>2395867
It depends on the individual stores, just like a local shop. Any store within a certain area is likely going to be getting their animals from the same supplier, and the in-store care comes down to the employee base.
Anywhere within 40 miles of me, it's exactly the opposite of what you described. PetSmarts are clean and well-maintained while Petcos are all dirty with dead, dying, and diseased animals in every other cage.

>>2395739
Anon. I studied genetics at University. Rest assured I'm not some retard who throws around words he doesn't understand.

>>2395812
where the fuck do you live? Just get a betta off of ebay

>>2395927
ntgb for me the petsmarts and petcos are all top notch and all the dying dead diseased fish are found in the local walmart

If I were to go 100 miles west to Los Angeles then ALL of the pet stores would be shit-tier

File: Untitled.png (442KB, 393x646px) Image search: [Google]

442KB, 393x646px

My Anubias is growing again! The whole thing died off about 3 months ago and I was hoping it would come back. I just noticed this little leaf.

>>2396088
Happy for you man!

>>2396103
Thanks. I wish the picture could capture just how tiny it is. The leaf is only about the size of half my pinky nail.

>>2396088
i have this plant as emersive form in paludarium

>>2396088
Reminds me that the 50% off Java Fern I bought at a Petco is now sprouting a ton of new Java Fern plants. The guy who runs their aquarium department has no clue that java ferns look like shit when they're sprouting new plants.

File: IMG_20170601_180320760.jpg (3MB, 2340x4160px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 2340x4160px

>>2394100
okay so I'm taking all of these shitty guppies back to Petco. What small schooling fish should I get? In the tank right now are 7 amano shrimp, one pygmy Cory (getting 5 more next week, calm down), and one dwarf Gourami.
It's a decently planted 20g long with moderate-high water flow, though there are a few low flow spots. The pH is 6.8-7.

>>2396296
Zebra Danios. I have them in my 37g and they love high water flow. They tend to stay at the top level of the tank, but I regularly see mine explore all areas of the tank. Plus they quite cheap. 99 cents in Canuck bucks.

>>2396304
What other type of danio would be good for high water flow? These get to 3" but I want something as small as possible.

File: Screenshot_20170601-205759.png (688KB, 720x1280px) Image search: [Google]

688KB, 720x1280px

Should I buy this? Skeptical because it's cheap and Chinese but I desperately need to cool down my aquarium. Any recommendations for a reliable cheap cooling solution? It's for a 20g. It's summer and the temps are getting to 82-86f.

>>2396333
Danio tinwini or white cloud mountain minnows.

>>2396185
Lol same. So ugly when sprouting but then all worth it.

File: 1493724448527.jpg (109KB, 867x1410px) Image search: [Google]

109KB, 867x1410px

>Chinese sellers pack thousands of Discus in 120 gallon tanks
>Jack Wattley, the pioneer of breeding and keeping Discus, says two Discus can be comfortably kept in a 30 gallon for life and be healthy with regular water changes
>The worst pet stores in the US keep 6-10 Discus in 20 gallon longs in the shittiest conditions and are still considered "healthy"

>Guy at the fish store refuses to sell me one because my 40 gallon is "Too small" and it would be cruel

The requirements for some fish are fucking insane.

>>2396425
Go back some other day and lie about your tank size, if it's the same guy say you upgraded. Show him a random picture from PlantedTank.

I've never been to a fish store that would outright refuse a sale based on tank size.

>>2396425
Depending on their return policy, I'd be on their side Discus are an easy to kill fish, and at $40 a pop, I wouldn't want some guy saying he read on the internet that the fish will be fine in a 40g tank. I wouldn't want that guy coming back in two days demanding a refund for a fish he killed because He didn't have actual fish keeping experience, just stuff he read on the internet.

Plus Discus are generally shoaling fish that want a lot of cover to feel safe in. That means you're going to be buying at least a pair or more, then you're going to have to make sure the tank is already cycled and matured for them to enter.

I'm just saying that you probably had a discussion about your set up, and it raised a lot of red flags for the guy and he would rather not sell you a fish he believes you're going to go off and kill.

>>2396450
Petco refuses sales based on tank size if their staff is competent.

>>2396450
Every shop that actually cares about their customers should be refusing sales based on tank size. You end up with pissed off people when you sell them a creature that outgrows it's tank in less then a year. I've seen people get denied sale on a bearded dragon at a PetSmart when they planned to keep it in a 10g tank.
I've also spoken with the manager of my local Petco (she lets me special order stuff), and she had to deal with an irate guy who had been told by an employee that he could keep an Oscar in a 20g Long for it's entire life. They took it back, and the sucker was at least 10" long at that point. Refunded the guy's money and he left pissed off and screaming he was going to write to corporate and all that jazz.

Every time I get fish from my LFS, they always begin with the questions "What size is the tank?" and "Is your tank cycled?" If either of those are answered wrong, they refuse the sale, but offer alternatives/solutions. I've seen them scoop out gravel from their plant tanks and bag it up for someone to help get their tank cycled, along with a little print out about the nitrogen cycle. They do it because that person will comeback multiple times now, dropping dosh each time on products in their store.

>>2396425
why would you shove such big fish in a little tank though. a 55 might even be cheaper

File: 530-90_5345c070a493c.jpg (62KB, 530x607px) Image search: [Google]

62KB, 530x607px

> Use that aquarium planner site
> Stocking level 73%

What's the meaning of this and what's the preferred %?

>>2396578
Preferred percentage is less than 100%.

I got a new Betta. The pet store let me have him for free because he's missing his tail (he looks healthy otherwise). What should I name him? My pets almost all have gangster names, like the Betta I already have is Sharkie like loan shark but also because he's a fish.

>>2396578
Don't trust those things 100%. The big thing they don't account for is having a planted aquarium, which will allow you to overstock heavily while maintaining good water parameters. They also don't account for things like lighting, algae growth, temperature, ect... All of that adds into it.

Big thing is when you hit the 100% stocked area, that's when you want to consider whats in your tank. Are you planted heavily? Are you running high filtration? How often are you willing to do a water change? The more you're willing to do, the more fish you can stock.

For example my 29g tank is Planted with 3 filters (AC 50, AC 30, and a Bio Sponge rated for 50g). I have it stocked close to 175% according to aqadvisor, but everything is happy, healthy, and my water quality is rock solid. I test it once a week, and do a 30% change every Saturday.

>>2396588
Alright

>>2396609

Well it's going to be a small tank with rasboras, pigmy corys and ghost shrimp, alongside a small plant. I'd be willing to do the water change often but I actually just want to set this up first.

>>2396609
>a planted aquarium, which will allow you to overstock heavily
plants make almost no difference, and they're actually worse than no plants if you're running carbon and dosing ferts.

you can overstock because you're overfiltered and because stocking calculators are extremely conservative.

>>2396647
Provide evidence of plants making no difference in stocking ability. That sounds like bullshit.

>>2396649
they consume ammonia and nitrate, both of which are toxic to fish.
however a cycled tank will have 0 ammonia anyways because nitrifying bacteria consume it, and nitrate won't ever reach problem levels if you change water.

they add O2 to the water which is beneficial but then consume it at night and release CO2 in its place which is toxic to fish. O2 saturation isn't usually a problem in an established tank so planted tanks don't expand stocking capacity in that regard. Even if they did, they reduce it at night so your overstocked tank would die if plants were keeping it alive.

adding CO2 reduces O2 so that actually reduces stocking levels. Similarly adding fertilizers introduces ammonia and nitrate, reducing stocking capacity.

in addition plants cause pH swings both by adding O2 and raising redox potential, and by adding CO2 which is carbonic acid. So they produce pH swings that limit stocking level.

overall they produce a slight net gain in O2 levels that doesn't affect normal stocking and is reduced at night every night. They don't increase stocking capacity unless you happen to live somewhere with very little oxygen or have a tank with no surface movement. Even then the gains are erased 12 hours out of every 24.

Plants are bioload, they reduce stocking capacity more than they increase it.

File: oscar.jpg (231KB, 1280x960px) Image search: [Google]

231KB, 1280x960px

What does /aq/ thing of these bad johnsons?

Thinking about keeping one in a well filtered 55 gallon. Preferably a 75 gallon if I find a good deal on one.

It is between this and an amazon community tank. I feel like the community tank would be more relaxing and interesting to watch, but the oscar would be fun and engaging. I've always kinda wanted one.

>>2396666
>might quads
also i think I would rather have a community tank instead of just two fish. Community's always let you become more involved and sometimes get new fish if you don't fully stock it from the start. Watching cichlids stresses me out sometimes with their rowdiness and breeding seasons.

>>2395624
>>2395647
>>2395603
>>2395594
>>2395538
>>2395497
Thanks for the options, guys. Seems my only real way to go is to drop more money on a larger tank in the future or something.

I was looking at a wimple piranha, which grows to about 6-7" and can be housed for life in a 20g but they're rare as fuck where I live.

File: 1481499683570.gif (476KB, 500x281px) Image search: [Google]

476KB, 500x281px

>>2396651
>they consume ammonia and nitrate, both of which are toxic to fish.
Correct. Pants improve water quality by removing the things that hurt our fish.

> a cycled tank will have 0 ammonia because nitrifying bacteria consume it,
Or if you are planted heavily enough and stocked correctly, you don't have to do water changes, just adding fresh water as it evaporates. Also plants add ADDITIONAL SURFACE AREA for nitrifying bacteria to colonize, making a planted tank more efficient then a non-planted tank.

>getting hung up on the O2 to C02 exchange.
There is no instance of a planted tank killing it's inhabitants because plants "Used up all the O2." You're just fucking wrong here.

>adding CO2 reduces O2 so that actually reduces stocking levels. Similarly adding fertilizers introduces ammonia and nitrate, reducing stocking capacity.
If you dose ferts at all, and you do it correctly, it doesn't touch your stocking capacity you fucking nimrod.

>they produce pH swings that limit stocking level.
Again, no documented occurrence where caused by plants killed fish or limited stocking. Did you fucking know that even an unplanted tank has a CO2 swing at night too? Because you have god damn algae in your tank regardless of how much clean it, you will have, and should have algae and they are doing the same god damn thing as a regular plant. Fish can handle the slight change in PH from the night-time cycle. If they can't add a god damn bubbler you fucking mongrel.

>Plants are bioload, they reduce stocking capacity more than they increase it.
Every book, hobbyist, scientist, and aquarist will tell you you are just fucking dumb. Plants improve your bioload by providing additional toxin reduction. The Co2 swing doesn't kill fish unless you're pumping Co2 and not reducing it at night like an intelligent person.
People have "natural" aquariums where you only run a heater and a bubbler with a lot of plants and they survive and thrive. According to your dumb ass they shouldn't.

/aq/: For idiots by idiots

File: download.jpg (11KB, 218x231px) Image search: [Google]

11KB, 218x231px

Newbie here. External filters or internal filters? I'd like to know their pros and cons as well. Thanks

File: ss (2017-05-25 at 12.26.29).png (79KB, 147x244px) Image search: [Google]

79KB, 147x244px

>>2396784
>that post: by an idiot

File: 1494171650582.gif (922KB, 400x225px) Image search: [Google]

922KB, 400x225px

>>2396825
External filters tend to be more powerful and have more media capacity. They also tend to have awesome gallons per hour (gph) making them overall a more efficient and better choice.They also don't use up much aquarium space, however they're more expensive, louder, and cost more to operate. These are things like Canister Filters and Sump/Refugium set ups.

Internal filters are cheaper, quieter, but much weaker on filtration and gph. They tend to eat up a bunch of aquarium space because they have sit entirely inside the tank, like Tetra Whispers.

There's also Hang on Back (HOB) and Sponge Filters, which are both entirely better options then an Internal filter.

HOB filters hang on the side of the tank, with only the intake and the outflow sitting in tank. They're easy to clean, and really efficient. Fluval AquaClears are basically the best HOB filter on the market. You can easily change the media in the filter to fit your needs. I personally run either 2 sponges and 1 Bio media, or 1 Sponge and 2 Bio Media in each of mine (I own 3 different models between two tanks because I love them so much.) Great GPH, great filtration.

Sponge Filters are another awesome filter, probably the easiest thing to run in a tank. You just set the sponge in the tank, plug in an air pump and it's good to go. You can improve the gph on a sponge fitler by adding extended tubing to the area the bubbles release from and/or increasing the power of the pump you're using. They're fantastic for shrimp tanks and tanks where you don't want to risk small fish being sucked into the filter. You can also attach a sponge filter to the intake of a HOB or Canister filter to help pre-filter debris.

You can also modify most filters to make them more efficient by adding sponges to intakes, changing the media to something with a better surface are, or adding things like Pothos (a house plant) into the back of the filter.

>>2396825
It depends entirely on your budget and what you want to raise.
Generally, the more water turnover per hour the better. Also, more water volume = better.

That said, some things are too delicate for powerful filtration.

>>2396769
Can confirm. I just top my water off on my heavily planted tank. Haven't done a water change in a year and all the levels are perfect. Will only do a water change when something dies, and even then it's a small one.

>>2396666
>>2396739
A full grown Oscar can't turn around easily in a 55 gallon tank.
Most cichlids and gourami are interactive, and plenty of them will work well in communities. Oscars are just popular because they're big.

File: 2142627-center-1.jpg (161KB, 1500x1500px) Image search: [Google]

161KB, 1500x1500px

I few of the decoration gravel rocks I have in one of my tanks has some kind of white fuzz on them. It's very odd, only affecting a few of the stones. Pic related is all it is.

My snails seem to be eating it. What the heck is it?

>>2396769
>plants add ADDITIONAL SURFACE AREA for nitrifying bacteria to colonize
Nitrifying bacteria are photophobic, they only colonize dark places.

I'm not reading the rest of your uneducated shit. Go read a book instead of trying to write them.

File: inage-2.jpg (1MB, 4368x2912px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 4368x2912px

I have 9 red cherry shrimp full grown and about 30ish adolescent shrimp. How big/many cucumber slices should I feed them? I have always thrown in about 10 pellets and that usually suffices but I've never boiled and given them cucumber before.

File: Apollo.jpg (417KB, 1920x1440px) Image search: [Google]

417KB, 1920x1440px

>cleaning backyard last november
>find two frogs and decide to keep them
>get a 10 gallon aquarium for frogs
>think frogs need more space
>score 40 gallon tank for $40 because of some pricing error
>get piece of glass cut that fits aquarium, about 5 inches high and the width of the tank
>install glass and fake rock wall i made in corner
>put water into right side of tank
>left side is "dirt"
>looks good but think there will be problems with algae
>get 5 nerite snails
>eventually decide snails are lonely
>get 6 white cloud mountain minnows, 6 feeder minnows and 1 very small pleco
>fish are in about 4 gallons of water
>read fish need more room
>get 10 gallon tank
>move fish into new tank
>~week later, 1 minnow of each type dies
>feelsbadman.jpeg
add 2 african dwarf frogs to tank
>eventually decide fish need more room
>score 55 gallon off CL for $30
>move fish into new tank
>no problems
>decide fish are lonely
>buy 6 neon tetras, 2 albino cory catfish, 2 male guppies, 1 male betta
>read cory catfish need a bigger group
>get two more cory catfish and 1 albino pleco
>few days later get the 2 smallest angelfish from LFS
>frogs eat tubifex worms
>betta gorges himself of the worms
>notice he isnt acting normal after a few days
>sitting at extreme bottom or top of tank
>commence research
>decide to isolate betta into vase for close observation
>5 days pass
>little shit wont eat his peas
>decide to do epsom salt dip for 15 minutes
>he is just sitting there but not stressing
>put him into his own 10 gallon tank
>not even 10 minutes later
>takes a big fish shit
>swimming around normally now

And that is how I got into fishkeeping. I just wanted to share because I'm happy about his recovery. Also, I added 20 ghost shrimp to the 55 gallon tank. Some fucker was buying up all the ghost shrimp for the past few weeks, so I hit up Petsmart early yesterday morning. They get their fish shipments on Thursdays. I just bought the whole bag of them. Hope that old fuck feels my pain now.

>>2396930
>theres no such thing as the roots and undersides of leaves.

>>2396922
Fungus, mold, or bacteria bloom. It's harmless and there's no problem with the snails eating it.

>>2396930
>This mad that he got told that he has to use a single tidbit he thinks he can claim as wrong to discount entire post.
You act like plants cannot create root structures where bacteria can colonize, nor can they consume excess ammonia and nitrate.
All you've done is continue to prove /aq/ doesn't know shit about keeping fish.

File: faggot fish.jpg (247KB, 1154x1458px) Image search: [Google]

247KB, 1154x1458px

Every fucking day. Every single fucking day this little faggot goes in there and gives me this stupid look on his face.

>>2396905
Agreed. I neglect the fuck out of my planted tanks and never have issues. I have no idea where TLDR anon got all that bullshit but it's just that: bullshit.

I would never try to overstock and neglect an unplanted tank.

How to get crystal clear water? Has anyone had success with Purigen?

Are there better ways to clean sand than a gravel vac? My 5 gallon tank makes it hard to use the vac properly

>>2397012
Run carbon or pack an extra filter with a ton of floss to polish your water.

>>2397012
My dirted tank had trouble with stained water, even after twice or thrice weekly 50% water changes for a month.
I put some Purigen in there and it helped. I swapped it out a month later and the water is nice now. Not sparklingly crystal clear, but nice enough that it'll never bother me. If I recharged the Purigen and reused it it'd probably clear up a bit more, but, y'know, I don't wanna.

>>2397032
Airline tubing with some rigid acrylic tubing at the end. A drinking straw will also work.

File: lemon-albino-tetra.jpg (109KB, 500x333px) Image search: [Google]

109KB, 500x333px

I notice my albino glowlight tetras exhibiting body language but I am not sure what it means. There's a couple in my school who swim very closely above others' heads and when the other tries to swim away, the 'dominant' one will dart in front of it and tilt its body sideways while sort of vibrating. I saw similar behavior with my male guppies and figured it was an aggression display though the dominant guppies would curl their bodies into a c-shape. Is this aggressive/dominance behavior or mating-related? I see the tetras doing it to different species in the tank sometimes too.

There's just about zero info for this sort of thing online and searching for 'fish turning sideways' just leads to health issues. I am surprised nobody seems to document behavior.

>>2394658
Jesus that's beautiful. Where Do you even find bettas like this. Maybe not even this cool but something a little more unique. I wanna get one but all the ones at petco are really lame

>>2397076
aquabid

>>2397076
That's photoshopped and at an angle where the light hits it perfectly, though. Bettas do not have that bright neon blue naturally.

If you take an ugly betta from petco and put it in a nice tank and feed it properly, it'll become beautiful too. It's happened to all of mine.

>>2396966
>You act like plants cannot create root structures where bacteria can colonize
nitrifying bacteria live in soils, which have much more surface area than plant roots. So growing roots reduces the surface area for bacteria, it doesn't increase it.

I didn't read your post because if you don't even understand that nitrifying bacteria are photophobes you're an idiot incapable of discussing the topic.

I don't mean any insult by it, you are simply too uneducated for the conversation. As always.

>>2397087
Never ordered from there, or bought any fish online for that matter. How to they ship the fish so nothing bad happens?

>>2397135
A cursory google search will tell you that nitrifying bacteria can grow on aquatic plant roots.
Literally 30 seconds in google.

>>2397135
Additionally, once a bacterial colony is formed and stabilized, light isn't an issue.
Again. 30 seconds in google.

>>2397241
>once a bacterial colony is formed and stabilized, light isn't an issue.
True, if you leave your planted tank in complete darkness for a month it's possible you'd get nitrifying bacteria growing on them.

they'd be dead. But they'd be covered in photophobic bacteria.

you aren't helping your case. You can't admit error or when you don't know something. Which makes you worthless to /aq/. You're the problem here. You'd be fine if you stuck to things you actually do know. Like how to keep bettas in a vase or whatever.

>Go to LFS to find some nano type fish for my 10g tank that my betta died in a month ago.
>It's all planted with a sponge filter now.
>Been sitting there with a couple dozen MT Snails, Pond Snails, and a pair of nerites I took out of my community tank because of all the GOD DAMN EGGS.
>See some massive neon tetras.
>Fuck that.
>some wonder killifish.
>No way fag.
>Tank of Harlequin Rasbora are schooling mad crazy.
>I must have this.
>Get 6 of them.
>Plop and Drop.
>Guys are skittish the first day, really spooked even without the light on.
>Today they're chipper as fuck.
>Exploring their new land of plants.
>Decide to let them in on the brine shrimp for the guppy tank.
>They go fucking wild for it.
>Dancing across the tank after the brines.
>Go to feed them again tonight.
>They're already at the front of the tank begging like my guppies and community tank.

That is the quickest I've ever seen new arrivals go from "the fuck is this night mare?" to "DADDY FEED US!"

>>2397239
>A cursory google search will tell you that nitrifying bacteria can grow on aquatic plant roots.
I didn't say they won't.

I said plant roots have less surface area than soil particles. Learn to read.

>>2397250
So now you're implying there's less substrate because we put in plants.

>>2397250
No matter how much you try to fight it, planted tanks are just outright healthier then non planted. Stop being willfully stupid and admit it.

>LFS is hiring
How do I ace the interview?

>>2397239
>>2397241
If you just stop replying to him, he'll stop posting. It's not like anyone actually believes him anyway, so there's no actual need to correct him.

>>2397259
Be a regular, prove you know the basics like the Nitrogen Cycle. Want to actually work, and not just hang out and visit. You have to be friendly and personable too. It's essentially a sales job, so you're going to have to know about the products being sold and be able to have a sales conversation. Also expect minimum wage.

>>2397269
>minimum wage
Pretty lame. It's only a part-time position. I was thinking about it, but I haven't had an actual job in 5 years. I wonder if there would be or employee discounts?

File: Yes.jpg (43KB, 1280x720px) Image search: [Google]

43KB, 1280x720px

>>2397271
Small stores like that run on slim margins and have to make it up where ever they can. That's why the owner is the one who's usually there every day, making the runs to the airport to pick up a fish delivery, and trying to do as much as they individually can.

Check out some of the Aquarium Co-Op vidoes about running a fish store. He's really transparent about the whole process, so you can get an idea of what to expect. I know he gives his employees a 10% discount. You also normally have access to special ordering fish for yourself.

>No job in 5 years.
Take it anon, you can always start looking for something else while working there.

Either way, good luck anon!

>>2396461
>whether or not you're permitted to buy a fish is entirely dependent on the whims and opinions of whatever random jackass is working the fish department that day
Fantastic.

>>2396471
A 40 breeder has a larger footprint than a 55. A 40 long has exactly the same footprint as a 55.

>>2397277
A 40g Breeder doesn't have enough height for discus, as they are fairly tall fish.

>>2397251
>you're implying there's less substrate because we put in plants.
no, plant roots consume oxygen so there's less aerobic substrate with plants.

they also consume the nitrate and ammonia that nitrifying bacteria need to survive, as well as starving them of oxygen. So any way you look at it your statement displays a gross misunderstanding of the ecology of aquariums.

>>2397254
>planted tanks are just outright healthier then non planted
they don't improve stocking capacity as long as you do water changes. That's a fact. You not knowing that fact doesn't change it.

>>2397260
>there's no actual need to correct him.
that's why /aq/ is so enjoyable to me.

you guys are almost always perfectly wrong.

>All this fake info
I want reddit r/aquariums to leave

>>2396666
>>2396914
I mostly agree. I went through an oscar phase but after seeing such a wide variety of cichlids out there, I've lost a lot of interest in them.

And if you're going big, you could always consider saltwater.

>>2397303
reefcentral is my board. I've never been on reddit. You're welcome to join reefcentral if you want to learn, but you'll get banned fast if you say stupid shit you made up or think you're going to argue with the biologists there.

>>2397297
>Continues to spout his bullshit.
Please link me to all these articles and videos that state plants hurt tanks. I'll check them out in the morning.

> LFS has huge discount soon

Planning on stocking up for a small tank. What's the preferred number of rasboras and pygmy cories to have? Planning on those two in the tank alongside ghost fish.

>>2397281
16 inches is often cited as a minimum height from people who keep discus. It's all opinion.

>>2397315
>Please link me to all these articles and videos that state plants hurt tanks.
learn to read, little girl.

I said they don't increase stocking capacity.
that doesn't mean they hurt tanks.

you are literally a retarded person.

>>2397321
Minimum 5 or 6, but 12+ preferred.

>>2397336
For each group, right?

>>2395466
You've got quite a few good beginner options. LOTS. Just poke around on liveaquaria for a bit.

File: 1490754512229.jpg (35KB, 513x681px) Image search: [Google]

35KB, 513x681px

>bought giant hairgrass
>underestimated just how tall it was
>sticks out of the top of my aquarium by an inch and a half
>cat grabs a few strands and uproots the whole thing
>has been doing this for days now
>other cat likes to sleep on top of the betta tank
>fatass turns the tank light on and off all night long
>go to vacuum
>the gravel is covered in cat hair
>cat accidentally trips and falls partially into the tank
>water everywhere
>cat flecks water into my eyes

File: Shin godzilla.jpg (50KB, 600x480px) Image search: [Google]

50KB, 600x480px

>Trying to figure out how big of a tank I can keep my filter on
>cant find anything reliable telling me the GBH

Does anyone else own one of the aqua one HOBs?

>>2397333
Please link me all these articles and videos that state plants don't increase stocking capacity.

>>2397033
>>2397052
Well, I packed my filter full of poly-fill last night, don't really see a change ~12 hours later. I guess I'm gonna get some Purigen today and try that out.

File: P489.jpg (738KB, 1602x1112px) Image search: [Google]

738KB, 1602x1112px

r8

>>2397517
sure, as soon as you show me the post where I mentioned articles and videos.

sometimes I forget you're the type of idiot that takes blog posts and youtube vids as 100% pure fact.

>>2397687
This was posted on reddit 3/10 i hope your son drowns in it and stop reposting shit here

>>2397687
>no live plants
>no fucking fish
>terrible substrate mix
>faggot nemo with faggot rainbow
0/10

File: coral_red_platy_110810b1_w0640.jpg (272KB, 640x512px) Image search: [Google]

272KB, 640x512px

>>2397711
LOOOOOK! IT'S NEMO!!!!!!!

>>2397694
why do all you faggots read reddit?
it's even worse than /aq/

you need to go back

File: DSCN2741.jpg (61KB, 640x480px) Image search: [Google]

61KB, 640x480px

>>2397713
you hear this day in and day out working at a petstore or LFS. what the fuck is wrong with parents? i hear less than half of them explaining to their child that nemo lives in the ocean and is not a good pet. they don't want to hear it from store employees either and get butthurt when refused sales. fucking braindead idiots.

File: toocute.jpg (227KB, 1258x864px) Image search: [Google]

227KB, 1258x864px

>>2397715
what's the difference between selling them a goldfish you know will die and selling them a clownfish?

price? not your problem.

>>2397345
Yes

File: 20170603_154741.jpg (1MB, 1398x1494px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 1398x1494px

What's your favorite individual species of aquarium fish? I've come to love longfinned Rosy barbs, I'd have to say they're my favorite. Sorry for blurry pic, but they're constantly moving around and I love them for that. They also have some amazing coloring and iridescence, paired with their beautiful long fins.

>>2397692
>idiot that takes blog posts and youtube vids as 100% pure fact.
>just believe everything some random retard on 4chan says for no reason instead

File: before purigen.png (3MB, 951x1691px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 951x1691px

OK, I went and got some Purigen. Here is what the tank looks like before I added it. I will post another pic after a few hours so we can all see the difference.

File: purigen.png (1MB, 1127x634px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 1127x634px

>>2397780
This stuff stinks! At least it came in it's own bag.

>>2397754
I personally find most long-finned fish to look very fake and gaudy. Doesn't help that it's actually harder on the fish and their fins are often torn up and frayed.

>>2397782
I dropped a bag of this into a new tank 2 weeks ago and my ammonia refuses to rise above .5

this shit is magic

File: tetra whisper 60.png (3MB, 1691x951px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 1691x951px

>>2397854
I just put it into my HOB. Not sure if it's actually doing anything though, but I do see the beads moving around.

>>2397754
Honey gourami probably. They're really cute and it's fun to watch them drift around the aquarium molesting their surroundings with their feeler fins and pick at algae.

>>2397480
According to their website, the Aqua One HOB filter runs 180 liters per hour, or about 45 gph. They recommend it for tanks up to 9 gallons.

>>2397754
If it's a fish I don't even keep, I really like albino oscars, I like the orange really seems to compliment their white coloring, reminds me of peaches and cream. Would love to keep them if I had room for another tank.

Otherwise I like zebra danios, love their constant movement and schooling behavior as well as their stripes.

What do lionfish eat? I don't want one but I'm just wondering.

File: IMG_20170603_191350963.jpg (3MB, 4160x2340px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4160x2340px

Okay went to this new lfs by me and got 5 chili rasboras, 3 sparkling gouramis, and 1 scarlet badi. Going to pick up 2 more chilis and 5 pygmy corys next week. Was talked into the badi and planned on picking up 3 females for this male but am unsure after reading more about it. Has a finicky diet that would compete with corys, plus it seems they would be incompatible with the dwarf gourami I have. Does anyone have experience with these?

>>2397692
>gets backed into a corner.
>Lashes out and calls people idiots.

And this is why /aq/ is complete shit.

>>2397754
I like Platy fish. They come in a variety of colors and fin types, they're not aggressive, super hardy, and easy to breed if you're into that.

However my dream fish is a Mbu Puffer, considering their expressive nature and intelligence.

File: IMG_20170603_211521106.jpg (2MB, 2340x4160px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 2340x4160px

>>2397906
Yup dwarf gourami exceeded my wildest excitations. As soon as the other fish we in he attacked every single one. Pretty sure he ate one of the chilis. What a tremendous dickhead. He's going to a friend immediately.

>>2397960
This is the exact reason I ended up going with a big pretty swordtail as my center piece fish instead of a Gourami. Sucks bro.

Just wondering. How bad could fishbola get?
I understand that submerging an open wound like a scratch in water full of bacteria and fish poop can't be good. But I'm guessing a decent immune system and washing hands afterwards should take care of it.
Do you guys have any experience or know someone who did? What sort of diseases could you even get from an aquarium?

Anyone want to trade a 50 Gallon or higher for two 30 gallons (tall and long)?

File: f02be3dd4661f6cc3bf02b806753daab.jpg (34KB, 347x299px) Image search: [Google]

34KB, 347x299px

>>2397797
I agree with you for the most part, but their are a few long-finned varieties of fishes that I like, the primary being Rosy barbs. In my defense, though, I got them on a whim to stock my turtle tank, and had never looked into them before. I didn't even know there was a shirt finned base form until I did more research. I think the fins are spectacular, even if they do get a little roughed up. They're also full of personality and I have the best time just sitting in bed and watching them swim around and chase each other. I almost love them as much as my turtle, I'm glad I added them.

File: 16300245.jpg (153KB, 500x333px) Image search: [Google]

153KB, 500x333px

>>2397889
Albino Oscars are rad. I too would like to have a couple Oscars if I ever got the room to do something with my 55gal I have sitting in the basement. Or ask me on a different day and I'll want to put a lizard in it. Too many possibilities.

And on the subject of fish that look dumb with long fins, I found out the other day what a long finned Oscar looks like... now this I definitely think is not fitting. Looks goofy as hell, like a mullet in fish form.

File: IMG_20170603_205152682.jpg (3MB, 4160x2340px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4160x2340px

>>2397906
The rasboras are still kind of scattered. Some of them are starting to come together though.

File: IMG_20170603_205203835.jpg (3MB, 4160x2340px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4160x2340px

>>2398000
Sparkling gouramis are already acting like they own the place. Their croaking is super loud! I didn't think it'd be so noticeable, it's awesome. The scarlet badi is still hiding, he comes out every now and then.

>Do a major water change, trim some plants, replant trimmed stem plants.
>Feed fish.
>And amano shrimp turns up dead.

He was weak. The others will feed upon his wasted form and be stronger for it.

>>2397995
>>>/craigslist/

File: ObQ2lSP_d.jpg (51KB, 640x500px) Image search: [Google]

51KB, 640x500px

>>2398007
>Have 5 gallon fire red shrimp to breed the reddest of the red
>the not so red shrimp get banished to the shadow realm (my turtle tank)
>Cleaning the turtle tank realize the bastards have survived and colonized the realm
>spot 3 sakura grade shrimp
>decide to have these lucky 3 colonize my main tank
>call them Alpha team cherry
>lower them down to the bottom in the net helicopter style for them to hide
>one swims up ignoring its training
>gets its leg ripped off by tiger barbs, passed around like a slut
>1 goes mia immediately after. Pressumed dead
>last member of alpha team cherry hides under the driftwood
Your mission is to survive till backup arrives. Godspeed last member of Aplha team cherry.

File: 20170603_203829 (2).jpg (70KB, 572x429px) Image search: [Google]

70KB, 572x429px

>Have guppy tank.
>All I ask for the females to do is let the male hump them.
>Male decides his time is better spent swimming through wisteria and java moss all day.
>One of the preloaded females pops.
>Now I have about 17 almost 1" guppies swimming around the tank.
>Starting to get some color, all are half-blacks so far.
>Male continues to not hump.
>Only hope is that one of the babies is a male and wants to hump.

I give this little faggot a harem, and what does he do? Plays in the god damn garden.

>>2397954
>gets backed into a corner
wut?
you asked for blogs and youtube videos as your preferred source.

you're a joke. Ask for science or go back to sucking your toes.

>>2398040
>Articles and Videos.
>Blogs and youtube.
Reading comprehension. Not even once.

File: proof.jpg (277KB, 2688x1520px) Image search: [Google]

277KB, 2688x1520px

>>2398061
I just figured if you trust FUCKING VIDEOS as a source you mean blogs when you say articles. I could be wrong. Perhaps you mean articles of clothing. What the fuck is wrong with you when you just accept everything everyone says as fact because lots of people believe it?

Here, I'll post a play-doh sculpture that proves once and for all that plants don't increase stocking capacity.

now can you show me an episode of Blues Clues that debunks my proof?

I didn't think so.

File: 20161030_075719.jpg (917KB, 3264x1836px) Image search: [Google]

917KB, 3264x1836px

>>2398069
This picture of a dog with some video games makes your point invalid. Plants now help increase your available bio load.

Ok you fucks this guy >>2396647 >>2396651 is an idiot and anyone with an iq above 5 knows this so stop falling for bait and reply to my post i like attention

>>2398112
touché

but plants are part of the tank bioload.
here. have a blog on the subject:
>http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article87.html

it's a blog so it has to be true.

File: fishtank.png (18KB, 550x110px) Image search: [Google]

18KB, 550x110px

> Wanted to set up and begin cycling tank
> Adopted a hurt budgie and went to the vet

I'm a sucker for birds but that gives me some time to plan the tank out, how's this?

>>2398115
ever notice how stocking calculators either don't ask about plants (because they don't affect stocking) or REDUCE your stocking levels if you have plants?

File: 1466910135466.gif (781KB, 500x281px) Image search: [Google]

781KB, 500x281px

>buy 6 black kuhlis
>add them to my 40 gallon
>put my 3 striped kuhlis in with them
>several of them are already in the sump

>>2398166
I want to get Kuhlis, but I hear a ton about how they're escape artists. Right now I want them as clean up crew for my guppies.

>>2398175
kuhli's are super slow in terms of cleanup, i'd get ghost shrimp or snails instead. Also if there's even a small space for them to slip through, they will. I was hoping that mine would settle first before searching for cracks but nah.. already in places they shouldn't be

they're super cute though. They're fairly mouse-like

File: 18836419_1737907256223558_1620778170_o.jpg (269KB, 2048x1536px) Image search: [Google]

269KB, 2048x1536px

Well lads just got me a new 60 Liter tank,Nothing good to look at the moment just a few Danio's in there because empty tanks trigger me. Will move them back when i actually get some stock. ( Can adjust temp as recommended. )

But I guess i need some advice on both planting and fish. i own another 30L tank and its been going quite well although no real plants etc, keeping assorted tetras and electric blue rams.

Now I'd like some help picking plants and fish to put in there, I'd rather something a with a little wow factor to it that's somewhat easy to maintain.

And Second of all What kind of plants would be easy to put in since this will be my first planted tank and all. I'm really kinda new to this hobby and i really don't want to get too far in over my head quickly.

>>2398039
Your fish is gay, anon. Give him a boyfriend

>>2398262
Start off with some simple stem plants like Anacharis or Water Wisteria along the sides and back. They're easy to take care of, feed through the water column.
For a big plant, look for something like amazon sword, which you'll have to set into the sand. For those you might want to get either Root Tabs, or some Osmocote Plus to put into the sand around the base of the sword plant.
You can also get Java fern and/or Anubis. You can anchor them a decoration, or weigh them down (just don't plant them into the sand). They feed off the water column like stem plants do.
Other thing you can do is hang some pothos (basic house plant) into the tank and it will take up nutrients through the water.

As far as fish stocking goes livebearers, tetras, and rasboras make for a lot of movement between leaves. Gouramis do well in planted tanks. They enjoy the cover of lots of plants. And since you have sand, cory cats and loaches would do well in your tank.

File: 20170603_203943.jpg (111KB, 614x471px) Image search: [Google]

111KB, 614x471px

Every fucking day. Every single fucking day when i come home this little faggot just sits there and gives me this stupid look on his face. What should i do about him? Ideas?

>>2398463
Draw a penis on his shell with sharpie

File: IMG_20170604_113355405.jpg (3MB, 4160x2340px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4160x2340px

I'm pretty sure the lady at the lfs gave me 3 male sparkling gouramis. I see them flaring up at each other and nipping at each other's tails. Will they be okay? Or will they tear each other apart?

>>2398452
>Other thing you can do is hang some pothos
FYI, this plant will also grow in the water without a single part of it above the water level.

>>2398580
It grows faster with some leaves above the surface, as transpiration works better with leaf to air.

>>2398602
I wanted to stock my tank with a bunch of these vines, but my girl won't let me. I think they look really cool but she thinks they are stupid looking, so I just keep them in my frog tank instead of one of the aquariums.

>>2398604
>Letting someone else decide what goes in your tank.
Fuck her, put it in the tank.

>>2398609
But it's "our" tank, anon. Besides, she gives me the succ so it's ok.

File: 1492838812117.jpg (56KB, 832x624px) Image search: [Google]

56KB, 832x624px

>>2398619

>Not telling your GF what she likes.

Take some control man.

File: not quite 24 hours later.png (4MB, 951x1691px) Image search: [Google]

4MB, 951x1691px

>>2397780
Not sure if this stuff is actually doing anything. I ended up putting the pouch in front of my carbon filter where the sponge was. I think I need at least one more packet for the 2nd outlet.

>>2398658
see >>2396936
I did get away with one small one in the betta tank