Freshwater

Unplanned Inherited Fish

feeds@yuku.com (tdpwvu) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:15 GMT

OK, please do not be appalled by what I'm posting, I'm just the curious messenger seeking help. A co-worker has given me her 5 gallon hex tank b/c she can't care for it anymore. It contains the following fish: one GM zebra danio, one long-fin black skirt tetra, and what appears to be one silver dollar fish (flattish, blue irridesence around the top of his body, maybe 3 inches long). I know the bio load is way too high and the numbers/types of fish are wrong, but what should I do?...

Snails???

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:21:33 GMT

To snail or not to snail that is the question. I have heard so many bad things about snails (ie. heavy poopers, multiply like rabbits, eat plants etc.) and only one good thing, that they take care of algae issues. Also that some are more of a problem than others. Is it worth having snails in a 10 gal with dwarf platties and plants? If so, what kind are the ones with the lowest maintenance and least amount of issues associated with them?

10 gal
3 dwarf platties (more to come)...

Love or Pest, I think my sailfin molly is in love with my discus

feeds@yuku.com (emmasmom) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:02:17 GMT

Hi,
I have an odd circumstance, I've got a 30 gal. community tank, all parameters are good, tank mates include 3 tetras, 1 sailfin molly, 1 small discus (she's stunted, 1.5 years old and only about 4" tall, but healthy), 1 albino pleco, and we just added a small angel. I think the molly my be in love with the discus, he constantly "nuzzles" her, not nipping, and he follows her around constantly rubbing his face all over her, especially her bottom fin. For the...

3g Fishless Cycle (Again!)`

feeds@yuku.com (Uyek) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:31:24 GMT

Hi, everyone.
I'm back to bother with questions and bore with water parameters.

I was out of the office for four months and when I came back my poor little aquarium had the most beautiful wall-to-wall algae carpeting. I've been cleaning it out and doing water changes for the past week or so, adding ammonia too. But today I buckled down...

Cherry Barbs

feeds@yuku.com (golsama) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:50:12 GMT

I'm so excited I got 4 brilliantly red cherry barbs from this amazing pet store in Lancaster today! After QT and after my honey (or dwarf?) gouramis get over their fungas/ich they will join the new tropical community tank. I put black gravel in the tank. Plus I have this really pretty rock formation in there. I also have a flourishing java fern attached to a piece of driftwood (I've bought the java 2 years ago!), along with anacharis, and another plant that I can't remember the...

LFS Disappointment.... along with new fish

feeds@yuku.com (golsama) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:41:00 GMT

This past friday I purchased a pair of gorgeous red honey dwarf gourami. Not sure if that name is correct, but that's what the tank label said. After reading some articles/forums on the web I've discovered there is a difference between honeys and dwarfs. The pair is going to be the focal point of my new tropical community tank with no livebearers (my other one has them, lol). I keep extra filter foam/media in all of my established/healthy tanks so that when I need it for a new tank or...

Fishy Cycle 10 gal

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:39:56 GMT

OOOPS hit enter before typing anything!! OK this is what is in the 10 gal;

3 Dwarf platties
4 (approx) Corkscrew Vals
2 Anubias Nana
2 Luteas
2 Banana Plants

Started by using bottled Spring Water, then somewhere along the way switched to tap water and adding Prime (maybe around the 10th)

10/2-10/3 tank runs empty per evil pet store advice
10/3 added 3 Dwarf Platties, 4 ADF's, 7 corkscrew vals per evil pet store
10/4 no test kit...

Fishless Cylce 7 gal

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:03:06 GMT

Thought I'd make it easier and start a new topic. This is the tank going through the fishless cycle with Microbe Lift ( and a squirt of Top Fin Bacterial Supplement) 10/17 Started up tank with not enough ammonia (did 5 drops, not per gallon DUH!) 10/18 Added more ammonia A- 0 ph 7.4 (added 17 more drops ammonia) 10/19 8am test A-1.0 ph 7.4 9pm test A- 2.0 ph 7.4 (added 50 more drops of ammonia combined) 10/20 8am test -A 2.0 ish 6pm test -4.0 ish (added 20 more drops 8 am, 35 more at 6pm)...

When, oh when, will I be cycled?

feeds@yuku.com (gooshabi) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:19:07 GMT

So I did a lot of research on Safe Start and decided I would experiment with it in a fishless cycle for my ADFs. However, I overlooked one major thing--since I wasn't going to add my ADFs right away due to their sensitivity to water conditions, I needed to add ammonia myself. DUH!! Severe blonde moment...I feel so dumb! Here are my paramerters:

Tank: Marineland Eclipse 5 Corner 5 gal tank (which holds 4 gal of water...??) with the Eclipse filter and biowheel that came with...

QT tanks

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:42:23 GMT

Fully set up or not? I will eventually have a 2 gal tank free to be my QT tank. Now, will I have to actually set that up and cycle it like a normal tank, or can I just pack it away and use it when need it? I don't really have a place to put it permanently running. Is it possible to just put a filter in it with sponge from another cycled tank and possibly some seeded gravel when I need it? I don't currently have a heater for it, and don't really want to have to buy one until I have...

Which comes first?

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:41:03 GMT

OK I have a dilemma. I am done treating my dwarf platties for ich by salt treatment. I have been doing the water changes to get the salt out and water back to normal. So I would like to put my Corkscrew Vals back in and get some new plants. I also think my tank is done cycling and would like to add more fish. My thoughts are to add new plants this weekend, then add new fish next weekend. However if the fish get ich again, I'll have to treat with salt again, and take the plants out. But I...

Rocks for the tank

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:54:45 GMT

I know everyone says not to put just any old rock in your tank. But.....is there a way to make a rock you find on your lawn safe for your tank? I am hoping to get some plants this weekend...particularly java fern and Annubias that should be secured to rocks etc. I just find it hard to pay so much for a rock when there are a ton of them around for free lol Not to mention I haven't seen any small enough that I like the looks of. I live near the ocean, and have picked up some really cool...

Another cycling question

feeds@yuku.com (BeavisMom62) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:47:01 GMT

I have a tank that is up and running, gravel, water, a couple of plants and a "naked" filter running just to keep the water from getting stagnant. It is not cycled and there are no fish in it. For the heck of it I checked the parameters, which are ph 7.2, ammo 0-.25, nitrate and nitrite 0. I am running an extra filter in a fully cycled tank and have extra sponges seeding in all three of my functional tanks. Could I just put the seasoned filter and seeded sponges in this tank and...

Stresszyme vs Safestart vs Bacteria Supplement

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:53:21 GMT

Any input on which is better to use when starting up a tank? I know Safestart was formerly Bio Spira so that is the best choice. Any thoughts on the others?

Grapewood..good or bad?

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:07:52 GMT

We have pieces of grapewood for sale where I work (not a pet store) and they are raw without bark. Doesn't look to be varnished as it feels rough. Anyone have any input on if it can go in a fish tank or not. I have read both yes and no elsewhere online.

Biozyme...anyone used it??

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:22:11 GMT

I found this online and wondered if has anyone tried this? IN the reviews people have compared it to Bio Spira and I am having a hard time finding SafeStart. Here is the link

http://www.petco.com/prod...ConditionersandAdditives Any input?? I am going to Petco this weekend and am curious.

setting up new tank and fishless cycling

feeds@yuku.com (Rorie) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:09:12 GMT

Hi - I plan to set up a 20 gal tank and need guidance. What is the best brand of tank, pump, filter, heater etc? Do you save money buying a kit or am I better off buying everything solo? Also what are your thoughts on fishless cycling? I can't stand the thought of putting any fish through the cycling process. I would also like to have live plants. Do I cycle w/ or w/ out the plants? Thanks!

Filter Vs Songes?

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:11:28 GMT

OK I have read through a few topics on here, and there is mention of carbon filters not being used and sponges used instead. I am WAYYYYYYYY confused. I have carbon filter cartridges in both of my tanks and no one has ever told me not to use them. (of course the people at the big box pet store where I have been going have told me other loads of hoooey as well) I thought that the carbon was a good thing. Please can someone explain to me the difference, and if I should be doing a sponge instead...

How to lower temp?

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:59:23 GMT

I have a 10 gal that is avg 82-84 due to the lighting in the hood. We are in FL and run the ac but it doesn't seem to lower the temp in the tank. I have to have the lights on due to live plants in the tank. I have 3 dwarf platies in there now, and want to put my 4 adf's in there, but was advised that the current temp is too high for them. Any ideas how I can keep the tank a little cooler and still keep everything living and happy?

Ick and ADF's

feeds@yuku.com (blondeyny) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:30:16 GMT

Is it true that ADF's really don't catch ick when in a tank that have fish infected with it? I have a 10 gal now that has 3 dwarf platties. The set up is only a week old. I originally had 4 ADF's in there as well, until the fish came down with ick. I moved the frogs to a 2 gal tank since I wasn't sure if meds would harm them or not, and I haven't seen any signs of white spots on them. I finished the meds, and now there is ick again. I am going to do a saltwater treatment...