Freshwater

Cycling pH

feeds@yuku.com (davidpet) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:47:07 GMT

I am in the process of cycling a new tank using Nite-Out II and Special Blend and don't see anything after a couple of weeks. Is this normal? The pH is 8.2 because that's where my tap water is. Is this too high for nitrifying bacteria? Once I got the ammonia to 4 ppm I left it at that level and was planning to add more when it dropped so that it would stay there, but it hasn't changed.

Acrylic Scratches

feeds@yuku.com (davidpet) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:42:49 GMT

I am in the process of cycling my new tank and I used the algae scraper for the first time yesterday. It scraped up the inside pretty badly to a point that might be pretty distracting even though it's supposedly an acrylic-safe one. If my frogs were already in the tank I would probably just live with it, but since there isn't even nitrite yet, I'm wondering if I should just take the financial hit and the day of hard labor to transfer everything (including bio-wheel and filter...

Another disaster......

feeds@yuku.com (mikev) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:49:22 GMT

Time to start thinking ahead

feeds@yuku.com (swimfeeshie) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:30:21 GMT

we are planning (yet another) move for 2010- this one won't be till fall, but I need to start thinking once again about setting up my 75 gallon tank (yay!)

that in mind, I have some questions:

this was the tank that was diagnosed with TB... my husband and I rinsed it at least half a dozen times with a 1:9 bleach solution followed by 70% isopropyl alcohol (again, probably 5-6 times) and then rinsed it like crazy... i remember flooding our lawn (poor grass)......

Instant Ocean BioSpira

feeds@yuku.com (Rorie) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:29:00 GMT

Is anyone familiar w/ this product?

Aqueon Aquarium Water Changer

feeds@yuku.com (Rorie) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:10:34 GMT

Does anyone know how to use this thing? I bought it thinking it would make my wc's easier, but it didn't come w/ instructions. Went to their website and nothing. Also tried Ehow.com and couldn't find anything there either. Any tips would be great! Thanks.

Upgrading my tank soon; need some advice!

feeds@yuku.com (Zyrk) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:18:57 GMT

Being somewhat new to fish keeping, there are quite a few things I simply don't know about the hobby. I suppose there'd still be more I wouldn't know even if I was experienced! In any case, I am coming to you guys for some help.

If, understandably, you'd rather skip to important information, please skip to the bolded TLDR tag. I'm just stuck at my last shift at work and feel like...

driftwood

feeds@yuku.com (denise) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:44:28 GMT

I just got a beautiful piece of Malaysia driftwood. I was going to nuke it...then soak, soak, rinse, rinse with prime treated water...after all that I am going to attach some java fern to it. I just wanted to make sure that nuking the wood was the right thing to do....

Ya or Na's about UV Sterilizers

feeds@yuku.com (Fisheye) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:50:50 GMT

I would like some Ya or Na's about UV Sterilizers for freshwater tanks please.With reasons
Fisheye

quick neon tetra question

feeds@yuku.com (swimfeeshie) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:35:00 GMT

what kind of bio load do they put on a tank? i currently have 3 platies, 1 female betta, and 5 neons a 10 gallon tank which has been cycled for quite some time. was thinking while i was watching them that they would like a bigger school... is that too much for the tank size?

sleepy fish

feeds@yuku.com (BeavisMom62) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:03:16 GMT

Oh my! Am I getting weird! My poor fish. I got up last night to get an ice pack (just had surgery on my arm and the ice helps at night). I go to the kitchen, walking past the goldie tank and I always check them out. They are my favorite fish. I have my original goldfish that I've had almost a year now! My fave and most long lived fish! Also, there is my new goldie that I've taken out of QT and added to the tank a few days ago. So, I'm always checking out the new one just...

Crustaceans, ahoy!

feeds@yuku.com (IntellectualSlime) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:13:30 GMT

I am absolutely fascinated by the tank of ghost shrimp that my LFS keeps. It's inevitable; every time I walk in, I spend at least five minutes looking at them. However, before I go off of the deep end (and end up with another tank, heaven forbid), I would like to know more about them.

What sort of water conditions do they take? What do they eat? How long do they live, generally? Are they better solo, or living in groups? I have heard they are acceptable tank mates for goldfish,...

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)...