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June 18th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| dead coral usually makes your water hard, and can raise the pH, so for dead coral, I wouldn't add it. Also, it serves as a danger to the fish, as they can injure themselves on it if they become spooked and try to dart away | 
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June 18th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Oh ok thanks. I may remove it, I saw a pagoda rock I think would be nice although its kinda expensive. The ph is right at about 7.2 or so. I had the store test my water today to make sure the strips were accurate. They said my water was just about perfect, not sure if it was the conditioner or why but nitrites and nitrates are little to none.
Last edited by saulat; June 18th, 2009 at 04:39 PM.
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June 18th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| One of my plants is a strait vallis the other one im not sure but its similar to Bacopa caroliniana with a fleshy stem and leaves.
I am wondering what to use for the foreground of the tank and what is a good denser plant for protecting the fry? Do I run the risk of being overwhelmed with fry? What risk is there with cross breeding different colored swordtails? | |
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June 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Think I have about 260sq in surface area. I was wondering if I have multiple plants could that hinder bottom dwellers such as the corydoras or khulis? I am thinking I want an anubias, java fern, pellia, hornwort, and some type of moss maybe christmas to accompany my straight vallis and other plant. | |
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June 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| 1. Java moss is great for protecting fry, but a densely planted aquarium with any type of plant increases the survival rate of fry.
2. Swordtails don't breed as often as guppies and mollies do, but you still have a risk of being overrun with fry. Leaving them in the tank after birth will allow the parents and tankmates to "take care of the population".
3. Most plants provide a shelter to cories and kuhlis, but i've found that a densely planted tank can obstruct the bottom and reduce swimming room for bottom feeders. To reduce this, plant the sides and back of the aquarium lightly with some hardy plants like java fern, anubias, java moss, and water wisteria is good too, and allow to to grow. I believe most of these plants reproduce through runners under the gravel, and this will plant your tank and save you money. You can cut off plants that grow into the open swimming area and replant them elsewhere in the tank. Shorter plants in the front and taller plants in the back | |
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June 21st, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| I have straight vallis and I think the other plant is either hornwort or anachranias or something like that. I ordered some java fern, anubias dwarf nana, water wisteria, and flame moss. What type of loach do you think would be good for my tank. A book I read by Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod described the botia genus as more contentious, do they fight?? Not sure if I want corys or loaches still, I like the panda corys. I found it interesting that the neon tetra is named after this guy.
Oh, I just read that corys have labyrinth organs. Would this be an issue since my tank is a hex and is tall? I forget the measurement I think its 23in tall.
Last edited by saulat; June 22nd, 2009 at 12:07 AM.
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June 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Well I did get two clown loaches which I am sure I'll catch some criticism on lol but they seem happy. I also upgraded to a 55 gallon tank (measures 48" L x ~10.5 W x ~20.5 H) and got my plants in the mail. I've been doing a lot of reading and am considering trying to build a custom polycarbonate cover with some high output compact florescents, a CO2 diffuser, and liquid fertilizer. For now I am working on a timer and some minor stuff before I start to tackle that stuff. I have two 18inch 15watt 6700k bulbs my med zoo. I am wondering what sort of bottom feeder would be good for me. I did buy a some siamese algea eaters for my tank. I was wondering which of the following would be a good addition? I like the look of bristle nose plecos.
Some species of snail (perhaps to supplement the loach diet)
Octocinclus
Plecostomus
or something else?
Currently I have 6 sword tails, 4 Siamese algea eaters, and 2 clown loaches. Plants I have a unhealthy dwarf pygmy anubias, a straight vallis, an anacharis, a java fern, and water wisteria. Also, I am waiting for flame moss in the mail. I also added some large rocks which are mainly slate in the tank. Oh, one more question. Roughly how many fish can I support right now once I reach equalibrium with my current plants, bacteria, and fish. I have a bubble wand, airstone, double sided penguin filter, and heater. | |
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