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I've heard of coconut shells being used for this purpose...never tried myself so can't say how well they work. I have tried adhering sand to clay pots as well and always had better luck using epoxy rather than silicone. Tougher and more durable. Just paint or smear it on and then either roll...

There is a vast difference between a true no-water-change tank...and a tank that never gets a water change. The former is exceptionally rare, but I'm sure it exists. I'll never have one and won't try to. The latter is everywhere and is often mistaken for the former, usually by its owner.

My sincere apologies if my post came across as an accusation of laziness as the only reason for not changing water...and in reading over it I can see how it could be taken that way. I do understand that some folk simply cannot do the back-breaking labour of slugging heavy containers of water to...

Looking forward to hearing the current thinking on this topic. Years ago the pinnatus was, I believe, considered impossible to maintain in captivity. I saw one only once and had to force myself to walk away from one of the most spectacular creatures imaginable, IMHO. Has the mystery been...

Back in the bad old days, infusoria were cultured using hay, lawn clippings...you name it. If you want them to feed your fry...then they're good. If you don't want them...they are bad! Green water was also considered a source of first food for small egg layer fry. It's just a culture of...

I don't doubt for a second that a dried-out matured filter is worlds better than a brand new spanking clean one, although I always use a mature one plucked dripping right out of another tank. I also agree that a quick rinse in tap water won't wipe out all the bacteria, and even if I weren't on...

Very cool and interesting thread; looking forward to updates.. Is it possible that the floating plants the fish want to use would be the type that actually float on the surface (water lettuce, frogbit, etc) rather than the types that float at the surface but still completely in the water...

Fish room? Doesn't everybody have a fish room? What's so special about that? But you're talking about a Fish Water Prep Room! That is impressive!

I like that! We could take it a step further; why stop at aquariums? Replace all the messy and complicated plumbing in washrooms and restrooms with the Selective Element Transporter...let's start calling it the SET because acronyms rock, especially here on Fishlore. Need to take a whiz and/or...

You've got to use your own judgment. Avoid places where there are any coniferous trees or softwoods. Avoid stuff right on the ground, or anything damp. You can drill a few holes into or through it, using a large bit like maybe 1/2-inch, and observe the shavings that come out. If they are...

From experience, both Dianema and Hoplosternum will happily munch any fish small enough to get into their mouths, and the Hoplos have a bgger mouth so are more capable of this. Callichthys likely would as well.

Probably the worst place to get driftwood is in the woods. It's called "driftwood" because it has drifted to shore after extended time in the water, either fresh or salt. Wood in the forest isn't driftwood; it's just dead wood. It might be usable if it's old, thoroughly dry and above ground...

Your tank never cycled completely, and then by leaving it unpopulated for 3 weeks you lost whatever bacteria had started to develop, which put you mostly back to square one, i.e. an almost completely raw uncycled tank. As stated above, the beneficial bacteria you need are not introduced by...

"Short people problem"? I have never found I had a problem with short people, so haven't given it much thought. Oh...you mean a stand for short people. They sell those little step-ladder thingies that fold up, for use in kitchens to reach the high shelves and such. Would that work? Oh...

The frozen block of shrimp is really a cube of frozen water containing shrimp, and that water is full of juices and fluids that can't be eaten and just add to tank pollution. The OCD side of me demands that I drop the cube into a glass of water, let it thaw, let the shrimp settle to the bottom...

Not even a little bit. I don't know if his doctorate is actually in one of the sciences; it seems that marketing is more his forte. Or perhaps it's an honorary degree? Or...there's one last type...can I get a Doctor Pepper over here, please? Well, what can those fish be thinking? "Hey...

The Zen aspect of fishkeeping. I fully agree that it's all about maintaining a connection with nature, rather than trying to control it. And...it only seemed too long because you are frittering away so much of your time carrying buckets of water.

emeraldking , I'd love to get your take on something. I don't think it's a thread de-rail, since it relates to these fish. I have read and been told that a recurring problem with Goodeids is the use of a good with too much protein, which supposedly causes the young to grow too quickly and too...

One of my pet peeves...and, yes, I do have a lot of them; what's it to ya? ...is the constantly recurring theme of "no-water-change aquariums"...or, as I think of them, aquariums that haven't failed yet. We read over and over about the wonderful, magical properties of anaerobic bacteria that...

That looks like a great set-up. Everytime I put Hyacinth into my pond, that lovely tropical plant just floats there, staring at me, and I can practically hear it saying "Really? Have you looked at a map, moron?"