What are you doing to your tank today?

[fishywoo]

Any one else not looking forward to Christmas music? Lol excited for everything else, but not that. Maybe I'm a Grinch!

Super anxious to start planting and further set up my shrimp tank. I'm still waiting on Cholla Wood to implement to the scape and I worry about messing with the plants too much. I've read from others that they float their plants without issue so I'm trying to refrain from messing with them. It's so tempting!

Meanwhile I've got weird stuff growing again in my Betta Tank after moving the water lettuce out of it. Of course this is right after adding my crypts and last time I saw this my Anubias melted, but maybe it's not related? Either way, I've put adding some of the Ludwigia I got on hold. I've got new lighting ideas on the way for my tanks that will hopefully help.

Then there's my Goldfish tank. I've let the diatoms think they've won, but little do they know that a crew of 10 Malaysian Trumpet Snails will be descending upon their forces very soon...

And then there's these goldfish fry that have dashed away all my sense and reason. I need another tank.
><

 

[Fishfur]

Any one else not looking forward to Christmas music? Lol excited for everything else, but not that. Maybe I'm a Grinch!

ME! A few of them are not bad or even amusing but I never could take a steady diet of them.

A radio station here started playing 100% Christmas music, 24 hours a day for the entire month of December. I quit listening to the station.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Hopefully inoculated my 20 tall (Betta, swordtails, cories) with scuds. Was cleaning the filter in the scud tank and assumed there would be scuds, daphnia and such hanging on. Rinsed the filter off and strained the water. Caught some daphnia, springtails etc... and 4 scuds, one of which was berried. So I separated them, fed the fish the others and dropped the scuds off in the java fern forest and hoped the cories didn't feast lol

 

[Fishfur]

Hopefully inoculated my 20 tall (Betta, swordtails, cories) with scuds. Was cleaning the filter in the scud tank and assumed there would be scuds, daphnia and such hanging on. Rinsed the filter off and strained the water. Caught some daphnia, springtails etc... and 4 scuds, one of which was berried. So I separated them, fed the fish the others and dropped the scuds off in the java fern forest and hoped the cories didn't feast lol

Berried scuds look very odd, don’t they?

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Berried scuds look very odd, don’t they?

Noticeable for sure lol I doubt they will take hold, but maybe. The initial goal was just feeding them to the swordtails.

 

[BlackOsprey]

Christmas moss wants much more intense light than any of the others one commonly sees. It can be a pain - I want to try it emersed.

I've grown it emersed under a Nicrew LED, but I think it still needs more intense light. It's kinda pale and lanky. Peacock fern grew a lot better.

I've had success with christmas moss only under a finnex 24/7 at full power, and even then, it doesn't grow well anywhere except close to the surface.

 

[FunnyFish]

Any one else not looking forward to Christmas music? Lol excited for everything else, but not that. Maybe I'm a Grinch!

Mariah Carey has been defrosted already, eh? Lol

Then there's my Goldfish tank. I've let the diatoms think they've won

I don't look forward to these in my new tank either. The Otos will have some extra food soon enough

 

[Blacksheep1]

Purple pencilfish? So gorgeous. I had some and would give much to have some again but they were crazy expensive the first time snd zi can’t imagine how much crazier the price will be if they show up again.

‘ Coral reds’ were as they were sold but there’s two different types in the photo. And yes , they are still expensive !!! It’s crazy because they others in the photo are like £2.50 per fish , the reds are £22 per fish . Not crazy expensive and it is coming down slowly , I saw a pair for £100, 6 months ago so they are reducing. I just think they are so pretty. I love the way pencil fish swim !

 

[Fishfur]

‘ Coral reds’ were as they were sold but there’s two different types in the photo. And yes , they are still expensive !!! It’s crazy because they others in the photo are like £2.50 per fish , the reds are £22 per fish . Not crazy expensive and it is coming down slowly , I saw a pair for £100, 6 months ago so they are reducing. I just think they are so pretty. I love the way pencil fish swim !

I had some Purple pencilfish once and I’ve seen the Coral reds. I have a hard time telling them apart unless they’re together to show the differences but both are lovely.

I would give much to have Purples again but it seems unlikely to happen - they are so rare to see offered here & the price when I got mine was $20 each CAD and I can’t even guess what the price might be if someone had them again except I know it will be a lot higher.

I've grown it emersed under a Nicrew LED, but I think it still needs more intense light. It's kinda pale and lanky. Peacock fern grew a lot better.

I've had success with christmas moss only under a finnex 24/7 at full power, and even then, it doesn't grow well anywhere except close to the surface.

I don’t think I would even bother with it - there are so many different mosses now and new ones seem to show up fairly regularly, and most seem far less demanding, so it’s just not worth the aggro .

 

[kansas]

Been a bit MIA because I’m about to graduate nursing school and move in the next few weeks so I’ve been downsizing on tanks and rearranging. Here’s photos from today
View attachment 893723
View attachment 893724View attachment 893725View attachment 893726View attachment 893727

good luck as a surse

 

[Fishyfreeonz]

I cleaned the front glass inside and out on all 5 tanks for the first time in several weeks. The waters a tad foggy from stirring up junk but it still looks a lot better.
I also fed levamisole treated food to all the tanks as part of my effort to eliminate camallanus and any other parasites I might not realize they have.

 

[fishywoo]

I cleaned the front glass inside and out on all 5 tanks for the first time in several weeks. The waters a tad foggy from stirring up junk but it still looks a lot better.
I also fed levamisole treated food to all the tanks as part of my effort to eliminate camallanus and any other parasites I might not realize they have.

View attachment 893795View attachment 893796View attachment 893797View attachment 893798View attachment 893799

I hope it works out with the levamisole! Make sure you do a deep gravel VAC when you change the water the day after. From what I read this will keep the parasites from hiding in the substrate after they are expelled from their hosts.

 

[Fishyfreeonz]

I hope it works out with the levamisole! Make sure you do a deep gravel VAC when you change the water the day after. From what I read this will keep the parasites from hiding in the substrate after they are expelled from their hosts.

Gravel vac isn't very doable in most of my tanks so I did a lot of research and I think I'll be ok. I am treating with Levamisole, Fenbendazole, and praziquantel. I should have only used the later two but I already started the levamisole and I don't want to breed resistance by stopping the treatment early so I am staying the course and treating with all three. I am using food treated with levamisole once every two weeks and food treated with fenbdndazole and praziquantel on the alternate weeks for three months. I am ready to be done with parasites.

 

[fishywoo]

Gravel vac isn't very doable in most of my tanks so I did a lot of research and I think I'll be ok. I am treating with Levamisole, Fenbendazole, and praziquantel. I should have only used the later two but I already started the levamisole and I don't want to breed resistance by stopping the treatment early so I am staying the course and treating with all three. I am using food treated with levamisole once every two weeks and food treated with fenbdndazole and praziquantel on the alternate weeks for three months. I am ready to be done with parasites.

I hear ya, it's awful how common they are. Whenever I get something new I have to assume they have something and do my best to prevent it. Some things are so hard to tell right away though, but that's why I'm on the side of preventative treatments for the most part. I use to use general cure, but found it didn't do a thing every time and didn't realize how ineffective it was at first.

 

[Fishyfreeonz]

I hear ya, it's awful how common they are. Whenever I get something new I have to assume they have something and do my best to prevent it. Some things are so hard to tell right away though, but that's why I'm on the side of preventative treatments for the most part. I use to use general cure, but found it didn't do a thing every time and didn't realize how ineffective it was at first.

Yeah I plan to use the praziquantel and fenbdndazole 3 month treatment on all new fish from here on out.

 

[Fishfur]

I’m cursing the day I got some salvinia which turned out to be infested with duckweed weevils.

Just look at my beautiful frogbit! I know from prior experience that the only practical way to get rid of these destructive critters is to dispose of all the floaters ( maybe not the Watergrass, it’s not fleshy so their larvae can’t burrow into the leaves).

I am so ticked I could just scream.

 

[fishywoo]

I’m cursing the day I got some salvinia which turned out to be infested with duckweed weevils.

Just look at my beautiful frogbit! I know from prior experience that the only practical way to get rid of these destructive critters is to dispose of all the floaters ( maybe not the Watergrass, it’s not fleshy so their larvae can’t burrow into the leaves).

I am so ticked I could just scream.

Sorry to hear that! Only thing I can suggest is trying a dip method and then keep the Frogbit in an isolated container in a separate room with some sunlight if you think it's worth it until you know you're in the clear. Plants require the most patience and it's so frustrating when it doesn't go right. I feel your pain! Lol

 

[Fishyfreeonz]

I replaced the media on one tank because I want to try these scrubbers as the sole filter media. It should essentially never need cleaned because it won't clog.

 

[fishywoo]

I replaced the media on one tank because I want to try these scrubbers as the sole filter media. It should essentially never need cleaned because it won't clog.

View attachment 893854

That's really interesting! Never heard of or seen that before.

Been stalking my goldfish fry off and on throughout the afternoon determined to get a picture off the one I nicknamed, The Beast, because he's the biggest and darkest one. So I'm finally getting a good picture of him and this other lighter one that's bigger than him, and I that had never seen before, just swims out and steals the title.

 

[Fishfur]

Sorry to hear that! Only thing I can suggest is trying a dip method and then keep the Frogbit in an isolated container in a separate room with some sunlight if you think it's worth it until you know you're in the clear. Plants require the most patience and it's so frustrating when it doesn't go right. I feel your pain! Lol

Been there, tried that, doesn’t work. The eggs are laid within the flesh of the leaves and the resulting larvae eat the leaf from the inside out, which kills it. Dipping isn’t going to reach the pesky larvae as they are well protected within their leaf - dinner and shelter all in one.

Because the eggs and practically microscopic larvae are invisible to the eye, leaves can look perfectly clean when they aren’t.

I even tried culturing these things for a bit.

Fish will eat them quite eagerly if they fall into the water but unfortunately, I was unable to effectively contain them.

So they spread pretty quickly. In the end my only option was to get rid of every single floating plant I had and start over.

At that time I didn’t have any Asian Watergrass and I’m guessing they probably won’t bother that. I hope not, as it is much more difficult to replace than any of the others.

I replaced the media on one tank because I want to try these scrubbers as the sole filter media. It should essentially never need cleaned because it won't clog.

View attachment 893854

I’d be interested to see how that works out.

 

[Wendybrass]

Why is it that when you need to grab a few ramshorns snails from the very tank that during water changes you have to keep stopping because they keep getting sucked up, that very tank, there's not a single one to be had? Not a single one. Maybe I should announce that I'm going to grab a few trumpet snails and see what happens.

 

[StarGirl]

The only Nerites around here are zebras. I dont want zebras.....lol

Got 2 more Red fire shrimp and 2 kinds of live food. Brine and Blackworms. Going to be some happy fishies the next few days.

 

[oddballsandinverts]

Pleasant surprise as my substrate came early! And with that I could finish setting up the 10g


It still needs time to settle, but I’m happy! Once I eat I’ll be adding in my monthly root tabs and that will be that .

 

[Wendybrass]

The only Nerites around here are zebras. I dont want zebras.....lol

So of course there's only zebras! Lol. I would like to add a nerite to each of my nano tanks but the glass lids leave a gap all the way around. I've heard they're escape artists - how good are they? Would the gaps have to be completely covered or just smaller than the nerite?

 

[StarGirl]

So of course there's only zebras! Lol. I would like to add a nerite to each of my nano tanks but the glass lids leave a gap all the way around. I've heard they're escape artists - how good are they? Would the gaps have to be completely covered or just smaller than the nerite?

Honestly the only one I have escape is the Red Racer. The Zebras and Horned stay even with the lid off. But those are mine they may not all behave that way.....lol

If the gap is smaller than the snail they should be fine.

 

[Wendybrass]

Honestly the only one I have escape is the Red Racer. The Zebras and Horned stay even with the lid off. But those are mine they may not all behave that way.....lol

If the gap is smaller than the snail they should be fine.

Thank you - I'm going to try. Especially with my ramshorns playing hide and seek..... But I wanted something a little than ramshorns anyway.

 

[FunnyFish]

My nerite snail stays in the tank even with gaps big enough for it, but I do often find it above the water line hanging out. To each their own, lol.

I spent this morning (at 6am as things ran through my head) finally opening up the new filter I bought for the new 50 gallon, it to find out it wasn't shipped in its original box from Amazon which leads me to believe that it is refurbished and not stated. Also, it doesn't fit on the new tank, so I had to start measuring and figuring out a new option. Eek! The Aqueon Quietflow 75 is going back, and I ordered a Cascade 300 as it appears that will work and has better reviews.

And while I'm at work, my spouse is building my new tank stand. The real work starts tomorrow morning. I don't know that I'll be able to contain my frustrations of catching fish, but the excitement of a new tank.... With football on in the background because well, it's still Sunday afterall

 

[Wendybrass]

My nerite snail stays in the tank even with gaps big enough for it, but I do often find it above the water line hanging out. To each their own, lol.

I spent this morning (at 6am as things ran through my head) finally opening up the new filter I bought for the new 50 gallon, it to find out it wasn't shipped in its original box from Amazon which leads me to believe that it is refurbished and not stated. Also, it doesn't fit on the new tank, so I had to start measuring and figuring out a new option. Eek! The Aqueon Quietflow 75 is going back, and I ordered a Cascade 300 as it appears that will work and has better reviews.

And while I'm at work, my spouse is building my new tank stand. The real work starts tomorrow morning. I don't know that I'll be able to contain my frustrations of catching fish, but the excitement of a new tank.... With football on in the background because well, it's still Sunday afterall

Sounds like an amazing Sunday! Very frustrating that your filter didn't work out. Do you have a scape in mind or are you a wing it as you go type? The ramshorns have returned from their convention it appears so I've moved a couple into my nano tanks.

 

[FunnyFish]

Sounds like an amazing Sunday! Very frustrating that your filter didn't work out. Do you have a scape in mind or are you a wing it as you go type? The ramshorns have returned from their convention it appears so I've moved a couple into my nano tanks.

I do have a scape in mind. I have driftwood in my bathtub currently, weighted down trying to get it to sink because it's too big to boil, lol. And I have a ton of plants moving over to the new tank, and I've already reached out to my local contact that I will need more plants.

I will be winging some of the setup though, and I've bought more black gravel for the new tank, but keep going back and forth on whether I want sand in an area or not. My cories have been perfectly fine on the small gravel and are healthy, so I may not bother.

 

[StarGirl]

The 5g Spixi tank is now a Fire shrimp, pygmy cory and spixi tank. The little jerk baby betta wouldnt leave the new shrimp alone. I figure the snails wont hurt them. I think they will be fine. lol

 

[Wendybrass]

I do have a scape in mind. I have driftwood in my bathtub currently, weighted down trying to get it to sink because it's too big to boil, lol. And I have a ton of plants moving over to the new tank, and I've already reached out to my local contact that I will need more plants.

I will be winging some of the setup though, and I've bought more black gravel for the new tank, but keep going back and forth on whether I want sand in an area or not. My cories have been perfectly fine on the small gravel and are healthy, so I may not bother.

Can't wait to see the pics!!

The 5g Spixi tank is now a Fire shrimp, pygmy cory and spixi tank. The little jerk baby betta wouldnt leave the new shrimp alone. I figure the snails wont hurt them. I think they will be fine. lol
View attachment 893930

Bettas...... can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em

 

[FunnyFish]

The 5g Spixi tank is now a Fire shrimp, pygmy cory and spixi tank. The little jerk baby betta wouldnt leave the new shrimp alone. I figure the snails wont hurt them. I think they will be fine. lol
View attachment 893930

I have a blue mustard Betta in a planted 3 gallon and though about moving him into the 50 community tank, but I have pygmy Cory and shrimp. I don't know how well that will work out lol

 

[StarGirl]

I have a blue mustard Betta in a planted 3 gallon and though about moving him into the 50 community tank, but I have pygmy Cory and shrimp. I don't know how well that will work out lol

She really didnt bug the fish. The snails and shrimp watch out. She couldnt catch the shrimp anyway.

The one in the 55g I think hunts snails. There are empty snail shells everywhere. She is always looking down at substrate level.

 

[FunnyFish]

She really didnt bug the fish. The snails and shrimp watch out. She couldnt catch the shrimp anyway.

The one in the 55g I think hunts snails. There are empty snail shells everywhere. She is always looking down at substrate level.

So you're had pretty good success then with your Betta in a community tank, eh?

I guess I could always try it out and move him back to the other tank if it didn't work. I'm just concerned with the zebra danio fin nipping since they do it to each other as it is, haha.

 

[StarGirl]

So you're had pretty good success then with your Betta in a community tank, eh?

I guess I could always try it out and move him back to the other tank if it didn't work. I'm just concerned with the zebra danio fin nipping since they do it to each other as it is, haha.

So far so good. She doesnt seem to super stuff herself with food. She did have a nip in her tail at one point.

 

[FunnyFish]

So far so good. She doesnt seem to super stuff herself with food. She did have a nip in her tail at one point.

Good to know. I wonder if her being female vs me having a male will make a difference.

 

[StarGirl]

Good to know. I wonder if her being female vs me having a male will make a difference.

Bettas = Bettas. I think females can be more cunning having the short fins.

 

[FunnyFish]

Bettas = Bettas. I think females can be more cunning having the short fins.

Well I guess there is only one way to find out.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Cleaned the filter on the 20, forgot to unplug pump first. Tank is now settling and a mess so I'll need to vacuum. Filled a few buckets with rain water, so that's warming up overnight first.

Alex is happy and our little one has a basking spot chosen

 

[fishywoo]

Trying to motivate myself to fix the cords on my Betta tank, temporary shrimp tub, and their new five gallon that's almost done. Everything's running fine though, so not that motivated. Lol

 

[FunnyFish]

Trying to motivate myself to fix the cords on my Betta tank, temporary shrimp tub, and their new five gallon that's almost done. Everything's running fine though, so not that motivated. Lol

I am so incredibly anal about cords. It's like I should have worked in hospitality or something with how neat I like them. I drive myself bonkers, lol.

 

[Fishfur]

My nerite snail stays in the tank even with gaps big enough for it, but I do often find it above the water line hanging out. To each their own, lol.

I have seen this with many nerites. Some go so far as to perch on tank rims for hours, despite the fact they don’t have a lung like pulmonate species do.

The only falls I recall were from the one rimless tank I have, which has led me to wonder if they simply can’t manage the narrow glass edge.

I also wonder if they have some sort of adaptation that allows them to breathe while out of water, as terrestrial crabs do. Some of the species we keep naturally inhabit tidal zones where water comes and goes for many hours at a time, so an adaption like that seems to make sense.

 

[FunnyFish]

I actually just googled this and got a hit saying that nerites can live out of water for up to a month. This would make sense since I usually don't see him out unless it's dark in the tank, and always when I clean my tank he's right under the rim.

 

[Fishfur]

I actually just googled this and got a hit saying that nerites can live out of water for up to a month. This would make sense since I usually don't see him out unless it's dark in the tank, and always when I clean my tank he's right under the rim.

I am not sure I’d buy a snail lasting a whole month out of water if it’s roaming around, but it makes excellent sense that they can last a long time. Maybe they can last that long if they’re buried in wet sand?

There are quite a few species too, which are by no means all the same.

 

[FunnyFish]

I am not sure I’d buy a snail lasting a whole month out of water if it’s roaming around, but it makes excellent sense that they can last a long time. Maybe they can last that long if they’re buried in wet sand?

There are quite a few species too, which are by no means all the same.

Maybe, who knows. My guy doesn't wander outside the tank and dips down every day or every other for sure so I'm not worried.

 

[Fishfur]

Maybe, who knows. My guy doesn't wander outside the tank and dips down every day or every other for sure so I'm not worried.

I never worry about mine either. I just let
‘em do whatever comes naturally.

 

[fishytanks03]

Wondering what everyone is doing to their tanks weather its changing decor adding removing, changing substrate, new lights filters air stones or sponge filters etc..... Also pics are very much encouraged
PS if there is a better section for this thread please move it Thanks!!

I was thinking of ordering some plants, because I currently only have hardscape in my tanks, and it's time to add some plants. I also have to scrub the side of my tank with a toothbrush because I have algae problems in my 5 gal.

 

[FunnyFish]

So after ranking down the whole tank and fish are in buckets, I find out that my HOBs won't fit over the back of the tank. Ahhhhhhh, so I had to jimmy in some taped up styrofoam until my new filter comes and hopefully it fits, but that's not until Wednesday. The other HOB doesn't even fit at all so I'm going to be under filtered for a few days. I guess I'll get two hoses running on the air pump for the next few days

 

[Fishyfreeonz]

So after ranking down the whole tank and fish are in buckets, I find out that my HOBs won't fit over the back of the tank. Ahhhhhhh, so I had to jimmy in some taped up styrofoam until my new filter comes and hopefully it fits, but that's not until Wednesday. The other HOB doesn't even fit at all so I'm going to be under filtered for a few days. I guess I'll get two hoses running on the air pump for the next few days

That's always frustrating.

 

[FunnyFish]

That's always frustrating.

Super! I mean who makes a tank that won't fit HOBs. Oh top fin does, yep! But I have to run with it for now. It may result in me spending money on a canister that I didn't want to do.