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What are you doing to your tank today?
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Did a water change today! Saw a baby rabbit snail 
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Finally got a semi decent picture of my blue gourami. It's a bit of a shy fish. Mostly when I'm in front of the tank. Still trying to determine male or female. My guess is male.
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Been busy the last 2 days and likely tomorrow too. In the process of switching from an African cichlid tank to a planted community. Yesterday I completely drained and re-scapes my 55gal (new sand, new decor, new fish, will be getting a new light). Cut some plexiglass to make cheaper canopies (spent 5$ instead of 50$ for glass ones). No pics as I still have to properly scape it but first I need to rehome a few big catfish.
Today I worked on water changes. Did a rescape and plant upkeep in a 36gal bow front. Lots of anubias got trimmed, divided, and attached to wood/rock. Took out ~13 cuttings and still have several medium/large plants to attach but I need more wood/rock. Made some temporary spawn mops with the trimmed roots. Will be picking rice fish eggs before long.
Before
After
Also cleaned up 2 29gals which included moving some fish around. I plan to re-do one of the 29gal, the last tank that has course sand that for some reason my young bettas regularly ingest to the point of causing health problems. That tank will be getting fine, neutral colored play sand and most the bettas, female gups, and BN will be moved into the 55gal. Gotta play musical tanks so the young fish can get a bigger tank.
Today I worked on water changes. Did a rescape and plant upkeep in a 36gal bow front. Lots of anubias got trimmed, divided, and attached to wood/rock. Took out ~13 cuttings and still have several medium/large plants to attach but I need more wood/rock. Made some temporary spawn mops with the trimmed roots. Will be picking rice fish eggs before long.
Before
After
Also cleaned up 2 29gals which included moving some fish around. I plan to re-do one of the 29gal, the last tank that has course sand that for some reason my young bettas regularly ingest to the point of causing health problems. That tank will be getting fine, neutral colored play sand and most the bettas, female gups, and BN will be moved into the 55gal. Gotta play musical tanks so the young fish can get a bigger tank.
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Waiting for my plants to grow, lol.
Everyone is pretty all set for the holidays this coming weekend. Will be doing water changes after Christmas.
Going to be watching for sales like a hawk these coming weeks. Aiming to get a 29g aqueon tank, caribsea substrate, the cabinet stand I've been eyeing, one aquaclear and one sponge filter with extra media, all for my goldfish fry. Going to be keeping two to live in the tank I get so that will be their forever home. The rest will need to be re-homed once they are big enough. For a back up I thought about bringing some to the lfs, but I'd much rather see them go to good homes!
Once all that is done the only babies I hope to raise is more shrimplets. Love watching the fry grow and develope, but can't make that a habit! Happy I get to do it just once for now though.
^_^
Everyone is pretty all set for the holidays this coming weekend. Will be doing water changes after Christmas.
Going to be watching for sales like a hawk these coming weeks. Aiming to get a 29g aqueon tank, caribsea substrate, the cabinet stand I've been eyeing, one aquaclear and one sponge filter with extra media, all for my goldfish fry. Going to be keeping two to live in the tank I get so that will be their forever home. The rest will need to be re-homed once they are big enough. For a back up I thought about bringing some to the lfs, but I'd much rather see them go to good homes!
Once all that is done the only babies I hope to raise is more shrimplets. Love watching the fry grow and develope, but can't make that a habit! Happy I get to do it just once for now though.
^_^
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Finally moved! It was a long process and we are still unpacking. We are leaving for the holidays tomorrow so the tank isn’t setup yet but it will be a swordtail tank. Thinking about the general theme I want it
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did a water change yesterday to get t ready to go out of town today.
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Messing around with a new setup in my 40 breeder. I think it needs more mopani wood. Any suggestions?
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Get some tree roots or spiderwood branches and have them stick out of the rocks.
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Algae scraping today on most tanks. Moved a few females around to more appropriate tanks. Swordtails and blond guppies are going ok still.
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Topped off the water for my 20g, and did a 25% water change for my fry tank. Also cleaned the inner and outer glass of both tanks. Big tank had lots on the side so waters a little cloudy, but clearer than before. Also adding 2 more guppy fry to the 20g today. Need to put algae scraper on my list for next supply order, can’t get the stuff off the back of my tank without ruining the background, since I use a magnetic glass cleaner.
The scape for the 20g is a little messy right now, I’m in the middle of restocking and rescaping the tank, so the only fish in it is 1 male guppy and 4 guppy fry. Planning on adding driftwood and live plants during the rescape, and removing the barrel, but that’s not going to happen until fry are grown up and rehomed.
The scape for the 20g is a little messy right now, I’m in the middle of restocking and rescaping the tank, so the only fish in it is 1 male guppy and 4 guppy fry. Planning on adding driftwood and live plants during the rescape, and removing the barrel, but that’s not going to happen until fry are grown up and rehomed.
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Trying to get motivated and cull my French blue tank. It's starting to get a lot of mutations and I have a core group of good looking males that are strain / pattern correct, just really extreme examples lol The blue is a bit more blue with a purple pearl, the swords have a little more black in them due to the very black bellies chin to tail including lower finnage. The chests are orange with a little silver / white line separating from the black that follows back and gets a bit larger. Top fin has black splotches in it. One male of those three has a monocle. The other males don't have the orange chest or as impressive blue, but they do have monocles and no other green bits or anything like that.
Females will be plain or with black mark in the top fin. I also have one plain female with a large monocle on her left side. For now she's staying there but I think I want to put her in with the rest of the monocle boys regardless of green patches.
So off for coffee lol
Joking here to keep it going, but if anyone locally needs a tank just send me a message
Females will be plain or with black mark in the top fin. I also have one plain female with a large monocle on her left side. For now she's staying there but I think I want to put her in with the rest of the monocle boys regardless of green patches.
So off for coffee lol
Seattle area only one 30 with a chip and two ten gallons 100% off lol If I have MTS others should too! lol
Joking here to keep it going, but if anyone locally needs a tank just send me a message
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Got my new batch of Malaysian Trumpet Snails today! I put them in Sunset's tank to acclimate them to the temperature and by the time I got back to them they were all crawling up the side of the bag! Definitely not dead! So very happy with that. Now to wait for them to grow and multiply so I can infest other tanks. Planning on all but my Shrimp tank. Nofish or snail is allowed in the Shrimp kingdom. Lol
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Benches were dry, goldfish were out so I watched them for a bit. Then I noticed green in the bird bath underneath some pond grasses. Even the duckweed died back two months ago so I assumed it was algae, moss or a lungwort fell into the pond. I pulled back the pond grasses and found ...
Tropical water lettuce lol Not in good shape mind you, but I bet it would regrow if I brought it in. Micro microclimate lol Guessing it was protected by the grass and being out of the main flow of water. Still, but not stagnant. Warm, but just.
Tropical water lettuce lol Not in good shape mind you, but I bet it would regrow if I brought it in. Micro microclimate lol Guessing it was protected by the grass and being out of the main flow of water. Still, but not stagnant. Warm, but just.
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When plants that are normally too tender to survive a winter are outside and become acclimatized gradually to the changes in weather and day length they sometimes last a surprisingly long time after you’d expect them to be done and gone.
It’s been chilly here but there have been only a few nights so far that have actually been freezing and only at -1 or -2 C at worst.
In fact, over the past few days it’s been raining and very mild at 8-9C.
It’s the very first year that I’ve ever seen grass actively growing this late in the year here! The back lawn here is tall enough that it needs mowing and instead of being a dead-grass-brown Christmas it’s been a very bright green one instead.
I bet the water lettuce would grow if you gave it a chance inside.
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Me 6 months ago: I'm only keeping one tank. Maybe two. Maybe I'll get a Betta, but probably not. *looks at others fish tanks lined up next to each other* -but I don't want to that. That looks too cluttered.
Also me 6 months later:
Spent last night setting up the tank for the goldfish fry! Lol
Ordered another light and paper for the background (only 15 bucks total for both!) all arriving tomorrow. Super excited!
Also me 6 months later:
Spent last night setting up the tank for the goldfish fry! Lol
Ordered another light and paper for the background (only 15 bucks total for both!) all arriving tomorrow. Super excited!
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Split off another microfauna culture. Noticed my main culture has white worms
So I infested the little cultures with some and fed my French Lace Endler breeding project some. It's my "be careful when feeding table" I overfeed my microcultures and over water my plants. Those two are my two remaining cacti from seed over a couple years. The tall one is dragon fruit, small one nopale / opuntia / prickly pear (whatever name you might recognize lol) At one point I had hundreds of little sprouts which left me with about 6 plants of each after a year. Then I get overzealous overwinter (just like the food culture) and over feed lol I'm learning to read my cultures and cacti 
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Re-arranged the floating plants, got rid of excess plants, sucked out some off the bottom, fed some blackworms, topped off the water.
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Today was water change day for my four tanks (75 gal, 20 gal long, two 10 gals). Then I slightly thinned the vals in the 75 gal and gave the remaining ones a haircut so they weren't causing stagnant water on top.
I spent some time watching my baby super red BN plecos in one of the 10 gallons - so adorable.
I now have a pair of blue eyed-lemon BN plecos too...still waiting for them to start reproducing though.
Lastly, I went to the better LFS in my area and picked up four Laetacara curviceps/dorsigera for my 20 gallon long. Hopefully they settle in well for me! If I get a pair to form, I'll likely rehome the other two eventually.
I spent some time watching my baby super red BN plecos in one of the 10 gallons - so adorable.
I now have a pair of blue eyed-lemon BN plecos too...still waiting for them to start reproducing though.
Lastly, I went to the better LFS in my area and picked up four Laetacara curviceps/dorsigera for my 20 gallon long. Hopefully they settle in well for me! If I get a pair to form, I'll likely rehome the other two eventually.
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Almost definitely a dorsigera; the curviceps will have a white line on the rear dorsal fin instead of red and be a bit narrower in body shape. Hard to tell for sure since the picture isn't zoomed in on the fish.Today was water change day for my four tanks (75 gal, 20 gal long, two 10 gals). Then I slightly thinned the vals in the 75 gal and gave the remaining ones a haircut so they weren't causing stagnant water on top.
View attachment 895542
I spent some time watching my baby super red BN plecos in one of the 10 gallons - so adorable.
I now have a pair of blue eyed-lemon BN plecos too...still waiting for them to start reproducing though.
View attachment 895543
Lastly, I went to the better LFS in my area and picked up four Laetacara curviceps/dorsigera for my 20 gallon long. Hopefully they settle in well for me! If I get a pair to form, I'll likely rehome the other two eventually.
View attachment 895547 View attachment 895546 View attachment 895545
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Been a few days, but I recently upgraded the protein skimmer on my reef tank. The old one's pump was on the way out. Here is what I added: Skimmers - Simplicity Aquatics
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Looks like it's getting close to making fish food time. Just need some strawberry and carrot scraps.
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Did a minor rescape on the 20L last night. I wanted it to be viewed when coming in the door, taking shoes off etc... but realized we actually view it from the "back" more. Just needed to move a few things around.
Transferred some fish around and took down one breeding project for another. I don't need two tanks producing the same desired pattern when one of the strains is a lot easier to overwrite with the color / pattern I want.
So no more French blues with monocles. I have peacocks with a stronger one anyway.
Moving my females like this in with halfish black males.
Swapped out the cobra female in my French blue lace breeding attempt with more appropriate to the male double sword snakeskin females.
To my left
And the right
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I got a male apistogramma borelli in the mail today. He had pretty good color after being in the aquarium just a little while.
He's even more colored up now, but I didn't get a picture yet. I left the aquarium light off all day. I'll turn it on when I get home and see how he's doing. I'm going to feed the tank some blackworms tonight.
I also added aquarium salt to my hospital aquarium where one of my female apistogramma borelli is recuperating. I put her in there last night. I'm gonna feed her some blackworms tonight to see if she's ready to eat.
He's even more colored up now, but I didn't get a picture yet. I left the aquarium light off all day. I'll turn it on when I get home and see how he's doing. I'm going to feed the tank some blackworms tonight.
I also added aquarium salt to my hospital aquarium where one of my female apistogramma borelli is recuperating. I put her in there last night. I'm gonna feed her some blackworms tonight to see if she's ready to eat.
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Two days after setting up my 55, I'm still pulling random osmocote pellets out of the reused sand.
Nobody ever talks about that as the downside to making your own osmocote root tabs...
Nobody ever talks about that as the downside to making your own osmocote root tabs...
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Love Scarlet Badis!
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Two new aquarium plants are waiting for me to pick them up at the post. Then I will be aquascaping my 30 gallon goldfish fry tank and arrange everything. I had everything just thrown together randomly so excited to tidy it. I love this part!
^_^
^_^
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I’ve had a rough couple of days so I haven’t been very active on here my puppy (3 yr old cocker spaniel) strained his hip muscle and is in a lot of pain constantly so it’s just been very stressful because this is the first major illness/injury he’s ever had. The vet said he will make a full recovery and is fine he’s just my baby so it’s been hard for me. In terms of aquariums, in the new apartment I am planning to have a 20 long saltwater reef tank, a 20 Cory tank, and a 4 gallon outdoor RCS tank. Still working on consolidating the tanks and my dog put the brakes on the process 
my puppy (3 yr old cocker spaniel) strained his hip muscle and is in a lot of pain constantly so it’s just been very stressful because this is the first major illness/injury he’s ever had. The vet said he will make a full recovery and is fine he’s just my baby so it’s been hard for me. In terms of aquariums, in the new apartment I am planning to have a 20 long saltwater reef tank, a 20 Cory tank, and a 4 gallon outdoor RCS tank. Still working on consolidating the tanks and my dog put the brakes on the process
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Bummer, but I'm sure he'll be fine. They're big babies lolI’ve had a rough couple of days so I haven’t been very active on here
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Wife runs a vet hospital and we have many pets. The cone of shame is a common sight in the house lol Kitten Nibbler would have gotten one today, but we canceled his neuter for a week or two. Wife has two employees out with Covid so we had to do some rescheduling and Franky Nibbler can wait a week while other patients are seen lol
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Pupdate (update): my little guy is doing a lot better
As for the tanks, I am going to start the process of selling my tanks this coming week. Currently doing research on coral keeping and macroalgaes, excited to finally dive into saltwater. The current apartment tanks plan:
20 long: reef tank
20 tall: Cory tank with bamboo shrimp
Outdoor 5 gallon: TBD (probably RCS but I’m not sure if the temps are too low..)
As for the tanks, I am going to start the process of selling my tanks this coming week. Currently doing research on coral keeping and macroalgaes, excited to finally dive into saltwater. The current apartment tanks plan:
20 long: reef tank
20 tall: Cory tank with bamboo shrimp
Outdoor 5 gallon: TBD (probably RCS but I’m not sure if the temps are too low..)
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Well, if you want to do fish eventually... Endlers especially cobras transition well into saltPupdate (update): my little guy is doing a lot better
As for the tanks, I am going to start the process of selling my tanks this coming week. Currently doing research on coral keeping and macroalgaes, excited to finally dive into saltwater. The current apartment tanks plan:
20 long: reef tank
20 tall: Cory tank with bamboo shrimp
Outdoor 5 gallon: TBD (probably RCS but I’m not sure if the temps are too low..)
Nice easy and cheap before you step up to salt only fish.
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Thanks for the suggestion! My bf really wants a clownfish pair so we may start with those once I understand coral needsWell, if you want to do fish eventually... Endlers especially cobras transition well into salt
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Pretty sure I figured out the how and why of my recent livebearer issues. I was having the usual shimmies, sudden wasting etc... that only seemed to get worse and spread.
But it was limited to mostly cobra / snakeskin fish and started at the smaller tanks but didn't seem to hit the 20's. I medicated the tanks with salt and things improved.
Well, I stopped using my tap water (well) after I installed a rain barrel system. Rain water ain't got what fish crave, doh! I just was not thinking at all. Going to fill my water change buckets and predose them with salt. I guess it's another of my DIY PSA lol
I did lose some fish that I liked, including a 2.5 yr old male Cobra Guppy that was the second Endler born in my tank. But, they are live-bearers lol I can recreate them. Make them stronger, faster, more brilliant colors!
I also crashed my indoor food cultures, but I think that was the new yeast I tried. Not sure if instant vs active or wrong ratio, but I killed off most of the daphnia breeders and babies overnight. Dipped the outdoor tubs and brought some in to kick start things again.
But it was limited to mostly cobra / snakeskin fish and started at the smaller tanks but didn't seem to hit the 20's. I medicated the tanks with salt and things improved.
Well, I stopped using my tap water (well) after I installed a rain barrel system. Rain water ain't got what fish crave, doh! I just was not thinking at all. Going to fill my water change buckets and predose them with salt. I guess it's another of my DIY PSA lol
I did lose some fish that I liked, including a 2.5 yr old male Cobra Guppy that was the second Endler born in my tank. But, they are live-bearers lol I can recreate them. Make them stronger, faster, more brilliant colors!
I also crashed my indoor food cultures, but I think that was the new yeast I tried. Not sure if instant vs active or wrong ratio, but I killed off most of the daphnia breeders and babies overnight. Dipped the outdoor tubs and brought some in to kick start things again.
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Your rain water is probably very similar to my spring well. It's going to need a bit of everything; mg ca and k to get closer and a whole host of trace stuff to round it out. How soft and acidic is it straight out of the barrel? My diy recipe could likely keep your collected water affordable.
Or, you can switch to breeding tetra and Rasbora.
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