What are you doing to your tank today?

[Fishfur]

The chemiclean said it does not have erythromycin in it. Safe for inverts and bacteria.

Unfortunately the label is extremely misleading. It says it does not contain erythromycin succinate and indeed it doesn’t.

What it does contain is erythromycin sulfate.

There is more than one form of erythromycin so they are being extremely sneaky with this claim because people naturally assume erythromycin is just one thing. But it isn’t.

There was quite the scandal over this in Germany when the product was analyzed because erythromycin sulfate isn’t permitted in Europe for OTC sale.

 

[TClare]

Unfortunately the label is extremely misleading. It says it does not contain erythromycin succinate and indeed it doesn’t.

What it does contain is erythromycin sulfate.

There is more than one form of erythromycin so they are being extremely sneaky with this claim because people naturally assume erythromycin is just one thing. But it isn’t.

There was quite the scandal over this in Germany when the product was analyzed because erythromycin sulfate isn’t permitted in Europe for OTC sale.

So do we know that the blue green stain remover doesn't contain the same thing? It doesn't tell you anywhere what it does contain, but it definitely works I have used it once and it did no harm to any fish, plants, snails or the cycle...

 

[Fishfur]

So do we know that the blue green stain remover doesn't contain the same thing? It doesn't tell you anywhere what it does contain, but it definitely works I have used it once and it did no harm to any fish, plants, snails or the cycle...

I’m sure there isn’t any erythromycin in Ultra Life for a couple of reasons.

Erythromycin is a whitish powder - Ultra Life bears a strong resemblance to pink salt.

Erythromycin can kill biofilters but Ultra Life has no effect on them.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Supports removed, bin full of waste.

"Waste" Why print bio balls when this has tons of crevices for critters? This will be part of the filter

Pretty sure I'm not using the pipe but instead a hose connection to a reducer and I'll make a flange to bolt to the 4 bolts with a gasket.
But, I think that's enough for now. Next update I'll start a thread because at that point it's really becoming a build. This was kind of the final part I needed for planning. I think lol Probably going to do some mock up in the garage over the next week or two then tear down the old setup.
Probably a good way to start the thread as I think this one might be pretty long term. I learned a lot over the years with many iterations I should organize the photos from and do a first up until now with short explanations of what I learned a long the way to get to this. I only need to figure out the inlet which I can't really do until it's all setup and I get a larger pump. But that's just hose and fittings with the right sized hole saw lol


Just need to glue the ribbed adapter to the skimmer. A couple plumbing pieces and half a hose repair kit.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Ok, promise last 3d thing for the thread lol Thinking on it last night I want it sturdier than just a joint to joint glue. So I made an adapter sleeve. I'll trim the down pipe as needed then modify my design so both ends are 30mm to be a second sleeve. That will probably end up actually being the very last thing to do once everything is in place and water is flowing.

This one I actually made by putting in numbers and such lol

 

[YATT]

Think my tea is getting to strong.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Ok, promise last 3d thing for the thread lol Thinking on it last night I want it sturdier than just a joint to joint glue. So I made an adapter sleeve. I'll trim the down pipe as needed then modify my design so both ends are 30mm to be a second sleeve. That will probably end up actually being the very last thing to do once everything is in place and water is flowing.
View attachment 912013
This one I actually made by putting in numbers and such lol

Won't know if it actually works until it's full of water. I'd really like to get the top down to 11 cm which would leave 1cm out of water. I think it's enough, but pump flow, water features for sound etc... all make a huge difference in its capacity to allow it to flow. But good enough for now. I should be able to get that with more compact fittings. The ones I used are from a generic one size fits most type of kits I had lying around. I know I can buy a lot of space with the right fittings. But in a few months I'll pick the project back up. I need the floor space for building a rack for the cichlid tank finally.

Otherwise I gotta scrape algae on the sorority tank and give the goldfish babies tank a vacuum. Messy little buggers lol
Edit: Outdoor cultures are getting mosquito larvae again and my indoor culture is exploding. Taro tubers A+ food. Just drop it in and let it rot / be eaten. No odor unless you take it out and decide it's a good idea to give it a close whiff lol

 

[TClare]

Mission accomplished! We finally caught the pike cichlid. To recap, the tank it was in measures 200 x 65 x 65 cm and has many roots and branches where the pike spends most of its time, so using a net was never going to be feasible. I had no success with my usual water bottle traps (though I caught the female easily in one). Yesterday my son designed and made a different trap still using part of a coke bottle but with a plywood frame siliconed over the opening into which fitted a glass sliding door, held open by a small nail attached to a long string which could be pulled from outside the tank. Unfortunately it could also be pulled from inside the tank, which is what the severum quickly did and set it off with no fish inside. At least this proved that the mechanism worked! There were a few more hiccups yesterday, the Uarus also were fascinated by the thread and kept chewing it, we had to leave it loose to avoid a fish setting it off again. Then somehow the severum managed to get inside the trap, its really much too big and was really squashed in there, it very calmly ate the shrimp then discovered it was impossible to turn round and had a slight panic before getting out (it has a slight scrape on the forehead now). At least she did not return to the trap for quite a while after that experience. I didn't have a lot of time yesterday but every time I sat and watched nothing went into the trap. And every time I went away the bait was eaten! Today I had a bit more time but still had to wait a long time. I sat and watched, the tetras went in and out of the trap sometimes moving the shrimp to near the entrance where one of the festivums two or three times went in and got it. The tetras would bite the pieces of shrimp but not eat all of it. The pike cichlid went in half way. Then later he went in all the way and I pulled the thread, but the Uarus had apparently pulled it before and the nail had partly come out, the glass was at an angle and got stuck. So we replaced the thread with a bicycle brake cable that the Uarus did not like to chew or pull. Late by this time I asked my husband to watch for a few minutes while I fed the dogs. And that is just when the pike went in and was caught! He is now with the female, who attacked him initially, but he threatened her back and I think they settled down. I turned the lights off anyway.

 

[Fishfur]

Mission accomplished! We finally caught the pike cichlid. To recap, the tank it was in measures 200 x 65 x 65 cm and has many roots and branches where the pike spends most of its time, so using a net was never going to be feasible. I had no success with my usual water bottle traps (though I caught the female easily in one). Yesterday my son designed and made a different trap still using part of a coke bottle but with a plywood frame siliconed over the opening into which fitted a glass sliding door, held open by a small nail attached to a long string which could be pulled from outside the tank. Unfortunately it could also be pulled from inside the tank, which is what the severum quickly did and set it off with no fish inside. At least this proved that the mechanism worked! There were a few more hiccups yesterday, the Uarus also were fascinated by the thread and kept chewing it, we had to leave it loose to avoid a fish setting it off again. Then somehow the severum managed to get inside the trap, its really much too big and was really squashed in there, it very calmly ate the shrimp then discovered it was impossible to turn round and had a slight panic before getting out (it has a slight scrape on the forehead now). At least she did not return to the trap for quite a while after that experience. I didn't have a lot of time yesterday but every time I sat and watched nothing went into the trap. And every time I went away the bait was eaten! Today I had a bit more time but still had to wait a long time. I sat and watched, the tetras went in and out of the trap sometimes moving the shrimp to near the entrance where one of the festivums two or three times went in and got it. The tetras would bite the pieces of shrimp but not eat all of it. The pike cichlid went in half way. Then later he went in all the way and I pulled the thread, but the Uarus had apparently pulled it before and the nail had partly come out, the glass was at an angle and got stuck. So we replaced the thread with a bicycle brake cable that the Uarus did not like to chew or pull. Late by this time I asked my husband to watch for a few minutes while I fed the dogs. And that is just when the pike went in and was caught! He is now with the female, who attacked him initially, but he threatened her back and I think they settled down. I turned the lights off anyway.

Persistence pays!

 

[tetraguy]

Meet my newest addition, Pearl. She's a beautiful solid white platinum elephant ear. One of those run in for dog food and right back out, but purposely check the betta end cap type deals lol.

Currently living with Casper, an ADF, and a pair of platinum yellow tiger hybrids, but will wind up having her own tank soon enough!

Hope everyone is doing okay, and having a good time with their aquatic pals!

 

[tinylostwine]

After i fed my gazillion frys one at a time making sure each one got a tiny little treat (excluded from the list were the angelfishes who have parents to feed them) i decided to have a conversation with my discus. In response they flashed blue at me (not sure what blue means but they sure did bring forth a lot of blue - sadly pictures do not capture the extent or intensity but here is one; i'll also note that raising a phone seems to break their concentration:

 

[kansas]

Mission accomplished! We finally caught the pike cichlid. To recap, the tank it was in measures 200 x 65 x 65 cm and has many roots and branches where the pike spends most of its time, so using a net was never going to be feasible. I had no success with my usual water bottle traps (though I caught the female easily in one). Yesterday my son designed and made a different trap still using part of a coke bottle but with a plywood frame siliconed over the opening into which fitted a glass sliding door, held open by a small nail attached to a long string which could be pulled from outside the tank. Unfortunately it could also be pulled from inside the tank, which is what the severum quickly did and set it off with no fish inside. At least this proved that the mechanism worked! There were a few more hiccups yesterday, the Uarus also were fascinated by the thread and kept chewing it, we had to leave it loose to avoid a fish setting it off again. Then somehow the severum managed to get inside the trap, its really much too big and was really squashed in there, it very calmly ate the shrimp then discovered it was impossible to turn round and had a slight panic before getting out (it has a slight scrape on the forehead now). At least she did not return to the trap for quite a while after that experience. I didn't have a lot of time yesterday but every time I sat and watched nothing went into the trap. And every time I went away the bait was eaten! Today I had a bit more time but still had to wait a long time. I sat and watched, the tetras went in and out of the trap sometimes moving the shrimp to near the entrance where one of the festivums two or three times went in and got it. The tetras would bite the pieces of shrimp but not eat all of it. The pike cichlid went in half way. Then later he went in all the way and I pulled the thread, but the Uarus had apparently pulled it before and the nail had partly come out, the glass was at an angle and got stuck. So we replaced the thread with a bicycle brake cable that the Uarus did not like to chew or pull. Late by this time I asked my husband to watch for a few minutes while I fed the dogs. And that is just when the pike went in and was caught! He is now with the female, who attacked him initially, but he threatened her back and I think they settled down. I turned the lights off anyway.

I love action stories.

 

[tetraguy]

Anyone else love the way jungle val looks when it's way overgrown and laying on the waters surface?

The fish seem to like it, and it breaks the agitation up enough I can now keep floaters in this tank. Win win!!

Are there any downsides to this I'm unaware of?

 

[Fishfur]

Anyone else love the way jungle val looks when it's way overgrown and laying on the waters surface?

The fish seem to like it, and it breaks the agitation up enough I can now keep floaters in this tank. Win win!!

Are there any downsides to this I'm unaware of?


View attachment 912103

I don’t think so unless they get so thick they choke the tank. I’ve never been overly keen on the look myself but there’s no downside to it that I’m aware of or can imagine.

 

[StarGirl]

Anyone else love the way jungle val looks when it's way overgrown and laying on the waters surface?

The fish seem to like it, and it breaks the agitation up enough I can now keep floaters in this tank. Win win!!

Are there any downsides to this I'm unaware of?


View attachment 912103

The only thing I have encountered is surface film. But you kind of get that with floaters anyway.

 

[Danionins]

Got three five gallon tanks out of storage to use for CPD grow-out tanks. They need a bit of cleaning up before putting them into service.

 

[TClare]

Anyone else love the way jungle val looks when it's way overgrown and laying on the waters surface?

The fish seem to like it, and it breaks the agitation up enough I can now keep floaters in this tank. Win win!!

Are there any downsides to this I'm unaware of?


View attachment 912103

Eventually it does get a bit too much, ir becomes difficult to feed the fish and you have to trim it, but its good and helps the Vals grow nicely as they get plenty of light and CO2

 

[tetraguy]

Eventually it does get a bit too much, ir becomes difficult to feed the fish and you have to trim it, but its good and helps the Vals grow nicely as they get plenty of light and CO2

Agreed, once they hit the surface they took off. I've found vals like FLOW too, atleast in my tank conditions.

 

[Fishfur]

Doing water changes and upon a closer look at this tank, discovered the pearlgrass was growing emersed and looking rather charming - shame it loses this appearance when submersed.

Found the wee bits of Hydrocotyle leucocephala I’d tossed in to float (in hope they might do better than they had been) had all grown substantially and have put out a lot of nice roots and new growth - none of them was more than 3 or 4 nodes in length but they’re all much longer now.

They must like the light - which has also tied up most of the guppy grass with a lot of algae - a hairy type that always reminds me of thick green felt.

Algae are nowhere else in the tank, just tying the guppy grass into a mat. It must have had algae on it when I got it though it looked nice & clean.

I’m guessing most of the guppy grass will end up as snail & scud food but hopefully I can salvage enough that I need not buy more.

The red roots are incredibly red in the middle where the light is most intense and barely coloured at all at the darker tank ends but it’s all looking very happy.

The middle of the tank is just about choked with all the plants growing madly so I have quite the tidy up job to do.

First pic shows some red root with some emersed pearlweed closer up.

Second one shows most of the emersed Pearlweed back underwater and the roots on the pennywort. I wish the pearlweed would stay like this underwater.

I’ve never had particularly good luck with the Brazilian pennywort despite it having a reputation of being very easy to grow but maybe this tank is the charm - it’s growing really well, better than it ever has before.

Third pic is the near impenetrable forest in the middle of the tank.

Last is the expanse of emersed pearlweed and all the red roots. Isn’t the weed pretty? I’ll save some to grow emersed, it’s so attractive. Maybe I can get it to flower.

 

[TClare]

Agreed, once they hit the surface they took off. I've found vals like FLOW too, atleast in my tank conditions.

I have them in tanks with a fair amount of flow and others with a more gentle flow, they seem to do well in both.

 

[tetraguy]

Got all my filters maintained, and deep cleaning done last week along with major plant trimming done last week so quick easy wcs this week!

Pearl has quickly adjusted to her new home quite well. For now she doesn't seem to show any interest in her tankmates but watching closely to be sure. We're debating setting up a tank in the living room for her, if so it will be the first tank outside the bedroom. Was saving that conversation for a 125G, but babysteps right, lol.

Oh, and last night I discovered the sex of my ADF. By accident I heard the little guy singing the squickiest croaks I've ever heard! It was a neat thing to hear!

 

[newjungletank]

Spitballing on new tanks setup. I will be gluing lots of Java ferns, anubius of various sizes and varieties, and some mini bolbitis to the wood. There are 4 clusters. I'm kind of ripping off MDTanks modular hardscape he did for an electric blue acarra tank.

 

[tinylostwine]

No pictures but one of my male laetacara araguaiae was super dark so i went behind the aquarium (72x30) to see what had him excited; and saw he was guarding 40 or 50 frys - never even saw them spawn. Then i went downstairs to feed my a. sp winkelfleck and she had frys - i wont' feed the l. araguaiae but the a. sp winkelfleck i guess will take priority over the m. egregius frys (though those are large enough now to eat encapsulated brine shrimp eggs). sigh not sure what to do with the a. wolli and a. sp blutkehl. I wish my hatch rate for the bbs was higher. Sigh. I need to find someone to help me baby sit these guys - feeding tiny little fishes has become a major task - by the time i finish them all it is almost time for the next feeding
--
anyone have a fly - er fry catcher ?

More serious i wonder if i can just collect them all and put them together -i mean they are kids - won't they just play with each other ?

 

[Fishfur]

Spent a couple of very tedious hours clearing algae from guppy grass & pearlweed.

I think the Pearlweed was the one that brought them as there was a hidden but very solid big mass of algae that all the emersed Pearlweed had rooted in very firmly. I had thought it was growing on top of the rest that was submerged and it was, sort of, but all felted into a pretty solid algae island, if that makes sense.

Their roots were 2-3” long and it was not fun to have to rip a lot of them off rather than spend another hour or two combing algae out of them. It’s growing nicely so it should soon make up the losses.

This particular alga doesn’t stick to anything and is very easy to remove but still, there were hundreds & hundreds of thread fine roots holding it all together.

Put the cleaned up plants back in the tank only to find the filter motor was detached from its canister. Oh well, needed cleaning anyway.

But when I took it out to clean it I found that the pesky little bushing that the impeller shaft has to sit in was nowhere to be found.

(please excuse that cussing you may hear but I am SO annoyed!!) A miserable little plastic doodad that probably costs less than a cent to make and upon it the entire filter function depends!

New filter will be here tomorrow and the tank is so full of plants I’m not worried for the fish. Just reeeeally annoyed.

Speaking of the fish - I think somebody in there has had fry. Quite the surprise.

I saw one the other day and just thought it must be one that hides most of the time so I didn’t recognize it. but today I saw two that are identical.

The only fish in there that might have had fry are Ruby & Ember tetras, I’m leaning toward suspecting the Ember tetras are the parents.

I’m astonished - I sure wasn’t feeding them up or trying to breed them but where else could these two small ones have come from other than a spawn? They are very nearly adult size but colourless & very transparent.

What do you think?

 

[Fishfur]

Having saved a fair portion of the pearlweed that was growing emersed, I had to get it into a box to continue growing that way and decided to check on most of the emersed boxes while I was at it.

Quite a few very nice results and some disappointments but all in all most of them are doing pretty well.

I still have two teeny tiny shoots of Diplidis diandra - all the rest has died.

But the incredibly immature Crypt Nurii I thought might not survive is now doing well - as is C.parva.

The first lot of Monte Carlo, which all came from one TC cup, could now fill several cups and then some. Some is three inches tall and in desperate need of a trim.

The taller box is a jungle - everything in it is doing great, including one whose name just escapes me. It’s a Ludwigia, I think.

Bolbitis heteroclita ‘Longtails’ has produced dozens of fernlets, some are four inches tall and they appear to be in submersed form - I assume from growing is close to 100% humidity.

Bolbitis heteroclita Asiatica has sent up new fronds - first time I’ve had any luck with it - one shouldn’t attempt to grow it underwater, it is best emersed.

Hygrophila balsamica is growing in its submersed form too - it bears a resemblance to H.difformis but is more symmetrical.
It has a load of thick, robust roots and will have to be moved soon to a tank (or maybe its own box?).

Laeganandra meeboldii Silver Queen is doing great as is every other plant in the box which is getting too crowded. I need more boxes!

( I need another apartment just to grow everything I want to grow!!!! )

 

[BPSabelhaus]

I've had a spawning/ raising tank setup for my next Betta spawn for awhile now. Water is nice and green so I moved some daphnia in. Hopefully get a small colony going before the spawn. Did it in a 2.5 with a couple fry last time. I know I'll still have to feed them, but having live food availability from the start is the goal.

 

[kansas]

Today is the sad day I drain the plant only aquarium on the porch and the tub in the yard before the cold hits.

 

[kansas]

On a happy note, I gave away a stand that had been sitting in my basement for 3 years.

 

[newjungletank]

Spitballing on new tanks setup. I will be gluing lots of Java ferns, anubius of various sizes and varieties, and some mini bolbitis to the wood. There are 4 clusters. I'm kind of ripping off MDTanks modular hardscape he did for an electric blue acarra tank.

View attachment 912142
View attachment 912143

Most of the hardscape and epiphytes are in. The whit rock is temporary as that piece of wood was floating as the only rock it's attached to is on the other end. I'm going to be adding stems, some crypts and some carpeting plants in the future.

 

[tinylostwine]

I'm trying to study my Chocolate Cichild; as they have laid eggs - at first they were on a piece of drift wood but they decided they wanted more privacy so they dig a deep pit and moved them there. Mom is sitting on them like a mother Hen. Dad - well he prefers to eat rather than guard....

 

[Fishfur]

Now I’ve cleaned out the algae this is the (mostly) guppy grass forest and the section right next door to it.

There is some star grass in there too - mostly rather short cuttings. They are just starting to look half decent.

The poor crypts can barely be seen - they are pretty young though.

 

[StarGirl]

Well as an above poster stated it did seem like the Chemiclean didnt do anything. The BOOM a week or so later it is all gone. I checked my 5g for ammonia just now and its bright yellow so everything must be cool. I would think the 5 would show signs before the 15.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

It's officially a snail culture now


Made a cat yeeter This is the prototype, going to print two more. Then make a few more changes for the 20 gallons.
Once all those are setup / made etc... I'm going to make files for 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 20L tanks with 1,2,3,3 and 4 files setup ready to print out to upload to Printables if anyone wants to print their own. Originally was a "Cat off" for amplifiers. I made some changes to work on aquariums

 

[TClare]

I caught two of the marbled headstanders from the Guianacara tank and put them in the big tank. I want to reduce the fish numbers in the Guianacara tank as when the pair breeds (which they are preparing to do soon) things get very hectic. There are 4 headstanders and they have grown a lot since I first got them, I think they will do well in the big tank. The first two were relatively easy to catch with two nets, but then the other two hid at the back behind a lot of branches and I didn't want to cause too much stress, so I left it at two for the moment, it will be best anyway to make sure they are OK in the big tank before catching the others. There is one Hemiodus in that tank too, I have tried to catch it several times to put it with the others in the angelfish tank. I may end up having to take some of the branches out.

I have also been experimenting with peat and pH, I want to reduce the pH in the 240L tank to try and breed the dwarf pike cichlids. I rearranged the branches in their tank a bit too, so as to provide a variety of options for potential spawning sites, preferably where I can see what is going on, though there is a lot of structure in the tank so they may well choose somewhere hidden, if they decide to breed at all. Although it hasnt rained for months here, there is still a tiny pool with mosquito larvae in, I have been going to collect them several times a day to feed to the pikes, hoping to condition them. I have also been giving them pieces of prawn and a homemade food of fish, prawn, a little veg and a few bug bites flakes. The ground is too dry to find earthworms unfortunately.

 

[newjungletank]

I caught two of the marbled headstanders from the Guianacara tank and put them in the big tank. I want to reduce the fish numbers in the Guianacara tank as when the pair breeds (which they are preparing to do soon) things get very hectic. There are 4 headstanders and they have grown a lot since I first got them, I think they will do well in the big tank. The first two were relatively easy to catch with two nets, but then the other two hid at the back behind a lot of branches and I didn't want to cause too much stress, so I left it at two for the moment, it will be best anyway to make sure they are OK in the big tank before catching the others. There is one Hemiodus in that tank too, I have tried to catch it several times to put it with the others in the angelfish tank. I may end up having to take some of the branches out.

I have also been experimenting with peat and pH, I want to reduce the pH in the 240L tank to try and breed the dwarf pike cichlids. I rearranged the branches in their tank a bit too, so as to provide a variety of options for potential spawning sites, preferably where I can see what is going on, though there is a lot of structure in the tank so they may well choose somewhere hidden, if they decide to breed at all. Although it hasnt rained for months here, there is still a tiny pool with mosquito larvae in, I have been going to collect them several times a day to feed to the pikes, hoping to condition them. I have also been giving them pieces of prawn and a homemade food of fish, prawn, a little veg and a few bug bites flakes. The ground is too dry to find earthworms unfortunately.

Put some fluval stratum in media bags under your substrate. That will drop your pH like a rock. My main tank is sub 6.0 with stratum in media bags covered with diamond blast media for substrate. I do start with RODI water though. I also have driftwood.

 

[Gennasharples]

Added some pictus catfish to the tank. Looking after them for a friend for a week or so while they finish medicating their tank after a white spot outbreak to make sure it’s safe before adding them to their tank

 

[StarGirl]

Realized yesterday I haven't seen my Tiger Nerite in a bit. Found him behind the 5g VERY very dry.. Those Nerites are elite escape artists....I tell Ya!

 

[TClare]

Put some fluval stratum in media bags under your substrate. That will drop your pH like a rock. My main tank is sub 6.0 with stratum in media bags covered with diamond blast media for substrate. I do start with RODI water though. I also have driftwood.

Well that is interesting, not sure if I can find it here but could have a look. However there is no way I am going to remove all the sand to put some underneath, the tank is well established with lots of plants and driftwood and leaf litter. I presume it should work if I put some in a bag in the filter?? I'm not using RO as my tap water is already very soft - GH1, KH0, TDS around 20 from the tap, 27 in the tank.

 

[TClare]

Well that is interesting, not sure if I can find it here but could have a look. However there is no way I am going to remove all the sand to put some underneath, the tank is well established with lots of plants and driftwood and leaf litter. I presume it should work if I put some in a bag in the filter?? I'm not using RO as my tap water is already very soft - GH1, KH0, TDS around 20 from the tap, 27 in the tank.

Although thinking about it, it contains minerals and nutrients so would probably increase the TDS/conductivty, which I don't want to do...

 

[Fishfur]

I’ll be cleaning up after the inevitable happened. The Deadly Spotted Squirm was finally tempted beyond his (admittedly near non existent) tiny feline ability to resist.

He sneaked onto the top of the 31G. The top is makeshift at the moment and while the little twit didn’t actually go for a swim, he soaked one hind leg and has left water droplets scattered everywhere.

I am beyond grateful that the GroBeam lights on this tank are dunk proof because both of them went for a swim. They were expensive but worth every cent and have survived numerous dunkings unscathed.

Squirm is slinking around alternating between licking his leg dry and looking deeply offended.

The fish don’t seem to have been affected too badly.

That’s him looking like butter wouldn’t melt on the shelf over the printer.

 

[newjungletank]

Although thinking about it, it contains minerals and nutrients so would probably increase the TDS/conductivty, which I don't want to do...

I don't think it adds a lot of TDS. I had to mineralize my water with Equillibrium while using it. Stratum destroys GH and KH. I once put some in a tiny media bag next to a sponge filter in a nano tank to lower pH. The substrate that I had washed in tapwater was bringing my RO water up to pH almost 8. I have very hard water.

 

[TClare]

I don't think it adds a lot of TDS. I had to mineralize my water with Equillibrium while using it. Stratum destroys GH and KH. I once put some in a tiny media bag next to a sponge filter in a nano tank to lower pH. The substrate that I had washed in tapwater was bringing my RO water up to pH almost 8. I have very hard water.

That is amazing that just washing your substrate could have that effect on RO water! How much did the stratum reduce the pH in that tank? Anyway I will see if it is available and how much it costs.

 

[newjungletank]

That is amazing that just washing your substrate could have that effect on RO water! How much did the stratum reduce the pH in that tank? Anyway I will see if it is available and how much it costs.

Well, that's the theory I have on the high pH. My tap water measures close to 8. It's only a 1.5 gallon tank, so the substrate to water ratio is high. I filled it with RO water and used stratum. The only thing I can think of contributing to the pH was the substrate I used to cover the stratum. I haven't measured that water in a long time, but I did get it below 7.

 

[bushmaster06]

I set up a 20g QT tank in my laundry room.

 

[Leeman75]

WCs done early today. Spent time cleaning calcium off some of my lids and filter covers. The same hard water that helps my Tang cichlids thrive loves to create deposits that are an eyesore to me.

In other news, looking at my dwindling 55 stock of SA cichlids and anticipating rehoming my remaining stock to convert to an Mbuna tank.

 

[tinylostwine]

Same ol same ol - fed 2 day old baby a. wolli and fed 1 week old baby Blutkehl and fed 10 day old me and one fish i will not be feeding is -5 day old chocolate - those gals will eat your fingers if you try feeding them.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Welcomed salmon to their spawning grounds.

 

[kansas]

Welcomed salmon to their spawning grounds.

what species?

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Multiple but mostly pink/dog/ chum (they have a few names) and steelhead.

Group pics of Mom and daughters

 

[Rose of Sharon]

Multiple but mostly pink/dog/ chum (they have a few names) and steelhead.

Group pics of Mom and daughters
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Very nice! I like the one with the orange-y looking forehead...they all seem happy together!