What are you doing to your tank today?

[kansas]

Pacific ocean salmon and steelheads have been stocked in the Great Lakes after decimating the native lake trout and brook trout.

I've seen chinooks running rapids and spawning, it's quite a sight.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Very nice! I like the one with the orange-y looking forehead...they all seem happy together!

She's just starting to really color up. Didn't have much black or the orange. But as the black started to come in over the last couple weeks she started to get some orange. I was actually thinking yesterday that there are zero nipped fins and even the stick line has been erased as Violet is a bit bigger than her mom Petunia now. Rose the large white with pink irridescence in her fins was in charge of the stick zone, but doesn't even care anymore. Even then it was just "you stay on your side with Mom, the garage attic is mine"
Haven't given her a name yet. I'm learning to wait until they're more developed lol But if the orange sticks I'm thinking Tiger lily or Cinnamon.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Pacific ocean salmon and steelheads have been stocked in the Great Lakes after decimating the native lake trout and brook trout.

I've seen chinooks running rapids and spawning, it's quite a sight.

Kind of got tired of people asking me "Are you having fun?" For me it's quite a somber event watching these fish giving it 100% 24hrs a day then using their very last energy to spawn, protect the eggs until finally succumbing to the flow of the river only to slow the progress of others.

But then you see the gravel beds full of eggs resisting the downstream flow. In a month or two I'll be able to say "YEAH!" for sure lol But right now, no I didn't have fun.

 

[Fishfur]

Kind of got tired of people asking me "Are you having fun?" For me it's quite a somber event watching these fish giving it 100% 24hrs a day then using their very last energy to spawn, protect the eggs until finally succumbing to the flow of the river only to slow the progress of others.

But then you see the gravel beds full of eggs resisting the downstream flow. In a month or two I'll be able to say "YEAH!" for sure lol But right now, no I didn't have fun.

Given the importance of salmon runs to so many native peoples, I would think it would have to be a solemn occasion especially since the parent fish die.

I would think it would be awful too, in the original sense of that word - full of awe.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Given the importance of salmon runs to so many native peoples, I would think it would have to be a solemn occasion especially since the parent fish die.

I would think it would be awful too, in the original sense of that word - full of awe.

Definitely full of awe. You have all this death and it feels like the land should be full of death too, but it's full of life thanks to this beautiful annual cycle of rebirth.

Should add, not long ago the land was dying. It took multiple restoration projects around the area to open the flow back up. This was one of the first runs through there since Boeing set up shop for WW2. So it was a bit more special/ joyous I guess lol

 

[Fishfur]

Definitely full of awe. You have all this death and it feels like the land should be full of death too, but it's full of life thanks to this beautiful annual cycle of rebirth.

Should add, not long ago the land was dying. It took multiple restoration projects around the area to open the flow back up. This was one of the first runs through there since Boeing set up shop for WW2. So it was a bit more special/ joyous I guess lol

I’m sure. It’s just a shame it isn’t happening in a vastly larger scale in all the places where development has ruined salmon rivers or the water sources generally for native people.

 

[SteelersChris]

Watching our new Dwarf Gourami settle in. Seems to enjoy exploring his new home. 10 gallon column tank, 10 harlequin Rasbora, 6 yellow otocinclus, clown loach, mystery snail and dozens of ramshorn snails.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

I’m sure. It’s just a shame it isn’t happening in a vastly larger scale in all the places where development has ruined salmon rivers or the water sources generally for native people.

The Salmonberries rely on it. They're nitrogen and water loving. Miss either of those and the berries are insipid. Most of my aquarium and pond waste is given to my Salmonberry and it makes a big difference. Flowering / berry production I make sure to get as much muck as I can for it.

 

[Leeman75]

Took a glance at the corner of my 75 gallon Tang tank and notice I have Multie fry! I didn't know if I'd have any breeding in this tank and not much confidence they'll last with other species in the tank, but we'll see!!

 

[Fishfur]

The Salmonberries rely on it. They're nitrogen and water loving. Miss either of those and the berries are insipid. Most of my aquarium and pond waste is given to my Salmonberry and it makes a big difference. Flowering / berry production I make sure to get as much muck as I can for it.

Whole ecosystems that relied on salmon to feed bears and bears being so sated they would only eat the heads and tossed the rest, are virtually non existent now because those discarded salmon carcasses were the key to everything else and without them, the whole system fell apart.

It makes me wish I had insane amounts of money to throw at whomever I could influence or bribe to start fixing these disasters.

 

[Fishfur]

Spent another two hours removing all the guppy grass from the guppy grass forest - it was just too much. I think if I weighed what I got there’d be close to a pound of it!

Found more algae so that’s cleaned up - I hope. Don’t much care for the scape that’s in there so I suppose I’ll play with it ‘til I like it better but lots of the plants are either planted or moved out to make a little more swimming space.

Still needs work but it’s getting there.

 

[TClare]

Did water changes on all the tanks. For the pike cichlids I used water I have been filtering through peat. Unfortunately I don't have a big container so could only change about 10 gallons today, will have to do smaller, more frequent changes for them. Peat water had reduced from pH 6.6 approx. to 6.2, but I need to get it lower.

I caught the remaining two headstanders from the Guianacara tank and moved them to the big tank. The other two I moved a week ago had been very shy, and hiding most of the time in the big tank, although none of the other fish have been aggressive towards them. Now with all 4 in there they are swimming round happily. I also caught the remaining Hemiodus which has been evading capture for some time. I had already put the others with the angelfish. Trying to reduce the population in the Guianacara tank as it gets quite stressful when they start breeding. And the pair are already digging a huge hole.

 

[kansas]

Trimmed the plants in the 55. A few of the people coming over for dinner Thursday appreciate it.

 

[tinylostwine]

Well my kids have turned into parents:

 

[Fishfur]

The water cleared up so now I can see the scape I started. Not sure I like it but it’s better than it looked in the cloud from adding more sand.

Most of the Piano snails were on view with a lot of their little ones - they are quite faithful about producing a new little one every 6 weeks or so.

I have two filters running - both internal canisters with sponge and a bit of floss. The one on the right is mostly hidden behind rocks - the left one is completely hidden by rock.

The right side one has its spray bar fitted & the bar is aimed at the back wall and the left one has its output aimed straight up.

The resulting currents are surprisingly gentle but more than enough to keep the surface clear of film while not distressing the red root floaters - or the wee fishies.

 

[tetraguy]

The water cleared up so now I can see the scape I started. Not sure I like it but it’s better than it looked in the cloud from adding more sand.

Most of the Piano snails were on view with a lot of their little ones - they are quite faithful about producing a new little one every 6 weeks or so.

I have two filters running - both internal canisters with sponge and a bit of floss. The one on the right is mostly hidden behind rocks - the left one is completely hidden by rock.

The right side one has its spray bar fitted & the bar is aimed at the back wall and the left one has its output aimed straight up.

The resulting currents are surprisingly gentle but more than enough to keep the surface clear of film while not distressing the red root floaters - or the wee fishies.

Looks great, what size tank is that?

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Since it's Tanksgiving, live food for all tanks lol
Aside from that, I need to gather a few last minute things for dinner. It's ok, that grocery store is open 24/7 lol Need to get some alder stakes, fern fronds and stinging nettles no biggie lol But I'll probably waste a lot of the day poking Alex's tummy feeling eggs or maybe not lol My little princess is becoming a big girl.

 

[Fishfur]

Looks great, what size tank is that?

36” long - either 8 or 10” wide & tall.

 

[tinylostwine]

Since it's Tanksgiving, live food for all tanks lol
Aside from that, I need to gather a few last minute things for dinner. It's ok, that grocery store is open 24/7 lol Need to get some alder stakes, fern fronds and stinging nettles no biggie lol But I'll probably waste a lot of the day poking Alex's tummy feeling eggs or maybe not lol My little princess is becoming a big girl.

I wanted to feed everyone live food but i ran out

At least the winkies and me got live bbs

(for those who do not know my short cuts winkies are frys of a. sp winkelfleck and me are mesonauta egregius - i can tell you for sure that me is a lot easier to type than mesonauta egregius and well winkies are just plain cute )

 

[Fishfur]

Feeding the tetras this morning, I saw this little guy in the tank.

I know I did not buy an ember this size and it would have been much smaller a month ago anyway.

Hard to imagine I’d totally miss it especially since it has much more intense colouring than any of the others.

I am sure I’d have noticed that - I had a female ember tetra once before with really intense red colouring and always look for more like her anytime I see embers in a store.

I think this has be from a spawn, the only survivor. At least there is no question about its species. You can see how small it is compared to the adults in the tank in the pic

Be nice to find more like this one!

 

[tinylostwine]

Feeding the sweet couple:

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Baby scudy buddies Been wondering when they would show up. Been dumping scuds into the daphnia culture and I know a few were berries.

 

[newjungletank]

Ich is still hanging around because most Ich strains today have resistance to everything that’s been used to treat them, so Ich just can’t be cured in a less than a week no matter what is used.

Treatment should continue uninterrupted until at least one week has passed by without a sign of any spots on any fish.

Stopping treatment sooner than that creates more resistance and will result in even more infestation as hundreds & hundreds of theronts (free swimming larvae) hatch and go looking for a fish host.

There are basically 3 life stages to Ich - Trophont, Tomont & Theront.

The trophont is the spot we see on the fish, which is under its skin and can’t be touched with medication.

When the trophont has fed enough and matured enough it drops off the fish to become a tomont, something like an egg though it’s not an egg.

Tomonts are sticky and adhere to whatever they touch as they fall and after a day or so, each one releases hundreds of theronts, free swimming larvae that must find a fish host within about 3 days or die.

Tomonts are encysted, protected by a very tough covering & are immune to any treatments that wouldn’t also kill the fish - such as heat over 104F.

Only the trophonts can be affected & killed by medication while they’re swimming around looking for their all-you-can-eat mobile buffet - a fish to feed on.

Once they find a fish they burrow under the epithelial layers and become new trophonts - which are invisible at first, until they grow big enough to see.

They love hiding in the gills where we can never see them and some fish may never get them anywhere but inside the gills.

That’s why you keep up treatment until a week has gone by without any sighting of a white spot.

Well, here I am, almost 3 weeks later and I can't beat the ich. Everything that I put in the hospital tank is gone. I've also lost several more fish in the main tank and still have other fish showing ich. I left the last full dose of treatment in there the whole time and haven't run carbon. Not sure where to go from here.

I'm still working on my new tanks and was planning on using plant cuttings and floaters from the main tank. I guess that is out because I'm sure cross-contamination is a thing.

 

[TClare]

Well, here I am, almost 3 weeks later and I can't beat the ich. Everything that I put in the hospital tank is gone. I've also lost several more fish in the main tank and still have other fish showing ich. I left the last full dose of treatment in there the whole time and haven't run carbon. Not sure where to go from here.

I'm still working on my new tanks and was planning on using plant cuttings and floaters from the main tank. I guess that is out because I'm sure cross-contamination is a thing.

Sorry you are having these issues, it must be very discouraging. As for the new tanks I think it would be OK to use your plants but leaving the tanks without fish for some time. I am not sure how long, but maybe you can research this, or someone else may know?

 

[Fishfur]

Well, here I am, almost 3 weeks later and I can't beat the ich. Everything that I put in the hospital tank is gone. I've also lost several more fish in the main tank and still have other fish showing ich. I left the last full dose of treatment in there the whole time and haven't run carbon. Not sure where to go from here.

I'm still working on my new tanks and was planning on using plant cuttings and floaters from the main tank. I guess that is out because I'm sure cross-contamination is a thing.

Sorry to hear how this turned out but the good news is that Ich is an obligate parasite. No host - no Ich.

Let plants sit without any fish for two weeks at 78-80F and all the theronts (swimmers) that hatch will die. They only have about 3 days to find a host before they’re toast.

 

[jpm995]

I'm cutting back some plants overgrowing in my greenhouse 130 gallon pond so I can see the fish. Also waiting for a large piece of driftwood from an old tank that was sitting outside for a few years to get waterlogged and sink. Currently it's being held down by a large 20lb brick. Been almost a week and it's still very buoyant.

 

[AsShrimpleAsThat]

I added more sand so I could have a more natural aquascape

 

[Fishfur]

I'm cutting back some plants overgrowing in my greenhouse 130 gallon pond so I can see the fish. Also waiting for a large piece of driftwood from an old tank that was sitting outside for a few years to get waterlogged and sink. Currently it's being held down by a large 20lb brick. Been almost a week and it's still very buoyant.

Super dry wood can take its sweet time getting waterlogged. But it’ll get there.

 

[Mermegan]

Water changes for everyone. Also set up my new nicrew light for my little tank and added some chunks of limestone. Ordered new glass lids and a new light for my big tank. About to boil some fresh botanicals for my (technically my son’s, but I take care of him lol) betta.

 

[StarGirl]

Finishing up WCs and later building my new pantry cabinet. That should be fun....

 

[Wendybrass]

Spider plants are incredibly resilient - many think another species, C.bichetti, is aquatic because it will survive for some time submerged, like Liriope will.

But eventually they die - too bad because a variegated spider plant would look pretty cool submerged.

It looked amazing. I did a little research and you're right, it would eventually melt. What a shame.

 

[Wendybrass]

Well, here I am, almost 3 weeks later and I can't beat the ich. Everything that I put in the hospital tank is gone. I've also lost several more fish in the main tank and still have other fish showing ich. I left the last full dose of treatment in there the whole time and haven't run carbon. Not sure where to go from here.

I'm still working on my new tanks and was planning on using plant cuttings and floaters from the main tank. I guess that is out because I'm sure cross-contamination is a thing.

Oh no, that really sucks

 

[Wendybrass]

Today I think I'll finally add some shrimp to my main tank. Maybe. Actually, today I'll just start looking for shrimp. Is it awful that I'm tired of my guppies? I have 10 males. They're pretty. But ..... I've realized that I prefer a slower tank - not psycho speed junkies. I have no one to gift these to so I'm left no choice but to set up another tank.

 

[Fishfur]

Today I think I'll finally add some shrimp to my main tank. Maybe. Actually, today I'll just start looking for shrimp. Is it awful that I'm tired of my guppies? I have 10 males. They're pretty. But ..... I've realized that I prefer a slower tank - not psycho speed junkies. I have no one to gift these to so I'm left no choice but to set up another tank.

I trust you realize that this could be the first symptom of the dreaded disease that afflicts aquarists - multiple tank syndrome! Beware .

 

[Wendybrass]

I trust you realize that this could be the first symptom of the dreaded disease that afflicts aquarists - multiple tank syndrome! Beware .

I currently have 3 tanks, one more is 4. I'm pretty sure MTS starts at 5 ....?

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Did a little culling on a few Endler x guppy tanks. Mostly magenta males popping up in other tanks. Moved them into the kiddos misc magenta tank. Want to get my magentas into a ten gallon so I can split my blonde magenta tank as I have white starting to appear in there now Obviously needs a lot of work, but it's where these things start.

 

[jpm995]

i had a nicrew light on my 55 gallon. Died after a few months. Replaced with a Hygger seems to be a better quality.

 

[newjungletank]

Hardscape and epiphytes are in aquarium build #2




I need to add some more small detail stones, stems, grass, and maybe crypts.

 

[Fishfur]

Hardscape and epiphytes are in aquarium build #2

View attachment 912799
View attachment 912800

I need to add some more small detail stones, stems, grass, and maybe crypts.

Very nice. I like it.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

The scudberries taste like scudberries....

 

[tinylostwine]

Did my once in a while water change on the discus aquarium. Did a health check on my L239 - and with a flash-light spotted this:

 

[BlockHead1981]

Just finished up trimming one 20 long, moved some plants, and planted cuttings in my other 20 long. Tomorrow I will get the co2 back up and running on my second tank.

 

[newjungletank]

Well, here I am, almost 3 weeks later and I can't beat the ich. Everything that I put in the hospital tank is gone. I've also lost several more fish in the main tank and still have other fish showing ich. I left the last full dose of treatment in there the whole time and haven't run carbon. Not sure where to go from here.

I'm still working on my new tanks and was planning on using plant cuttings and floaters from the main tank. I guess that is out because I'm sure cross-contamination is a thing.

My tank is still being decimated by Ich. I went by the LFS yesterday and he recommended I increase my water hardness up to 8 degrees. I haven't measured lately, but I normally keep it around 4 degrees. He explained that Ich was mucous produced by the fish due to irritation and that increasing the hardness will help the fish get more oxygen out of the water, which will de-stress them and allow them to heal.

What do you think?

 

[TClare]

My tank is still being decimated by Ich. I went by the LFS yesterday and he recommended I increase my water hardness up to 8 degrees. I haven't measured lately, but I normally keep it around 4 degrees. He explained that Ich was mucous produced by the fish due to irritation and that increasing the hardness will help the fish get more oxygen out of the water, which will de-stress them and allow them to heal.

What do you think?

I am not convinced by that, hardening water for soft water fish will make them more susceptible to disease. I will like to know what others think but it does not sound right to me. Unless we are dealing with fish from hard water habitats. I have very soft water and never have had ich.

 

[tinylostwine]

My tank is still being decimated by Ich. I went by the LFS yesterday and he recommended I increase my water hardness up to 8 degrees. I haven't measured lately, but I normally keep it around 4 degrees. He explained that Ich was mucous produced by the fish due to irritation and that increasing the hardness will help the fish get more oxygen out of the water, which will de-stress them and allow them to heal.

What do you think?

I think you need a new LFS. Ich is a parasite and i find kordon rid-ich quite effective IF the fishes are kept in clean water (which is a big if). Even hardwater fishes can get ich. In fact ich is often present and and opportunistic that is if the fishes are stress they are more likely to get ich and putting softwater fishes in hard water will certainly stress them.



As to how hard your water should be well that depends on which species of fishes you have.

Post automatically merged: Dec 6, 2024

--- sep post topic relevant below which was auto merged--

I actually did this yesterday but i moved my ME 'crib' from the 29 to a 10 - though in the 10 i let it sink to the bottom and after a while the largest one ventured out quickly followed by the rest... it always takes one brave soul to lead the way

 

[newjungletank]

I am not convinced by that, hardening water for soft water fish will make them more susceptible to disease. I will like to know what others think but it does not sound right to me. Unless we are dealing with fish from hard water habitats. I have very soft water and never have had ich.

I think you need a new LFS. Ich is a parasite and i find kordon rid-ich quite effective IF the fishes are kept in clean water (which is a big if). Even hardwater fishes can get ich. In fact ich is often present and and opportunistic that is if the fishes are stress they are more likely to get ich and putting softwater fishes in hard water will certainly stress them.



As to how hard your water should be well that depends on which species of fishes you have.

Post automatically merged: Dec 6, 2024

--- sep post topic relevant below which was auto merged--

I actually did this yesterday but i moved my ME 'crib' from the 29 to a 10 - though in the 10 i let it sink to the bottom and after a while the largest one ventured out quickly followed by the rest... it always takes one brave soul to lead the way

Yeah, I'm dubious. He sounds well informed when you speak to him. The fish in question that are suffering worst are black neon tetra. I have some standard neon tetras and one apistogramma borelli in there as well. I have lost one neon tetra and probably 5 or 6 black neons. I have one black neon that now looks like he was dipped in flour. There are several others that are swimming tilted up vertically at the head in a kind of "bobbing" action while breathing rapidly. Those fish don't seem to have much if any visible ich on them. The ones with visible ich seem to swim normally. My water pH is sub 6.0 and I have the temp at 80 degrees F at the moment.

Edit to add: These black neons were added over a year ago. I started with 10 and 7 of them died within the first two to 3 days. I added 1 to the survivors and they multiplied up to over 20 of them. I had added a bristlenose to the tank a few weeks before all of the Ich started. The bristlenose appeared healthy and loved to come out and clean up all the pellets the other fish missed on the way down. I'm wondering if he was patient zero.

Edit to add again. There is no Kordon Ich treatment local to me. I would have to order it. I can find Fritz Coppersafe locally. I know that's the nuclear bomb. What do you think?

 

[tinylostwine]

Yeah, I'm dubious. He sounds well informed when you speak to him. The fish in question that are suffering worst are black neon tetra. I have some standard neon tetras and one apistogramma borelli in there as well. I have lost one neon tetra and probably 5 or 6 black neons. I have one black neon that now looks like he was dipped in flour. There are several others that are swimming tilted up vertically at the head in a kind of "bobbing" action while breathing rapidly. Those fish don't seem to have much if any visible ich on them. The ones with visible ich seem to swim normally. My water pH is sub 6.0 and I have the temp at 80 degrees F at the moment.

Edit to add: These black neons were added over a year ago. I started with 10 and 7 of them died within the first two to 3 days. I added 1 to the survivors and they multiplied up to over 20 of them. I had added a bristlenose to the tank a few weeks before all of the Ich started. The bristlenose appeared healthy and loved to come out and clean up all the pellets the other fish missed on the way down. I'm wondering if he was patient zero.

Edit to add again. There is no Kordon Ich treatment local to me. I would have to order it. I can find Fritz Coppersafe locally. I know that's the nuclear bomb. What do you think?

I only comment on meds i used first hand even if they have the same ingrediants. the copper safe aspect is aimed at shrimp keepers. I've also used hikari ich-x which is almost the same as kordon.

One last thing there are other parasite besides ick that look similar but different - and there are pages on the web that describe them and how to identify them however the common ick meds that use malachite green pretty much work on all of them so you don't have to know exactly which white spot parasite as long as it is a parasite

petsmart and petco carry these meds though if you are not in usa or don't have one of those near you then this information isn't very useful to you.

Btw you have softwater fishes - softer the better.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

I am not convinced by that, hardening water for soft water fish will make them more susceptible to disease. I will like to know what others think but it does not sound right to me. Unless we are dealing with fish from hard water habitats. I have very soft water and never have had ich.

I've heard of raising temperatures, but not hardness. Wonder if they mixed the two things up in their heads. "Raise it to 80...er 8.0...errr what were we talking about? Oh next customer!"
lol

 

[newjungletank]

I only comment on meds i used first hand even if they have the same ingrediants. the copper safe aspect is aimed at shrimp keepers. I've also used hikari ich-x which is almost the same as kordon.

One last thing there are other parasite besides ick that look similar but different - and there are pages on the web that describe them and how to identify them however the common ick meds that use malachite green pretty much work on all of them so you don't have to know exactly which white spot parasite as long as it is a parasite

petsmart and petco carry these meds though if you are not in usa or don't have one of those near you then this information isn't very useful to you.

Btw you have softwater fishes - softer the better.

Thanks for your replies on this. I am in the US, I have both Petsmart and Petco close by. I was checking stock online at those stores looking for the Kordon and they don't carry it. I had used the API super ick cure without success and it appears to be malachite green. I'm thinking of hitting it with the copperease. The copperease is not for use with invertebrates, so I figured it would wipe out shrimp and snails. I have neither of those. At this point, I don't feel I have much to lose as I feel I'm on the verge of losing the whole tank.

Post automatically merged: Dec 6, 2024

I've heard of raising temperatures, but not hardness. Wonder if they mixed the two things up in their heads. "Raise it to 80...er 8.0...errr what were we talking about? Oh next customer!"
lol

He seemed to be more interested in the dissolved oxygen aspect. He said that raising kH would allow the water to carry more oxygen as well. The larger, more active fish have a harder time as the oxygen level drops. Just repeating what I was told.

 

[TClare]

Thanks for your replies on this. I am in the US, I have both Petsmart and Petco close by. I was checking stock online at those stores looking for the Kordon and they don't carry it. I had used the API super ick cure without success and it appears to be malachite green. I'm thinking of hitting it with the copperease. The copperease is not for use with invertebrates, so I figured it would wipe out shrimp and snails. I have neither of those. At this point, I don't feel I have much to lose as I feel I'm on the verge of losing the whole tank.

Post automatically merged: Dec 6, 2024

He seemed to be more interested in the dissolved oxygen aspect. He said that raising kH would allow the water to carry more oxygen as well. The larger, more active fish have a harder time as the oxygen level drops. Just repeating what I was told.

I said I hadn't experienced ich, well that is true of where I live now and in relatively recent times. Years and years ago (in the UK) I do remember using methylene blue for ich, along with raising the temperature, I think that was the standard treatment then as there were nowhere near as many specific remedies around then as I remember. It did work. I don't know if it would be helpful now or maybe there are much more resistant ich strains these days?

Post automatically merged: Dec 6, 2024

He seemed to be more interested in the dissolved oxygen aspect.

If you are raising the temperature there will be less dissolved oxygen in the water, but in that case you need to increase the aeration, not the KH??