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I let green algae grow on the glass. I do scrape it every couple of weeks on the front and sides, but I don't touch the back. Maybe I have some bad luck. One of them was in the tank for quite a while. The other one has been there for a couple of months or less, perhaps that's the one that died. I can't tell which is which. Thanks for your insight.They aren’t too fussy on type but seem to prefer sessile forms - the ones that stick to surfaces, either green or brown. I don’t think they eat red algae or cyanobacteria and free floating forms that aren’t stuck to surfaces are probably more difficult to consume. I know nerite snails have some difficulty eating algae that isn’t sessile.
So what I see in the image looks like it should be right up their alley.
Just curious, how long have you had them? In personal experience, I have found that they’re usually likely to do well enough if it’s been roughly 8 weeks since they were purchased.
Before that time, deaths are sadly common, probably a combo of the stresses they’ve been exposed to & just maybe, also malnutrition that’s gone too far before they are sold.
Stores generally don’t allow algae to grow in their tanks, so these little cuties tend to be forced to get by only on biofilm. This is after having starved for at least a few days or perhaps longer between the time they were harvested & the time they get to a store. In stores it’s extremely common for a number of them to die in the first week they’re there.
Algae has a lot of indigestible cellulose in it, so it’s quite possible these guys rely on a gut biome to break some of that down, as they don’t chew it. They have teeth, quite a few, but they are designed for scraping algae off surfaces rather than chewing.
Their biome may be severely depleted if they’ve been deprived of algae long enough, at least, that’s my thinking on the topic as I don’t believe it’s ever been formally studied.
If that’s the case, could be that the biome takes a little too long to replenish out of their native habitat so they just aren’t getting everything they need out of what they eat.
Or it might just be the effects of stresses involved in being caught, held, packed, shipped, unpacked & then maybe packed & shipped yet again if you buy online.




I think you are supposed to slowly acclimatize them, but I'm sure your past that point now. Hope it worked out.Just coming back from the LFS, $200 later, I'm on the way home.
If anyone is around just now, do you drip acclimatise shrimp? If so, for how long?
Oh, and 3 water changes awaiting me when I get home.
I actually decided to drip them, I left it for about an hour.I think you are supposed to slowly acclimatize them, but I'm sure your past that point now. Hope it worked out.
If it was made commercially, there’s won’t have been any superglue used. There would be no point to it - super glue’s superpower is resistance to direct forces but it’s pretty bad at resisting shear forces.Kinda started/ starting a green water tank (I hope this helps kick start, if not I have the leaves still). I need to soak some nettle stalks to "ret" so I can make string with them for no reason at all lol Other than learning of course. On the topic of learning, I think they super glue the bottom to the other glass before silicone. Makes sense, but I am trying to remove the cracked bottom intact and without damaging the sides.
Probably have to break it the rest of the way though![]()
This video will teach you quite a bit about the repair and building process.If it was made commercially, there’s won’t have been any superglue used. There would be no point to it - super glue’s superpower is resistant to direct forces but it’s pretty bad at resisting shear forces.
The water pressure exerts shear forces on the joints. So it really wouldn’t be a good idea to use it.
So it’s just a thin layer of silicone in between the panes, but probably a better quality silicone than we are likely to use for repairs or something like a DIY reseal.
There are a few much better silicones for tank building than the stuff you can get in the average store. They cost more but the peace of mind provided by a superior joint is worth it.
If you can slide a razor blade between the panes you may be able to get the bottom off more or less intact but it’s a tedious.process.
You may go through quite a few blades to get all the silicone cut.
I wasn't thinking structural, more like something to keep everything exactly in place while the silicone is being applied/ drying. Would make sense to do a little glue on the bottom to make sure things don't wiggle. Even in a jig a little wiggle room can create sealing issues later.If it was made commercially, there’s won’t have been any superglue used. There would be no point to it - super glue’s superpower is resistance to direct forces but it’s pretty bad at resisting shear forces.
The water pressure exerts shear forces on the joints. So it really wouldn’t be a good idea to use it.
So it’s just a thin layer of silicone in between the panes, but probably a better quality silicone than we are likely to use for repairs or something like a DIY reseal.
There are a few much better silicones for tank building than the stuff you can get in the average store. They cost more but the peace of mind provided by a superior joint is worth it.
If you can slide a razor blade between the panes you may be able to get the bottom off more or less intact but it’s a tedious.process.
You may go through quite a few blades to get all the silicone cut.
One good brand of silicone for building or rebuilding aquariums is 509 ASI Aquarium Silicone Sealant. Definitely more expensive but I think its worth its price.









Glass being siliconed together should be spotlessly clean without anything on it including superglue.I wasn't thinking structural, more like something to keep everything exactly in place while the silicone is being applied/ drying. Would make sense to do a little glue on the bottom to make sure things don't wiggle. Even in a jig a little wiggle room can create sealing issues later.
Probably doing a few at a time too![]()
A loach hotel!Have been looking for the new Yo Yo Loaches. Worried about maybe having lost all 3 already. And then I saw this...
View attachment 920301





Going to pick up tomorrow! Hopefully it's of decent quality… Will take pictures for y'all!Got a new tank! It's a 55 gallon bought from wallmart. Not the greatest quality, but it was only $50…
Might be possible to simply add more lighting under the hood. There are several options that might work if it turns out the existing light is inadequate.Going to pick up tomorrow! Hopefully it's of decent quality… Will take pictures for y'all!
The lights better be decent for higher intensity plants if not I will have to replace the whole lid. I'm already low on cash![]()
My son picked up what sounds like the very same tank and package from Walmart a couple of months ago. $50 for the whole setup was such an unbelievable deal! It's been running well since he got it!Going to pick up tomorrow! Hopefully it's of decent quality… Will take pictures for y'all!
The lights better be decent for higher intensity plants if not I will have to replace the whole lid. I'm already low on cash![]()
how are the lights? Are they at least decent? Anything I kneed to know about this tank?My son picked up what sounds like the very same tank and package from Walmart a couple of months ago. $50 for the whole setup was such an unbelievable deal! It's been running well since he got it!
The biggest thing, honestly is though the box said 55, my son's by dimensions is a 60 gallon. I was a little jealous to be honest.how are the lights? Are they at least decent? Anything I kneed to know about this tank?
I will be replacing the filter with a fuval c4. I'm not driving to another state for new cartridges ever other month.






Yes, using the dimensions, the tank is calculated to be about a 65-gallon tank!The biggest thing, honestly is though the box said 55, my son's by dimensions is a 60 gallon. I was a little jealous to be honest.
It seems to be working well. Kind of what you'd expect. The lights are pretty bright. If I were growing plants, I'd probably attach some additional led to the lid. But at the price he got it, it's definitely worth it!
Im biding my time until he goes to college in 2 years and I can take it over!



Looking good. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.I completed the stand refinish today for the 125g. Even though it held water on the stand in the garage when I took the tank off it felt a little flimsy for my taste. It was designed well but the boards were held together with Brad nails and staples.
I opted for 6 2x4’s on the front and back, and 3 2x8’s on either side and under the center brace. All were cut to fit tight and had to be dead blow’n into place and them secured with 2” structural screws. Also pulled the top and bottom pieces the tank sits on together with 4” structural screws.
It’s now twice as heavy but I feel a lot more confident putting 125 gallons of water in my bedroom.
I decided to paint the stand a dark brown to match my home cabinetry and added black soft close door hinges and door pulls. I think it’s a big improvement to the original look but I know it’s all personal preference. Looking forward to the paint being fully cured tomorrow and will attempt to set the tank up by myself (might not get the substrate and aquascape completely done but hopefully at least tank and stand will be in my room).
Total project took 5-6 hours and $65 to refinish the tank and stand. Add that to the $100 I got the set for used and I’ll call that a major win over what they charge for a 125g set up these days.
Thanks man! Well, patience is a virtue I don’t really have. Got it moved into my bedroom. It’ll be right in front of my sitting chair and under the tv. Have a good view from the bed too. Living room will be the community tanks and I’ll have the big cichlids in here.Looking good. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Stand anxiety, that's something I always seem to have in the back of my mind regardless of how stable and long lasting mine have been.

That’s quite the trip for that little guy! I didn’t realize they could get that far out of water either.Last night my wife told me she caught one of my Amano shrimp walking across the hardwood floor probably 6 or more feet from the closest aquarium. She said it was moving when she picked it up, but that it just floated on the top when she put it back. I didn't notice any dead Amano when I checked last night, but I did notice one just chilling on the bottom. I have had them jump out of nets while moving them, but I didn't know they could travel so far out of water. The lid on that particular tank has a gap all the way around and sits on little plastic supports, but the water level is probably 2 inches from the top.
I found a bamboo shrimp once, a good ten feet from its tank. It had gone under a dresser, where I couldn’t see or reach so while I was aware one was missing I thought a cat probably got it. They did manage to sneak into the room now & them.Last night my wife told me she caught one of my Amano shrimp walking across the hardwood floor probably 6 or more feet from the closest aquarium. She said it was moving when she picked it up, but that it just floated on the top when she put it back. I didn't notice any dead Amano when I checked last night, but I did notice one just chilling on the bottom. I have had them jump out of nets while moving them, but I didn't know they could travel so far out of water. The lid on that particular tank has a gap all the way around and sits on little plastic supports, but the water level is probably 2 inches from the top.
I don't know much about epistylis. How treatable is it? Sorry to hear this.Bitter sweet day. The lights for the 125 came in and I’m enjoying the fish in it, but the snakeskin bars in my 54 corner Southeast Asian tank have what looks to be epistylis.
Hopefully, you don't have to go to copper to save it. Good luck.From what I’m reading it is treatable and less lethal than a ich. But since I’m not positive which one it is I’m going to treat for both. Epistylis is recommended to be treated by lowering temp and feeding medicated food (antibacterial) and reduce feedings. Ich you’d want to raise the temperature and treat with an anti parasitic like ich x. Could also add salt in both situations but that tank is heavily planted. This is a new tank and the barbs seem to be the only ones that have it so far. Since I’m not positive which it is I think I’m going to keep water temp the same as normal (77-78F), feed medicated food sparingly, treat with Ich X and do frequent water changes. I’m no expert on this, so I’ll open a new thread in case anyone has better advice or wants to see how this turns out in case helpful if in a similar situation.