BigJim
Aquarium Advice Addict
Hello everyone! My name is Jim and I live in Orland Park, IL, a Chicago burb. I found this forum while looking for info on planting aquariums and I have to say, there are some incredible tanks here!
As for me, I've had fish for as long as I can remember. I started picking out fish for my mom's tank. I finally got a 3 gallon hex for my birthday. That led to a 10 gallon to a 20 long to a 29 and that's where I am today.
Tanks
29 Gallon
Equipment
Penguin 200B Power Filter with refillable cartridge frames, one with foam, the other with activated carbon
Hydor 200W Heater
Decor
Pea-sized pearl-white gravel with a small bag of colors mixed in
Chunks of lava rock and granite
Slabs of slate and granite
Lots of plastic plants
Amazon sword
Driftwood with some kind of plant
Fish
Striped Raphael Catfish - I've had him for at least 15 yrs
Pictus Catfish
Rubberlip Pleco - Bought him for algae control, but he's not doing his job
Oto Cat - My brother put him in my tank when he came home from college
Female Betta - My wife put a few in my tank because they were beating up her male, and I kinda liked the look.
Assorted Others - Had some trouble with fish dying recently, despite good water quality.
Eclipse 5 Gallon Hex (My wife's (Sara) tank)
Equipment
Whatever came with the tank plus a small heater
Decor
Blue Marbles
Glow-in-the-Dark Plants
A small castle
Fish
Male Betta
3 Neon Tetras
Oto Cat
I'm really looking forward to reading through this site and trying to solve my fish mortality problems. My PH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates all read fine, but I keep losing fish. I do partial water changes regularly too. I'm starting to wonder if there's something in the gravel causing it. I've found all kinds of garbage while cleaning the tank, probably stuff that got knocked into the tank while I was away at college. Anyways, I think I'm going to try for more live plants, so I need to upgrade my substrate. I've been toying with the idea of sand, but I think I'm just going to find some different gravel.
Well, it's great to be here. Thanks!
As for me, I've had fish for as long as I can remember. I started picking out fish for my mom's tank. I finally got a 3 gallon hex for my birthday. That led to a 10 gallon to a 20 long to a 29 and that's where I am today.
Tanks
29 Gallon
Equipment
Penguin 200B Power Filter with refillable cartridge frames, one with foam, the other with activated carbon
Hydor 200W Heater
Decor
Pea-sized pearl-white gravel with a small bag of colors mixed in
Chunks of lava rock and granite
Slabs of slate and granite
Lots of plastic plants
Amazon sword
Driftwood with some kind of plant
Fish
Striped Raphael Catfish - I've had him for at least 15 yrs
Pictus Catfish
Rubberlip Pleco - Bought him for algae control, but he's not doing his job
Oto Cat - My brother put him in my tank when he came home from college
Female Betta - My wife put a few in my tank because they were beating up her male, and I kinda liked the look.
Assorted Others - Had some trouble with fish dying recently, despite good water quality.
Eclipse 5 Gallon Hex (My wife's (Sara) tank)
Equipment
Whatever came with the tank plus a small heater
Decor
Blue Marbles
Glow-in-the-Dark Plants
A small castle
Fish
Male Betta
3 Neon Tetras
Oto Cat
I'm really looking forward to reading through this site and trying to solve my fish mortality problems. My PH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates all read fine, but I keep losing fish. I do partial water changes regularly too. I'm starting to wonder if there's something in the gravel causing it. I've found all kinds of garbage while cleaning the tank, probably stuff that got knocked into the tank while I was away at college. Anyways, I think I'm going to try for more live plants, so I need to upgrade my substrate. I've been toying with the idea of sand, but I think I'm just going to find some different gravel.
Well, it's great to be here. Thanks!