Recent content by CGGorman

The Hardware

Full tank pics here

I like my tea water. Looks more natural to my eye.

You would definitely need to open a new bottle/can every time. I don't need a reason to open a can of Coke, so that's no problem for me! I still like the vinegar better for calibration. I'll drink the Coke while I calibrate in vinegar...

I like coolers, too. What kind of fish? If they can tolerate it (and most can), I would slowly drop the temperature in the tank to around 74 degrees during the week or two prior to the move. Good advice on the fasting. Mine go a week without food from time to time and suffer no ill...

I run a dawn/dusk effect, too. My ramp is much faster than yours, though. I think I ramp up/down in about an hour. I also have a timer on my moonlights. Those overlap dawn and dusk by about 30 mins. each. It's a mess under the tanks with all those timers. I'm using an "octopus" extension...

I would guess tha tthe live plants are absorbing enough calcium, magnesium, iron, etc. to throw the balance off and allow the lime to precipitate out of solution. Could also be temperature or agitation/aeration related. If the temp drops or agitation stops, solubility will decline...allowing...

My solution? More plants to cover and use the "free fertilizer"...

I've had my 13" pleco since he was about 2"...give or take, 10 years. Mine goes through phases where he will gulp alot and then go long months without doing it. Considering I can't seem to STOP him from eating and growing and pooping, I guess it's not much to worry about in my case... FWIW, I...

FYI...mg/l is the same as ppm.

Evaporation is a cooling process. If you airate the tank and provide a little fan to keep some air moving over the tank, you should be able to drop the temp a couple degrees.