Recent content by derail

Lol thanks! That is certainly true. It's about impossible to have numbers kept down by hungry adults, though they can be tasty snacks for cichlids...

Typically no, not in comparison to silver dollars, barbs, etc, but the top should be adequately covered, lest one get bold and see what's on the other side.

Frog probably wouldn't work to be honest, but someone with more knowledge with them may answer that better. The make beta will attack the platys due to similar bright coloring, generally they do best by themselves or with bottom feeders like Cory's that are bland in color, but still iffy...

Oh wow that's lame. Ovefiltering isn't a bad idea. I run a filter rated about three times the volume if my tank, 75g filter on my 30g. Actually about 2.5 times the volume but whatevs. Use an air stone too, never a bad idea to keep surface irritation at a maximum, unless you're breeding bubble...

Aqua clear is a decent brand for the price, never had an issue. I'm using a marine bio wheel right now. I don't personally think a 30g warrants a sump, but they are great, just a little on the steep end for me. Considering getting a 75g and turnings 10g into a sump, not sure how the expenses...

Darn sorry to hear about that. Losing fish is always sad. I would suggest some mollies, they're hardy and if you want to do a fish in cycle they are good at kick starting it and weathering the spikes before it levels out. After that, maybe a school of tetras, and for bottom feeders a group of...

Edit: totally misread your profile, with only 5 tetras I'm fascinated the nitrates are that high. Have you tested your new water before changing it? It could naturally have high nitrate

Ashley makes a very good point, and if the nitrates are again back to 30ppm after a few days of a water change of a third, the bioload may be a little high. Checked the signature, added 20 fish total in a 20g high. Given its tetras and a Bolivian ram, the load is definitely manageable, but you...

With any decent stock, the algae will NEVER consume all the nitrate in the water. Only water changes will keep your nitrates where they should be. If plecos will outgrow your stock, you can try oto's, as they are pretty awesome. Barring those choices, there are plenty of algae killing...

You won't need to turn off the lights or anything, though that always helps with algae. Brown algae does feed on silicates, but as that typically comes from tap water, it'll never consume all of it and die off. Snails, ime, are only sort of useful with getting rid if algae, and can spread like...

I'm personally not a huge fan of balloon bellies, mainly because they're ultimately the result of genetic defects. Wouldn't make it in the wild, but that's why we keep domestic tanks huh? Admittedly, the first brood I ever experienced was from a balloon belly, and yet only three if the 15 fry...

It's incredibly late to respond now lol, but I actually got all the fish in the pictures from Walmart. Now I have new broods that have grown from mating, but I still have that platy, for about a year and a half now

Typical gestation length for mollies is about 30-35 days, same as with platies, guppies and swordtails. It's possible that she has given birth before, but her young were eaten by hungry adults, which happens very often. The fry can also die and decompose in the tank overnight without ever being...

Didn't specify tank size, but with that many I'm guessing at least 20g? You can manage with less but water changes are a necessity. Anywho...Mollies are super breeders, like platys, guppies and swordtails, with 1 male and female, he's basically going to harass her to breed nonstop. When the fish...

I checked into it, but the symptoms didn't match for false neon tetra disease. Respectfully, overstocking is minimal concern if you're doubled up on filters and willing to do the water changes to keep up. Also, overstocking wouldn't explain why I lost another fish last night when there's only 6...