Recent content by Franklin

I just like Eheim pumps for the reliability. Every other pump has failed me. Pumps that have failed me: Ocean Runner, Mag Dive, Quiet One, Hydor, Sedra, Vertex, Maxi-Jet, Seio etc. Pumps that have never failed Iwaki and Eheim.

Sounds good! Think by the time I split the flow and come through big outlets I won't have to throttle it back too much.

I am starting to get together a 57 gal Amazon Cardinal Tetra tank. Since this is a slow water planted biotope I am concerned that the 2217 at close to 300 gph may be too much? The 2215 comes in at around 200 gph. I am going to split the return and come through 1" bulkheads in an effort to reduce...

IMHO kits are just junk. Run to Petco and buy the largest tank you can afford at the $1 gallon sale (love the 40b's). Then start looking into separate components. If you get a kit and become serious you are just going to replace everything anyway. Go slow and get an itemized list. If you have an...

Any ideas?

I have an Excotech and/or a Rapid LED PAR 38 that I could use. The bulbs I have on it now are 2 X10W not 2 X 5W. I was keeping the light cycle down to 5 hours so as not to promote algae growth during the fishless cycle. I was told that it was a good/OK idea to have plants while cycling. In...

Is there anyone breeding healthy neon tetras now? I have heard that they used to live for up to 10 years.

Here is the way I have been prepping my RO/DI waterfor changes. RO Right to give GH minerals back in the water. Baking soda to buffer to 5 DKH. PH rises to over 8.2. Use Seachem Discus Buffer to lower PH to 7.45 Anyone got an easier way? The thing I don't like about Discus Buffer is that it...

Thanks! Actually starts at the margin becoming translucent then darkening. I think I may have overdosed on RO/DI Right? The chart on the bottle looks to suggest that it increases ALK, but it looks to only increase GH.

I have a new tank that I have been setting up for my 8 year old daughter. It is a 6 gal. Edge. Using 2 X 10 watt LED's placed about 5" from plant tops (can't change easily) running 5 hours a day to reduce algae during cycling. 2" of wet Eco-Complete substrate. Since I read that it was fine to do...

May be cycled! I added a bacteria additive last night and I want to make sure my nitrite and nitrate ratios are not too affected by the bateria and are able to sustain this ratio without additives. Gonna give it another day of testing and another day of moving filter media and arrgonite. Then a...

What is strange is that the amm is reducing but the nitrite and nitrate seemed stalled? First 5 days dosed ammonia to 4 ppm. No nitrite, no nitrate. Day 6 2 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate ammonia dosed back to 4 Day 7 2 ammonia, .5 nitrite, 0 nitrate ammonia dosed back to 4 Day 8 2 ammonia...

First 5 days dosed ammonia to 4 ppm. No nitrite, no nitrate. Day 6 2 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate ammonia dosed back to 4 Day 7 2 ammonia, .5 nitrite, 0 nitrate ammonia dosed back to 4 Day 8 2 ammonia, 4 nitrite, 4 nitrate ammonia dosed back to 4 Day 9 .5 ammonia, 5 nitrite, 8 nitrate...

Thanks! My PH has been a solid 7.6 measured with a calibrated probe and controller. It is so strange. I have an established reef system and have always tried to raise my PH, except in my CA reactor. Reefers call it "chasing PH" and it is usually friutless. Now I am concerned about keeping it...

Here is my first attempt at a fishless cycle. Eco Complete substrate 1 1/2", 2 Java ferns on seasoned bogwood, 1 cup meshsock filled with friends old tank substrate placed in return. Argonite reactor media 1 cup in sock in tank. First 5 days dosed ammonia to 4 ppm. No nitrite, no nitrate...