Recent content by nomadman2003

Thank you Mebbid and Justin for your replies. It really helps get others thoughts when you just don't know. I was looking at the various Lionfish breeds that are common to this hobby and was wondering why the tank size was on average 75 gallons for the Volitan specie (120 on LiveAquaria) since...

So, while doing research on the hobby and getting familiar with the various common fish people keep you run across a lot of sites with a min. tank size for a fish and I'd like to understand a bit more on how those numbers are arrived at. After much consideration, it seems like it (should)...

Thanks for the replies, yes it was boiled and the soaking took place in dechlorinated water too. I guess I'll just start doing water changes, since there are no fish yet I figure I can do them pretty frequently (daily?) so long as I don't disrupt the bio culture I'm trying to form. Its a...

Despite soaking the piece for a number of days prior some of the tannins reminded. What is a good way to remove the discoloration? Can I run a carbon filter to catch them, or are water changes the only way? What about those tank cleaning products, like Tidy Tank? No, I don't have a filter on...

Thanks for the advice all, it's great to hear it from people who have done this before ;) I am betting if I ask the guy at the pet store he would let me have 5mL of tank water... my guess is that he's using the city tap water too. Already acclimated! Thanks

So I have a new tank that I'm getting all cleaned and ready to start cycling, so in preparation I bought a water test kit (vials and solutions, not strips) and I found the pH of my faucet water is 8.0 straight from the tap. Most of the fish I'm interested in keeping have a range between 7.0...

Thanks, I will definitely give it a read. In between my post and yours I learned of AqAdvisor, seems like a cool tool. Does it tend to do a pretty good job for stocking? I plugged in my list above and it said I was at like 2/3 capacity, that's kind of exciting. I thought it sounded bare, but...

I'd like to get people's opinions on stocking a new 46g tank (36x15x20h) I'm thinking about getting. This is my first tank so any opinions on my choices is appreciated. 5 - Boeseman's Rainbow Fish (2m + 3f) 4 - Kulhi Loaches 3 - Bamboo Shrimp I was originally trying to squeeze in some cardinal...

Not a bad idea using half and half. I'd like to use live. I'm just worried I'll kill a plant and make my tank toxic. Reading should quell my fears. Thanks for the advice.

Guess I should just start reading up on it and decide if I want to take it on along with being new to keeping an aquarium. When in doubt read.

Are live plants difficult enough that I should avoid them on my first tank? I'm intimidated by them and wanted to know people's thoughts on how difficult they are in addition to starting a new hobby. Anyone do live plants on their first tanks?

Thanks for the info. I'm happy to get info from a Rainbowfish owner. When I read about certain fish online a lot of resources seem to contradict each other. I will keep your words in mind. All the tanks I'm looking at are 36" long and I understand Rainbowfish are sprinters, I was thinking of a...

Well the biggest thing I'm trying to decide on is how big of a tank to buy. I'm limited in length to 42" or less, so a 46g bow front is looking like the largest commercially made. But the lfs has good prices on 29g kits, 38g kits, and I found a 46g on Craigslist. As for fish I am thinking of...

Excellent link. Thank you!

I have a nice piece of obsidian rock that I'd like to put in my next tank. Is there a guide or procedure to getting something ready to be put in an aquarium? Common sense makes me think that for a rock you really only need to clean it (no detergents or lingering chemicals) and sanitize it (via...