Search results

BF, If you dad doesn't want you to add another heater then you really have to consider not buying the Betta. It is so easy to disassociate ourselves from the responsibility of the fish we keep. I know I did in my early fish keeper days. Realizing one doesn't have the means to support an animal...

BF, Bettas need a higher temperature then your current tank temperature. I'm surprised your sister managed to have one thrive in 64-degree water. In the past I noticed mine became lethargic in the low 70's. May I suggest you get a heater and try to bump the temperature up to 80 degrees? Best...

K101, Sailfin Mollies are indigenous to the United States and Mexico. I have caught and kept many out of the local Houston Bayous. They aren’t the same creatures you see in the LFS. In the wild the have a green hue with speckles of brown, black, and aqua blue. TB, You bring up a good point...

Patrick, Glad to hear you have experience in the hobby. In the future, I’ll be sure to consider that when I address you. I am truly sorry I sunk to the level of considering you as a novice. I suspect you can see my approach and others in this thread when you made no prior mention of the...

Patrick, Thanks for the update. You didn't specify what the complete replacement would be. Is it another Marineland 3 gallon tank? Given your prior experience with the hood do you want to venture down that road again? I thought about your predicament as I made my LFS rounds the past few days...

Patrick, It sounds like you’re in quite a pickle. I doubt you are going to find a cost effective method to retrofit a 3-gallon tank light fixture. I suspect replacement of the entire hood will cost more then the tank is worth. May I suggest you compare the price of a complete ten-gallon setup...

KP, Print out my post and take it to your math teacher, but more importantly take it to your biology teacher, and chemistry teacher, I would be most interested in hearing what they have to say? Best regards, William

HB, The real advantage I see in fishless cycling is a bottle of ammonia is .99 cents while buying fish to cycle a tank is more expensive. I’m a bit of a nuts and bolts guy and always wonder why a person would spend extra money on fish to cycle a tank, when there is a cheaper, and more humane...

Chas, IMH(umble)O smaller tanks are geared to a younger audience to sell product, supplies, and fish at a reasonable price but still pull dollars out of the wallet. This isn’t a knock on small tank applications rather on the mega stores that sell product only to make money and have no concern...

Sherri, I hope you don't mind but I just took a peek at you profile and you have an Oscar in a 55-gallon tank. You are going to have your hands full trying to raise this fish in that tank. Are you considering adding the fish to your existing tank or are you planning a new tank? Best regards...

MB, The Clown Killifish I have seen never exceed 1.5 inches. Best regards, William

KP, Plants do have an effect on PH, more specifically the buffering capacity (KH) of the water in a tank. When tank lights are turned on (start of photoperiod) plants photosynthesize and use carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen. At the same time plants respire using up oxygen in the tank...

DC, A Betta in a small tank like the five-gallon tank you have would be one of the few applications I would recommend an UGF. IME I have placed a Betta in a 5-gallon tank with a HOB filter. The fish did ok for a few weeks but it was obvious he struggled against the current produced by the...

Dobby, I always under stock my tanks so take that into consideration when you read my posts. I personally wouldn't keep 3-to-4 pairs in a five-gallon, rather keep 1 male and two females and add two or three small cories for a clean up crew. The Clown Killifish likes to hang around the top of...

KP101, As noted by others Java Fern is a very hardy plant. If it were my plant, I would trim back all the damaged/dead/dying leaves at the rhizome. Tie the Rhizome to your driftwood/rock or wedge the roots in a crevice. IME I have found Java doesn't do well when planted in the substrate. I...

SH, As a non-knowing salt water keeper, I appreciate your quest for knowledege. In the freshwater world actinics emit 400-440nm which promotes alage growth. In general freshwater plants will absorb the same spectrum but prefer the 650 to 680 nm range. I'm pulling all these stats off the top of...

DS, IMH(umble)O, be careful when offering advice on small tanks. There is a big difference between the flow rates of filters on smaller tanks. While I don't know what you have on your 10 gallon or 20 gallon, I suspect the output of either filter would blow a betta away in a 5 gallon. While you...

Menagerie, I can, once my cheapskate brother gets back from his vacation and returns my digital camera. ;-) I never thought anyone would want a visual reference of my mini-bow tank. Best regards, William

DC, As QT stated, Bettas do not fair well when exposed to a fast flow rate filter. If it was me, I would stick to the undergravel filter. I have had great sucess in small setups like the one your are proposing. If I were to add anything to the tank it would be a pair of pygmy cories. That would...

Logan, I don't have experience with 50/50 bulbs on African tank, but can say a 50/50 bulb really brings out the colors of my Austrialian Rainbows. I suspect beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That said 50/50's are quite pleasing to my eyeballs. ;-) Best regards, William

Glen, Relax, take a deep breath, and realize the majority of fish at the LFS have been acclimated to the water out of your tap. Introducing acid based chemicals to lower the PH will most likely cause more problems then benefits. It does sound like you have received conflicting advice from the...

Dobby, No need to get formal, just address me as William, and yes I currently have a 5 gallon mini-bow on my desk with 1 male and 2 female Clown Killies. I've kept them for almost two years now. I have found the fish easy to care for in my mini tank, as the bioload is kept to a minimum. The...

Mailis, I have planted Anubias barteri both ways, in the substrate and attached to driftwood with equal success so I really don't think it matters. I must note that I use a flourite/laterite substrate and dose my tanks with fertilizers. If you decide to plant it in the substrate make sure the...

K101, Sorry about that, nothing like botching one's first post! ;-) Best regards, William

K101, If your looking for something different you may want to consider Clown Killies (Epiplatys annulatus). A very small peaceful fish well suited for a smaller tank. I like Menagerie's idea in regards to Badis badis. I have several of these too and they are well suited for 7-gallon tank. Best...