Python question:
1st PWC time. Small # of small fish (fish-in cycling) in a 37 Gal. I've got some small fry (cory+guppy+WCMM) and small shrimp in my new, freshly planted tank. I think that if I try and suck into the gravel, as I've seen demonstrated online, I will uproot the plants and suck up the little fish/shrimp. I was thinking I'd secure a piece of the old nylons over the tube w/ a rubber band and leave the gravel alone for another time. -Draw water slowly from an upper corner that's free of fish.
Another idea for my upcoming batch of fry: Wrap some of that old nylon around the intake tube on my external hanging filter. Would that work? Would it burn out the motor on the Topfin 40 filter? I saw it suck up a very small shrimp already. Is it OK to set the filter on low-flow (which makes the intake hole smaller) indefinitely, or will that burn out the electric motor?
I use under-gravel filters years ago. It seems like it was a much simpler, and I would think infinitely more effective method, than this external filter. 1. It seems like you draw water over a much larger filter surface area for much greater volume of bacteria. 2. It would keep the temperature the same above and beneath the gravel vs colder under the gravel. 3. I recall not having to vacuum the gravel much at since the "stuff" just got pulled into the gravel and eaten by the bacteria. Are these assumptions correct of not? What is the best option for a lightly stocked/well planted tank?
Plant question: I want to add more plants to my tank. Every place I've seen with plants for sale also has other stuff in their plant display tank: big tad poles, big goldfish, snails etc. I want to clear the hitchhikers off the plants. I'd like them to be parasite free before they enter my water. Is a chlorine water dip then rinse w/ treated water an OK option? How much chlorine per gallon in the bucket? 1 tablespoon? 3 minute dip then heavy rinse? Are there a better/safer options?
Good or Bad ideas?
Advice please. Thanks
1st PWC time. Small # of small fish (fish-in cycling) in a 37 Gal. I've got some small fry (cory+guppy+WCMM) and small shrimp in my new, freshly planted tank. I think that if I try and suck into the gravel, as I've seen demonstrated online, I will uproot the plants and suck up the little fish/shrimp. I was thinking I'd secure a piece of the old nylons over the tube w/ a rubber band and leave the gravel alone for another time. -Draw water slowly from an upper corner that's free of fish.
Another idea for my upcoming batch of fry: Wrap some of that old nylon around the intake tube on my external hanging filter. Would that work? Would it burn out the motor on the Topfin 40 filter? I saw it suck up a very small shrimp already. Is it OK to set the filter on low-flow (which makes the intake hole smaller) indefinitely, or will that burn out the electric motor?
I use under-gravel filters years ago. It seems like it was a much simpler, and I would think infinitely more effective method, than this external filter. 1. It seems like you draw water over a much larger filter surface area for much greater volume of bacteria. 2. It would keep the temperature the same above and beneath the gravel vs colder under the gravel. 3. I recall not having to vacuum the gravel much at since the "stuff" just got pulled into the gravel and eaten by the bacteria. Are these assumptions correct of not? What is the best option for a lightly stocked/well planted tank?
Plant question: I want to add more plants to my tank. Every place I've seen with plants for sale also has other stuff in their plant display tank: big tad poles, big goldfish, snails etc. I want to clear the hitchhikers off the plants. I'd like them to be parasite free before they enter my water. Is a chlorine water dip then rinse w/ treated water an OK option? How much chlorine per gallon in the bucket? 1 tablespoon? 3 minute dip then heavy rinse? Are there a better/safer options?
Good or Bad ideas?
Advice please. Thanks
