Recent content by Chesmok

Cranking heat too high will kill the good bacteria too. If you're terrified of ich coming back don't use the poly fill to cycle. Just start your 36g with 1-3 fish, some Seachem Stability (bacteria supplement I use all the time) and feed sparingly. Live plants if possible. Ich usually doesn't...

I think some of the advice here is too over the top and overly worrying you. 5 gal is not THAT tiny. It's a decent size. Yes, neons and Cories are schoolers but IMO your tank is not overcrowded. Since you can't regime these fish, you'll just have to cycle your tank. Getting the liquid test was...

Depending on the bettas' personalities they could get alone fine. I'd move the Cories to your bigger tanks. Too much algae = excess nutrients. Over feeding, overcrowding and fluctuating cycle all cause algae. Feed less and if you get rid of the Cories the lesser bioload should help clear the...

Yup threadfins Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Looks like could be female right now but the sex change thing is very real. 4 of my "female" swordtails turned into males 2 months later. Swords are cousins of platies Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Anyone tried adding these tourmaline mineral balls to their CRS/red cherry shrimp tanks? Do you see any improvement as they claim to improve molting, color and maintain trace minerals and GH in the water. I bought some off eBay and not sure if I should use them since my shrimp are doing fine...

Depends on your budget. You could go for a small led light bar and it might cost $70-$100. You could buy a fluorescent hood but that might be expensive too. Or just a bright household lamp with a 6500 k bulb Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Yeah bettas are smart and greedy Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

I wouldn't trust a patch like that on even a small tank let alone a bigger one. Replacing the bottom could be really expensive too. I'd just sell this tank as a reptile tank and buy another used one off craigslist Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Yeah I like the way it's looking right now too. But I go on Craigslist and sell it for $5-$10 and there's always an over demand for any clippings I choose to sell. They come to my house to pick up so I don't do any work. Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Plain gravel is fine for easy plants. Cheaper that fertilized substrates. I use ADA Amazonia and black gravel mix in one tank, plain tan gravel in the other and fluval stratum for my nano tanks. Anubias are meant to be tied to driftwood. They don't like being planted in the soil so tablets...

Yeah those are planaria. Over feeding fuels them. Cutback on food and do more water changes. Birth eyre harmless though. Just ugly Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

If they're dying already they might have to just go. If the bottom of the stem is gushy and rotten I'd just throw it out. Dying plants are harder to bring back. If you can afford it get a ton of new stem plants. They're hardier and will outcompete the algae for nutrients Sent from my iPhone...

I think those are Pygmy chain swords. Carpeting foreground plants. Each stem requires individual planting. They send out runners Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Yes carbon removes ferts Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice