Recent content by jackdp

Full tank pics here

Ya, when tested last year, our well water had 17mg/l Nitrate-Nitrogen in it...that's 7 mg/l over the state EPA limit. After installing the RO, I couldn't detect any with a Lowes home water test kit. It's not easy to get rid of nitrates in well water, RO is the cheapest easiest solution. We...

Our well water here in C. Pa is very hard and high in nitrates. I have a RO/DI filter for my reef tank and just recently setup a planted 15 gallon tank with 3 dwarf puffers and 3 oto algae eaters. Question...what is a good number to shoot for of nitrates in the tank. I test the tank water...

In our newly setup dwarf puffer tank there is a hardness problem. The problem being that I used our tap water for topoffs a couple of weeks ago and it is very hard. Now the hardness in the aquarium is 23 degrees GH by my Aquarium Pharmaeuticals test kit. Also the nitrates are close to 20mg/l...

Dwarf Puffers don't require snails in their diet...not like other larger puffers. Larger puffers require the snails to help keep the beaks from growing to long, they grind on the snail shells. Either way, I have small nuisance trumpet snails in the 15gal with my DP's and it is great watching...

Have you ever considered dwarf puffers? They are aggressive and you would have to forget the timid schoolers but the puffers are so interesting you would never miss them. You could probably get at least 4 puffers in your 20 and then 3 or 4 Otocinculus catfish...just a suggestion. But we just...

Well, after about 24 hours. 1 DP spends most of his time staring at his reflection in the glass and the other swims circles around the blue foam over the filter intake. I'm waiting to catch a glimpse of 1 sucking the innards out of the multitude of trumpet snails that have infested the tank...

Well, my pictus cat bit the dust a couple of weeks ago. After cleaning the tank up a little bit, adding some more live plants and a couple of 3 gallon water changes we've just added a pair of Indian Dwarf Puffers to our 15 gallon. Right now the little guys (only about 1/2") have the tank to...

Wasn't implying that you were arguing, I was afraid it sounded like I was. But anyways, water for 8 tanks! I only have 2, a 15 and a 20 gallon. This is our first house with a well and we've only been here a year. I'm still getting over the fear that our well will run dry because I use too...

Not one to argue, but my filter literature recommends I change the carbon and sediment filters yearly, the DI whenever TDS begins to creep up and the membrane can last from 2-5 years. I'm sure these are all variable based on the water quality being filtered and how heavily you use it.

Hara, do you replace the DI cartridge/resin every 4 months or the membrane. I hope the DI cuz my membrane is going on a year with consistent TDS measurements. I learned to keep on top of the DI the hard way...left it go too long and it was putting out 50ppm TDS...fighting the cyano and hair...

I've had several gobies in my 20 gallon long, if I recall all of them jumped to their doom. I think 2 of them made it through the eggcrate I have over the tank. I've since given up on gobies even though I'd love to get another one.