Recent content by Jun

Not much to update, but here is an updated full tank shot from earlier today. Current stock list is 7 B. ocellata and 5 C. sterbai and still my 1 silly B. splenden girl. Been a little crazy with work, but I quit two days ago (with relief AND panic) so I'm thinking about doing a little more...

I wouldn't mix rams and kribs personally (they sound like little street gangs, don't they? Hahaha.), but everyone else is right, you could definitely fit more fish in there. :)

A little more updated shot. I got the second shipment of plants and it really filled the tank up - now it's just a game of seeing what sticks and what I like and what I want to focus on. So it looks a little haphazard right now. ;) Here's the holding male - he has since eaten the eggs but it...

Thank you all for your responses and trying to find answers for me. I appreciate it! Since we're all curious, and now I am too, I will leave both the unfiltered and filtered tap water out for 24 hours and report back on the findings. :D For science!

I'm using an API liquid test kit to test the water. BBradbury, thank you for your thoughts. :) I generally am a fan of leaving the water alone- but I'm keeping wild type bettas (Betta ocellata) that, while hardy, do not do well in higher pH, and I feel there are few fish aside from African...

I've been using a PUR faucet filter and Prime for my tap water to make it safe for my fish. When I run my tap water through the PUR filter the pH is a lovely 6.8. When I don't, the tests read a much more startling 8.2 - not a number cohesive to the fish I am keeping. Ideally, I'd like to be...

Sounds good. :) As long as they have somewhere to go.

I've seen larger, and there are some sites that list their top size at 10". Even so, there is no doubt in my mind that a 6" cat could take down a 2" narrow bodied tetra or barb. I honestly believe you will have issues with them in the future.

Pictus cats top out at around 8". Eating a 2-3 inch fish is not unheard of or even rare, there are many testimonies of people's smaller schooling fish becoming snacks.

Anything smaller than 2-3" is going to become pictus food. These guys get very good sized and are voracious. If you want a peaceful community with tetras and small barbs, I would trade in these guys.

I've cleaned and used many different types of sand. This was Paverstone Play Sand, and it wasn't just dust - this sand was pigmented. I cleaned it for several hours before putting it in the tank, but sitting submerged for long periods of time leached all that colour off. It looks great now, but...

Your 15gallon filter was on the 90 gallon, but that tank that wasn't finished cycling. So when you put it back on the 15, it still didn't have proper amounts of the right bacteria to sustain the fish you put in it (and unfortunately those were species that are sensitive to ammonia). Quest's...

From my avatar... Balthazar

I'm so glad you were willing to separate them and get a larger tank. They will be much happier in there, and the addition of a second female is great. Hatchetfish (both varieties) are one of my absolute favourites! They are active and unique and I've never had any aggression issues with them...

I'm glad you found Maracyn, that's what I was going to recommend for him. Doubletails are prone to swim bladder issues, unfortunately. It has to do with the way they are bred and their genetics. The reason doubletails are the way they are is because the genetics mirror the bottom part of the...