Recent content by Proteus55

Well, I finally got around to thoroughly cleaning my Eheim 2217 canister; it has been nearly a year and I felt guilty. Still, the flow was never really slow, the water was clear, and the actual cleaning went well. A helpful video on YouTube was useful. As it turned out, I replaced the white pad...

Snails. They're not a bad thing. Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

I've had no problems in one year; best filter I've had so far. Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Crystal clear! Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

I have an Eheim 2217 on my 55 and it is dead-quiet, efficient, and I have only cleaned it once in 8 months--a process that was far easier than I had been led to believe. The best piece of aquarium equipment I have ever purchased without a doubt!

I agree with the above. The last time, I used a 16 oz. bottle of Tetra Safe Start in my 55 and it was completely cycled with no losses in about a week.

I used the Ace Hardware pool filter sand and it's been perfect and very clean to begin with. They'll ship it to the store of your choice, cost about $12 bucks. Very nice cream color and the fish--including corys--love it.

I went through this: get a big bottle of Safestart, the 16 oz. worked like a charm in about a week.

I have the 48 SAT on a 55 and it has been a fine light for Hornwort, Java Fern and even a sword. I like the moonlight feature at night but generally run the full spectrum six hours a day. Love the remote, and might get the single ramp timer next.

I have had the same problem with getting readings; I banged the 2nd nitrate bottle all over the place, shook the tube by a timer, waited 5, and finally scared up something (4ppm), but I question this kit's overall reliability despite all the fans here and elsewhere. I know test strips are dirty...

I found an old rusty, welded iron stand at a tag sale--must have been from the seventies. Cleaned it up and repainted; very sturdy and looks great.

Sorry about your fish problem. I too have had some baffling deaths after a water change. First off, it is my personal opinion that massive water changes of 50% or more or more harmful than helpful; others will disagree, but I have been doing this since the mid 1960s and water condition today is...

Thanks for the solid advice and time it took to post it. I know from a neighboring forum that you are always generous with your experience and insights. I will do as you suggest and hope to report positively to anyone else in need.

The PH is 7.2. I don't have a hardness test.

I've read a lot of conflicting opinions about this. Here in FL, many homes have all-faucet type water softeners, mostly salt-based. I had seven platys doing very well for a month and then had a sudden die-off (water chems were fine per the Master test kit, water always treated with Prime); I...