Recent content by Rumpolphoreskin

Mebbid, Dcut, Would a surface extractor (picture? or brand?) increase the h2o surface air exchange?

Dcut, I've seen that trick and I like it. I'm thinking the slick is from the media rather than the rinsing technique (just guessing though).

A couple of points: 1. I put dish detergent in my blasting media in August and rinsed the water (weekly) until December. 2. Most importantly I checked the tank last night and there is surface film - so the detergent is moot point. Gotta keep it real.

For my first dirted tank I soaked my black diamond blasting media for about a month, rinsing on alternate days. I still found a film on my tank's surface. Part of this I attribute to the black sand being a coal by-product (fossil fuel). On my second dirted tank I added about an ounce of dish...

Just for fun I've compared my LFS to Petsmart. Weird how they seem to get shipments of the same fish on the same day. For some purchases I'll pay extra to patronize the LFS, but if Petsmart has the same fish that came in the same day for half the price I'll gamble on Petsmart. I'm sure this...

Worse things will happen . . . I guarantee it.

Nshepler, The water comment is a W.C. Fields quote, it was intended as humor. Actually water has crossed my lips without the slightest trepidation on my part. . . . and may the Schwartz be with you as well.

Dirty Advice I wondered about that but I need to point out I did not go through the MTS process of drying the soil between soaks. All that ever got poured off was the stained (tannin stained?) water. The soil was always wet and never left the bucket it was soaking in. When I put it in the...

I let my organic potting soil soak for about 4-5 months before putting it in my tank. I capped it with about 1.5 inches of (coal slag) black blasting compound/sand (btw I put an ounce of dish detergent into my second soak of the blasting sand and after several rinses it seems to be leaving no...

because of the disgusting things fish do in it. I've kept tanks since college. I currently have two low tech 55's set up with dirt. I have a 20 set up but it is only holding fish until my newest dirt tank is ready.

I tried to post this twice in a thread I started and it never posted. In the thread people were discussing a sand caps impact on cory's. Here is a link to a video on the subject. Aquarium Advice - Gravel or Sand? by Tyne Valley Aquatics - YouTube

OS, What is the pictured tank topped with? Black sand? or Fine black gravel? or . . . Thanks in advance.

I saw this video regarding Corys and sand (FTW): Aquarium Advice - Gravel or Sand? by Tyne Valley Aquatics - YouTube

I always thought sand may have a nice look to it but never thought seriously about it until I started to contemplate "Aquascaping". Anyway this is the video that really got me started thinking about it and it has a lot to do with corys. Aquarium Advice - Gravel or Sand? by Tyne Valley...

Fish-R Your set up is my plan. Jake I've heard PFS needs a lot less cleaning than play sand. Regardless, you have a great looking tank. The feedback is appreciated!