Recent content by squawkbert

1. Filter. Right now I am rocking a Top Fin filter that does 100 gph at a 20 gallon fish tank that is 5 times per hour. I was recommended that this would not work? Why not? How much filtering is needed? What are the differences between a filter that filters water at 5 times per hour vs one...

You will benefit by doing the research up front, deciding what plants you're interested in, then setting about sourcing them. Once you look into it, you will probably come to the conclusion that the majority of plants available at PetSmart are not suitable for small aquariums, require high light...

IMO DGs and green Cories are too big - I'd suggest some shrimp and maybe 3-4 of the smaller Rasbora species or some Endlers.

IMO - no, but I wouldn't add anything.

The best values and highest quality plants are usually found on forums (here, AC, APC) and at club meetings/events (swap meets, auctions). Sometimes you can find decent specimens at chain stores, more frequently at mom&pop type LFS carry decent plants, but they won't generally be as large or...

OK - w/ fake plants, you should do what you can to see that no sunlight hits the tank and that the tank light is on only when you're around. Other measures to consider: Asking your local pet store employee if they can spare you one or two Malaysian Trumpet snails. They are the cone shaped...

Search your local river/stream beds for aged looking chunks of wood. Also check ebay - I got 3 pieces from someone in W. Va. for pretty cheap (2 of which are in my 46).

<planted tank keeper - my list (pretty well stolen from ^^) In my fert mixes: MgSO4*7H20 CaCl2 KCl K2HPO4 (available where I work) KNO3 CSM+B Also keep/use: API FW Master Test Kit Flourish Excel 4dKH solution for drop checker Prime CO2 (mine's DIY - Fleischmann's yeast, sugar, water) No...

A lot of what gets recommended will depend on what (exactly) you want to do w/ your tank... Please elaborate on your plans, you'll get much better feedback that way.

:biglol: Hmmmm... Where have I heard that suggested before?

^ or you could double check with your vendor and see if all you need is a new set of endcaps to go w/ T-5 bulbs. There's a more than fair chance that your PC ballast would work w/ some combination of T-5 bulbs, but things won't go well unless you use the right bulbs & endcaps.

Club auctions & swapmeets are the best place to get both. If getting mature fish, I'd go 2 pairs of Angels - Apisto numbers will be a function of how much structure & cover you have. If the tank is heavily planted & has lots of hardscape, you might get 3-4 pairs of Apistos in there... Do have...

Look up Apistogrammas if you're after a colorful Discus alternative... after you're cycled, of course.

Other plants? Ca? (gh, kh)?

You can use them, but there are better alternatives - Coralife makes some 10W and 20W (I think) 6500K bulbs (Colormax).