Recent content by USAFDave13

So any issues if I swap the ram for the dwarf gourami? I didn't read any but you all probably have first hand experience.

Ok, going up to 6 Oto's and switching out the Ram for a Dwarf Gourami (read they are hardier for novices) puts me at 93% stocking according to adadvisor.

Sorry I've put up so many posts of late. So I have my 45 and stand. Below is the setup I've selected for it. It will be semi-planted. And below that the stocking I am working with and tweaking. Any feedback would be amazing. I'm not sure about the Ram as a centerpiece. Looking to avoid...

Probably not for any real quantity. The initial fill will be easy, I can bypass and let the water warm up during fishless cycling. I'm more worried about water changes. I had thought about taking my extra heater and heating a bypassed 5 gallon bucket for the water changes.

I forgot to mention, my water softener company recommended I bypass the softener and use warm water (would be half soft hot water and half hard cold water) to dilute any salt and keep some of those beneficial minerals from the hard water.

As posted just a while ago, I'll be moving up with my second setup. I just picked up a 45 and stand. New question though; I live in San Antonio with hard water (GH of 18 to be exact) and my home has a water softener that brings it down to between 0-2. I know there are minute amounts of salt left...

Absolutely everything helps, thank you! I've been reading more and more about the good old under gravel filtration! I don't know what to make of LED, it's difficult to know what's needed.

Is there some way to know what is most appropriate for the situation? Like Over the back, canister or under-gravel filtration per size of tank? I have some local stores here in San Antonio I could visit and ask. But where do you guys get your stuff, I've read a lot about lighting wattage vs...

Hello everyone, You've all helped me amazingly in the past with my first "starter" 20 gal. setup. Wow I did not know what I had gotten myself into, but here I am a couple years later, tore down my old setup and moved. Perhaps the greatest regret I had was a 20 gal. tank, now I'm ready to go...

Thanks, yeah I think I'm going to try daily water changes for about a week and see if that helps the nitrate. I THINK I might actually have a bristlenose pleco. Here is a better picture of mine. And here is an example of the good old wiki page.

Thanks for all the help. So just to clarify, the tank is now cycled Chels so we are good there. I have always done water changes at least once per week but am now doing 2-3 times per week since this nitrate issue has arisen. So far I don't have any aggression in the tank. I had bought the red...

Hello, I am new to the forum and to aquariums in general (7 months). I just posted my introduction but already have some questions to ask. Sorry this might be long but I'd like to give you as much info as possible. So avoiding the long winded 7 month history of problems I have doing this, in a...

Hello and good morning. I wanted to introduce myself briefly before I jump over to the getting started area and bothering you all for some wisdom. Dave