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Hey guys, looking for some fast advice here. I think my main pump is busted - it's not pumping, very hot and keeps tripping my GFCI. I'm going to take it into the LFS when it opens in a few hours. In the meantime, what can I do to keep my tank as safe as possible until I can get things flowing...

Okay, I've had my tank running for about 6 weeks and all levels are reading zero. I've got a cleanup crew working including 2 cleaner shrimp and a fire shrimp. I think I'm ready for some livestock. Any thoughts about adding a midas blenny and/or 2 clowns at the same time? Maybe even a...

Anybody have any suggestions for tracing the source of microbubbles coming from the return pump? Does it absolutely mean there's an air leak?

I've got a 72gal bow with Orbit Extreme lighting and a GSM skimmer. I just added 50 lbs of LR last week and I'm preparing to add some hermit and emerald crabs and snails in a week or two. Ultimately, this will be a reef tank I'd like to stock with these fish, but I'd like to know if anyone has...

Sorry for the basic question but are all replacement filters interchangible with most RO units? I bought a 3-stage Whirlpool RO unit at Loews and I want to make sure that I'll be able to replace the filters with the appropriate reef suitable filters. The current cartridges are 10" long when...

I just bought some used equipment from a friend - a wet/dry filter, a UV sterilizer and a bunch of hard coral. What do you guys suggest as far as cleaning them? My friend suggested bleach but I don't know in what concentration. Thanks for the help, guys!

Well, I'm going to take the plunge. I'm going to buy a friend's old 120 gal. Problem is, I know freshwater, but I don't know saltwater. What do I need to know about setting up a used system that books and articles haven't said?

What's the safest, most effective way to clean off rocks that have become covered with algae? Some of the rocks are actually kind of delicate so wire brushing would not be preferred. Any advice?

Hi everyone. I've been lurking for awhile, planning to take the plunge into a saltwater reef tank. I'd like to get a 90gal going but that's about as far as my decisionmaking has gone. What are some recommendations for the best and most flexible lighting, skimmer and filter options. Would a...

Does anyone have a recommendation for how long I should leave my lights on for? I've got a low-light tank with mostly java ferns and moss, some swords and lotus with DIY CO2 injection. Should I vary the times at all to account for seasons? What about inducing flowering?

alright - my air pump finally crapped out and it's time to get a new one. i've read that rena seems to be the quietest but is it really the 'best'? i also need to pipe the air to 2 tanks now so any recommendations on valves would be great as well. thanks!!!

and I want some new stuff. Here are a few questions for everyone out there to ponder: What would you like in your christmas stocking or your hannukah bag? If you were going to start a new tank, what would Santa bring you? If you wanted to upgrade to the newest, best component, what would it...

I'm thinking about starting a new tank - 90gal planted. Ideally, I'd like to do everything right from the start - ferts, substrate and fish. What do you guys suggest as far as interesting community schooling fish like neon tetras or glass catfish, etc.?

Okay, here's the dilemma: I 'adopted' around a dozen baby convict cichlids that were bound for a watery grave. For the past year I've given them a good home, food and interesting rocks, etc. Perhaps too good, it turns out, as 3 pairs, yes 3 pairs, are now breeding. Usually the fry get eaten...

I noticed tonight that my dwarf puffers were hanging out near the top of the tank. It seems like the otos are also. Could this be a sign of oxygen deprivation? I did a PWC just in case but I'm wondering if I should add an airstone. It's a 5gal planted with DIY CO2 with 2 DPs, 2otos and a...

What's the best "starting package" for a newbie? Specifically, a setup that's ready to start cycling but that is flexible enough to encompass LR, fish and/or inverts? Nanocube? TruVu nano? What about lighting? I've started FW tanks only to run into difficulties with the lighting - what's the...

Does anyone have a recommendation for a high quality, large format automatic feeder? A friend of mine has a 90Gal freshwater with about 8 large (4"-5") convict cichlids and a big pleco that are fed large floating pellets. He says he's tried several auto feeders but they seem to be too small to...

How long after an initial planting do you wait before pruning and/or rearranging? I've noticed that if I mess with some plants (i.e. crypts & java ferns) they tend to stress out while other plants seem to take it fine. It often takes me a few days to determine where things look best...

what exactly are the water parameters for a 'brackish' tank? it's the confluence of freshwater and ocean isn't it? what about plants?

This morning, I awoke to find the water in my 5 gal planted tank all cloudy with long, white filaments coating the sides of the tank. It seems that a bad kitty had knocked over the carelessly unattached Hagen CO2 filter and the "stinky juice" was pumped into the tank. ':eek2:' I think I caught...

I have a 25gal tank with 3 goldies and a pleco. One of the goldfish seems rather lethargic - he keeps his dorsal and anal fins close to his body and just kind of lolls around the tank. He also seems to have a greying of his scales. I did a 50% WC to as a first step - anyone have further...

I think one of my cichlids has some sort of fungus. There are white lumps on his dorsal fin and near his gills/pectoral fins. I previously thought it was ich and treated the entire tank with salt & heat. He has gotten worse but no other fish seem to be affected. What do you think I should...

Got a question for everyone/anyone: What's the easiest, most reliable freshwater master testing kit? I've been using dip tests but I know that they're unreliable and inconsistent. I'm ready to take the plunge into a master kit but I don't want to pursue a master's degree in chemistry. Please...

I have a cichlid that I've diagnosed as suffering from Ich. I've removed him (or her!) from the community tank and placed him in a 3 gallon 'hospital tank' on his own. There's no filter, but I am salting and aerating the small tank and heating it to ~85 degrees (I used water from the community...

Does anyone know if I can upgrade the bulbs on an Eclipse hood? Must I resign myself to a tank with low-light plants? I've seen conflicting information all over about retrofits and bulbs but I just can't get a clear picture of what options I have...