VelcroDuck
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
As kids, my brother had fish and I had a dog. Now that we are grown and he's my roommate once again, he has gone and bought himself a dog and I have dusted off his old 8gal tall hex aquarium.
Equipment: Penguin Bio-Wheel Mini, Coralife 20w mini CFL, Radiant heater.
Deco: Gravel sub, Red lava rock size of softball, Green ceramic Pagoda my parents bought 20 years ago and never used
I cycled it for a few months, though that was probably unnecessary as the gravel was the same. Plants and fish were added at what, I now realize, was an alarming rate. The fish (all livebearers) all died due to either ich or fungus or overcrowding (or combo), but the plants for the most part hung on. The tank then sat fallow for about 6 months.
Flora: Echinodorus amazonicus (Amazon sword), E. tenellus (Pygmy chain sword), Crinum thaianum (onion), Nymphoides aquatica (banana), hair algae (?).
At the beginning of this month (March 2010), I added 3 Platys [1 red wag f, 1 Mickey Mouse m?, 1 sunset m?](too young to sex or maybe just not looking hard enough), just to see if the tank was up to snuff.
Things were going fine, until I noticed distinct white "pimples" on the Mickey and he (?) started flashing. After failing to combat the ich previously with LBGCPS (local branch of giant corporation pet store) recommended Pimafix and Melafix from Aqua. Pharm. (however, had success with their StressCoat & -Zyme products), I started googling to the depth I should have since inception.
After much research, I am now treating ich by raising temp to 86*F, with the help of my new heater (Marineland Stealth Pro 50w). I've also started adding aquarium salt at the rate of 2g/L or .53g/gal and 25% PWC every other day with gravel vac, making necessary adjustments to salt level. I do not test these levels, but just keep to basic algebra based on the assumption salt is only leaving via the PWC.
"Pimples" have burst, so trying to do PWC daily so I can gravel vac. From now on new fish added will QT in an old 10gal I dug up.
I bought myself the API Master Test Kit, which has been put to good use. Last readings:
Ammo 0
NO2 0
NO3 0
pH 8.2
Don't know exact hardness, but know it's on the harder side. I know pH is high, but starting with tap that is 7.4 and prefer not to bring down chemically. Going to try driftwood eventually if it becomes a problem. Platys seem pretty tolerant though.
Also been learning about food. Old thinking: food is freeze dried or loaded with preservatives, so food my brother fed his fish back in 2005 should still be ok. New thinking: Air degrades nutrients over time, new food is only $2-3 for small container which should last at least 2 months. Result: fish now much more enthused about getting fed and looking healthier.
My main questions/concerns:
1. What appears to be hair algae has wrapped itself around my lava rock. So far it has not caused any problems that I could tell. I have read many articles on how to remove it, but none of them really say why. Is this really a pest in my aquarium? Or just another manageable piece of greenscape?
2. Same question but pertaining to pond snails (at least that's what I think they are, black & clear). Are these guys pests? Or are we talking aesthetics? I've started offering up blanched cucumber for the Platys (which I now know are omnivorous), so a few snails get flung in the compost each time I remove the remains. Also, on fasting day, I noticed one of the platys picking the smaller ones off the glass. I didn't intentionally add either of these species, but does that necessarily make them invasive?
3. Been hearing a lot of things about carbon filters and how often to change them. LFS and LBGCPS both say to change once a month, but then they are the ones selling me the filters. I have heard every other month, every 6 months, once a year... Someone please shed some light! Bought bag, floss, and act. charcoal for DIY filter anyway, but would still prefer not to change out if I don't have to.
4. Have I pretty much maxed out my tank? A lot of contradiction out there as far as limits, but if I go by 1-inch-for-2 gallons rule, then I can only add one more? I was thinking an Oto or two. Or maybe just more livebearers, either bought or "the old fashioned way." I guess I could add one at a time and test for effect. Just didn't want to stress or kill more than I have to.
5. I don't have a lot of ground space due to the vertical design of my tank. However, I would like a bit of carpet cover for what little is exposed. Any suggestions for something that won't go out of control?
6. Shrimp? Cherry or amano I know, but when and how many? Do they count against the inch-per-gallon rule? Again, I don't want anything to suffer unnecessarily because of my learning curve. Again. (sigh)
7. When is your fast day in relation to your weekly PWC?
8. What are alternative uses for my 10gal QT (strange that my QT's bigger than main tank?) while it is not in use for that purpose? If I can keep SOMEthing in there that will not have adverse effect on QT process or be adversely affected by it, I would like to do so.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any help or comments.
Equipment: Penguin Bio-Wheel Mini, Coralife 20w mini CFL, Radiant heater.
Deco: Gravel sub, Red lava rock size of softball, Green ceramic Pagoda my parents bought 20 years ago and never used
I cycled it for a few months, though that was probably unnecessary as the gravel was the same. Plants and fish were added at what, I now realize, was an alarming rate. The fish (all livebearers) all died due to either ich or fungus or overcrowding (or combo), but the plants for the most part hung on. The tank then sat fallow for about 6 months.
Flora: Echinodorus amazonicus (Amazon sword), E. tenellus (Pygmy chain sword), Crinum thaianum (onion), Nymphoides aquatica (banana), hair algae (?).
At the beginning of this month (March 2010), I added 3 Platys [1 red wag f, 1 Mickey Mouse m?, 1 sunset m?](too young to sex or maybe just not looking hard enough), just to see if the tank was up to snuff.
Things were going fine, until I noticed distinct white "pimples" on the Mickey and he (?) started flashing. After failing to combat the ich previously with LBGCPS (local branch of giant corporation pet store) recommended Pimafix and Melafix from Aqua. Pharm. (however, had success with their StressCoat & -Zyme products), I started googling to the depth I should have since inception.
After much research, I am now treating ich by raising temp to 86*F, with the help of my new heater (Marineland Stealth Pro 50w). I've also started adding aquarium salt at the rate of 2g/L or .53g/gal and 25% PWC every other day with gravel vac, making necessary adjustments to salt level. I do not test these levels, but just keep to basic algebra based on the assumption salt is only leaving via the PWC.
"Pimples" have burst, so trying to do PWC daily so I can gravel vac. From now on new fish added will QT in an old 10gal I dug up.
I bought myself the API Master Test Kit, which has been put to good use. Last readings:
Ammo 0
NO2 0
NO3 0
pH 8.2
Don't know exact hardness, but know it's on the harder side. I know pH is high, but starting with tap that is 7.4 and prefer not to bring down chemically. Going to try driftwood eventually if it becomes a problem. Platys seem pretty tolerant though.
Also been learning about food. Old thinking: food is freeze dried or loaded with preservatives, so food my brother fed his fish back in 2005 should still be ok. New thinking: Air degrades nutrients over time, new food is only $2-3 for small container which should last at least 2 months. Result: fish now much more enthused about getting fed and looking healthier.
My main questions/concerns:
1. What appears to be hair algae has wrapped itself around my lava rock. So far it has not caused any problems that I could tell. I have read many articles on how to remove it, but none of them really say why. Is this really a pest in my aquarium? Or just another manageable piece of greenscape?
2. Same question but pertaining to pond snails (at least that's what I think they are, black & clear). Are these guys pests? Or are we talking aesthetics? I've started offering up blanched cucumber for the Platys (which I now know are omnivorous), so a few snails get flung in the compost each time I remove the remains. Also, on fasting day, I noticed one of the platys picking the smaller ones off the glass. I didn't intentionally add either of these species, but does that necessarily make them invasive?
3. Been hearing a lot of things about carbon filters and how often to change them. LFS and LBGCPS both say to change once a month, but then they are the ones selling me the filters. I have heard every other month, every 6 months, once a year... Someone please shed some light! Bought bag, floss, and act. charcoal for DIY filter anyway, but would still prefer not to change out if I don't have to.
4. Have I pretty much maxed out my tank? A lot of contradiction out there as far as limits, but if I go by 1-inch-for-2 gallons rule, then I can only add one more? I was thinking an Oto or two. Or maybe just more livebearers, either bought or "the old fashioned way." I guess I could add one at a time and test for effect. Just didn't want to stress or kill more than I have to.
5. I don't have a lot of ground space due to the vertical design of my tank. However, I would like a bit of carpet cover for what little is exposed. Any suggestions for something that won't go out of control?
6. Shrimp? Cherry or amano I know, but when and how many? Do they count against the inch-per-gallon rule? Again, I don't want anything to suffer unnecessarily because of my learning curve. Again. (sigh)
7. When is your fast day in relation to your weekly PWC?
8. What are alternative uses for my 10gal QT (strange that my QT's bigger than main tank?) while it is not in use for that purpose? If I can keep SOMEthing in there that will not have adverse effect on QT process or be adversely affected by it, I would like to do so.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any help or comments.