Iceturf

I've heard Sulawesi's are finicky, very neat that you have them actively breeding.

Are the Arctic Char Fillets a hobby?

:welcome: What does your aquatic addiction include?

Even bacteria from dust particles will settle on the water and induce a cycle. You really can't stop it from happening.

I know right, not even bothering to make the effort these days.

ADA will buffer your water. I was under the impression that using ADA substrate +Tap water = bad because it drains the substrates buffering ability - that it is better to use ADA with RO water. I don't know if that is true or not, but could be a concern.

I have a tank with light sand and a dry tank with ADA. I prefer the dark and uniform look of the ADA, I feel like it is better colour contrast. Something to consider maybe. What to do.... I'm not sure. Do you still have that plastic container setup you can move the shrimp back to in the short term, let the tank finish leaching and then move them back?

What is this fabric floss of which you speak?

I'm no shrimp expert, but.... Random loose thoughts here: What are your ammonia levels? I wouldn't cap ADA personally, its more of a decorative thing in my opinion - and you get nice water circulation into the roots from the uniform roundness. Also, ADA leaches ammonia for a few weeks when first used. They spray it with the stuff. I would suspect that if your ADA is brand new, that is the problem right there. You may have slowed the problem by capping the ADA with sand. Otherwise, as you say, I see no reason why your shrimp wouldn't fair just as well in one container as in another. I'm of the impression that shrimp naturally 'adjust' their population to their tank environment, meaning they will grow to fill the food supply and roughly level off there. So given a constant food supply, you shouldn't ever more than your tank can handle.

Update?

Is there an inert pea gravel about the right size, that is smooth and uniformish? I like the look of aqua soils, but not the price, and I don't care for their 'activeness'. If there were could get some cheap, inert alternative version, that would be neat.

Any updates?

Does the substrate need to be vacuumed every so often?

The fish survived the winter in the pond?

That sucks dude, I'm surprised that a solid state timer would be of such low quality.

All three together no problem?

Any updates on the Shrimp? Additional Photos?

I feel as though your halfway between a rock layout and driftwood. I think you could use more of one of those two elements, I just don't know which one.

I was wondering how important having a waterproof coating is for this type of thing, if the moisture from the aquarium would damage the strings that aren't coated. What have you noticed?

How are the LED's holding up?

Really, the power adapter goes after a while?

Maybe underfeed and is eating a bit of fish slime?

I know some parts source places - you could build for a reasonable amount.

Looks neat

+1 to ckmullin, the plants I bought from him are doing well. I paid a very reasonable price per plant, it all came healthy, got large quantities. He also made a few recommendations which turned out nice, the S Repens is very unique.