geleen

The tank is just very nicely balanced: great job! Love the Apisto's :smokey: John

Had the tank turned up to 91 F for 20 hrs when one of the 2 BS was is severe distress. Barely moving and easily caught. Looked like mini convulsions. My guess: the heat, for when I moved her to 77F all was well in an hour and is still ok this morning. The other one seems just fine. Has anyone seen this before? Thanks John

I have a constant production of the " tea" about a gallon over the last 3 months. This is out of 2 bins about 14x10x12 high. It is wet enough that a small squeeze produces free moisture and I have a hard time keeping it NOT so wet. J

I do remember that it took a long time to get a good colony thriving as worms have to mature, breed and the cocoons to hatch. I think it took 5 month's before a reliable amount was available, but I was harvesting some before that. If the mix is too acid (lots of peat) you would see worms trying to escape as they would leave if the mix is too wet or dry. I found that wetter is better. After 2 years I have so many worms that I cannot possibly feed them all: please come get some :smokey: John

Speaking from experience.. did a 4" piece..no problem, some old silicone even dropped into the tank when I removed the old.....I fished most of it out. Does not look professional as I did not tape the seam but is still sealed after 1 year. John

No problem. Make sure the area to be repaired is very clean and dry before you add the silicone. drying for 24 hours is enough time. J

It would not hurt to double the Prime dosage just in case there is a water problem. Spring is here....well kind of and run-off may be happening. John

I added a small piece of drifwood and attached a bit of windowslov (sp) java fern looks good and only grows to 4 or 5" or so. and it will, over time, occupy the whole bottom in a 3 gal. You can but don't have to cycle the tank for a betta ....I do a 90% water change (treated and heated to 25C) once a week. There is no other filtration just a heather and a light on a timer. Hope this helps. J

Very nice high quality pics :drool: You could post the rainbow pics on http://www.rainbowfish.info/index.php they would love to see them. John

No need for adding top and bottom plywood...just cut the 2x4, 3.5" short and ad a 2x4 on edge across horizontally, so the weight is carried down into the uprights and the floor. The bottom ply adds no weight bearing strength and a ply wood top would protect the original top but is not necessary either...... if the original top is 3/4" Set the front, 2x4 back enough so you can get the doors hung (if any) so they will fit. No glue required just some screws. John

So how much? John

You are to kind: sell them now. John

Doesn't Rotkeil mean red throat in German? So if that is the case, I guess they have been given a English translated name..... kind of. Nice looking fish btw ohn

Thanks RD you are making me think about getting a few more clowns :smokey: John

Now that is nice! :thumbs: I really like your loaches! How many do you have there and how big is the tank? Could you post a full tank shot? John

Just a thought. I caused a mini cycle adding 2x the recommended dose of excel; this caused a massive die-off of algae ( there was a lot of it).....lost a fish. John

Yeah unfortunately looks like a mini cycle has started for some reason; keep testing and do a lot of WC Adding additional prime will help, look on the bottle for directions in emergency dosage. You are not alone in this: happens to all. John

I like BB :smokey: OH in the tank...... :smokey: I use it for fry and when they are a few months old I use a skiff of sand barely covering the bottom. Bottom dwellers like the cover and it is easy to clean with the vacuum. My apisto fry would always be on top of the bit of sand on one side of the tank, now they are all over. Discus breeders like to paint the bottom (on the outside) with a sandy color as they may not like the reflection. J

Here are my observations re. WC and behavior. Normally I change 40% every 4- 5 day's for the discus tank.When I do a very large WC (90-95%) there is a similar response to what you describe. I do this once every 6 weeks or so, to affect the dissolved solids that may have accumulated. I always assumed that lowering the dissolved solids was the reason. You can't see them and I don't think they are easily measured. When I change 30 % weekly in my rainbow tank the fish are ok, but when I do a 50 % change there is a noticeable attitude change, that shows me they "seem happier" Here I change 90 % every 3 months or so. For me, the larger and more frequent changes are the way to go. Since I change a "few" gallons a week I opt to do it as described but IMO more is better. As someone said " look after the water, the fish will look after themselves" John

-3 peppered cories -10 pygmy rasboras - 2 brigette rasboras - 3 pygmy cories -2 zebra snails - 2 cherry shrimp -1 whiptail catfish As degrassi said they may prefer it but no adjustment is needed or required. Just weekly WC and they will be happy. J

All the bacteria is likely toast and you wil have to cycle the tank again. I would pick up some seachem stability and use as directed. If you can get some cycled filter material from someone you can add that as well. John

Go rent 4 heavy duty suction cups;makes life a lot easier and safer.John

:welcome: John

Your temp for goldfish may be to high 75F would be good. Your tank seems to be cycling and will be getting better in time. I would not feed for a few day's You can get some pot scrubbers for that compartment in the filter these can hold a lot of good bacteria. See if someone can give you some cycled filter material. Add prime at the higher dosage recommended right away,your fish are in trouble. Your PH is fine. John

Look for a 6 to10 times turnover per hour. J