Crystal

I keep my trio of multis in a 10g. Like the others said, putting other fish in doesn't work when there are eggs/fry. I have extra females in my 55g tetra/danio tank with no problems. The ones in the 55g don't even really stay near the shells with no fry to protect, though they sleep in the shells at night. Here is a good site for additional info. http://www.shelldwellers.com/

Trout are becoming fairly popular. I know a number of places are stocking with rainbow trout, they survive our winters with few problems. They don't seem as prone to low O2 levels as goldfish, koi, or even perch. Some people enjoy the fall fish fry...

To prevent anaerobic bacteria you need to stir the sand. You can do this manually once every week or so with a stick or hands, etc. I use Malaysian trumpet snails or sphixi snail to dig through it for me. The malaysians reproduce like mad and most people will give you a generous pail or two for free... I prefer the spixis just because of their coloration, yellow with black stripes. They don't multiply as readily as most snails - and can be readily sold (many go for $3 each...). They may munch delicate plants if they run out of food (leftovers, algae, etc), but are easily deterred with a slice of zucchini. Spixis won't dig below the 1" level, and the Malaysians will dig to china if you let them... I often mix the two for a combination of beauty and utility.

I have tried some locals, with varying success rates among the species. The survival rate increases when collecting in the spring and fall, compared to mid summer, or at least so I have noticed... I think I will try a native planted tank again someday. Wish I could add native fish, but the laws are insane...

I would isolate them in a tank with no plants or fish for about 2 months. We had those at our old lake property (ph of about 8), they do great, but can harbour a small (worm?) which can get into other plants roots and (melt?) them - the plants came back, but it was a quarantine tank with low doses of copper which suspect killed the plant parasite. They clear up cloudy water and out combat algae like a dream though. I lost mine when my one tank crashed while I was on holidays - I may have to go get more...

My one 10g has two 25watt bulbs and gets 2-3 hours of indirect sunlight, and about 1 hour of direct sunlight. I don't have too much problem with algae, but I do have a dozen spixi snails to help on that score. I had quite a few plants and they quickly out battled the algae. It has been in that location for 5 yrs. Just my experience, as I know some people who have less sun and get pea soup...

I am not located in Edmonton, so can someone please tell me what a new, drilled 90g tank is going for? I am interested in starting a 90g reef tank. Thanks!

Java moss... It is the only thing that has lasted with mine. It even survived my 13" bulldozer pleco... You could try parrots feather - either submerged or emerged. I think if there is no lid (though why you would remove it with goldies who tend to jump into the food jar I have no idea), any emergent plant common in goldfish ponds should work, like water poppy, lillies, etc. But you would need better lighting. I am going to try a hardy water lily in my 65g this summer as they don't bother it in the pond.

There is the "scare crow", a motion detector with the water hose attached and will spray a jet of water at anything near it - ducks, cats, dogs, herons, raccoons, you... I find if there is a big enough fish (goldfish, koi, carp, etc) the ducks/seagulls fly away as the fish try to "sample" their legs...

I have lots of plants and not too many fish, so nature mostly took care of itself with help from a solar fountain to aerate the pond and an old aquaclear 110 which was on 4-8 hours a day to clean the pond a bit. biological filtration is everywhere - its just the debris. I plan to ditch the AC 110 and get a Pondmaster Mini skimmer (http://www.aqua-mart.com/sdmps.html) which you just sit in the pond - no cutting liner or anything. If you didn't mind siphon vacuuming the bottom of the pond 1-3x a summer (makes Excellent garden water), lots of plants, not too many fish, don't overfeed; you could get away with no filter. My neighbor had a HUGE stock water tank - 12 foot diameter circle and 4 feet deep buried 2 feet in the ground. Awesome and lasted for over a decade until a drunk driver hit it :eh:. If the pond is flexible plastic remember to use an old blanket under it to prevent punctures. If I had the money I would have got a water tub meant for cattle - much more durable. If you could get one used it would be cheaper... Your dugout wouldn't need anything as long as the aeration works.

-roll- But it IS a nice tank!

I have some patience, but it is forced by weather or I would probably be more impatient. I think we are just too cold for bettas in a pond, and a heating bill could be atrocious (I would use a water stock tank heater for lower price tag). I don't think my pond got above 24 degrees even on a hot deck where it regularly hit 30-35 degrees. It isn't unusual for water beetles to fly into any pond (I found a 3" one when I was draining the pond last fall), and they go after any slow fish (betta....). If you don't want goldfish, no problem, there is an 'alternative pond fish' thread in this pond section - check it out. I would choose more 'coldwater' fish unless you know your pond will be warm.

What are the chances of me getting nailed with customs clearance fees and roughly how much could they be? Not a bad system, visiting relatives can use the drinking water as they say our town water tastes funny (strange because their water tastes like a 4yr old was playing with a chemistry set... Even I won't drink their water, which is saying something). Anyone happen to know the dimensions of the unit? Our house is VERY short on space - I had to get rid of my dressers and tv for fish tanks :shifty: .

I understand the SNOWED part... The weather should smarten up now that it gave us our 6" May dump. Some green houses have them, but most I found either don't carry them or are sold out. Later on Canadian tire and Rona will have pond plants, and it amazing which house and garden plants readily adapt to having their roots 4" under water. I find many bulbous perenials (irises, canna lilly, calla lilly, etc) tend to do just fine - they are sold as perennials, not pond plants though. Most bog plants will be fine if its leaves are above water. water lillies can be found at canadian tire or rona later, a couple of green hosues carry them, but as I mentioned Walmart has them in small plastic containers (ensure you can see leaves before buying though). I believe nature's corner will get pond plants, but I have never been there. I got an umbrella plant leaf from a member on here and it is growing into a plant, I also found one in a green house which doesn't carry pond plants. ebay has some decent deals, but I prefer to keep it local. You could also collect wild plants too (ensure there is no restriction in your area and avoid collecting endangered/protected species).

I am planning on setting up a 55g marine tank. I am unfamiliar with the use of RO/DI units. Which RO/DI units or brands do you suggest that are good for Alberta water?

Hmmm... Perhaps a good thing I didn't add more than a few dormant cattails with this recent snow dump... (okay, who is doing the snow dance?! Show yourself or we will hold the snowman hostage!) Inside is a bit greener. I overwintered a couple of water lillies, cattails, and parrots feather. My water lilies have been in a tub of water for the last month, they are growing and are doing better than I expected. My parrots feather is actually in a regular flower pot on my window sill - I have to submerge cuttings for a couple of weeks for them to convert to the underwater oxygenator role. I think it is still one of the prettiest plants if it hangs down from a pot into the water and grows across the surface. This weekend I bought a few plants that should do as marginals - canna lilly, calla lilly, umbrella plant, purple pickerel, and a blazing star. Also bought some water lettuce and hyacinth. I was surprised when the greenhouse worker told me that they ordered lots of pond plants and had almost completely sold out (I got the last 5 floaters! :smokey: )... I came across some water lilly bulbs in Walmart - didn't pay much attention at first as I didn't have any luck with a couple that I had bought last year. But a hint of green caught my eye! I checked, and sure enough, 1 out of 3 pots had small lilly shoots trying to grow out of the plastic bag. $10 beats the $40 the nursery wanted... I picked up 2, and the next day they were scrambling to reach the surface (3-4" growth overnight...). Can't wait until Rona/Canadian Tire get their pond plants, they often get oddities that the green houses don't carry. My goldfish are more than ready to go out... These are what I kept from last year. I also have a 10g quarantine tank full of smaller pretty ones that caught my eye - and 3 small 3" koi... The koi weren't doing well and the pet store was going to flush them as they were afraid of an unknown disease. They are doing fine now that they have an airstone and the water isn't sky-high in ammonia. The pond can handle them this year, but I lack room to permanently house one 4 foot fish, let alone three! I already promised some goldfish to Balikiss this fall, and I am sure some koi wouldn't be turned down - right Balikiss?

Not much experience with canisters, but I love my Rena Xp3. It does its job on my Heavily stocked 65g goldfish tank and is a breeze to clean. Replacement media is easy to find even 2hrs from a large city. Parts are readily accessible if they are ever needed. Not bad on power either. I would have liked to try Eheim, but lacked the funds and a source for the media...

Lol. I wonder who decided to add that to the letter? It must have generated a discussion! I can't imagine some of the reactions you get when you tell people that you have 14 tanks... People think I am crazy for 4 fish tanks! Then think I am totally nuts when they find out I have a 55g and a 65g, the other two are a 10g and a 12g. Then they ask the names of my fish...

I resize mine and then host them on photobucket. You can then copy the 'image link' and paste when you are composing your post. Picture quality depends on your camera and skill. Skill and practice seems to be the key - or you can do like me and take 100 pics for 1 good one... This post helped me: http://albertaaquatica.com/index.php?showtopic=1403 I find that I can only take pictures with one setting on my camera, just fiddle around and see what works for you. I am not very good with technology and their terms. Perhaps someone more 'camera oriented' can guide you further.

I am afraid that I can't do much about the condo board and its rules. As for overwintering, the lfs takes most of the feeder fish back that I bought that spring - because they are bigger and command a higher price, I only overwinter my few favorites. Or just perhaps move the pond inside? An indoor pond would be cool, especially if you make it look permanent - a study/attractive wood frame which hides the cheaper container and filter. Call it an oversized plastic fish tank. Does the condo even allow fish tanks? or are they too worried about the strain that the dead weight would put on the building structure?

No offense meant, but in another forum I am on, they have a buy/sell and a trade section and there are many double postings as many wish to sell the item(s), but will also entertain a trade... I see the value when it is a plant for plant swap, or coral for coral, but it can sometimes create a mess when you go deeper than that... Just my two cents.

Pair of what? guppies/endlers are fairly common; killies depends on the variety - there is a killifish association that could probably provide you (and mail it to boot) practically any killi species you are after. I would try the buy/sell forum first. I know that I, and many others, can easily spare a fistful of java moss. Snails shouldn't be a problem depending on species, I would stay away from the 'pest variety' in that small a tank. spixis, mysterys, etc should be fine. (I have a few spixis I could spare, but you could try the buy forum for someone closer if you want - I have never shipped anything live)

What do you classify as a pond? My 6yr old neighbor kid convinced his parents to put a 80-90 gallon storage container on the deck (from Canadian tire), for which he is going to buy a water lilly, 2 water lettuce, and 10 mountain cloud minnows. From $3 week allowance, he figures he already has enough - I didn't have the heart to tell him most lillies around here are $30+. I will probably give him some other nice marginals I wintered over instead. Doesn't need to be huge to be a pond! (look at my pond made from a $45 kiddie pool...)

I would look at the water you are using to help decide. I decided long ago that I will not play 'chemical engineer' with my tap water, and thus only have species that thrive in very hard water. I would also look at experience or how much time you are willing to dedicate. Some species are more demanding than others with breeding and fry rearing. Both look good, it is a matter of personal preference. Look at the individual breeds within those two species and find one that you really want to breed. It will make it that much easier. Best of luck!

Problem with 3g generally is lack of heat and aeration. You could go with a planted tank with shrimp and snails - probably one of the easiest. I can recommend cherry shrimp and spixi snails as both are in high demand and can bring a bit of money in as they breed. But I found an article in a magazine recently about a fish that doesn't mind lack of aeration. Where was it.... - a tree killifish, the mangrove killifish. A true hermaphrodite that hobbists have had great success with in 1 gallon jars with just javamoss and duckweed - but highly aggressive. You could try a terrarium type tank as they don't need lots of room and they have been known to 'go for walks'. perhaps a 'mountain range' between two pools each with their own fish? Here is one link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-48...onths-tree.html