Krystle

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I have the c02 line hooked up to a powerhead in the aquarium to diffuse the c02. It's in the middle of the tank, near the bottom. There is an XP3 on one side of the tank and an AC110 on the other side, as well as a large airstone. So, lots of surface agitation. I would ideally like to trim the plants once every week or so, and I do a 40% water change every week or two as it is. So I can get this c02 indicator off of ebay, hey? I guess I better get one. I don't think I currently have a KH test kit, I just have the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals master test kit. I'll have to check. If I go with 4-5 bubbles per second, how often do I need to add flourish? Will I need to start adding other fertilizers as well? Thanks!

I just set up a pressurized c02 tank on my 120 gallon heavily planted tank. What should I be aiming for as far as bubbles per second in the bubble counter? Can someone explain how to figure out what is optimal for the plants for me? I know too much c02 is harmful for the fish...

I am really hoping it is not the quick disconnect valve causing the problem, as I am always careful to push it in firmly before lowering the lever, and I have recently replaced the o-rings. I just took one of the filters apart and pulled out that black plug like T-dawg suggested, hopefully that solves the problem! I also took took some teflon tape and wrapped it around the connection where the cap screws onto the top of the intake, thinking that maybe the air is leaking in there. We shall see!

I have three Rena Filstar XP3's, all three of them are probably about 5 years old or more. They all leak air into the canister, so that the water level inside the canister when it is running is about 1 1/2 to 2" below the top. I researched it on the rena website, and concluded that my canister and quick-disconnect O-rings needed to be replaced. So I bought new O-Rings and installed them. The water level was perfect for the first day or so, but now they are all leaking air again. I read something once about putting vaseline on the O-rings to prevent air from leaking? Can anyone tell me more about this? Should this be neccessary with brand new O-rings? Does anyone have any other suggestions? These are great filters, I would hate to have to replace them all.

Nope everything is fine thats why I'm so puzzled. I have 3 commons in my 20g. Are they still acting lazy? It looks like you're already doing this, but keep an eye on their breathing. If that stays normal, then everything is probably fine.

How many common goldfish do you have in your 20 gallon? Did you test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? In my experience, goldies don't usually sit on the bottom for any extended period of time if nothing is wrong. But you never know, if your water parameters all check out, it could be nothing.

She actually works at an industrial chemical plant, and has access to the older industrial c02 cylinders that are a little banged up or whatever that they would normally throw away, but that still work great. So I should tell her I need a dry cylinder?

10 lbs it is! I'm crossing my fingers that someone will know about the syphon or dry

I have some trimmings. Let me know if you'll be coming to Sherwood Park in the next couple of days and I'll give you some. I have hyrgrophila corymbosa compacta, water sprite, and hygrophila polysperma big leaf.

Unfortunately this stand is really low, I can barely fit an XP3 under it. So the c02 cylinder will be standing beside the tank. I'm thinking a 30lb cylinder? Hopefully someone can tell me whether I need syphon or dry! lol Val I would get you one too if I could, but that might be too much to ask of her

So I have a friend who can get me a c02 tank for free. I need to know what size tank I need for a 120 gal tank. Also she needs to know if it is a syphon or dry cylinder. Any help is appreciated! thanks.

Another possibility for this tank that I really like the thought of, is having three or four breeding groups of compatible fish in it. I love having fish spawning on a regular basis in my tanks, it's one of the biggest joys of fishkeeping to me. I fully realize that mixing my breeding group of dolphins with a breeding group of red zebras and other mbuna was not the best mix for the fish. But what about Having the breeding group of dolphins and a breeding group of another hap, like red empresses or copadichromis borleyi? I used to have a group of yellow fin borleyi and I LOVED them. If I went THIS route, how many different breeding groups could I happily house in a 140 gallon? Does anyone have some suggestions for groups to try? Could I keep my electric yellows in the tank? Thanks again for any and all input~!

Wow, lots of replies! I will try my best to respond to everyone who took the time to reply to my thread Jason, thanks for the input - this goes along with what I was thinking as well. Gregman, thanks, that is a lot of information! Don't worry I have no intention of keeping the demasoni in the tank if I decide to remove the rest of the mbuna and go all hap and peacock. That is a great suggestion about the divider... I am really attached to my breeding group of dolphins, they were actually the fry of another breeding group of dolphins I had that I ended up losing in a move. They are finally at the point where they are spawning for me and I really don't want to get rid of the females. But if I used your divider suggestion I could section off a small part of the tank for the females, and then have the male dolphins in the rest of the tank with the rest of the male haps and peacocks. When I wanted to spawn them I could put the male in with the girls for a bit then take him out again. Please do share your cheap, effective divider idea! And thanks very much for the offer of some peacocks to get me started, you don't see generosity like that everyday. I have some black slate that I could offer you as a trade, it looks great in cichlid tanks. Lana Bollers - that does sound like a very nice mix of fish. I'm so sorry to hear your tank went belly up. RD and Doc Polit, it sounds like this might be a bit of a challenge to get balanced just right. Thank you for your advice. RD that is so crazy that your dolphins were really aggressive! Not that I doubt you, mine have always just been the meek ones in the tank. Probably because I kept them with a breeding group of red zebras and they are not full grown yet.

Right now i have a 140 gallon tank that is very lightly stocked with 5 electric yellows, 4 red zebras, 5 blue dolphins, some juvenile electric blues, 1 demasoni (he killed the rest), 1 female OB lab, and a single not yet coloured up aulonocara kandeense (male). With this mix and the light stocking, the fish are spawning regularly but they never seem fully colored up. Any time I try to add new fish to the mix they inevitably get killed, even if I rearrange the decor. I really feel like the current stocking is not living up to this tank's potential. I would like to try keeping my 5 blue dolphins and juvy electric blues, getting rid of the mbuna, and stocking the rest of the tank with male haps and peacocks. I've seen all male hap and peacock tanks and they are stunning. My only question is if the presence of the female blue dolphins will cause aggression problems? My blue dolphins have been the peaceful ones in the tank for the 4 or 5 years I've kept them, but i just want to make sure. thanks for any advice.

Sorry, i had just skimmed through your thread and only read "diamond drill bit" not the specific size. Best of luck finding one.