d0hb0y

Thanks for the info, i was thinking of letting the water sit for a day or so then taking a reading. What really baffles me is my puffer tank uses the same water and it has no ammonia. The 10G puffer tank is fairly stocked with Java moss, java fern and anubias. Do you think it might have something to do with the plants?

About the Python... I would definitely be interested in the python, i'll pm you. The tank is cycled, and it does have fish in it (6 Zebra Danios and 5 Cherry Barbs, unfortunately a few weeks ago I came home to my 6th cherry barb stuck in the intake ). I've just been waiting for the tank to mature more before I get the angelfish my wife and kids desperately want. I'll switch over to Prime as of tomorrow. Anyone else have some comments/opinions?

LOL nope, she's not into "Snorno"

Thanks for the quick reply! I'm amazed that the ammonia would jump like that in a month. I have been using BA's water conditioner but I bought a bottle of prime last week and was going to switch over to it when the BA water conditioner was done. I'll start using it tomorrow. I've been monitoring the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels for the last week, i've also been doing daily water changes (i am seriously thinking of getting a Python system, my arms are tired from all those water changes this week, plus it takes ALONG time). I'm just scared that the ammonia levels won't go down and i'll have to take other (more expensive) measures to get this tank ready for angelfish.

Thanks Timbruun for the tip on testing ammonia on my tap water... I did that and got some interesting results. When I got my 38G tank, I tested my tap water first. Back in December it read 0ppm for ammonia. Today it reads 0.5ppm. I tested all the taps in my apartment and I get the same reading. I tested the water in my 10G puffer tank with plants and it reads perfect, 7.8pH, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and roughly 5ppm nitrate. But my 38G reads 7.8pH, 0.5ppm Ammonia (this week it sometimes shoots up to 1), 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate. About 2 weeks ago I removed the carbon in my filter and replaced it with some plastic scrubbers (sorry can't remember the name right now). I'm confused on what to do now, should I start using an ammonia removal chemical? I didn't think that removing the carbon in my HOB would cause this ammonia problem, should I put it back? I have a bottle of Seachem Prime, will that help with the ammonia? Please help!

Thanks a lot for all the great info so far. I went to Pet$mart the last week and they gave me 2 more ramshorn snails and 3 pond snails for FREE!!!. I'm going to have to give that snello recipe a try, sounds interesting! I've also found some other "snail food" recipes online and will post them shortly. Last night when I was doing their water change I noticed yellow jell like blobs on some of the leaves and bottom of the tank. Could these be clutches of eggs? This morning when I checked in on them, the two ramshorn were "going at it" (freaked my wife out lol!)

I've noticed that there is a hard white film/layer on top of my ornaments in my 38G tank. It looks like I can scratch it off with my fingernail and/or toothbrush. I've also noticed that my ammonia levels are around 0.5ppm regularily. I've done daily water changes and the ammonia won't go down. Could this be related to the white film/layer on the ornament? I've attached two pictures so you all can see what i'm talking about. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks for the link, i tried searching late last night and couldn't find anything on these forums. Guess I should have paid more attention, I feel like an idiot

I'm going to build a sponge filter and am stuck on which air pump I should get. It's for a small tank 10G and it would be for my snail breeding tank. It would have to be quiet, the wife and kids are light sleepers and don't want to hear anything at night. I've done some online shopping and went around to a few of the stores in town and as usual i'm getting quite a bit of mixed opinions/reviews. I'd like to hear some of your opinions before I decide which one to get. Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the tip!! I'm in the process of starting a snail farm to feed the puffers. I got the puffers eating mysis shrimp right now but will eventually switch them over to live snails. Is there a way to quarrantine or "clean" them out before feeding them to my puffers? I think i read somewhere to have the snails alone in a seperate tank for a month and they should be ok. Does anyone have anymore info on this?

My mistake, I was looking for Java MOSS. I got Java Fern last Wednesday from natures corner store. I've only been there twice, but it's a great little shop! Thanks for the great info everyone! I'm probably going to get that 5.5 Gallon tonight from BAs. As for the snails, I didn't buy them lol. 4$ is a bit crazy, i'll probably see if the Pet$mart near there might have some free snails. If not, Jvision, I might just come knocking :P

I'm about to start breeding Ramshorn Snails for my pea puffers. I got one ramshorn snail (Like 5mm in diameter) from some plants I purchased last week (Still looking for Java Fern ). It's sitting in a very small Tupperware container with a plastic plant, piece of cuttlebone and some flake food. I do 90% water changes every 2 days to try to keep this little guy alive. I can only hope he's carrying eggs! I have a few questions about snail breeding for the more experienced aquarists on this site. I'm thinking about getting a 5.5G starter tank from BAs for the snails. It's a typical starter tank with a hood, HOB filter, light and i think a heater. Do you guys think it's a good idea to get this tank for the snails? Some of the information i've been reading about breeding snails says to go to your LFS and ask for some free snails. I tried doing so this morning at my LFS and the guy said they would charge me $4 per small snail. $4 is not bad, but for that price I could be buying quarter sized apple or mystery snails. My concern is with these "free snails" I really don't know what breed they are (Pond, Ramshorn, MTS, ETC) would this cause a problem with breeding? Or do they cross breed? And lastly, does anyone know where I can get some ramshorn or pond snails at a decent price? This snails are going to be used to feed my puffers so i'm not looking at getting them OVERLY large.

That's too bad Sorry to hear of your loss, he looked like an amazing fish!

I stopped by BA's today and saw they have Pea Puffers. I did some online research into them today and found out "Pea Puffers" are a type of Dwarf Puffers. There's not a lot of info on pea puffers (Or I couldn't find any info on them) so I guess my question is... Are Pea Puffers just infant Dwarf Puffers? Has anyone everyone had any experience raising Pea Puffers? TIA!

Should be fine. Even if you don't soak it it probably won't affect your water parameters too much (so I hear). Thanks, i'll soak it in hot water overnight before i add it to my tank tomorrow.

It's a small piece of Malaysian wood

Sorry if this has been answered before, I tried doing a search about it but couldn't find anything. I was just at a LFS and saw some pieces of wood on sale. So I picked one up for 4 bucks, small piece nothing spectacular. It's called Geosystem Wood from Hagen. I brought the wood home and it's soaking in a bucket of hot water and the water in the bucket is turning a real dark brown (The excess tannins i assume). I'm curious if theres anything else I should do with this small piece of wood before added it to my 38G tank. TIA!

I'll have to agree with JLake, the advice and help i've gotten from everyone on this site has been amazing. It's alot better than any other forum i'm part of. Kudos to all the members of this site! :thumbs: :thumbs:

Thanks everyone for all the great advice!!! Now it's time to get my tank ready for some panda corys!!! Thanks again everyone!! I'm really glad i found these forums!

This is the type of gravel I got from BA in Edmonton for my 38 Gallon tank. 38G Gravel This is the type of sand I got from BA for my 10 Gallon Tank. 10 Gallon Sand Would either of these substrates be ok for the panda corys i'm gonna get? TIA!!! :smokey:

On the other forums out there I got no replies, just wanted to say thanks to all of you who replied. It's been a few days and my betta is SOOO much happier in his small 1 Gallon tank, which is kind of sad. It would have been nice to see him in my new 10 Gallon. Oh well, time to look at stocking the other tank :thumbs: Thanks again for all your help guys!

Thanks for the replies so far! I've been doing some research and i will probably get a apple snail for each tank, for appearance and helping with maintaining the tank. Theresa: Thanks for the info, i'll look further into the dwarf corys. I'm still curious about the Corys and the gravel substrate I have in my bigger tank. I'm still getting a lot of mixed opinions and would to know if some aquarists have had some similar experiences they would like to share.

Sad to say it but he's going to be stuck in his 1 Gallon for a bit. This particular betta fish is probably the most picky fish i've ever taken care of. We've kept an eye on him all day today and he's so much happier in his 1 gallon. He's calm, swimming around, sleeping in his plastic plant and blowing his bubbles. For the first time in 3 days he's eaten all his food. So we decided this betta will stay in the 1 gallon. I was doing daily 30% - 50% water changes per day and I went out to get a turkey baster today to help clean his 1G tank better. I've been doing some research on "bettafix" online and using "less than" the recommended dosage due to some posts i've read. The betta seems to be coping well with the treatment. I've also read on some sites to put an airline into his tank and it will help with cleaning the water, but i've also read that bettas don't like water movement. Anyone care to share their thoughts on this?

Sorry for the long post, but i have some questions that I hope some of the more experienced people on this forum could clear up! :thumbs: I'm considering getting some bottom dwellers for my 38 gallon and 10 gallon tank. Here is what i have in the tanks so far 38 Gallon - 6 Cherry barbs, 6 Zebra Danios and future home for Angelfish, Gravel substrate (Rocks are a little bigger then green peas) 10 Gallon - Empty, black sand substrate, Haven't decided which fish to put in there but wife is really leaning towards Tequila Sunrise Guppies after seeing them at PJs Pets yesterday. I was thinking of getting a mix breed (3 pandas 3 Albinos, etc) of 6 Corys for my 38G or 4 Corys for my 10G. I want to also get a snail for each tank and maybe some shrimp. I've been doing some research and i've been getting some conflicting opinions which is making it a bit more confusing! So hopefully you guys can help clarify somethings. Corydoras - I read online that my substrate in my 38G is too big and will damage their tentacles and scrape their underbellies. I talked to some people at the LFS and I get the same opinions but some say that my substrate will be ok for them. If the substrate in my 38G is too big, I was thinking of putting 4 panda corys into my 10G tank. So it's kind of an either or thing, not both unfortunately. Will the substrate in my 38 Gallon hurt the Corydoras and should I put them in the 10 gallon? Snails - Is one per tank going to be enough, i'm still looking at the different types of snails but i'd prefer not to wake up one morning and find 20 of them hatched overnight. Shrimps - Never had them before and would like to give them a try. I heard they can help clean the bottom of the tanks really well. Plus i read they are fun to look at. I was thinking maybe a few in one tank or the other. Are these 3 "bottom dwellers" going to be compatible with each other? Will they be compatible with their current and future tank inhabitants (Angelfish and (possibly) Guppies)? Will this amount of fish be too much for either tank? Thanks in advance for all the advice!

Well we watched him for most of the day yesterday and found out it was him getting all "flared up", thrashing around and getting his fins caught on the plastic part of the "water flow minimizer", a plastic plant, and the suction cups on the heater. We went out and got Bettafix and put him back in his one gallon tank. He seems to be a lot happier now and this morning I saw him swimming about calmly and blowing bubbles again, plus he's eating his food! Thanks again for all the advice! I hope we can heal his fins back to normal and dodge the "fin rot" :P