Blue Ram

Thank you for taking the time to post that.

I'm starting up a rena xp3 I bought used so I have no manual. Can someone who has one running pls tell me how to start it up - how does the priming work?? There is a value near the spray bar - when do you close this??

I have raised in excess of 200 fry from three different spawns. Never had any tails that were not straight.

I too, have a pair of these kribs from Ken. They are absolutely gorgeous.

I don't use RO water for my discus, however if your tank is small enough you may want to consider using at least 1/2 RO. Water changes depend on size, quantity and how much you are feeding. My two discus tanks (55 gals) get two changes of approx. 35% each week. They are now 6" and very healthy with this regime.

Very nice shell dwellers - I have not seen that one in Calgary.

PM sent.

I just sold 60 albino BN fry @ 1 inch and am now raising my second batch. My pair spawn every 5 weeks! I removed the wrigglers this time as there was no way they would survive in a community tank with large rainbowfish. The time before that I removed the eggs at about 4 days. They all hatched and had no losses. I raised them on fresh zucchini and canned green beans - easy as pie.

I have successfully treated this parasite with levasimole. Prazipro & metro will not kill this parasite so I would save your medications for some time when you need them. Levasimole hydrochloride is the only thing to use. You treat the tank once, leave the medication in for 24-36 hrs. - do complete water changes and use carbon is remove all medication. You can repeat the treatment in 2-3 weeks however I did not. I was able to get this medication from a source in BC.

I am either going to go with an all male peacock setup or a 1 colony tropheus. Any suggestions on where to purchase these species. There are some nice tropheus on Aqua.bid but no shipping to Canada. Another issue I want to address is if I go with a tropheus tank, do these fish breed like rabbits?? I don't want to start a fish farm! The information I've read to date suggestions that the spawns are very small.

Your discus still have a lot of growing to do if they are in the right environment. I would not put them in the 33g. For starters, 50% weekly is not enough water changes. The plants do not take up all of the unwanted organics caused by the fish. My 5-6 inch discus are still in a bare bottom tank being fed 3 times a day. This is the best environment for good growth. The ph is not as important as keeping the water stable and clean. Why do you have one separated from the other two discus?

When I first got into tropical fish 3 years ago I wanted a cichlid tank. I very quickly got sidetracked into other species (see my signature) and never did set up a cichlid tank. I would now like to convert my 50 gal into a cichlid tank. I would like as many suggestions/ideas as you members can come up with for stocking suggestions. My criteria: is 50 gal too small - that is the first consideration because I am not willing to go any larger due to my other tank commitments. I do not want any breeding to occur so I would like males only, minimal aggression (I keep a very close eye on aggression and compatibility in my tanks). I obviously want beautiful colored fish of high quality that are appropriate in size for a 50 gal. (no dwarf cichlids please). I would like to aquascape with dark sand and rock. I am planning on doing some research but I thought you cichlid lovers would be a great resource!! Thanks in advance for taking the time to add your suggestions.

75+55+50+46+15+10=251g. Too much! - need to eliminate 50+10

Can I ask where you purchased the tank or did you have it made. It looks rimless?? I'd like that size for my discus. By the way discus would look awesome in there with a large school of cardinals!!

I had to replace my kitchen faucet last night. I was able to attach the python (with the adapter) to this faucet by removing the washer and screwing on the white adapter and then the python housing. The adapter I have will not work on this new faucet. Before I start to panic that I have 5 large tanks to change water on (including two discus tanks) without a python, can anyone tell me if the python will only work on certain types of faucets? Will it work on a bathroom faucet?? Are there other adapters I can get?? Where would be the best place to go for this type of equipment?? My plumber will kill me if I ask him to take out this faucet and replace it with one the adapter works on. Help!!

Beautiful tanks and great photos. You have some of my favourite fish!

Melafix is very effective at healing wounds if that is what it is. Treat for about 5 days - is very safe and fish does not have to be quarantined.

I use these diffusers. Can't get them in Calgary. Aquagiant in Edmonton carries them. About $15. They do need cleaning every so often because the ceramic clogs up.

Ok even though my original post was in February, 07 I have not had time to raise these fry. I had a new spawn two days ago and have just moved the driftwood with the eggs into a 5 gal with a sponge filter. Most of the eggs have hatched. Three questions - should I add anything to the water - I will be using aged water ie. methylene blue?? - when do I start feeding them?? - what temperature is best for the fry?? I thought I would start with NLS wafers and frozen shelled peas. If they do well for the next ten days I will move them into a 10 gal. Any other suggestions or comments??

Make sure you have a reliable ph tester on hand when you set it up and I would advise keeping a close eye on it for 24 hrs, monitoring the ph and watching your fish friends. Are you setting it up on a timer?

If you are considering investing in a pressurized system, I would also upgrade your lighting. 1.5 w/g is considered low light. If your low lights plants are doing well, not sure how much of a benefit you are going to get with C02 with that light.

I purchased mine from aquariumplants.com. I bought a 10 pound aluminum tank from Nature's Corner in Edmonton. If I recall, I think the total was approx. $300.

Harold if this pair is in your community discus tank, you may want to consider moving them to a breeding tank (30 gal or so). Unless the fry attach to the parents, the likelihood of raising them is probably very slim. This would be much easier for the fry if the parents were separated.

This happened to me on an ac filter. I would suggest taking the filter completely apart, give it a cleaning, and then put it back together again. There is probably a lose connection somewhere.

Have you done any research to make certain that all of these fish are compatible with discus. Your water should be at least 84 degrees for the discus. I would watch the plecos and the ghost knife very closely to make sure they do not bother your discus. I would purchase 3 more discus. A group of five will be alot happier than two or three.