Gman44

I myself have not had good luck with my pleco's...unfortunately 2 have died on me in the pond??? Maybe the weather has been to cold in the past 2 month's...the temp has been a little more stable.

thanks everyone for your suggestions....lots of good stuff. if I do the cooked green peas pealed, how long do I keep them on this diet...till they right themselves up I guess???

Hello, A couple of my Fancy Goldfish(Ranchu's) have Swim Bladder issues. They either float or lay suspended nose down tale up almost vertical in the aquarium. They can pretty much still get around & feed regularly when they need to... I did a little research on this & popular treatment is to feed them cooked peas with out the skin? I haven't tried it yet...has anyone attempted this? Also open to other suggestions for treatment? Thanks.

LF - enough Filter Media to fill a FX5, sort of on a budget. Thanks, G.

Thanks....now I just need to find enough Filter Media to fill a FX5, sort of on a budget.

Marine Filter Media Compatible to Fresh? Just inquiring...can I use Marine Filter Media which has been used for a marine app...can I go & use it for a fresh water application? or can I condition it to be used for fresh or do I have purchase new media? Thanks, G.

Went a head & purchased one...not bad for the price. Still really not powerful enough to run the 1.5" Air Balls from Big Al's. Maybe if you would double up on the one stone. 2 ports per stone. Well at least I was able to turn down a few of my smaller pumps....

TOP FIN AIR PUMP AIR-8000 Any product reviews? Just wondering if anyone has one of the above mentioned Air Pump...is it any good? Air Pump AIR-8000: For aquariums up to 170 gallons...really? http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3742976&cp=2767036.2769118#RatingsDetail Fairly cheap price for what it says it does? Thanks, G.

Well, There is another Huge Ranchu for sale at Big Al's Calgary...not sure if it has been sold, just viewed it last week. Not as big as the 1st one, but still very nice. Fat & Cute face. Anyways I didn't get to ask if a private owner brought it in or came from a breeder? I would hate to think that a private owner came in to give it up for minimal store credit & have the store turn around & sell for 2X or 3X of store credit given. Myself just loving these fish...now finds myself wanting to purchase it but not for $200 bones...just way to expensive for my wallet. The owner should of sold private 1st...to give us joes a chance? Just me b*tch'in on a lost opportunity.

check out there web site & you can see the fish...www.calgaryhumane.ca

so far my pleco has been in for about 2 weeks now...yes it has been cold, have the pond covered with a heater, over night & days like today. but it has been doing it's little job in controlling the algae, you can see it's track marks. should be huge be the end of summer fall?

keep your eye on Kijiji, sometimes people practically give away their stuff... if your looking at DIY your own pond, doesn't hurt to search You Tube for the know how of a DIY Pond Filter. Easy & Cheap. Parts you can get a Home Depot for the Garden/Pond Section & Irrigation Section for the outdoor plumbing. Big Al's & Pisces were helpful too for some hard to find parts.

Ya next year I will wait till late May to stock my pond the weather does suck this spring...but we did need the moisture, grass is looking green & thick may need to cut it soon!

search DIY pond filter on You Tube...It looks easy & cheap to build. I have just purchased all the parts, just have to put it all together should be simple. maybe $50 in parts compared to $400-500 in the stores.

It was just sold for $120 ouch...took a little bit of a loss.

Hello, Does anyone know if Parrot Fish are indeed Community Fish...I know they come with a caution/warning. Maybe planning to keep them with Clown Loaches & Sydonis Catfish.

This same Ranchu is for sale again on Kijiji...not sure why the owner has just taken it home & now re-selling it. Was purchased for $260 & now willing to let go for $150 OBO. Not sure if it has sold yet...check it out. I would buy it it but can't see myself spending $150 for a fish that may pass on. My wife would kill me.

not very big, small for a pond 75G...may upgrade to a larger pond next year.

Update. Re-applied the heater & covered the pond with plywood & laid down some old carpet on top. A good sign this morning was to see steam vapor of the of the water fall. Water warmer than the air. The temp held around 15C/60F...not bad, should of did that from the get go. Just make it through this week & should be coasting & only re-applying the cover on cold nights. Thanks all for the suggestions.

Ya crap with the weather as it is...I have added the heater back in & may cover the pond @ night. The Koi seem to be doing ok. They seem to lay low not expending to much energy when it's cold & get a little more action when it warms up.

Actually I put the Koi out earlier in the week...but they are doing just fine. Not to active when it is cold...but since I have thrown in a 300W heater they have been a little more active. Maybe when it get warmer I'll disconnect it... Update...the Koi are doing fine. Not very active when it get's cold. Might do the 2" Styrofoam Insulation for this weekend as it going to be colder than it has been all spring so far. May disconnect the heater to save on energy...with the water being that cold not sure if it really makes a difference. I have enough water circulation between the rock fountain & umbrella fountain should keep the water from freezing. Keep you posted...maybe next year I'll wait a little longer.

I'm assuming the attachments included with this inline heater, are not adaptable to the FX5 hosing. That's to bad...maybe if you get some reducers or adapters from the local hardware store in plumbing or irrigation departments. You just need to know the size of hoses in which you want to marry.

Hello, I'm the process or re-organizing my tanks...bringing them to the basement...to My little Man Cave. Anyways I was planning to construct on Aquarium Stand out of 2x6 doubled-up(horizontal supports) & 4x4's or 4x6's(vertical supports)...all PT. Now this stand will be housing 4 tanks, 55 gallons each. 2 each level. I'd like to think I'm pretty good in my carpenter skills...having DIY my Deck out back. Just don't want the stand to collapse under the weight? Advisable or not. Thanks.

Loaches are great for keeping the snail population down in your tank...I've had all kinds mostly Clowns. My guys have even eaten Apple Snails the size of Golf Balls.

let me know if you are ever planning to sell your Fluvals & coming down to Calgary?