Jayba

2x4's then plywood then place it on Styrofoam and it'll be bulletproof. You could even skip the plywood. I use 1 inch blue insulating foam to allow any variations in pressure under the tank to be balanced out. Good luck

I have had many failures. Many...and many successes. I have found so many breeding failures have been because of young parents. Like many humans, just because we can go through the motions of breeding, doesn't mean we are good at it. Most things that are worth doing take practice. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to make fish breed. It's simple really. A happy well fed fish wants to breed, but what circumstances or triggers cause it? You pick up tricks along the way, and the Internet has definitely sped up the learning process. Allowing us to research habitats looking for hints. Take it slow. Change one thing at a time as there are a ton of variables. Multiple water parameters, lighting intensity, lighting duration, temperature, water hardness, PH, atmospheric pressure,hydrostatic pressure, food, tank mates, spawning areas, water current etc. I have had many challenges. The key is to be persistent. I had trouble with rams and apistogrammas for the longest time till I figured out they need a night light. I have felt defeated and certain fish have been the bane of my hobby but I'm a stubborn one. L-134 pleco drove me nuts. I sold them all ticked off, then 6 months later bought a dozen again. Finally after they were 2 years old or so I finally figured out a trick that worked. Bred 100's since. Cardinal tetras are my latest frustration. They breed no problem, but you think I can keep the little buggers alive?! Also the new Wapoga Red Laser rainbowfish. These are proving to be difficult to keep alive when very small. Really, if the hobby was simply keeping fish alive I would have left long ago. I enjoy a challenge, its the lateral thinker in me that enjoys it...even when I am in the middle of it and it feels like I am hitting my head on a rock. But my list of future failures will be vast and I will get through it. One step at a time. The only fish that has whooped me was a group of Barilius Canarensis. I think they were too young. But who knows, maybe all 6 were the same sex? I will find them again and give them another try. Someday....

That humming is the coil that is either defective or just poorly built. The resistance will change after it warms up and cause it to loosen up, thus the hum. You can pick up a new coil for about 12 bucks off ebay or hit the electrical wholesalers in Edmonton. Any questions feel free to PM me. Jay

Jason nailed it. This is how multiple tank syndrome starts....

I had a Geophagus eat a ram that was too big. 2 very nice dead fish. Not sure of the mechanics to choking to death for a fish but it happens...

-I use sand as a substrate. I simply sift it and toss the ones I catch. -Feed less food (no food. No snails) -squish them as you see them. -cut a 600 ml pop bottle in half and invert the spout end into the fat end. Drill a hole in the cap big enough for snails but small enough to keep out fish. Toss some stinky food in it, fill it with water and drop it in the tank. Dump and refill in the morning. -feed fish just enough and slow enough that food doesnt make it to the tank substrate. Snails are actually good to have in your tanks, but they are prospering because there is too much food in the tank Good luck

Aah. Got it. Yeah I use mine to set it and after that I ignore it and it runs dry. From time to time I will fill it up and take a peek, but my Swagelock needle valve is quite the valve. It'll do 3 bubbles a minute accurately if need be...

Um. I don't want to come across as argumentative, I am ignorant to the differences. Why would you use anything other than water? I have always used water and don't understand the theory behind using other liquids? Wouldn't something that has a different viscosity simply give you a different sized bubble and therefore bubble volume (count)? Maybe colors would be a neat gimmick? But bubbles per second is simply a measure that would be specific to that particular counter, fluid makeup and the pressure. Just an item to make an educated guess as to the amount of gas we pump in. Not like the equipment is standardized so that a bubble has a set volume of gas. My bubble count was always high, but I also only used 5050 RO water so water hardness was always my limiting factor with respect to ph and Co ppm. So can someone enlighten me?

Maybe toss it in some water with a double or triple dose of prime for a day or 2? Just a thought

A high tech tank will have CO2, ph controller etc. A low tech tank won't. I would think that both can ghost fertilizers though. hi text tanks will have higher lighting as well as nutrient demands.

500 gallons for me. 12 tanks

Both posts are correct. I use a jimmy rigged Python, I dont use a pump, just gravity. One advantage of the snails is that if say, your filter packs it in. You will notice that suddenly the snails are all on the glass heading for the surface. A great visual cue. If their numbers get out of control, simply sift the sand with a strainer and toss the ones you catch in the garbage.

Another thing is that markings can be mood dependant. I have seen little 1.2 cm cichlids flare and act territorial. The submissive guys will wash out.

I have 2 of these, and a single light strip. I have a Styrofoam box that fits overtop that keeps the temp just right and blacks out the fish room. I like them because after every batch I can give them a 2 second wipe easily. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brine-Shrimp-Hatchery-Guppy-Daphnia-triop-green-algae-/180605439241?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0cec4d09

Mine had them after a couple weeks for sure. I don't recall if they had them right away. But it may also depend on tbe collection location of lithobates you have. Just a guess though.

These were recalled. Just a FYI Was it because of my previous comment? ] Not sure the reason why I didn't really read the details as I don't own them.

These were recalled. Just a FYI

Good filter, most filters are good filters for different reasons. There were some earlier Eheims Pros that would leak. I would call their customer service and get the latest fix, they will tell you based on serial number if it is one of the generations that had problems. Maybe you can have the parts long before there is a problem. Kudos to your girlfriend for shelling out for a good and expensive filter. I have owned Sunsun, classic Eheim, Fluval, and Rena. They all are decent filters. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

it depends on what type of algae it is, and what type of pleco you have. Hard spot algae won't be touched by a pleco. That being said, a pleco like a Hypansistrus or Peckoltia are more carnivore with a hankering for some greens and not an effective algae Eater. Nothing beats a bristlenose for algae eating.

One of the best parasite articles I have read in a while about fish disease. http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/exotic_and_laboratory_animals/fish/parasitic_diseases_of_fish.html

with the dimmer, and the control cable for the controller, the suspension hardware, and the shipping it came to about 480. I am gonna use CO2 and see if it's enough light. If not I will get a second one . Time will tell.

I am pretty sure that those ones don't offer the light spectrum that will grow plants. I have Beamswork LED's as well as Current brand LED lights over my fry tanks, and keeping even java moss alive is impossible, my Finnex is a tad better, but it's still tough. LED's for specific planted tanks offer different light spectrum, and ZooMed does offer special plant modules that contain 1 6000K LED and 2 two blue 465nm LEDS. The fixture I ordered has 25 different color LED's to cover the entire spectrum of light. So there is quite a bit to it. Thus the price difference for example for Marineland regular and Marineland planted.

I have been shopping for a LED fixture that grows plants really well for a while. Last night I ordered a 6 foot LED light for my 125 gallon tank that I am going to be planting in the near future. I am super stoked! Anyone who has a 6 foot long tank can appreciate a LED fixture that grows plants can be a ridiculous amount of money. I found these guys through theplantedtank.com. Not only can you fully customize the fixture for led color, lense angle etc. Their customer service is awesome, I called because I had a few questions about lens angle, and the guy I spoke to was amazing! It has a dimmer switch that can turn the lights up or down, to change brightness for your needs($15.00). The accessories are cheap! LED light color choices are 3200k, 5000k, 6000k, 6300k, 7000k,1000k, 13000 kelvin, or a mixture of your choice! Whatever spectrum you prefer. It can be run by a controller to simulate sunrise, full sun and sunset if you have one! Suspension kits are $25 and all the accessories are very reasonable to buy. You can get them in black or silver cases so they match your decor if you are fashion conscience.Shipping was about 60 bucks, from Texas. Not bad I guess. Sent USPS so no brokerage fees like UPS! Merry Xmas to me! Now I have to just figure out how to tell my wife.......My "It's easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission" slogan might get my butt sleeping on the couch in the glow of the new light. HAHA http://www.buildmyled.com/aquarium/

On yet another note, if anyone wants to stop by for a visit. I have way more than I would ever use.

Yip. like Val said. Add water, shrimp and some Java moss and wait. Mine eat NLS or whatever is in the tanks. Just keep in mind. Keep in mind that shrimplets are really tiny and easily vacuumed up by accident. For my shrimp tanks I usually usually siphon into a bucket before dumping it out. Saved a ton of them from a certain death.