heff

As long as the structure is sturdy, it's amazing how strong wood is. I did a lot of searching and I didn't find much around the library here or the rest of the Internets, so I'm going to attempt to build the one I posted up top. Whether it looks good or not, I'll try to take some pictures along the way and post them with a shot of the final product.

Thanks for the suggestions. Yeah, the 4x4 diagram is way over the top in terms of strength (and probably cost). I'll do more searching around to see what I find. I'll post what I detemine to build.

There must be some people that have build their own stand on here. I found this site: http://www.fishandtips.com/index.php Anyone with experience tell me if the regular stand is good enough (test dimensions are 24L 12W 18H, with the half inch added, standard stand)? I'm considering building a stand for an 18gal tank mainly because most of the stands I see around look and feel cheap. Not that I'd be saving any money by building it myself but it sounds like an interesting project. It seems like this blueprint seems pretty bulletproof, considering what you see other manufactured stands looking like... but any thoughts are appreciated! Thanks!

I picked up a half dozen forktail blue eyes and I love watching them. Active at all levels of the tank, seems to enjoy some current and the watching the males show is pretty impressive.

I kept with the same bulb I've used before with success - 14W 15" Aqua-GLO T8. I've had discussions with people before about how bright the bulb is at 18,000K, but I don't mind the look and the fish don't appear to either. The graph of colors that the bulb emits is just about perfect, it's just super friggin bright. The tank has the Marina hood which sits right on top of the aquarium, so yes, about 12 inches from the bottom and I keep the water right up high. I have never used a PAR meter before so I can't tell how how much light is actually penetrating the water. The hood has the flat white reflector, which I've taken upon myself to add a tinfoil backing in an attempt to reflect as much light as possible. I need to update my signature as I stopped DIY CO2 about a month ago. I've started using Excel. Hopefully, my moss figures out a way to survive (thx fishclubgirl). I do have trace mix (Flourish Comprehensive 0.07-0.01-0.37), but when do you dose the stuff? I guess what I'm more concerned with is getting my nutrient levels proper. From what I feel I know of this stuff, it's surprising I haven't run into issues sooner. @jvision - MCI dosing, I just add KNO3 in measured doses each day until I reach the GSA bloom level, then 50% water change at the end of the week. When it's all done, I'm dosing (GSA bloom level - 1 dose) / (whole week of dosing), correct? How frequently do I need to be adding trace mix?

The bulb may be 18-24 month old. Petsmart ditched the GLO line and replaced with some Aqueon or something and I got another aqua-glo extra bulb on clearance. I'll be replacing it shortly. It has been replaced. The tank looks like it has more of a reddish glow now, which I'm assuming is a good thing. Should I just follow the Excel dosing instructions on the side? 1mL per 10gal, once per day?

I've been running my planted 10 gallon tank for a couple years now and only recently am I running into BBA. It's attached to my melon sword the worst but it's lightly spread to nearly all the leaves of every crypt I have. I realize I do not have fast growers or incredible plant density. A friend has dropped of some hornwort that I'll float at the surface and I do have some hygro that's barely holding onto life. What litlte duckweed I had died off (believe it or not) with the roots turning brown and withering away. A water test yesterday with a new test kit yielded 0.5 PO4 and 10-20 NO3. I'm trying to keep the tank low-maintenance since it sits on my desk at work, but am I taking on the impossible by trying to keep slow growing plants and wanting to have no issues? Kinda hard to see, but my christmas moss is starting to turn brown. The sword to the right of the moss ball has its green leaves turning brown. My java fern has apparently never been happier, rubbing it in with every glance I take. Going by the "Fertilizer Dosing" pinned post, I should be aiming for 1.0 - 2.0 PO4 and 10-30 NO3, correct? I like the concept of the MCI dosing guide but I only run 14W (18k aquaglo) of light so I don't know if it'd work for me. Maybe I should start EI dosing? Also, I just bought a bottle of Flourish Excel; I'll take any dosing suggestions offered... Thanks for any input ahead of time. Hugh

I picked up a half dozen of these guys from big al's yesterday ($4.99 less 30% sale) and tossed them in with my CPDs. Where the CPDs were hiding before, now they're out shoaling with the furcatas.

Wow, that's a ton of info. I've seen a few in forktails at big als from time to time and watching them show is a sight to be seen. Their tolerance of alkaline water is a plus but having them prey on their young is not ideal. Oh well; same problem with my celestial pearl danios. Thanks for the info. When I get my third tank up and running, I think these will be a fantastic primary fish.

Does anyone have these little gorgeous fish? How are they to keep, breed, watch, etc.?

This sounds fantastic. I've got a big heart for little fish and having them in a pond is a great idea. Hope they continue to do well!

All appeared to go just fine. I wound up draining it right down to the substrate and taking nearly every living thing out (some little stub plants stayed in there).

I've got a 10 gallon that I'm going to be relocating in my office. Is it generally enough to just remove the water and huff it to it's new location. I plan on supporting the bottom of the tank the best I can so it doesn't tear the seals, but is there anything else I should worry about?

Just something to keep the water moving. Reaching back and giving it a stir once an hour probably won't work eh?

I have what I believe is a 5 gallon tank that's currently sitting empty that I'm considering putting shrimp in. No filter, no heater, no light (only ambient office light. I'd probably put a small piece of wood with some christmas moss, along with some gravel from my established tank to get the bacteria going. I'd probably remove the gravel so I can vacuum the bottom easier. Do I need to worry about the water getting stagnant from no circulation? Is there anything else I need to keep in mind? I would be doing water changes once a week, which would not be an undertaking. Thanks! Hugh

It would appear that my female CPDs are carrying eggs as they're suddenly all bloated up. I've got a culture of banana worms which are fed fairly regularily as everyone seems to enjoy them. Are these too large for fry to eat? Do I need to get my hands on some infusoria? If any fry show up, I'd like to have food available for them. Thanks! Hugh

I second you on this; it seems kinda backwards.

In my previous post up top (which I did not describe very well), I give a link to the Government of Alberta website that specifically lists the species you can keep, the restrictions and the fees associated. It is perfectly legal to keep cultured native fish, providing it's within these (small) boundaries. EDIT: I did say "wild" in my previous post, but I'm incorrect there. Wherever you get them, it has to be from a cultured farm or breeder, not from a natural location.

My little tank is at work and it's nice to get away from code and get lost staring at shrimp or kuhlis.

Alright. THE answer: http://www1.agric.go...f/all/pgmsrv112 Check it out. The LEGAL way to keep a wild cultured fish species and only a few of them.

Diatoms are very common with new setups and even in old, well cycled setups where the substrate has been disturbed. This is my experience (someone correct me if I'm wrong). They go away with time and the nice thing is that diatoms are munched on my many, many algae eaters. I know that otocinclus love diatoms. I believe that amano shrimp do as well.

They had colored up nicely after an hour or so in the tank so I can hope they're enjoying themselves. I have a bunch of christmas moss and sessiliflora that they dart in and out of. Here's hopin' for fry!

Phew. That's good to hear.

I've noticed a rather large root against the glass coming from what I think is a melon sword and it's going toward the bottom corner of my tank. Has anyone ever pinpointed a tank leak or burst from a plant root digging into the tank seam? Should I not even chance it and snip this sucker off? Hugh