Fisher

Yep, its going to be the big CAOAC convention weekend/auction on May 18-19th! http://www.edmontonfish.com/

I might actually make it to that one... yay!

Would it be easier if there were fewer plants in the tank?

So I'm the first to admit that I know nothing about saltwater tanks. But I was just reading articles on the uses and functions of proteins skimmers. It seems to me a protein skimmer might be very useful in a freshwater aquarium. Is this something that can be done? not recommended. Totally unnecessary? Actually beneficial?

Any thoughts?

Surface skimmers are intended for FW applications. I use one to deal with the oily film symptom.

So how was your hour? Productive Im guessing? Or maybe, like me, you got into the project and an hour turned into 2, 2.5, 3 lol.

My hour turned into 2 because I had to pause for ice cream.... that I saw my wife preparing as I peeled downstairs last night.

March 23: Framed the top. I used 6" centers.

Next step: Deck the bottom before attaching the top.

March 24: Forgot all about the next step and attached the top. Aw pith!

Next step: Put the table saw in the middle of the basement floor (done) and deck the bottom :rofl:

Or a worm composter!

sho 'nuff!

Hi Folks.

I picked up a few cabomba (sp.) stems from a very kind hobbyist several months ago (not from AA). I stuffed the plants in my tank. Within a few weeks, it was obvious I had two very different plants. One stem grew fast and dwarfed the rest, which was rewarding, But within a month it became a nuisance. The other stems just couldn't keep up, so I pulled it out and tossed it in the compost pile.

After looking at some web photos, and horsing around with a taxonomy browser, I identified the plant as Myriophyllum spicatum. Maybe you recognize its common name, Eurasian watermilfoil from those "Invasive Species Advisory" signs by boat launches and beside the highway.

It's not ordinary for me to flush a plant, certainly not a broad leaf. But with a wispy plant like cabomba (which would easliy pass through a sewer pipe like a turd) I couldn't say the thought wouldn't cross my mind. It's not a stretch to suggest this same unknowing, unintentionality lead to the impact of P. crispus in Canadian waters.

My point isn't to discourage plant sharing, rather, to raise awareness.

We don't have to be experts at plant taxonomy. But we can practice safe plant disposal :shifty: by using a garbage bag.

Happy Easter AA!

edit: spell check

nice!

I'm going to take your joist approach to build the top. We'll see what I can do in an hour.

The self-same moment I could pray;

And from my neck so free

The Albatross fell off, and sank

Like lead into the sea.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (NY: Appelton, 1857), 31.

nice job looks really good! :thumbs:

.

Let us know how the story turns out vaughan

Finally heard back from Eheim support. They are going to send me a new pump primer seal as that could be where its leaking from since the water is filling up the lid. I guess we'll have to see if that fixes it.

I've been following your progress Valerie. I'm an Eheim Classic guy, so I don't know much about the anatomy of the Pro lines. But I do know that the smallest cut or nick or dimple in an O ring is enough to permit a leak. The mechanics of reinsertion is enough to flatten the round profile of an O ring over time too.

Probably nothing new here - Happy O rings need lube and a clean (grit-free) sealing surface. Wetting the seals and cleaning the seal seats before reassembly is always a good practice.

Maybe you already have your replacement seal in place and all is well by now...

what do you guys use to get rid of the surface films?

i've got one of those 15 dollars plastic ones hooked up, but my fish like to hang out around it and every now and then go on a wild ride into the filter

im not such a huge fan of their watersports and would like to explore a safer option

any help?

I use a skimmer like this.

On the Tom style skimmers, the gaps on the top strainer cup is 3/32" wide. I adjust mine so cup drops just enough to present 1/8" of that gap under the surface. The only fish that will go for the screaming ah have to pass through an 1/8" square. If your fish are getting pulled into the lower intake, a coarse sponge can solve that.

What do you have for fish vaughn?

lol dont worry, if it goes south ill compost the works and grow tomatoes in it!

think of the kitties...

Dalmore 15yr eh? Now that sounds like nice addition to all of this mess Maybe if I sat looking at my tanks drinking scotch more often, I wouldnt get so antsy :rofl: Then again......

yah! then again :drunk: my thoughts exactly. who needs a hot tub?

Except that I didnt even wait a month before starting my dsm npt lol. Couldnt help it. My HM wasnt really doing much in my 60 gal so I got antsy.

That's just not like you James.

The goal with this tank is to avoid using the sand cap over the dirt/kitty litter mix sub. I realise that this is something that folks will have a problem with,

According to the Baensch Advanced Aquarium Atlas Vol 2 (2nd ed.): "Kitty litter and aquariums go together just like Dalmore 15yr and hot tubs." Says right here 1st full paragraph on page 37!

Sometimes nay-sayers are just less bold. You're having fun with the paradigm, and isn't that the point after all?

Just remember, there's lots of kittys in the world that don't have litter to © r@ p in.; don't (ahem) waste it.

so it turns out that my guppy didnt die of natural causes. she was sucked into my filter...boo. shes been in there for a week tho, so that may explain a part of my ammonia. Will have to see later on if thats the case.

update. Tank is NH3/4 0ppm as of today. will switch to w/c every other day with continued daily testing for the next week. Found more runners off my pygmy swords today as well. Not that they are appearing daily, just noticing more. Feeling good about this tank. If things continue this way for the next month or so, considering a dry start npt to experiment with next

So, you have a cycled tank, a decaying guppy, PCS runners and a quelled anxiety inside of 3wks? Now that's commendable! A fun thread to read on a sunny Sunday aft!

I also run the Eheim 3581 when I have to. But I've only ever used it with food that will flow or roll Antonio.

The decapsulated brine I have flows like fine sand. But I wonder how it'd perform with µ foods that have the consistancy of talc.

I'm feeding my fry both decap and 5-50µ golden pearl; the µ pearl is like dust. And it doesn't fall through the smallest opening in my 3581.

Here's a Grässlin feeder I spied when I picked up some goodies from Dr D last fall. It's not battery operated.

The obvious advantages is that it permits feeding a variety of foods instead of just one, to a max of 28 trays.

And the tray drops to dump its contents like a dump truck, which might push µ foods that don't readily flow.

Maybe it's an over-analysis.*shrug* I concede I have that propensity.

edit: fixed the botched lynx

time to build number 2!

I think the gnomes in our basement got a better offer from Travelocity. So I'll wait until they come back in the Spring

Looks pretty good, I had one of these skimmers and it worked ok but didn't seem to adjust very well, then when I finally had it adjusted nicely it fell off the suction cup bracket thing. This might have been the answer to my problems

The press fit is tight enough that the installation kit could suspend the skimmer on its own. So I sanded little, and checked the fit often.

Originally, I was thinking about running a rigid pipe down to the elbow that comes with the Tom unit, similar to the Eheim skimmer 3535 arrangement, and attaching cups to the pipe. But the only pipe I had was... green. So this had more visual appeal to me.

Pull the flex hose off the the surface skimmers from Hagen, Tom or Fluval, and you have the essential construct for this mod.

I drilled a hole in one segment of the Eheim Installation Set 1, using a 1/2" drill bit, and sanded the hole to its final ø ID (just enough to press fit the skimmer nipple). I used old segments to fiddle with; that's why the the ones in the photos look gray/white.

These skimmers have a collector that floats with the water level. So I opted to locate the hole, a bit lower on the segment I intended to drill. Locate the skimmer too high, and the slotted collector will be too high to operate.



I inserted the skimmer nipple, about 1/8", into the hole, and tacked the arrangement to my tank glass with suction cups.

The water movement, generated by the canister, past the nipple will form a venturi, and pull water through the skimmer.

You will get more draw through the skimmer by plumbing it according to instructions. Had this arrangement been ineffective, I would've used the tee configuration (which is what I was trying to avoid).

edit: sp

simple and clean, I like the look. I find the terra cota pots add a nice touch.

bought two for $1 and split them with a hacksaw. the corys call it home.

6 weeks later.

• Stocklist: M praecox, C. duplicareous, C. pygmaeus, BN, D. dario (through I never see them).
• tacked a few more anubias to the driftwood branch, the crypts and Athabascan hygros are green and growing slowly.
• cut a one-piece lid out a slider window pane,
• Eheim installation kits (w/o spray bar) on the end of a 2215.
• Hydor ETH 200w inline heater

Next steps:

• T in a surface skimmer,
• scrape the paint off the tank ends,
• and um, work on cabinet #2.

Thanks! Is there any issue with importing fish like that? Would I need a permit?

In the spirit of keeping your next cavity check in a dentist chair, this "Bathroom Reader" might be of passing interest.

I imagine fairdeal knows plenty about import laws and exemptions to Canada.

edit: if you never tried Pho here, try it there. It's to thai pho.

I purchased a Seachem Purigen tonight along with the bag for it. I bought this thing hoping it would clear up the tannin released by my mopani wood. Does anyone have any experience with this? If so, does anyone know how long it'll take for the thing to start clearing up the water? Thanks!!

Good question colorstay. The folks at Seachem address this on their discussion board. The whole thread is a good read, but note their refrain dated 07-18-2012, 16:46.

Thanks for the reply guys. I have been soaking the wood in water for a week already, and there was barely any visible tannin. As soon as I placed it in the tank, tannin showed up right away.

Yup. Maybe your tank temp is teasing out more tannins.

I put tank wood on a slow boil all day; letting it soak over night to see how the water looks after morning coffee.

I have already braced it and it doesnt squeek or budge haha. My dad and I even sat on it

... and mom is probably relieved. :thumbs:

(another diy-er emerges)

Thanks for bringing this article of Tom Barr's to the fore Chelsea.

Instead of being a champion of one method, this guy distills the difference between two different approaches, to one simple point... and leaves the decision making to the reader.

A member here brought the same Tom Barr article to my attention several months ago, then vanished. I can guess why.

Merry Christmas Chelsea, if you're still around.