ckmullin

I just did the vinegar soak thing on some glass as well. Laid paper towel on the glass, soaked it with regular vinegar. I was intending to use a razor blade but got called away! When I came back several hours later the paper towel was dry, and the glass was really clean. I didn't bother scraping cause it was so good. Just rinsed and done!

Very interesting...will have to remember this. One thing that also comes to mind put a piece of saran wrap over that area...it will keep it moist much longer. When I do strip woodwork, I use the plastic sheet method to keep the stripper moist for a longer period of time. Works like a charm, everything just peels off.. I use newspaper as it seems it has a bit more body than a paper towel.

100% of having some number of fry.

100% of being a happy pappy.

If you've not bought yet and going to...don't forget about those 40%-50% off coupons.

don't think that is an excessive bubble nest...take a look here at other bubble nests.

http://www.google.co...iw=1919&bih=966

here is a blown up shot of that nest.

I've used the vinegar test and my rocks 'failed'. I really loved the shape and look of them so I researched them on the internet to find that they were in fact safe for the aquarium and my bubbling was most likely from organics or soils on the surface of them. Scrub them really good or use lots of vinegar to clean and test them. Also be careful as the surface could be porous causing small bubbles at first until they are filled.

RebelThunder hit the nail on the head: Always boil them.

very true. what might be good to counter act that is throw the rock in a pail of water. let it soak up the water first so it won't absorb any more liquid then give the acid test a try. ( of course an old toothbrush in your back pocket would be perfect for that quick scrub)

The absolute the best was would be to throw in the soil first then your gravel etc caps. That's the best way 100%.

I'd have to admit though I'm not a fan of either option. You must be very careful not to have soil closer to the top surface of the gravel as with anything that digs will always bring it up. Then depending on what is in the soil...that stuff now in the water column.

I'd really suggest if you want to put in soil and spread it around do a rebuild. imo.

http://www.parrynutr...staxanthin.aspx

interesting stuff

I read that, sounds like I should be eating the stuff!

that brings two things to mind. one, if you ingest you should have a nice reddish glow...no more suntan treatments... and second, perhaps might be for sale at the health food stores.

http://www.parrynutraceuticals.com/astaxanthin.aspx

interesting stuff

um

keep up what your doing, it looks nice.

Hello and Welcome to AlbertaAquatica !

You'll find some great info and even better people. Enjoy your stay.

use co2, dyi brew, tank or glutaraldehyde?

Try to do an acid test on them before putting them in your tank. If you put a few drops of acid on the rock an it bubbles, chances are it'll raise your pH and/or hardness.

You may want to boil or bake them as well if you're taking them out of a water source, just to kill any FW grubblies.

I've seen personally rocks that bubble with less than 5 ml of vinegar dripped on it. Use your eyes BUT also use your ears. If it sounds like that fizz/pop rock candy they used to sell years back...then there is a reaction.

Hey ckmullin,

Just had a question where do you find these nice rocks in k country. Just wondering because a buddy and me are going to go up in the next week or so to train. It'd be sweet if I could bring a couple back. That is if it's not covered in snow lol

Down hwy 66 or hwy 40. Just make sure you test when your there. I'd hate to send you on a wild goose chase as I'm sure everything is covered. Especially down hwy 40.

??? on good brime shrimp

San Fran or OSI are both good.

Also thinking of giving this plant a go. Looks interesting. Anyone else interested in Calgary as well?

I'm growing a Dwarf Hairgrass carpet, coming up really nice and I love the looks of it.

Any pictures you can send? I also don't use any C02 diffusers fyi.

I'm similar, I use metricide/excel for carbon.

have some muriaticacid if you want something stronger.

We hike in the mountains in Kananaskis...can give you some great spots for awesome rocks.

Not 100% on the Nicaragua cichlids however sounds like a similar situation for humans!

I like all the examples that you've showed! Go for any one of them!

I wouldn't call them 'great ambassadors' of their products. The bottom line is that they want to sell you their product, period.

Being a great ambassador means fairly representing a product without being condescending, evasive or misleading to a potential customer. Demonstrating any of those qualities is short-sighted and harms a person's credibility.

Why do you think they changed their MSDS for Excel!

...to distinguish between possibility and probability.

Thanks to the internet, people can read about the MSDS change, read people's opinions about the same, and decide for themselves if that discredits Seachem or their Purigen product.

For some specific questions it's like pulling teeth to get a direct response. Especially for something that might show a limitation of their products.

"I dropped emails to Seachem and Eheim to answer specific concerns. Responses from both companies were direct and forthcoming." They told me what I could and should not expect, and based on that information, I was able to make my own educated assessment. I've not been disappointed.

We both have opinions on this. I've stated my opinion which I stand by, you stated yours. So that's it. If you want to discuss this further give me a pm. Don't need to go back and forth in this topic.

got a question about this RVT-103. Ive heard about it in several different places when I was looking at relining my tank. Whats so special about this stuff? Is it a tape? All I can seem to gather is that its supposed to be very tough

Never used but from reading it seems to be a paste sort of product. Very strong so used for making aquarium etc than just a sealing product.

I know gravel or sand looks better and makes the shrimp look better but is there any reason to use it for breeding purposes? LIke I have my barebottom shrimp breeding tanks and then I have my regular tanks with substrates that I do add my shrimp to also. But is there any benefit to having a substrate in a breeding tank? Does anyone think bare bottoms can stress the shrimp out? Even though in my own experince I haven't noticed that to be true. Has anyone bred the fancier varieties with different substrates and noticed a difference?

More areas for the little ones to hide with gravels. All the little nooks and crannys from a gravel substrate I found helps the little guys. These guys can pick clean leaves rocks etc...I've had no problem with bits of food getting left behind.

What would you prefer, a flat parking lot to give for a field of ups and downs. Think of shrimp in their natural habitat.

never bothered to pay the extrra $ for that amazonia stuff...so I am using 50/50 fluorite black sand/black gravel. For plants now have HC, hairgrass and a small strand of glosso. It was a dedicated shrimp tank and after this rebuild will be dedicated again.

I like the dark substrates as it brings out the colors quite well. Give gravel a go! Suggest black MUahhhhh

perfect. thought some yeast mixture could have bogged up the air stone.

glad u got it sorted out with the mini filter.

if your replying to my 5 day...I said within...I did not say @ day 5. two very different things. At 5 days with no hatching I'd trash the batch and start anew.

in my years of hatching, it is rare to have hatch around 24 hrs. typical is the 2 - 2.5 day mark. in my experience @ 5 days they will not be mush.

BUT different situations will cause different hatching times.