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Smokey

Southern Alberta Member
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Posts posted by Smokey

  1. Hello!

    in Say Hello

    Posted

    Welcome to AA rompergoddess;

    Yes, we are rumored to be a very excellent source of knowledgable people/!!! lol...who've been there and done that... learn by error/ the best educater around.

    Actually, most members have a long history in the hobby/ varing types of species/fresh/salt/brackish/extreme hardwater/extreme soft water.

    It is new members who offer the growth and insight that keeps the site alive/.

    Smokey

  2. Hi

    in Say Hello

    Posted

    Welcome pengu to AA.

    It is nice to hear from our northerly residents (I'm only 30 miles from the U.S.border/as the crow flies.).

    You must have soft water up your way/? Ideal for south americans. I have been through that area, lots of bogs, great ground water, correct me if i am missing something. OH Ya 10 months of winter Lol... where as we only get 9 months!

    Kidding aside; welcome to one of the most informative sites around. Best in Alberta/ why/ because of it's members.

    Smokey

  4. Hello

    in Say Hello

    Posted

    Hello Lionheader:

    you certainly have come to the right place... This is one of the best sites around, certainlly the top in Alberta, to grow/learn.

    Ya... dead water/live water!!!

    Dead (tap) water is for sterlizing stuff.

    Live (tank) water is, well, alive with bacteria and all kinda good stuff that make fish happy. After all you wouldn't wash your fish under the tap, would ya??

    Same with your filter media; wash the bio-media/sponge(s) with water from the tank. If it is an AquaClear filter you have room to run 2 foams in the basket. etc...

    welcome to Alberta Aquatica

    smokey

  6. W/C's ... the forgotten do-it-your-self-project

    in Do-it-yourself

    Posted

    I would also be very interested in this excel format people are using. Can someone PM me a save file?

    G'day SpateD

    Excel is a very flexiable program. I use excel as the recording sheet for my auarium(s) information.

    The colums are for the indivdual specfic topics - e.g. pH, KH, GH, temp, wc%, plus anything I think may be usefull (breeding infor, etc...).

    I can average a coloums numbers to give me an idea as to when or how often a w/c is necessary/ or the percentage amount. The average fry success rate - food/fry //w/xc/no3's ppm/time

    The rows are the date lines.

    The nicety of excel; one can add "hidden" notes/information for any given topic.

    I find it neat, concise versitile program.

    Have a great day

    Smokey

  7. The FISHLESS CYCLE

    in Do-it-yourself

    Posted · Edited by Smokey

    G'day my frosty feathered friends:(sweeping off the snowflakes)

    I must say that this is a timeless articale; perhaps more suited for the dedicated hobbiest(?).

    Thank you to the Members who have offered insights & updates about the use of ammonia, as a resoure, to start a "clean" new tank.

    Thank you Neal for mentioning Septo-Bac, another great fishkeepers secreate.

    HOSStile quote "found Septo-Bac - 8 packets - enough to treat the Atlantic Ocean".

    Mykiss quote "ooopppsss.... I learnt quick what I was doing wrong. So it goes to say....get the Ammonia AND nitrite test kit when doing this".

    Qattrra quote "IMO the seeded fishless cycle is the best way to go, my tanks are usually ready for stocking in 1-2 weeks".

    T DWAG - How do you get your tank up above 85f? I must have cheaped out on heaters. Two alternatives T DWAG; 7teen 250 watt ebowjaggers, or change the C to an F.LOL As i understand Bio-Bacteria like warm aireated water.

    VERY IMPORTANT ... A large water change (50-70%) should be done before adding any fish to the tank to lower nitrate levels, which can be a pain to bring down later.

    Smokey

    in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

  9. The FISHLESS CYCLE

    in Do-it-yourself

    Posted

    I used safeway brand ammonia and I remember adding a few TBSP to get it to around 5ppm in my 90g, so 75mls sounds better then 12mls(which isn't even a TBSP).

    The bacteria in the gravel should still be alive if you have been adding the small amount of ammonia. The bacterial colony might not be too large, so if you can spare some extra seeded gravel it can't hurt to add more. Or some filter squeezings from a used filter sponge, or the sponge itself to the filter will also help.

    Great. Thanks for the advice. A tablespoon is about 15ml, and I put about 5 in tablespoons. I think we are at about 4ppm, but the offical tester says 5ppm. Now to wait for her to go to sleep so I can raid her tank for more gravel...

    :welcome: T.Dawg n.n ammonia has a higher concentation off NH3 than show brands! To achieve the high amount of NH3/4 is necessar so the N02 bacteria can colanize the media's. Which allows the N03'S to enter the pictuer (tank) ... much sooner than in natural (4 - 6 week time).

    Water X/C's will now regulate the N03 content in a mature tank. :thumbs:

  11. Failed heaters

    in Equipment

    Posted

    Hi

    My early days of heaters failed becaus:

    1- the tube was hot when i refilled the tank.

    2- the tube was hot when I grabbed it.

    3- the floor was harder the the glass tube.(see $3)

    4- The Oscar "Did Not" like the flavor off that particular brand!! AM I RIGHT FOLKS.

    5- The contact points fused together.

    6- The contact points rusted together.

    7- The top was not water proof.

    8- My Geophagus threw a big rock at it. Actually it did work until the house break went. hahahaha

    9- Even after taking the Ebo J apart 3x I still had parts left over???

    10- Add youe own ......

    Have a Vent .. I just did. and I feel BETTER

    Smokey

  16. Jau cat

    in Bottom Of The Barrel

    Posted

    Rudy, you may be correct. The names of fish seem to change daily! It can be so frustrating.......the search engines kept showing the Jau as Z.Z.

    However, what-ever it may be refered to, it is incrediable find.

    Smokey

    B)

  17. Jau cat

    in Bottom Of The Barrel

    Posted

    Rudy - wow , quite a find. What size are they ? What size tank will you be keeping them in ?? What will you be feeding them ???

    Your Paulicea lutkeni, is now know as Zungaro zungaro; renamed in 1998. I did a search and found several other names, used in the collection.

    First is was called a Brachyplatystoma flavicans, up to 1979; in 1964 it was referred to as Pseudopimelodus zungaro. Then in 1979 is was collected as Paulicea lutkeni.

    Today, it is refereed to as Zungaro zungaro, 1998.

    Family: Pimelodidae (Long=whiskered catfishes).

    Order: Siluriformes

    Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes).

    Distributiion: South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins.

    Here is a link:

    http://www.fishbase.org.ph/webservice/Spec...species=zungaro

    If it is similar, in behaviuor, as the Phractocephalus hemilopterus, the Redtail catfish; keep track of your fingers. They have incredabley sharp teeth and know how to use them !!! :rolleyes:

    As HOSStile mentioned, they do have a reputation > as small-mammel eaters. The Jau, like the Redtail, has the ability to "INHALE" their prey; live.

    Very interesing catfish.

    You will have to keep us up-to-date on your expierences.

    Good luck.... :smokey:

    Smokey

    B)

  18. Veil Tail...

    in S/A & C/A cichlids.

    Posted

    MPO ... Another "mutant strain" which will become the "Flavor-of-the-month"!

    AND more $$$. for the retsalers!

    However, anyone who has that "Color" in their tank, requires such a fish ...lol..... :lol:

    Something about the Jaw-line does not look correct ??

    Smokey

    B)

  19. First Pics with new camera

    in Freshwater Photography

    Posted

    Justification !!!!!

    The camera is necessary part of the fish keeping hobby equipement. Just like a net or a new heater.

    RIGHT!!

    I am in the same boat. Wether to buy a Nikon D70 or the new D50. Decisions, decisions...lol.

    I have read the spec. / reviews on the Canon 350 XT . NICE CAMERA !!

    Keep the pics coming.

    Smokey

    B)

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