Bruno

Actually looking at your list from Ebiken and checking out what they looked like got me started on this path Right now I have most of the cherry shrimp I got from you after quickly learning that an AC filter is not good for them. A few got sucked in and didn't fair well but I have a sponge over the intakes now and that solved that. My first question then is what do you use for filters? I have some sponge filters, would that be a better choice? Tank mates - the only fish in this tank right now are endler guppies, and they seem to be leaving the shrimp alone, but I am thinking of moving them to a new tank - or are they ok in there? Regular tap water (dechorinated of course) seems to be ok foro my cherry shrimp from what I have read on here... but is that the case for all shrimp? Or does that depend on exactly what type I want to keep?

Just looking for a point in the right direction of a good site etc that will help me learn a little about shrimp keeping. I picked up some Cherry shrimp as I heard they are easy and added them to my 20 gallon, lightly planted, but I would love to learn a little more about them and how to setup a tank for some of the more challenging shrimp. Looking for things like water (ph, ro/di etc), filtering, breeding....

So a visit to Legoland in California and their aquarium made my sone want to have lego in his tank again. So here is how the 55G looks now:

Did a change of direction and now this is a planted tank, eco-complete substrate. I have a FX6 filtering it and the Fuval Aqualife and plant LED lighting it. It is home to some Turquoise Rainbowfish, Boesemani Rainbows, German Blue Rams, Rummynose Tetra, Green Laser Corys and L127plecos (all Juvies) Here is a recent pic:

This tank has since been passed on to my mom who is trying a low tech planted.

I tried both Anubias and Java Fern. They left the java fern alone, but took bites at the anubias from time to time. It still did ok, but it was like they had to test it every once in a while.

Here is the result of this weekends trim/plat/rearrange...

Thanks. I am going to do a big trim of any leaves with algae tomorrow and plant some new plants and clippings I have found.

So I am going to go plant shopping this weekend, but have no idea really what I am looking for. Trying to research plants has been mind boggling with all the different varieties out there, so I am hoping some of you can help me narrow down my choices. I am looking for easier plants to see how green my aquatic thumb is. I have a 90 gallon, a fluval aqualife and plant 46w LED, fx6 filter and Eco-complete substrate. I does Excel according to the bottles instructions, but have no idea if there are other ferts or anything else I should be adding. no CO2 yet, but I am working to fit that into the budget, hopefully soon. Inhabitants are Turquoise rainbowfish, german blue rams, rummynose tetras, green laser corys, and a couple of clown loaches. I have a couple of boesemani coming, hopefully this weekend. Currently I have a Red Flame Sword, some Corkscrew Valesnaria, some Narrow Leaf Chain Sword, Java Fern, Anubias, willow hygrophilia, and a small water sprite. The tank is new and not all the plants are doing great I also have some algae issues I am working on. Here is a recent pic: And here is pic of what I would love to have it looking like if I can identify the plants or have something similar for my lighting:

Not too much natural light. There is a reflection in the tank of a window in the background, but it is a west facing window that faces the neighbors house, we get light from it but not direct sunlight, and certainly not on the tank. There is also a windows 2 feet to the left of the tank, but it is south facing and just the corner of my tanks gets a direct hit from sun for a hour or less first thing in the AM. It is a new tank since it is all new substrate, though the filters and plants came over from the previous setup. As for the light, it is all or nothing, as it is a single fixture with a off and on setting, no way to turn anything down or off. I know everyone has their own way or opinion, but feel free to chime in here or send me a PM. I don't expect anyone to have the magic bullet for my tank, but I hope that any suggestions will help me thru my learning curve and get me off to a good start as I figure out what works well for me. Someone asked about bioload in a PM - currently they are juvies but I have 6 turquoise rainbowfish, 6 german blue ram, 8 rummynose, 6 green laser corys (or maybe it is 8, I cant recall and they move around and hide too much to get an accurate count) and 2 clown loach.

I am having issues with algae and lookign for some help. The tank is a 90G recently changed from a Cichlid to planted. Substrate is eco-complete, lighting is a fluval aqualife and plant LED 46w, filtered by a fx6. I dose Excel but that is it. Lights are on from 8 Am till about 7 or 8 pm. I plan on investing in CO2 later, but don't have it right now. From what I have read so far, it might be that CO2 would help me, but also that I have plants that grow too slow. Most of the plants are from the Cichlid setup so are Anubias and Java fern. Can I fix this or move in the right direction with faster growing plants to reduce nutrients? Any thing else I shoudl be checking or adding to help? Here are pics of some of the new micro swords that are already shwoing algae, as well as one of the java ferns. Another picture of a full tank as well

Thanks

$25 is not too much for piece of mind but due tell where you find them most LFS and on line shops don't carry or list them is this a DIY project? I would also like to know where to get a controller...

If this thread did nothing else, I had never looked at controllers before. Think I will go in search of one if they are only $40

LOL, it is no different in here it seems.

Could you T the intake? Put one intake on either side of your tank, back to a T that goes to the filter - then each side would only have 1/2 the suction, but the filter gets all the water it wants. The 2 pipes would need to be smaller diameter then the intake hose to restrict the flow on each and help to balance flow between the 2. Also a bit of a fail safe if one does gum up, the other continues to flow. Not my area of expertise, so if I am missing something, then someone in the know can jump in here...

Thanks for the replies - I will give the Hydor a shot

Awesome - I was considering a 2217 as well

Thinking about switching over from HOB to canister, and the clean up the look of the tank, going with a in line heater. I was looking at the Hydor since I don't know who else makes them, but the largest one (300w) says it is for 50 to 80 G tanks. I have a 90, so how big of a deal breaker is that? And will flow rate matter at all in that? I like to over filter so if I get a larger canister - rated for 150G for example, am I adding more trouble? Any other heaters out there I should be looking at instead?

Thanks for the replies. The plan so far then is a 90 gallon with M. Lacustris, GBR, rummynose, clown loach and green laser corys. Anyone see any issues with that mix?

I should mention, ideally I would like to get the Melanotaenia lacustris (turquoise rainbowfish) or the Melanotaenia Wapoga (Red laser).

I didn't want to single them out, but I am hoping to hear from them

Planning another tank and wondered if the rainbow fish family was compatible with German Blue Rams? If so... all of them? Only certain ones? Thanks, B

You need to add a source of ammonia to start the cycle - a bottle of pure ammonia being the ideal source. If you do a search for fishless cycle you should find plenty of info on how to do it right.

Moved some rocks around and added some live plants - Java fern and Anubias