Bruno

Looks great, and actually not as much of a flintstone house as I expected from your description. Glueing gravel on was a great idea

Gonna post some pics of Plec's Mansion?

I use the ADI bottles, not strips. And I had just done my other tank which read as expected. Likely I did something wrong, and I never followed up with the high PH nor did I retest to see if I got the same result. The ph has been stable since so I am sure it was a error on my part.

Fish only, mbuna tank. The only ones I am considering are the Costco ones - 4 strips of 20" with wiring and remote for $47 - but I will check out ebay first too for that. Not enough light to light up a fish only tank?

So I didn't intend to come up with a DIY project, but instead was looking for a light and heard good things about this one: http://www.bigalspets.ca/satellite-freshwater-led-plus-lighting-system-48-to-60.html But I then noticed this one: http://www.bigalspets.ca/satellite-freshwater-led-plus-flexible-strip-light-44.html And finally seen in the reviews someone mention this from Costco: http://www.costco.ca/Luxlite---RGB-Colors-LED-Strips-Light-Kit--4-x-50cm-(4-x-19.67-in.)-%E2%80%93-with-Remote-Control.product.100082747.html So came here looking more for opinions from those who may be more skilled at DIY then me... I was thinking of taking the current florescent in my canopy out and putting these 4 strips from Costco on the bottom of it. It is a full wood canopy, and I have a glass top between it and the aquarium, so there shouldn't be alot of moisture accumulating on it. Sound like a good idea? A workable one? A bad idea because of something I am missing...?

without knowing what it was called, yes I do that with my vials used for the water tests

Happy everything worked out for the better,curious which test kit are you using?On the API for high range PH test it should be five drops. I usually do both ph and high ph, so the first test is 3 drops. When it showed yellow and read 6.0 I didn't go back and do the high ph. That may have saved me as obviously I must have messed up so the high ph may have read the 7.8 or 8 I am used to. The 6.0 reading freaked me out and I didn't do the second test and instead came on here looking for reasons for why that had happened. I didn't even test it a second time, oops. In my own defense I was fighting the flu and didn't have a clear head lol

Not sure what that is. When I put the new filter in I ran all the new media under tap water a few times since I didn't have any BB to worry about. What is the 3x swish method?

I swear I wasn't drinking yesterday (or today for that matter) but before changing the water today I did another water test and ph is 7.8 I cant see how I could mess up 3 drops from one bottle (and I did check the bottle when I got the 6.0 reading yesterday) so I have no idea what happened. I'll keep checking it to be sure but I can't imagine there is anyway for the water to drop like that one day and go back up the next.

Thanks for the reply. No decaying fish that I can see, but I will do a count and see if anyone is stuck back in the rocks. The sand is not very deep and the cichlids do a good job of digging down to the base. I also have some MTS in there. And no other decaying mess. I have been working all afternoon and will be into the evening, so I will do a WC tomorrow AM and see what PH looks like then. Very confusing though.

initial panic is wearing off - I did a 75% water change last Saturday, so ph must have been up at that point. I usually do a large WC Friday or Saturday, so if there is something causing the drop I should be able to monitor it. I'll do another water change, same 75% I normally do and check PH after that, and daily thereafter to see what is happening. Any ideas though of what I should be looking at that would cause this in the first place?

I just did a water test and my ph which is normally around 8.0 is reading 6.0 today. The tank is a 90G that is home to my cichlids and has regular sand and lace rock in it. I did add a new AC110 filter to it a few days ago but the old filter is also still running. Other then that no changes for a couple of months. I haven't checked the water though for about a month as everyone has been happy and it gets regular large water changes. I was checking the 75 though and thought while the kit was out I would have a look at everyone... The other 2 tanks are all still showing ph at 7.8 so I am not sure what has happened to this one. Any suggestions? And since this is a cichlid tank, how do I get the ph back up for them? And do I need to do it quickly, or slowly change it as I dont know how long it has been at 6? Help

Good catch, hadn't noticed that

Kinda looks like the avatar of clhinds78 in this forum, maybe ask him what his picture is of? http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?nomobile=1&f=4&t=280778

I am considering black sand. So while I like playsand, I am thinking if trying something different and dont want to pay LFS price for it

Thanks Nanmer, that was the place I was thinking of

At the last CAS meeting, there was a place mentioned where cheap sand, gravel etc could be picked up - but I don't remember where that was. If anyone does can you please let me know? I need to go get some sand for a 90G

I dont plan on breeding and any accidental fry would not be sold (I understand the risk of cross breeding) so mixing zebra species or labs etc is not as much a concern there. I am wanting a colorful active tank and of course stocking levels and ratios to minimize aggression. I think I had read 1:4 for the electric yellows as an example, but wondered if haveing a single male and a single female would mean the female would be harassed or the male would be aggressive? I can see an issue with say 2 males and a single female or otherwise having the ratio off, but are the recommended ratios for breeding purposes or for general happiness/peacefulness?

Was also considering one of the synodontis species but don't know which one - good idea? If so, which one?

So I am upgrading to a 90 sooner then I expected, but could use some help with stocking ideas. I am going to stick with mbunu. So first question is do I need to have 4 or more of each if I don't plan on breeding or can I do just a couple of each color I like? Secondly, my stock wish list is Electric Yellow, Yellow Tail Acei, Red Zebra, Blue Cobalt Zebra and Rustys. Any issues with gnat group? How many of each? How many total? Anything else you would suggest? Thanks

Being a true Calgarian, I would be fine with Edmonton moving further north

Great looking tank! I was able to see it in person a couple of weeks ago and as good as the video is, the real thing is much better

I have rummynose tetra in with my rams and love them

And now with some fish in it:

How it looks now: