JayWho

I left with still 1-2 tables left to go. (everything I was interested in was gone already) It's probably still going. Picked up 4 Synodontus Lucipinnus. ($30) Tried on some Juli. Transcriptus and Brichardi's, but got beat every time. I was only really focused on the Synodontus anyway, so I'm ear-to-ear.

I'm looking forward to it. It will be my first auction, let alone fish auction.

Tables, desks, tv stands... A 20 gallon isn't too heavy, so you should be able to put it on many things. You could make a stand out of 2x4 - would probably cost less than $10-15 (as long as you already have a drill - or can borrow one!). With a little web research you can draw up a simple plan and have the wood cut for free when you buy it (so you have straight edges). Then it's just a matter of drilling and assembling. Joey's youtube channel is my favorite resource: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN4Y9AYuwcQ

Yeah, I had that relevation, but not until after I'd plumbed them into the T. No idea why I didn't realize it sooner - it's simple physics... Usually one overflow would work 100% and the other, even if the water level was above it, wouldn't operate at all. They take turns being the one that operates each time I start them up too... So at least I know they both work. Picked up a couple more elbows today, so I can saw the T off and replumb the overflows independently. I'd planned on using my canister filter as my "pump" for the wet/dry that the overflow empties into, but the Rena XP2 doesn't have the oomph to clear the head height with the intake in the wet/dry and output in the aquarium. I also had issues with the overflow keeping up with the XP2 sometimes (when I did manage to "persuade" the filter to work despite the height), which didn't make sense because the XP2 is running 150gph max under normal operation. So until I get a dedicated pump that is adjustable, the project is essentially on hold.

Ya know, more and more I'm realizing I just need to build my own plywood tank and pre-drill bulkheads and be done with it... haha

I'm likely going to have to change the height again anyway, as I'm pretty sure I'll have to modify the standpipes to Durso's at some point for quietness.

Just redundancy, and since having made them, am glad for two as I will be looking to push the flow rate to the maximum for filtration as well. I'm going to try my best to make the standpipes in the tank the same height, so they both run. T'ing them together was just a mistake. I thought it was a good idea at the time, and would look good, but realized fairly quickly after that I shouldn't have.

So, I seem to be having issues with both overflows operating to their capacity at the same time. Usually one seems to operate fine, and the other barely flows. I am wondering if it's my crooked cementing job (I would tend to doubt it though), or because they are plumbed in together to a "T" of the same size - and maybe it should have been larger, to accommodate the flow from both overflows? I can't see through the PVC obviously, but I have clear vinyl tubing for the last portion of the plumbing after the "T" and it seems to be coming out in spurts, with air pockets in between. I'm not sure if that's normal, or if it's because of my plumbing; or something else that I'm unaware of... Anyone know what my possible issues could be? Either way, I think I am just going to separate them, and plumb them into my wet/dry independently. Go from there.

I went in to Bedrock Supply today and talked to the main guy there (whether the manager, owner, I dunno) and he said I was the second person recently to ask about Texas Holey Rock... I don't think he actually knew what it was, and didn't have any. He also said they didn't carry lava rock either and maybe to check with Canar, a decorative rock company as the best bet. Might be worth going to Bedrock Supply if you want crushed gemstones to use as substrate, (or as part of the substrate) like peridot, jasper, etc or for unique quartz crystals or other large gemstone pieces. When it comes to rocks used in the aquarium hobby they just don't seem to be familiar with them.

I can only imagine Bedrock Supply having cheaper prices. I've noticed that Big Al's has started carrying Flourite by the pound (under the name "Magic Rock"), which Bedrock has been doing for years... Not sure who would come out cheaper, but since Bedrock seems to focus on the stuff used for jewelry (in other words, gem-quality or better - which is not what typical aquarists are looking for, as we like the rough stuff) they tend to sell the rough or "uncut" rock a LOT cheaper, depending on the type of mineral and demand.

Hmm... Might have to stop in there and take a look in person. They were always the cheapest when it came to buying quartz crystals and different types of stones. Maybe I'll take a jaunt tomorrow and include a window-shop at Big Al's...

Was there ever any response from Bedrock? I'm curious...

On the topic of DIY, and to agree with ckmullin: I bought a case of lava rock a long time ago. A drill and your imagination can work wonders too.

Did anyone ever check at Bedrock Supply? (mentioned earlier in this thread) They sell all different stones and crystals at pretty good prices (when I was collecting crystals, it was always the cheapest place in the city) - might be a good place to check. Not sure if they'd stock THR, lava rock, etc though as they mostly focus on gemstones and the like. However, I have taken a walk through their warehouse, and know that they have a LOT of stock of plainer rock with aquarium hobby potential.

Thanks for info! I assume the Edmonton auction will have details posted?

I am going to be looking to add some of these cats to my Tanganyikan tank. At Big Al's (typically the cheapest place in Edmonton for fish) they have petricola's for $17/each for little 1"ers. Are there any local breeders of these catfish in or around Edmonton that would offer a better price? Or any suggestions on getting a better deal somewhere?

The more pics I look at, the more I am sure you are right.

Here's a pic of her on the glass: Here are a couple shots of one of the albinos - not sure how old they are, but I can see little bristle nubs on the noses of at least two of them starting to form (not the one in the pic):

You both seem sure it's a female - how do you easily tell? Or is that just the assumption, based on the bristlenose ID and the fact that it has no bristles? The age is definitely correct - I'd even go as far as saying a year and a half by now. The 10 gallon had a few issues. Ich. A mild case of neglect on my part during some stressful times. It's possible it may have gotten stunted. I do often remark on how wide and flat it is, compared to what I expect. It is somewhat comparable to the albino bristlenose I added though. Ventral side, as in, her bottom? Get a pic of her on the glass basically? If she is a bristlenose - will she potentially breed with one of my male albino bristlenose once it matures? Or will they not mix?

Hmm, interesting considering I just added 4 juvenile albino bristlenose plecos... They've all been doing a lot of jostling with each other, but the one pictured above is the largest so comes out on top.

I have had this pleco for over a year now. It was living in a 10 gallon tank until a few weeks ago when I moved it into a 50 gallon. I was under the impression that it was a "regular" pleco, but it would have grown some (it is pretty much the same size as when I bought it - 2"). Anyone know what type of pleco this could be? I am unfamiliar with the various species. Also, is it possible for them to just be "slow-starting" growers? Or do I definitely have some other type? (those little white flecks are grains of sand - not ich)

It might get direct sunlight for half an hour right at sunrise, but otherwise the angle of the sun will never catch it. Either way, I have floor-to-cieling curtains that can be drawn at night so the sun is kept out the next morning. The water looks so "bright" because of the fine particulate floating around from me rearranging the rocks so the overflows would have space.

Those are great suggestions. I could essentially replace the danios with the cyprochromis, possibly add a few more. And a small school of the synodontus would be perfect too. I was thinking of making a couple PVC tunnels (a short piece with an elbow on each end, buried with sand/rocks) that I'm sure the catfish could make use of... I have read about the synodontus cats before, but wasn't aware that they stayed smallish. I should still be able to add transcriptus and tretocephalus as well with that combo, which is great. And maybe ONE brichardi... I imagine that Big Al's brings their cichlids from their Florida farms primarily. I'd love to get locally bred fish if possible though; other than watching the buy/sell here and kijiji, are there any local breeders of these species?

It's a 4' tank. Dimensions are 48x13x19. I'm not familiar with the cyprichromis or synodontis luccipinnis... Now I have stuff to research! Thanks for the suggestions thus far!

I have a 50 gallon tank that is nearing the end of its cycling process that I am doing as a Tanganyikan cichlid setup. I am running a Rena Filstar XP2 (rated for up to 65 gallons), and will also be adding a DIY wet/dry that adds 5-6 gallons of water and has enough bio-media for up to 80 gallons. I'm using crushed aragonite as substrate with a little regular gravel mixed in, and lots of lava rock with holes drilled through it to create caves, tunnels, etc and some old live rock that I used to have in a saltwater setup years ago that I have since boiled and rinsed out and makes great cichlid homestead. I currently have it stocked with: (I will be keeping these fish and any future stock will have to be compatible - except maybe the danios if necessary for the room) 4 altolamprologus compressiceps 3 lamprologus leleupi 5 giant danios 1 small pleco (all fish are small - 2"ish for most, and the leleupi's are just over 1") I would like to add some sort of juli- to the tank, whether it be marlieri, transcriptus or regani. (assuming I'll have a choice, I'll go with transcriptus) I was thinking 4-6. I would also like to add either tretocephalus or frontosa, as I like their look. I realize that frontosa would eventually outgrow my tank - but I could get away with them for quite a while before they either get big enough to eat the smaller fish in my tank, or get too big. 2-4? I would also like to add a few brichardi's; though with reservation (see below). What would those with experience with these fish recommend? And suggested numbers? Should I stock more of something? Less of something? I used to have tanganyikans years ago, in a 25 gallon long - 3 brichardi's, 2 leleupi's and 1 or 2 marlieri - a pair of brichardi's started mating, and eventually overran the tank to where there were constantly 30-50 fish in there, even with taking some larger ones out and trading them for fish food, supplies, etc on a regular basis. I later heard that brichardi's were notorious for quickly overrunning tanks with their breeding. I wouldn't be adverse to something like that happening again, in fact, I'd love to get a breeding pair in there - but a different species than the brichardi's this time! I'd love to hear other's recommendations, and what YOU would do!