Aquamaniacs

Goldie Town :: RE: Cloudy Tank, Think a 2nd Filter Would Help??

HK Fishin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:33:29 GMT

Author: HK Fishin
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:33 pm (GMT -4)

Had a feeling they were getting too big. So the Plecos even if there little is no good? They sure are cute when they come up and look at ya, with there little eye blink. Have a feeling Iam gonna be buying another tank just for them.... LOL

Wife said test yesterday was nitrate 20. You mention going with water change everyday again, for how long? We did a 5 gallon change today(about the same yesterday), sound like a good number. < Been doing 10gal once a week(for this mess).
Also ordered up some Prime(easier than going to town), using some tetra stuff for now.
Bumped the heater up to 76.5. She tried a plant a while back, Gold fish eat it right up.........

Thanks for the welcome and response/info. Poor Plecos

Bettas :: RE: betta sorority / semipermanent divider for 29g tank (advice)

JaredsBack — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:42:46 GMT

Author: JaredsBack
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:42 pm (GMT -4)

Going through the mail is not ideal but they tolerate it ok if well packed. Any breeder worth their salt will package them correctly, make sure the weather is decent and pay the extra $ to ship express. Ive done it many times and as long as you are there to receive the shipment you should be fine.

If you experience a loss most breeders are happy to accommodate you just find out ahead of time.

Id buy from local breeders anytime I can. Even if that means surfing on aquabid or finding a local club and putting some feelers out. Your going to get much better fish including healthier and hardier fish PLUS you'll know their whole history. Born on ___ day, eating ____ water parameters are ____ etc.

Not only that but your also supporting local breeders to help them. They need an outlet for their offspring, so why not support them instead of supporting some chain store that just mass buys?

Your efforts will be rewarded if you go the local route. Not to say you can't get good stock from a pet store, but when you start getting local stock you'll see what I'm talking about.
_________________
Jared & his Swamp Collies

Those that say high school are the best years of your life never held their newborn child.

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General Aquarium :: RE: Water stats from Luxor

JaredsBack — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:15:24 GMT

Author: JaredsBack
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:15 pm (GMT -4)

Depends on the water parameters. Any competent LFS will be able to tell you or will test the water that their angels or other fish come from. Compare that against your water at home.

Im on a well, and the LFS is on city water. Took me a few hrs to get the parameters matched in the fish I was bringing home.

If they are pretty close I wouldnt worry but if they are a ways apart then Id do a drip.
_________________
Jared & his Swamp Collies

Those that say high school are the best years of your life never held their newborn child.

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Goldie Town :: RE: Tail bitten off

keep_calm — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:11:03 GMT

Author: keep_calm
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:11 am (GMT -4)

Thanks heaps giraffe. How warm should I keep the water? He's a comet rather than a fancy (hence being outside where the danio kookaburras are). I've put him in shallow water so that he doesnt have to swim too much to get his food (not that he will eat which freaks me out cause he's such a pig). I will ease up on the melafix, it doesnt surprise me that tea tree oil is not good for their livers. Should I try to get a broad spectrum anti-biotic or a more specific one?

Thanks heaps... He seems to be holding up for the first day at least.

Bettas :: RE: overfeeding betta

ctrlf4 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:36:04 GMT

Author: ctrlf4
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:36 pm (GMT -4)

GiraffeMSW wrote:
Let him be excited just to see you those other times that you check the tank...instead of training you to feed him every time.

But he has me so well trained!
_________________
//Caroline
//keeper of Gamma the betta, and working on friends

Bettas :: RE: betta sorority / semipermanent divider for 29g tank (advice)

ctrlf4 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:35:07 GMT

Author: ctrlf4
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:35 pm (GMT -4)

GiraffeMSW wrote:
My guess is you got a serious case of good luck and should have flown to Vegas for the weekend or at least bought a lottery ticket. Cycle is at best "bacteria helper" and at worst "test result destroyer and cycling prolonger." LOL Usually it screws up results enough that members don't know where they are in their cycling and it often turns a 4 week cycling process into 6-8. You got lucky...but I'd still ditch that bottle. There is no live bacteria in a bottle that sat in a truck, then a warehouse, then a truck and then a store shelf...just to get to your house, be used and put on a shelf some more. No food, no circulation, no air, etc. If you did manage to get lucky and some true bacteria hitched a ride in that bottle somehow, they are long dead now. More than likely the bacteria you needed for the 2.5g tank rode in on some decor or something and having a dainty betta boy who eats all his dinner and isn't overfed, allowed the tank to cycle very subtly.

Hmm, good to know. I didn't realize that it might screw up test results -- I thought I was being appropriately cautious at least, because the testing was at least panning out. I figured if worse came to worse and the bottle was just dead, I'd just cycle the old fashioned (but new fashioned fishless) way. I will keep that in mind when cycling the other tank though!
_________________
//Caroline
//keeper of Gamma the betta, and working on friends

Invertebrates :: RE: afraid of MTS overrun -- Olive Nerite as alternative?

GiraffeMSW — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:12:47 GMT

Author: GiraffeMSW
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:12 pm (GMT -4)

I don't think my nerites (when I had them years ago) burrowed. I'm having a hard time remembering though quite honestly. I do know that they don't reproduce in a fresh water tank at all though. They need brackish for their eggs to hatch, so not only will they not "over" populate, they won't populate at all and buying enough of them to aerate your substrate is likely to be rough on the purse.

MTS won't overpopulate as long as you don't overfeed. You also won't ever see them as long as the tank is healthy...since they stay buried 99% of the time.

Bettas :: RE: overfeeding betta

GiraffeMSW — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:08:05 GMT

Author: GiraffeMSW
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:08 pm (GMT -4)

If he isn't getting round, then you are probably ok. It's still not a great habit overall. Fish, like any other critter, can become overweight. That puts pressure on their heart and other organs that weren't intended to support that extra weight. Ideally, feed him enough to fit into a space the size of one eye every 24 hours. Let him be excited just to see you those other times that you check the tank...instead of training you to feed him every time.

Invertebrates :: RE: afraid of MTS overrun -- Olive Nerite as alternative?

Trekker215 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:36:30 GMT

Author: Trekker215
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:36 pm (GMT -4)

I can't advise you on nerites as I don't know anything about them, but I do have MTS, and not a single one has tried to escape the tank. In fact, I never see them until I disturb the gravel when cleaning, as they are nocturnal.

As long as you don't overfeed the fish, and keep the tank clear of waste and plant decay, they won't get out of control.

Bettas :: RE: overfeeding betta

Trekker215 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:30:32 GMT

Author: Trekker215
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:30 pm (GMT -4)

They can sure pull at your heartstrings, can't they? It's true, their stomachs are about the size of one of their eyes, which is why it's recommended not to feed them any more than that in a day. I know it's mighty tempting to feed them extra; that wiggle dance of theirs is irresistable. Try not to give in to it too much, though.

Bettas :: RE: betta sorority / semipermanent divider for 29g tank (advice)

Trekker215 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:21:11 GMT

Author: Trekker215
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:21 pm (GMT -4)

Hi, welcome to Aquamaniacs! I just wanted to jump in and say that Gamma is a very handsome boy! Also, good luck with your sorority tank. I hope you will post pictures of it, we'd love to see how everything works out.

Bettas :: RE: betta sorority / semipermanent divider for 29g tank (advice)

GiraffeMSW — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:17:39 GMT

Author: GiraffeMSW
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:17 pm (GMT -4)

My guess is you got a serious case of good luck and should have flown to Vegas for the weekend or at least bought a lottery ticket. Cycle is at best "bacteria helper" and at worst "test result destroyer and cycling prolonger." LOL Usually it screws up results enough that members don't know where they are in their cycling and it often turns a 4 week cycling process into 6-8. You got lucky...but I'd still ditch that bottle. There is no live bacteria in a bottle that sat in a truck, then a warehouse, then a truck and then a store shelf...just to get to your house, be used and put on a shelf some more. No food, no circulation, no air, etc. If you did manage to get lucky and some true bacteria hitched a ride in that bottle somehow, they are long dead now. More than likely the bacteria you needed for the 2.5g tank rode in on some decor or something and having a dainty betta boy who eats all his dinner and isn't overfed, allowed the tank to cycle very subtly.

Invertebrates :: afraid of MTS overrun -- Olive Nerite as alternative?

ctrlf4 — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:13:33 GMT

Author: ctrlf4
Subject: afraid of MTS overrun -- Olive Nerite as alternative?
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 6:13 pm (GMT -4)

I am in the process of cycling a 29g tank which will eventually keep, among other things, some cory cats and several live plants. For substrate, it has Red Sea Florabase (12 pounds) and silicate sand (10 pounds). I'll probably get another 5 pounds of silicate sand before I start planting (lugging home fish supplies on the subway is a terrible way to spend your Friday night, by the way). I've read that Florabase can become mushy as well, at least if it's not regularly aerated.

So, with the corys, plants, and the Florabase substrate I plan on keeping, I want to make sure that my substrate is well aerated. I am, sorry to say, a little grossed out by snails, but I think that the benefits of MTS digging around the substrate are just too great. I am deathly afraid of them exploding in population, although I don't believe I overfeed. I am even more afraid of them actually escaping the aquarium, although I understand that they don't really try to leave the tank unless the water quality is practically toxic.

I have heard that Olive Nerites are a good alternative to MTS because they don't multiply like rabbits and do much of the same thing. But I don't think I've actually read that Nerites burrow through substrate and aerate it the way that MTS do -- so are they really a good alternative if that's what I primarily want them to do?

Much thanks in advance.
_________________
//Caroline
//keeper of Gamma the betta, and working on friends

Bettas :: overfeeding betta

ctrlf4 — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:42:46 GMT

Author: ctrlf4
Subject: overfeeding betta
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:42 pm (GMT -4)

As I understand it, betta won't hesitate to overeat. And my little guy's no different -- if he sees something edible, he'll eat it, whether the food in front of him is the size of his eye or not. My question though is, if he's not fat, isn't constipated, and doesn't have a swim bladder infection, I'm not "overfeeding" him, right? He's just an active little guy and always seems hungry when I come by his tank. And I think it's because he knows the routine -- I lift the glass top, let the condensation fall into his tank. So he knows when the big person comes and it "rains" then it's time for food. He gets all excited about it and goes to where the food normally falls. And even when I'm just doing water tests or plopping in a plant, I feel like I should "reward" him, so I drop in a pellet or something small...

Oh, also, I do actually watch him eat every pellet and bloodworm, and none ever ever goes to waste in that it sinks, starts to decay, etc. I think that's the idea of "overfeeding" in most contexts, but I think I'd have to dump in a whole bottle before he'd let it go like that.
_________________
//Caroline
//keeper of Gamma the betta, and working on friends

Bettas :: RE: betta sorority / semipermanent divider for 29g tank (advice)

ctrlf4 — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:36:36 GMT

Author: ctrlf4
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:36 pm (GMT -4)

Oh, p.s.

GiraffeMSW wrote:
If his 2.5g tank is cycled, personally I would keep him there.

Yes, the 2.5g is fully cycled.

On a somewhat random note on my cycling process: I actually had very good experience with Nutrafin Cycle on that front, as I'd bought it before I'd read reviews on it. (When I went to the store, I was looking for Biospira, but they didn't have it, and from the bottle, Cycle sounded exactly like Biospira.) I still had nitrites on the fourth day though (and Cycle promises cycled water in 3), so I did a partial water change and added another dose of Cycle. On the fifth day, everything was fine (and still is). I haven't been using Cycle during my partial water changes since, although the bottle recommends it.

I just wanted to share, because I've read such poor things about Cycle. I don't know if it was reformulated or I just got lucky, but it did work for me.
_________________
//Caroline
//keeper of Gamma the betta, and working on friends

Bettas :: RE: betta sorority / semipermanent divider for 29g tank (advice)

ctrlf4 — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:10:14 GMT

Author: ctrlf4
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:10 pm (GMT -4)

Thank you for your responses! I guess the little guy's just going to just stay put until I can find him his own separate digs. I didn't get the big tank with the express goal of dividing it. I was actually shopping around to get him a 12g Eclipse, but I lucked into a good enough deal on the 29 gallon that I went and bought that. (100 bucks for the tank, stand, filter, heater, hood, light, air pump, large driftwood, 2 rock caves, 2 plants, 5g bucket, gravel and net!)

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do for stocking -- go with Petco because they're cheap and the only brick and mortar joint in town with female crowntails, or go through a breeder because there's a better chance of the girls getting along and being generally healthier. Although going through the mail can't be any good for them...ahh, decisions, decisions. I am 95% likely to go to Pacific on the Lower East Side for the corys. What I *do* know is that it's a bad idea for me to window shop for fish while the tank is still cycling! Bad, bad idea...

Also, as I was doing my forum sig, I just realized how unintentionally Greek my fishkeeping is...Gamma the betta, and incoming betta sorority. Greek life, eh? Maybe I should just splurge on the Greek columns for the sorority decor...
_________________
//Caroline
//keeper of Gamma the betta, and working on friends

Post Your Pictures :: RE: Tangerine Tiger

JaredsBack — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:04:22 GMT

Author: JaredsBack
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 1:04 pm (GMT -4)

Nice!!! Tank stats? Inhabitants? Diet?
_________________
Jared & his Swamp Collies

Those that say high school are the best years of your life never held their newborn child.

This message brought to you courtesy of the RED, WHITE, and BLUE!!!

General Aquarium :: RE: Water stats from Luxor

GiraffeMSW — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:01:21 GMT

Author: GiraffeMSW
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 1:01 pm (GMT -4)

Would that be necessary with fish from a local shop?

Bettas :: RE: betta sorority / semipermanent divider for 29g tank (advice)

JaredsBack — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:45:33 GMT

Author: JaredsBack
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:45 pm (GMT -4)

Welcome welcome

I agree don't mess with a good thing with the 2.5g. He's happy and its cycled, why upset that?

Some other suggestions for plants would be Cryptocryne spiralis or Cryptocryne retrospiralis (depends on how you find it for sale) not to mention Cryptocryne wendtii, and there are a number of anubias species that would fit in there well.
_________________
Jared & his Swamp Collies

Those that say high school are the best years of your life never held their newborn child.

This message brought to you courtesy of the RED, WHITE, and BLUE!!!

Tips, Tricks and DIY projects :: RE: Terrarium Concrete?

JaredsBack — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:38:05 GMT

Author: JaredsBack
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:38 pm (GMT -4)

Sorry just saw this thread.

Watch your pH your tank. Just keep filling and draining till its stabilized and not running at 9.0

After that you should be sound. Would really like to see how your tank develops.
_________________
Jared & his Swamp Collies

Those that say high school are the best years of your life never held their newborn child.

This message brought to you courtesy of the RED, WHITE, and BLUE!!!

General Aquarium :: RE: Water stats from Luxor

JaredsBack — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:26:55 GMT

Author: JaredsBack
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:26 pm (GMT -4)

Do you have any airline tubing? You can set up a simple drip acclimation set up with one. Tie the airline in a loose overhand knot. Then start the syphon. The tighter the knot the slower the drip rate. Place the fish in a safe bucket or other container. Just let the water slowly drip in. Monitor the parameters till everything is balanced out.

Learned that trick from a reef guy works like a charm. When your done you just wind up the airline tubing and put it away for next time.
_________________
Jared & his Swamp Collies

Those that say high school are the best years of your life never held their newborn child.

This message brought to you courtesy of the RED, WHITE, and BLUE!!!

Bettas :: RE: betta sorority / semipermanent divider for 29g tank (advice)

GiraffeMSW — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:36:20 GMT

Author: GiraffeMSW
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:36 am (GMT -4)

First...welcome to you and Gamma! He is a very handsome boy.

If his 2.5g tank is cycled, personally I would keep him there. 29g tanks tend to be a bit odd sized and thus making a divider can be rough. For most tanks we actually recommend the fabric mesh from craft stores (it's plenty sturdy while still allowing lots of water flow.) You can get binder spines (like what you use when you use report covers) for the edges and then brace it inside the tank walls.

As far as your sorority goes, it does sound like you've got the right idea. In 29g of water you have room for 29 inches of adult fish....so

5-6 grrrls = 10-12 fish inches
6 cories = 12-18 inches (depending on the type)

So that makes for a nicely stocked tank without over stressing your biofilter.

Definitely stuff it full of plants to give lots of options for cover. Also, if you get your grrrls all at the same time, from the same store, you needn't QT them individually since they've already been exposed to one another. Also grrrls from the same stock or litter seem to get along better in the long run than grrrls that are gathered over time from different sources.

Goldie Town :: RE: Tail bitten off

GiraffeMSW — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:52:06 GMT

Author: GiraffeMSW
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:52 am (GMT -4)

How awful!

Personally, I would go easy with the melafix. I used to love the stuff, but after further research, it has been known to cause liver damage and can actually be more of an irritant, especially on fresh and raw wounds.

The best thing you can do for him right now is fresh, warm, clean water. No ammonia or nitrites allowed for any reason (do water changes to keep them away if necessary) and keep nitrates under 10. Perfect water is a must. Keep a close eye on him and watch out for red streaking which could indicate a secondary bacterial infection setting in. I know you have limited meds in Oz, but whatever antibiotics are available, have some on hand in case they become needed.

Help! Emergency!! :: RE: Whats happening to Howie my Dwarf Gourami

GiraffeMSW — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:47:37 GMT

Author: GiraffeMSW
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:47 am (GMT -4)

Thanks KC! It's great to get ideas and feedback from another Aussie!

Help! Emergency!! :: RE: Whats happening to Howie my Dwarf Gourami

keep_calm — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:39:20 GMT

Author: keep_calm
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:39 am (GMT -4)

hi, I'm from Aus too and I'm not the most experienced fishy person but I do know how useless the pet stores can be, its melafix for EVERYTHING as far as they are concerned.

Do you have a local stock feed store? Often they will have aquarium supplies too (but not fish) and have a better range... I assume because they would rather your fish to live as they have no vested interest in selling you a new one when the current one dies. My local one is Powells Stock feed and they have more medication than any pet stores here, frozen food, etc, as well as everything else I have needed except the fish. So give that a try if you are looking for medicine. If not try a store that only sells fish, sometimes they have a bigger range here. Good luck...