[I got a Towel]

On 6/4/2022 at 8:22 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

I'm guessing you're washing it on normal spin and all that, warm/hot water, etc.

Normal spin/cold water/normal dry just as I wash all my towels. The website says machine washable and dryable and the towel it self does not have a tag with proper washing/drying directions on it. I still use the towel and it works fine, just has a fraying issue that will probably shorten it's lifetime for me.

[I got a Towel]

It's a nice towel, but I've washed mine maybe 5-6 times and it is starting to fall apart down one of the sides. I've had it since October 2021

[losing my war against algae]

Personally, I'd cut the photo period down to 8hrs total, I'd also completely remove the blue or cut it down to 5% or less. 

 

Dwarf sag would be a good no co2 carpeting plant imo.

[ACO Partnered LFS Map?]

The three I'm aware are:

Badfish Florida down in south Florida

Twin cities guppies in Minnesota

The cichlid shack in Arizona (newest and just announced I believe)

[Non-aggressive centerpiece fish?]

I'll second a pearl gourami, mine is peaceful as can be, she's a female, so you don't get the really pretty red breast, but she still has a beautiful pattern and shine when the light hits just right

[my DIY way to conceal a 5# co2 tank]

On 5/6/2022 at 5:11 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

I definitely dig the idea.

Might be a nice etsy thing for you or someone to make these for hobbyists. 😉

I like the way you think, but it was just a way to convince the wife to let me do a hi tech tank in the bedroom hahahaha.

Whoever originated the quote, "necessity is the mother of invention", was never driven by finding ways to get a spouses approval for their hobby hahaa.

[my DIY way to conceal a 5# co2 tank]

On 5/6/2022 at 5:05 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

I would make this top piece overhand the top of the cover here. You don't want to put that on the valve/regulator the way you have it. 

It might be perfectly fine, but you can get some L-brackets or something to lift it up as well.

It's not resting directly on the valve/regulator, it has about a .5" clearance, but I agree with brackets. This was more a proof of concept, and with the vase at $15 mistakes are not too painful.

[my DIY way to conceal a 5# co2 tank]

So I know with some people wanting to hop into co2, a way to conceal the co2 tank can become an issue, especially if you don't have a cabinet under your aquarium.  I found the following $15 vase at walmart, and with a few cuts, it perfectly fits a 5# tank.  This is still a WIP, and the plant on top is just a placeholder, but it shows that the shelf I made is functional as well.

22" Vase

Here is a full shot, brightness from my light is screwing with the picture

Side view where I have some nails temporarily in to hold the shelf I made

More of a top down view

I used the piece I cut to allow clearance for the gauge to make a shelf to rest a plant or decoration on

 

Here is how it looks with the shelf installed

[My first serious attempt at an aquascape]

As the title says, this was my first real go at scaping a tank. I'm pretty pleased with how it came out.

[Aquashella]

Also, just know going in that it is definitely more of a trade show than a swap or opportunity to purchase fish. Most of the animals available in Orlando were shrimp and Bettas. There was a cichlid vendor and someone selling some random fish. Also 3-4 selling plants. Saltwater wise, there were a tonnnnn of frag vendors.

Now don't let that poo poo you away from going. It's still really fun, you get to potentially meet some YouTubers that you may be a fan of, hear some talks and see/purchase some cool art.

[Coop test strips and nitrite]

Also I think there nitrites are showing because I started a fishless ammonia cycle before adding the sponge, so maybe the conversion from nitrite to nitrate hasn't caught up to the ammonia to nitrite conversion. I could also be talking out my butt though lol.

 

There's no nitrates in the established tank because its very densely planted and today was fert day, but I didn't get around to it unfortunately.  

[Coop test strips and nitrite]

On 7/21/2021 at 7:40 PM, Patrick_G said:

Is this correct?

cycling tank: Two API liquid tests kits show 0 Nitrite and 10 Nitrate. AC test strips showing max Nitrite and 20 Nitrate. 
established tank: AC strip shows 0 Nitrites and Nitrates? 

Yes, that is correct. Sorry if it was slightly confusing. 

[Coop test strips and nitrite]

So I've been cycling a 75 gallon with a seeded sponge, (used ammonia to 4ppm during the final week of the sponge seeding in my established tank (6 weeks total). and have been using an API test kit for ammonia tests, and everything is going well. I've been using the test strips to test nitrite/nitrate, because its just easier than the liquid tests. 

 

Today I decided to try the liquid tests to compare, and I ran into a snag with the nitrite.  The API test is showing 0 nitrite and 10 nitrate.  The test strips are showing max level of nitrite and around 20ppm nitrate.  I have a second test kit, and tried the same tests, and got the same results.  One kit expires on 1/2025 and the other is 3/2024, and I did shake the ever living crap out of the bottles. 

 

I then tried the strip in my established aquarium and it showed 0 nitrite/trate.  This leads me to believe that somehow both bottles of the API kits are bad?  Does anyone have any other possible idea why I would come across this issue?

Thanks

[Hunting for a CO2 regulator]

I have a co2 art pro se, and I have no complaints about it.  I see them and GLA recommended frequently by people.

[Centerpiece fish for 29 gallon?]

I have a female Pearl Gourami in my 29 gallon as a centerpiece.  She is pretty laid back, and colored up nicely with a quality diet.  Sometimes she'll chase the platys around during feeding time, but other than that, shes laid back