GregJ23

I want to start a tank for rock dwelling cichlids and was thinking of using clay bricks from Home Depot for some of the rock work. Does anyone have experience using clay bricks in aquariums, and do they change the water chemistry? I am hoping it could be a cheaper alternative to traditional aquascaping stones.

@MrGibson I did eventually get them back on flake food! I first got them eating freeze dried food (freeze dried brine shrimp and freeze dried daphnia) and then the transition to flake food went much easier. To help with the transition between freeze dried to flake food I would include the flake when I fed the freeze dried food, and then slowly started to reduce the amount of freeze dried during feedings. The process probably took a couple weeks to go through.

Any updates on how this went for you? I am having the same problem in my tank.

Does any one know if pygmy striped loaches eat snails? I am thinking about getting a group for my 15 gallon tank, but want to know if they'll harass my snails before I get them. Thanks!

That is not something I have tried! Has that worked for you in the past?

I have a group of Betta albimarginata that refuse to eat flake food. When I first got them they would eat flake, but when preparing them for breeding I fed them livd and frozen BBS. Now they won't touch the flake. Any ideas on how to get them back on flake or other prepared foods? I've never had this issue before so any advice would be appreciated!

@tolstoy21 thanks for the response! Do you mainly use tannins to achieve the low ph? I was thinking off boiling some indian almond leaves and alder cones to generate the blackwater, and then mix that with my tap get the desired water parameters. And I am hoping to breed them at some point! I have bred some mouth brooding bettas and was excited when I learned that chocolate gouramis are also mouth brooders.

I have been keeping fish for a few years now and wanted to try something a little more challenging than the typical community fish. I came across some chocolate gouramis at my LFS, and now I really want some! Does anyone have any recommendations/advice for setting up an appropriate tank for these fish? I have been reading they prefer soft, acidic water with lots of tannins and low flow, but I was hoping to get some information from people who have experience keeping this fish. Thanks!

Thanks for the info! Also, do you have a female scarlet badis in that tank? Or are the more silvery ones sub-dominant males?

I am redoing my 15 gallon aquarium and was thinking of putting a small group of scarlet badis in the tank. I have kept single scarlet badis before, but never more than one at a time. Would a small group (3-4 fish) work in a 15 gallon tank with enough cover and line of site breaks? I've heard they can get a little territorial with each other.

Awesome! Thanks for the help!

Thanks for the response! Any issues with doing it in a 20 gallon tall tank?

I am wanting to try breeding royal farlowella, but am limited to a 20 gallon tall tank for breeding purposes. I know this fish can get pretty long so would a tank this size be suitable for a small breeding group? If so, any advice on how to setup the tank to be the most successful? Thanks!