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So I got this Betta from a local chain store, which had her labeled as a Female... But I am starting to suspect that She, is a He. Also, He may be very aggressive. I have about 5 Red Cherry shrimp, and 4 Neons go missing since "she's" joined the tank. What do you all think? Was I wronged and got a Male instead of a Female?

Oooof, oh boy. OK, thank you all for the quick replies!

Greetings! A little under 3 weeks ago, I set up my tank, with some plants I got from Co-Op, and I noticed the next day, I had 2 little stow-aways! I figured let them be, they looked like Nerite snails so I wasn't worried about them reproducing. Fast forward to yesterday, and I'm starting to see a good amount of very tiny snails in the tank, about 1mm in size at the largest. Pictures attached, that's the best I could do really. Am I wrong, and they are something else, not Nerites? Now.. Last weekend, I got some crushed coral from Pestsmart to add to the tank to raise the PH some for my Cherry shrimp, and everything is about perfect! I have seen these little blobs of white dots (picture attached) which I don't believe are eggs really, as they've been here and there since I put the tank together, and nothing seems to be hatching from them, but I am curious now where all the new tiny snails may have come from. Could they have come with packaged crushed coral? It has been sitting there at Petsmart for a while, given the amount of dust that was one it when I got it. I'm baffled. Wondering if I'm now going to need a hit squad...

I do! Everything in my setup is basically from Co-Op! Light, filter, heater, even the plants! The tank obviously is not, nor are the shrimp, but I dose with Easy green, used Easy root tabs, and use food purchased from Co-Op. 🙂

Hello again!! I wanted to post an update on my new tank, and ask a question! I am trying to raise the PH of the tank, so I got some crushed coral. I also got a 10-batch of cherry red shrimp! They're so cute, and they've been munching on my algae robustly! Here are some pics of some PH water testing, can you all tell me what PH you see here? Somewhere around 7.5?? It was like 7 before I put a few cups of crushed coral in there. Also, say hello to Sebastian (1-10 as my wife like to call them).. 🙂 Tests were done with API Maser kit, and also test strips from Aquarium Co-Op.

Yeah, I just realized that. That was pretty dumb on my part. I adjusted it to Noon-8PM for now to see how that goes. Thankfully I can do it on the fly with an Alexa plug. 🙂

Hello! It's been now 9 days, and I'm starting to see some algae looks like. I wanted to make sure this is normal, as I have read that it is. There is no livestock in the tank (although I believe I saw 2 tiny snails that may have been stowaways from Co-Op plants, hehe). I have done 1 20% water change. Currently I have my light, a Co-Op Easy Plant LED at 50% and it comes on at sunrise, and turns off at sunset. Beyond that, I've dosed Easy Green twice to try and get the plants kick started. I have not put any beneficial bacteria in there yet, as I just got home from a 4 day trip. I didn't want to put livestock or anything beyond plants in there until I got back. So what's my game plan? How is the best way to start getting this tank on track for some livestock? Like I said, I ready that seeing algae on the driftwood like this was a good thing, but just wanted to double check. Thanks!! (sorry for the poor pics)

Did my first aquascape/tank today! 20H with all plants from Co-Op and heater and filter as well! So excited to see how it turns out! Gonna let it sit and grow and season before deciding on what livestock I'm gonna put in it. But baby steps! 🙂

Thank you so much! aqadvisor is pretty cool! And thanks for the online shops. I've briefly looked through them and now can't decide! HA! :) Wow, I actually never thought of this. Most videos always suggest getting a "clean-up crew" so I just assumed that should be part of the beginning of the tank. Waiting until it's established like you say makes total sense! Thank you!! I'll begin with Feature fish and a small school I think. If "clean-up" is needed, I'll stock accordingly. :)

Greetings! This is my first real post here, but I wanted to ask for advice on stocking ideas! I have a 20H tank and this will be my first planted tank. I just placed an order for a crapton of plants from Co-Op, and I'll get those all planted and will season the tank before getting any actual fish put in. One step at a time of course! But, I was curious as to what you all think of my idea for what I'd like to stock once I am ready to populate the tank. Also, any suggestions on online shops for live fish (Aqua huna I know of, any others?) I only have chain stores around me and after a quick trip around town to take a look, I wouldn't buy anything from any of them.. Such a poor display around me. Anyway... Here's what I am "thinking" of how I would like to stock the tank once ready: Feature Fish: Either 2-3 Guppies, or a Betta. Not sure which.. Leaning towards Guppies though. Cleanup Crew: Either 6 Panda or Pigmy Corydoras or 6 Kuhli Loaches, with a batch of about 10 cherry shrimp and some snails? (I really like rabbit snails) Maybe a small school of about 10 neon tetras? I am unsure about numbers, so that's why I am asking for advice. The tank will be heavily planted, heated to about 78-80, and using a medium Co-Op sponge filer, with a Co-Op 24" Easy Plant Light. Hardscape I have going in, is a few pieces of driftwood, some Fluval Aquasoil, and tiny pea gravel, and Dragonstone. Plants I have coming from Co-Op are: Amazon Sword for background plants, Anubias petite and Tropica Crypts for mid plants, and dwarf high grass for foreground carpet. No CO2 injection yet, but have Easy Green on the way too. Thank you all so much for reading though all this! :)

Not quite yet. Waiting on lighting, heater, and filter from Co Op that should be here Monday! 🙂 Need to go shopping for hardscape this weekend too. I have, but I may wait until I am more experienced. I'd rather not run into some toy or other item leeching toxins into the water and not know what I am doing. 🙂

Greetings! My name is Chuck, and I'm new here! I have been working in IT for a long, long time and have lately been thinking I need a change in my life. I remembered how I used to love going into Fish Shops as a kid, and I had a smallish (40Gal Long) tanks with some cichlids about 5-6 years ago, but ultimately had to give them away due to a move. I bought myself a 20Hal high tank to start learning planted tanks and will be stocking it with some guppies, cherry shrimp, and a snail or two (really love rabbit snails). I have made the decision that I want to get out of IT, and open my own business. At first I wasn't sure about what kind of store but after pondering for a while, I stumbled upon Cory's videos and currently I would love to open up a fish shop! It seems crazy, as I don't have any tanks set up currently, but I've been researching a lot, learning a lot, and am in no way jumping right in. This will be 2-3 years down the road probably. Baby steps. 🙂 I look forward to having wonderful conversations with you all, and learning more and more as time goes by. Thanks!! 🙂 Chuck PS: Pic 1 is the new tank, and yeah, I'm a LEGO and Star Wars nerd. 🙂 Pic 2 is my old cichlid tank from years ago.