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JChristophersAdventures

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Everything posted by JChristophersAdventures

  1. JChristophersAdventures
    @Jennifer V Not yet set up. It is going slowly (in other words, according to available funding, lol) My progress so far can be seen here: I have the BDBS but won't be putting it in until I am ready to finish the scaping, wash the substrate, plant the plants and fill the tank all on the same day. I think if I place washed gravel in the tank and end up waiting awhile before filling, the wet sand could get a little nasty. Honestly, it's probably going to be another month or two based on my current rate of progress. I am in the process of cutting custom lids, for each side of the dividing brace, from clear twin wall polycarbonate. When you place HOBs on the ends of the tank, instead of the back, there are few if any pre-made lid choices available. Besides, I like to custom fit is all together anyway to make sure the livestock stays inside the aquarium. Thanks.
  2. JChristophersAdventures
    Don't know if it is any good, but I see where Buce Plant is selling an algae solution by Green Water Labs that it supposed to be organic and plant based. Just thought I would mention it here, so if anybody knows anything about it, please chime in. Thanks.
  3. JChristophersAdventures
    Black Diamond Blasting Media is also available through TSC (Tractor Supply), but be careful to get the coarser version if you use a gravel vac to reduce the challenge of cleaning sand substrates. If you want a dark substrate and have large tanks (or a lot of tanks to do), why pay more? You can also mix it with other sandy substrates to get a number of interesting color variations. I will be mixing it in about a 80% BDBS to 20% coarse white sand ratio. This will accomplish my goals of: 1. still having a generally dark substrate so the fish colors really pop, 2. add a little light reflection on the bottom surface to bring out more definition throughout the scape, and 3. mute the appearance of mulm between cleanings (black alone can look dirty pretty quick, depending on the bioload). Plus I will be using black slate and snow white quartz rock to compliment the bi-color substrate, as I think it will just look cool. I think a lot of other interesting color combinations that could be done using that approach... imagine mostly BDBS with just a small amount of red sand... a few reddish rocks along with some black ones and then lots of red plants mixed in with the usual plant assortment... that would be amazing!
  4. JChristophersAdventures
    It's kind of like some food products... they are allowed to say it is 100%, even when it contains certain other ingredients or trace elements. In the case of silicone sealant, they add mold inhibitors which can be toxic to fish and can still claim it is 100% silicone. Best to stick with ones that are specifically labeled as aquarium safe (or call the manufacturer's customer service number to make sure).
  5. JChristophersAdventures
    @Odd Duck It didn't bother me so much except that they had really good prices... but, it is easy to have attractive deals when you don't have the inventory, never ship the items and never message anybody! lol
  6. JChristophersAdventures
    @Odd Duck Thanks! I highly recommend this kind of project. It was challenging and fun, and what you get is something you would pay many times what the materials cost, if you could even find it to buy. Not to mention that it fits your set-up perfectly because it is made-to-order. On the down-side, the seller I ordered cholla wood from 2 weeks ago, just cancelled the order yesterday... no communication... no nothing! So, now I will be ordering from another source that is more expensive, but which can hopefully deliver!
  7. JChristophersAdventures
    @Guppysnail That's a lot of babies for not even being all of them! They seem very active and happy, too.
  8. JChristophersAdventures
    @AllFishNoBrakes Sounds like a great excuse to start a black water tank!
  9. JChristophersAdventures
    @Guppysnail Thank you so much! I have to say it isn't hard, but it is time consuming. Letting each little stage of the process cure over night before moving on causes it to take awhile. And, it was challenging to figure out how to put all the major pieces together, bore the holes and drive the screws at the right angle to make it look like I wanted. It took 6 aquarium safe screws coated with silicone, and nearly 50 of those tiny tubes of super glue to finish it. I found Harbor Freight had super glue gel for $4.50 for 10 tubes which I thought was a pretty good deal, when I didn't want to wait for Amazon. Thanks.
  10. JChristophersAdventures
    @AllFishNoBrakes Some super pics of some really nice fish/inverts... your chili rasboras have nice color as do the shrimp! I also like the compost tea you boiled up... reminds me of professional organic gardeners! lol
  11. JChristophersAdventures
    Here's a few pics of what I made from the pieces of ghost wood I received from Buce Plant a few weeks back. Took awhile doing it in my spare time... lots of super glue, sawdust and patience... but, I think it turned out pretty well. It measures approximately 36" long and 16" wide, and 18" tall at the highest platform. I even turned it upside down to make the underside look as nice as possible (see the pic), even though most of it won't show so much when the plants have grown out. There are 48 platforms in all which will be planted in weeping willow aquarium moss, and there will be some anubias petite, buce mini and dwarf java fern accents around the base, along some of the branches and in some of the boughs. It is installed in the aquarium (it has a slate base with rubber feet to cushion it against the bottom glass). The slate base will be covered up along with the bottom edge of the trunk when the substrate is added later. I am still waiting for some items to ship before I can fill it with water again, and start the cycling process.
  12. JChristophersAdventures
    Update: I finally finished my centerpiece for the 75G! I will post some pictures shortly on my journal page: Family Heirloom Gets New LIfe"!
  13. JChristophersAdventures
    Never had planaria in my earlier fish keeping days. What's the major culprit(s) for causing this? Are they introduced by hitchhiking on fish... snails... plants? Or, by some other means? Thanks.
  14. JChristophersAdventures
    I would place the HOB on the right end (right as shown in the pic... you may be able to invert the aquarium if you need to place it on the left for easier servicing?). The end is especially good if you want the best flow across the entire aquarium (although it might depend on the placement of larger rocks and/or driftwood). My 75G build has one at each end and the thing l like best about using the ends, it gives a cleaner appearance as you look through the front of the tank to the back (less obstruction). Thanks.
  15. JChristophersAdventures
    @Guppysnail Love the gourami!
  16. JChristophersAdventures
    @beastie Here is a link to help you with that: https://www.amazon.com/Zeeporte-Dive-Snorkeling-Gear-Adults/dp/B09PDMTPL5/ref=sr_1_4?crid=17UIC2CCE7LD4&keywords=snorkeling%2Bgear&qid=1696515163&sprefix=snorkling%2Bgear%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-4&th=1 This is NOT an affiliate link...btw. Thanks.
  17. JChristophersAdventures
    Beautiful plant(s) almost seems a shame you don't have it in a much taller tank. Thanks.
  18. JChristophersAdventures
    @nabokovfan87 I have noticed that as well... one day shipping may end up going away altogether for everyone, everywhere. It doesn't mean that you won't get one day service sometimes, but it makes more sense for them to under promise (2nd day shipping) and sometimes over deliver, than the other way around. They have the same staffing problems now that all the other businesses have and the reality is that all the carriers automated their hubs a long time ago, so they are really limited in how much further AI can help them. The idea that they will have 1,000 of drones flying every day over every city from 3 major carriers delivering packages is nonsense... what a joke! And, even with self driving trucks, you still need to get the package from off the truck and to the destination building... so, now you have a robot system in every truck to bridge that gap? That would likely double the cost of the truck and what about maintenance on the whole thing? Now you need more highly skilled people to service that. I just don't see any of that happening (or any other scenario) that is going to yield any major improvements to shipping services. The best we can do is know which carrier does what we need them to do in our area and adjust accordingly. I'm glad FedEx works for some people, but they certainly don't cut it for me. Thanks.
  19. JChristophersAdventures
    Update: Went to pick up some black ceramic tile I special ordered (12"x12") to mount aquarium wood to, but when I picked them up at the special order desk at Menards, almost all of them were cracked... so, had to get a refund and decided I didn't really like them that well anyway. So, I ordered a 8"x12" dark black slate instead... but, still waiting before I can continue the driftwood decor project... very frustrating... sigh!
  20. JChristophersAdventures
    @Pepere Yes, I know we are supposed to "rail" against not paying more for the shipping than we paid for the fish, but really... if you know your USPS route performs well and you know the temps are good from there to you, and you know the fish aren't the overly sensitive kind... then, you are likely to be okay. Yeah, if I was buying insanely rare or expensive fish... would always do 2nd day... but, sellers like AquaHuna base their business on price and focus on the more common community tank fish... it is no wonder they use USPS priority. That's great that it works so well for you... saves you a lot of money... wish USPS was that solid for everyone. Thanks.
  21. JChristophersAdventures
    @BlackCrappieLover Congratulations! Good looking Honey... and, yes it may be a female, but it has nice color as females go, plus it is always a lot easier to find males than females... some stores only sell males and never order anything but. You might want to consider a male companion... honeys are about as peaceful as fish get. Thanks.
  22. JChristophersAdventures
    @Odd Duck This one is ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate. Thanks.
  23. JChristophersAdventures
    I know "Super Glue" is one of the aquarium keeper's best friends when it comes to aquascaping... but, are they all fish safe or just certain ones? And if only certain ones, then which? The 4 main types of cyanoacrylate glue are methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate, referred to by the generic term superglue, and n-butyl cyanoacrylate and 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, which are both approved for use in medical applications. Does it really matter? Thanks.
  24. JChristophersAdventures
    @dmurray407 I would like to dislike Amazon more than I do because they are way too big, in my opinion, but they do some things so very well... and you aren't alone in noticing that you can't find what you need locally, like you used to. It is a fact that one (of the many) reason(s) prices have gone up so much is that stores like Wal-Mart and the Big Box Home Improvement stores no longer carry the best value items in their stores, only on-line, if at all. Just try to buy a pack of 120 X'acto knife blades (at any price) from Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Menards... you name them, you can't do it. Same thing with small drill bits.... they want to sell you a 2 pack for a jacked up price or a variety pack with more big bits... you know, the ones that are always left over from the last variety pack you bought, after all the little ones are worn/broken. In most cases, you can't even get a value quantity of them on-line at all, except from Amazon. And they wonder why Amazon is kicking their posterior! hahaha And, they deserve it!
  25. JChristophersAdventures
    @Andy's Fish Den Exactly! I get that almost every time from FedEx (that's why I use them as seldom as humanly possible). Here is a typical FedEx tracking example when I used them: At around 3PM on 9/21/23 (about 58 hours after arriving at the distribution center that is less than 1 hour drive from my house) and several "no attempt" attempts (no FedEx trucks in our town on the 19th or the 20th), operational delays?, security delays?...WT #*! does that mean?... my package was finally delivered... the driver says "I couldn't deliver it sooner because I couldn't locate the box on my truck"! Yeah, right! Whatever.
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