cryptkeeper
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Posts posted by cryptkeeper
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On 4/2/2024 at 9:06 AM, Biotope Biologist said:
Yup thats a caddisfly larvae. They are ubiquitous in NA and construct their cocoons out of different available materials using saliva and maybe even a spinerette style thing (think spiders)?
They are harmless detritivores that start emerging this time of year as a larvae. Takes anywhere from a few months to a year to pupate and turn into a caddisfly.
Yup it's definitely that. I just watched another one swim over to my hornwort. So am I gonna have these things flying around my house when they turn into a caddisfly?!
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Well you solved the mystery so I thank you! 😊
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I did take a video but it won't upload, but I think you are right, it does look like a caddisfly in the video, it looks like it is inside of that shell!
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No pond and my plants come from CA and KY. But that's not to say it didn't come in on them...when you get them is it like an explosion in population or is it easy to keep on top of and eliminate?
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Well it's been destroyed but do I likely have more??
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What in the heck is this?!
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On 3/27/2024 at 11:14 AM, Rube_Goldfish said:
Related to this topic: does anyone have any tips or tricks for cleaning up all those shells? I have a lot of old shells, and I guess I could just leave them to (slowly!) dissolve back into the water column, but in the meantime, they're a little unsightly. So far I've used aquascaping tongs, which take forever, and a fish net that I swish the sand back out of, but that's not much faster. Any better ways I'm not thinking of?
I think I'll leave mine, makes me feel like I'm at the beach 🤣
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Rhaboceola in my shrimp tank, correct? Not planaria?
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Sorry, yeah, it was a bladder snail, I just call them pest snails even though I love them lol.
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How long do those pest snails usually live?
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Pretty much what the title says...I had a pest snail that was my tanks first inhabitant, came in on plants and grew up in my tank over the last 4 months. I have RCS, 2 mystery snails and a bristlenose. Yesterday I did notice the snail looking like he was stretching his body, I didn't think anything of it, he's done it before, but today I found his empty shell, totally cleaned out. Tank mates have shown no interest in him from what I saw and all the parameters are in check. Thoughts?
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I also had one come in from an ACOOP plant during the cycling process! It's been awesome watching him grow and his shell form. I named him Stanley. 😁
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Update: I'm happy to report that as of this morning all my parameters are spot on! I listened to you guys and just left the tank alone aside of small water changes and testing, and it worked itself out! I only lost 1 shrimp due to white ring of death during this. Thank you all!
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Thank you everyone! I figured I'd crashed my tank a bit. I have the Aquarium Co-Op testing strips, but the ammonia ones don't even register, think I got a bad batch. The all-in-one strip echoes the API on nitrites. Would adding more beneficial bacteria help or should I just leave it alone? And yes, I will be moving the sword to another tank eventually lol!!
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Hello! I am struggling with the parameters of my shrimp tank. I have a 5g planted tank with rock, wood, and inert substrate that I cycled and currently have 25 RCS (5 adults and 20 babies) and 2 mystery snails. About a week ago I changed from a sponge filter to an HOB, I did put a piece of the cycled sponge back in the tank for beneficial bacteria. Since then my nitrites(nitrites with an I) have been at least .25, highest.50 and ammonia at least .25 (though today it almost looks to be closer to 0), highest. 50, based on API liquid tests. Nitrates, ph, kh, gh, tds all within range. I have done 20-25% water changes every day and treated my water with tap conditioner and added quickstart to each water change. I have not been feeding the shrimp at all, but there is algae for them to graze on (not in excess) and an almond leaf. I have added more floating plants, 2 more large amazon swords, and an airstone. I have added no ferts in my substrate or water column. Everyone seems fine and active and I've had no deaths. Am I just chasing numbers here and driving myself crazy? Should I be worried? Should I do more water changes? Less water changes? Add more beneficial bacteria? Treat with Prime? Did I just really screw myself up changing out the filter and mess up my cycle and now I have to just wait it out? What should I be doing, if anything?
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On 2/19/2024 at 5:55 AM, doktor zhivago said:
I'm basically at the same point in the cycle you are with my planted 37 gallon. Ammonia is gone but the nitrites are climbing. I got tons of life in the tank. The plants are growing like crazy. There's some thread algae and a little patch of brown diatoms, and even a lil snail hitchhiker taking off despite the nitrites.
I wouldn't stress about your tank. Just keep doing what you've been doing. It's good that things are growing and alive even if they're not the desired species just yet. I'm gonna give it another week or two for the nitrites to drop and then start adding some fish slowly
@doktor zhivago I also have a hitchhiker snail that is growing well in my tank lol! I'm happy to have him!
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Hello everyone!
New here and just set up a 5g planted aquarium which is currently cycling. This forum has already been a big help, thank you!
Have not had a freshwater tank since I was a teen, and never had a planted tank. Had a nano reef for a short time, but what a pain and expense that was...
Really looking forward to getting into the freshwater side of the hobby and aquascaping. Big houseplant collector, so really interested in incorporating that aspect into the tank(s) as well.
Look forward to learning and being a part of this community 🙂
Jen
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@AllFishNoBrakes Thank you again for putting me at ease! Every time I see something new, I panic lol!
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Hello! Currently a little more than 2 weeks cycling a 5g planted tank. Have a little brown algae on substrate and now noticed the last few days I have what appears to be green thread algae growing on my hardscape and detritus worms crawling around on my glass. Floating plants are growing fast and rooted plants appear healthy, I see a little growth starting. I planted root tabs 2 weeks ago and am dosing liquid fert. 2x a week based on directions on bottle. Lights are on timer 8 hr daily. Ammonia is .50/ Nitrite is 5.0/ Nitrate is 80 (ppm/API test kit). First time with live plants so not sure if the worms and green algae is normal? I am not changing the water (fishless cycle) or removing any algae/worms, should I be? Should I provide more ferts.? Is the algae outcompeting the plants for them? Thanks in advance for any help!
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Thank you!! This is the response I was hoping for lol! Yes, fishless cycle. I will let it be to do its thing. Thank you again!
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Hello, I am currently cycling a 5g planted tank using the ghost feeding method. What is this on my food?? Ive searched the web and found mixed answers: biofilm, mold, let it be, pull it out...anyone have any experience with this? My ammonia is 0, nitrites are 2.0, nitrates are 40, for reference. Thanks!
Help w insect ID
in General Discussion
Posted
I would gladly send you mine! 🤣