[Outdoor Pond Stocking Ideas]

@Patrick_G what size is that pond? And how old and how big are your fish? 

[Hair algae?]

I'm not near as experienced as some are in the fourm, but if you maybe reduce your easy green and flourish that may help. I have a 20g and dose easy green once a week and don't have an issue with algae. 

You may also look into getting some amano or cherry shrimp to help. If you have the space to move it to another tank when it gets older, look into a bristlenose pleco.

 

[Outdoor Pond Stocking Ideas]

I am in the process of building an outdoor pond and am not sure what to stock it with. 

I live in Indiana and do not have a place to bring the fish in over the winter, so they would need to be cold water tolerate. I have a 145 gallon pond. 

I've seen before where people will build a DIY "greenhouse" to go over top of thr pond to help warm it during the winter. 

So, does anyone have stocking ideas or have a similar situation?

[Salt Deposits on a Saltwater Tank]

Not sure if anyone will know, but I have a Salt water tank that keeps collecting Salt deposits on the top of my lid towards the back where the opening is. Anyone know why? 

[Disposable filters and a planted tank]

I just started a planted tank and I have read that carbon can essentially make fertilizer ineffective. I have an aqueon hang on back filter that uses the disposable filter cartridges, which have activated carbon in them. Is this okay to use? If not l, how can I change my hang on back filter to be effective without the carbon filters?

[What is this Algae and how do I get rid of it?]

My tank has been overcome by this purple/redish algae. I have tried liquid algae removers and it doesn't help. What exactly is it and how do I get rid of it?

[Redoing my 20gal High Tank]

18 hours ago, Cory said:

You may not have to completely cycle it again, but I would look at it from a perspective of getting a tank stable. Why do you have to remove all of your substrate and decor? 

@Cory Right now I have a gravel substrate and fake plants and decor, and I was wanting to make it a more natural looking planted tank. 

[Redoing my 20gal High Tank]

So, I unfortunately lost all but 2 of my fish in my 20gal tank due to fin rot (I didn't catch it in time). So, I'm taking this opportunity to change up my tank to a planted shrimp tank with some fish. With that being said I will have to change my substrate and take out all my decor. After setting up my new tank will I have to let it completely cycle again?

[How important is CO2 for a planted tank?]

9 hours ago, varanidguy said:

Which live sand are you referring to? As long as the sand is inert you'll be fine. If it's "live sand" like what's commonly used in saltwater, you'd want to avoid that as well, as it will buffer your pH, and hardness levels, higher. Do you know the parameters of your tap water? GH, KH, pH and if it has anything else in it like phosphates, ammonia, or nitrate as well as the TDS?

So, I'm not sure. I will have to get a GH, KH, TM test kit. 

[How important is CO2 for a planted tank?]

3 hours ago, varanidguy said:

If you're going to be raising neos, I'd suggest going with an inert substrate. Something like Eco Complete or sand. They like having some KH in the water and the shrimp and plant substrate will strip it out of the water. And unless you're using remineralized RO water, you'll fluctuate the KH every time you do a water change which is detrimental to the shrimp (I know from experience).

Thank you! So, if I were to go the sand route, would the live sand from caribsea work? Also, I'd be using conditioned tap water. How would that most likely affect KH?

[How important is CO2 for a planted tank?]

I was planning on starting out with aqueons clip on planted light and use aqueon shrimp and plant substrate. As far as the shrimp, most likely cherry shrimp and/or color variants. 

[How important is CO2 for a planted tank?]

I have a 20gal high tank that I am wanting to turn into a planted shrimp tank. Is CO2 essential in a planted tank?

[Almost all my fish died from fin rot]

I recently started up in the fish hobby and I have had my freshwater talk for about 6ish months. All my fish have been healthy as well as the tank. I noticed a week or so ago some of the fish were hanging out near the top. l didn't notice anything else wrong with them and water parameters were fine.. First thing that came to mind was low oxygen, so I did a partial water change and added an airstone. Then here recently I noticed the fins all all my fish appeared to be damaged. I later found it to be most likely fin rot. I have no medicine on hand and unfortunately, I think its too far gone.

Anyway, if these other fish do end up dying or they survive and are well, is there anything I need to do to the tank to prepare it for new fish?