[Growing Alternanthera]

They don't require a heater. The vast majority of plants that we use in aquariums, don't need heaters. Many come from temperate climates and can handle temps way lower than our tropical fish. A Google search of the Latin name of any plant should tell you where it's from. Alternatheras are often used as pond plants. They can handle cooler temps 👍 

[Lotus Bamboo?]

Those are draceneas, probably fruticosa. They are terrestrial plants. Everyone that grows them successfully has them as emergent. You can grow them on dry land too. Many terrestrial plants can grow with their roots submerged in water.

[Low/No Tech Nano Shrimp Tanks]

Unless you have really bright light where you work, or it will be by a window, I'd say get a light. I have a 2 gallon guppy tank in my cubicle at work. The desk lights were all right, but things really took off when I added a light specifically for the tank.

[Last Year's Pond Gunk: Keep it or Remove it?]

I say leave it in. Aside from bacteria, there going to be lots of microfauna in there for your fish to eat.

[Worms in my tank]

Ah, I only ask because sometimes when people turn their filters off the lack of flow causes all the little critters in the gravel to come out. Especially if there aren't any fish there to eat them.

[Worms in my tank]

After your fish died, did you turn the pump and filter off?

[Worms in my tank]

That pic looks like some kind of insect larvae or detritus worm. Regardless of that, the best and safest way to clean your tank is to just let it dry out. Maybe put the gravel out to dry in the sun. The likelihood the worms are connected to the fish's death is super low. 

[Freshwater clams in fish tanks?]

I have clams in two of my 3 gallon tanks. They've been there for a good long while. Some have died, but most actually have survived. I know this because I see their siphon tubes sticking out of the soil. Those two tanks have ugf and fairly good flow. There is no real filter. The pump is there more for water circulation. I feed heavy, and the kind of clam I have will do a thing called "pedal feeding" where they use their foot to pull food particles into their shells. I didn't get my clams off ebay though. I got mine from the water ways we have at my work. I'm not sure on the species though. I think they might be Asian golden clams. Mine are doing great 👍 

[Newt and Salamander keepers of the world!]

I think l the laws changed in the USA. Something about concerns over a new form of chytrid fungus that caudates (newts & salamanders) could potentially bring in. Except for axolotyls, I have seen a very sharp decline in tailed amphibians in the hobby.....

[New Oranda Goldfish!]

Wow, they're beautiful 😍 

[What is this]

Sounds like black beard algae.

[Hard question]

Go on a safari....

[Hard question]

Probably? Most nematodes are free living and not parasitic. Unless you can get a look under a microscope, ID can be kinda tricky. 

[Terrestrial moss taking over]

I've posted pics of this moss before. It's some kind of terrestrial moss I collected at work. It quickly converted in several aquariums and is taking over in a few of them. In this one it has dominated the Java moss, subwassertang, aldrovanda and bladderwort. I've had to trim it twice already. It doesn't attach to anything. It just kinda grows from the bottom to the top. Once it reaches the top it emerges from the water then converts back. High light and fertilizer (I use a combo of miracle grow general plant fert and osmocote) seem to be what it really likes. In low light/nutrient situations it grows. Just much slower and smaller.

[Cyanobacteria and turtles]

Usually, yeah. I just wonder about certain plant extracts that can be harmful to reptiles (like cedar). But you're probably right.....

[Cyanobacteria and turtles]

for stuff like this, I like to look up the active ingredient on the label or the sds sheet. Then I search if the active ingredient is safe for *animal of choice*

[Convincing partner to let me get another tank :)]

On 3/24/2023 at 9:33 AM, cavdad45 said:

It's easier to ask for forgiveness, than asking for permission

This is terrible advice. Maybe it's just my relationship, but this strategy has only worked very rarely. Like, it was something that's not very pricey/time consuming. Communicate and work it out. It can potentially come back to bite you in the future if you go the forgiveness route......

[Different kind of hydra?]

Fun fact: freshwater jelly fish exists. We have a species in the US that's an invasive.

[Summer Tub Questions]

I would go with a solar powered pump. For filtration I would just get plants. They don't have to be "pond plants" either. There are TONS of plants that will grow with their roots in water. One that springs to mind right away are cannas. They have really nice looking flowers, and if you're feeling squirrely you can eat the rhizome when you drain the tub at the end of the season. You can also use society garlic too. Nice thing about society garlic is that it's repellent to critters like raccoons....

[Ideas how to contain Pothos roots]

Meh, I say let em roam...

[Moss Experiments, results!]

Yeah I'm only guessing at the species, based on the appearance when I collected it. I get most of my moss from work. Sometimes I find it already growing in the water looking like that.

[Moss Experiments, results!]

This is my terrestrial moss that I've been growing for some time submerged.

[Horticulture sand]

I've used it. It's just smaller gravel. If you're using a lot, get it from a quarry...

[Earthworm eggs]

No, they're the red kind people use in compost piles and for bait. Earthworms can live underwater indefinitely, since they respire through their skin. As long as the water is oxygenated enough, and it's not too hot. I've always like the sound of 'wormlings'....

[Earthworm eggs]

So I guess the redwriggler earthworms I put in my little two gallon are breeding. There are tons of these things (eggs/cocoons) throughout the gravel. The adults are still there too. They just shy away from the light...