[Is having too many plants a thing?]

I would say that most plant aquarium geeks recommend heavily planting from the very beginning to help avoid algae problems...and the balance is fertilizer/light to keep the plants actively growing without excess....with co2 you would want more fertilizer to max plant growth in that context. IMO too many plants does not cause algae. Light fertilizer nutrient imbalance should be your target

[Ziss Brine Shrimp Hatchery]

Hello I need smaller batches. I do half liter not treated with dechlorinator,(marked the level on side of the blender for easy refill); 1 tablespoon aquarium salt, air pump on high, 1/8 of tspn of brine shrimp direct eggs (or less). I figure the air pump on high take s care of any chlorine.I found my hatch rate went up hugely when I had a warm light right on it bringing it to 82 degrees. 27 hours. Plenty of shrimp for my 4 lightly stocked tanks and patio pond  but the output still varies some. So sometimes, I do have to work at getting shrimp while leaving the unhatched eggs behind. Looking forward to trying out the new Aq.Coop eggs!

[Hydra - big problem or little problem?]

They are indestructable immortal beings. I kid you not, they reproduce by cloning so all identical back several million years and if you smoosh them each piece likely to be new one. They spread readily in the tank, can arbitrarily decide to let go and try another spot, and annoy the heck out of me. I also have a massive infestation of them in my fry tank and haven't noticed any losses or injury. I hear flubendozol (sp.?) works, but not sure of impact on other creatures, inverts and plants. Here is a link to a cool you tube channel that talks about their history like they are the best little critters ever. My vote is no worries, maybe try to get rid of them when fry gone.

 

[Help!! They’re invading!]

Whoops...on re read I see that you tried a bait trap already. What bait did you try?

[Help!! They’re invading!]

Just to check: snail was alive when swarm spotted and it was rescued? My worm situation (rhabdocoela, I think) swarm anything dead...so at first I thought they were killing things... they swarmed a new Nerite in my tank that I think actually died in transit. And later when I crushed a pond snail they swarmed over. But as far as I can tell they ignore living pond snails, Shrimp etc.

I would add that, from my observation, locomotion is different for types of worms: planaria always seem to be smoothly gliding and racing to somewhere; rhabdocoela smoothly glide but at a much more leisurely/meandering pace; detritus worms tend to want to float around and just hangout, and when on glass seem to have inch worm movement (head reaching out, then pulling body behind)

If you become sure that these are killer/damaging, I suggest trying a worm or planaria trap. Some you tube videos show how to diy them, but also can be purchased.

["Toolbox Pond"...?]

Adding to the Fish tools/algae eaters: Florida Flagfish

[Summer Tubbing - Lets see your outdoor mini and large ponds.]

14 minutes ago, ToScapeOrNotToScape said:

Not sure if this is the place to ask this but im interested in doing a mini pond and was wondering if i run a sponge filter and use the Co-Op usb air pump is that thing water proof? or do i need to proof it for rain??

Hello 

I use exactly that set up through a summer of thunderstorms:the pump seems fine. I am able to keep the plugs well under a porch/dry. From comments Cory has made during a livestream, he suggested thatsun damage to the outer plastic layer the sub nano pump was more of an eventual  problem than rain damage.

[Summer Tubbing - Lets see your outdoor mini and large ponds.]

48 minutes ago, Daniel said:

My next door neighbor just asked me to help stock his water feature. I suggested guppies and hornwort. It would be cool to add lilies and Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) in pots on the ledges. The main issue that vexes me is this is an 'infinity pool', that is the water overflows the edges of the pool and then returns via a pump. I hoping the hornwort clogging the infinity edges and general bigness of the pool will allow some of the guppy fry to grow up.

This pool is located in the piedmont of central North Carolina near Raleigh. Cherry shrimp over-winter for me in my little tub here if that tells you something about how severe our winters are. I would be surprised if the guppies over-wintered though.

I think this is roughly 7000 gallons.

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

I think you might want to test that the horn wort won't go over the edges cause looks like it might be painful to get that cleaned. Plants in pots (lilies, pickeral, etc) I agree would look great. You could have them on pedestals islands at random spots. I think the golden white clouds would be great, if they could do a big school...

[Summer Tubbing - Lets see your outdoor mini and large ponds.]

My first pond,  20 gallon. Daisy's blue rice fish. Love the sound of running water.

[College Apartment Fishroom Build]

I think consensus would state that pea puffers are angry fish and want their own tank...usually. going to be a fun build out!

Dan's Fish had a you tube video with shipping advice you might hunt out. If possible, I would recommend waiting for fall weather. Ice packs and insulated box might do you but even the slightest delay would be tough now that summer is here. In the meantime you could cycle the tanks, get plants established...

[New fish for the week of 7/6-7/12]

Might want to mention at the top: coop doesn't ship fish. And suggestions: approx. number remaining (updated weekly), tank raised/wild caught. 

 

Plants....plant list on the other hand....aquarium coop does ship plants...

[Why can't I breed?]

I agree with the success with brine shrimp first before moving up to the Artemis blender by zeiss. I suggest using the Brine Shrimp Direct Hatchery (on Amazon, comes with eggs) and a warm desk lamp to shine on the opening nd a turkey baster for collecting/transferring to tanks. This is set up so eggs are separated out from the baby brine. No air pump needed; nice sized batches daily that could get your fish breeding. Then you can step up to blender...which is proving tricky for me.(sometimes great, sometimes not).

The other thought is really densely planting your white cloud pond (throwing in a pile.of moss?) and.checking.if shade is needed at t certain times of day.