Ben P.

It would but there's two reasons I would not use it in this case. First is that if you put it in backwards you could stop flow. The worst thing you can do to a pump is block it's flow. Second is price and availability. I guess a third would be simplicity. It's pretty hard to screw up two valves This is how I have my fry system piped for the same reason. Just open the valve on the left and it empties tank. @tolstoy21

Oh man there's a few that really would be sweet to have. Blue gularis killifish comes to mind. If you haven't seen them, they're stunning. I've had discus in the past but would do it differently than before, I was young and dumb then. Frontosas are a bucket list for sure. Each of them have a limiting factor. Blue gularis is extremely difficult to find, discus are difficult due to my tap water parameters, and frontosas require 200 plus gallons

If I didn't live pretty much in the middle of nowhere I would look for something local, but the nearest club is about 3 hours from me from what I can tell. Pretty much stuck with online sources

It's been a few years but I did them in the winter so I scooped a bunch of fresh snow and melted it and actually put a bit of snow in there too. Cold water with low tds did the trick. I did it in a 10 gallon. They did not live in the 10 gallon, just breeding

My wife really wants to get some nothobranchius (don't kill me on the spelling) killis. I understand they don't live all that long but some places online say up to a couple of years in aquarium. I'm just wondering if it's a mistake to buy adults or experiences you've had with eggs? And yes I do plan on breeding them so any thoughts there I'm listening to as well. Thanks!

@Shea Loner I'm not at home this weekend but this is the stuff

I would set the tank on something called armorflex insulation. I don't necessarily know where a person would get it, I get it from the plumbing and heating shop where I work. It's used as insulation on piping and ductwork. About an inch and a half thick, black, very dense insulation. I set tanks on it a lot

As far as temp goes I keep a lot of my tanks at higher than recommended temps, I find it makes disease less common and less long lasting. And what you want to do with the crushed coral depends on what look you like. Some keep it in a bag, other scatter it. Best of luck!

I think your estimate of weight is pretty darn high. I dont use the metric system but if my conversation to freedom fractions is accurate you're thinking 30 gallons of fish tank is going to weigh upwards of 800 pounds? If you had 30 gallons of water weighing 8 pounds per gallon that puts you at 240 pounds. Regardless of whatever scape you use I think you'd struggle to have 500 pounds of scaping and equipment in 2 small tanks

My normal approach is one of two things. My preferred method is to set the tank up as I want it, with all new stuff and let it run for as long as it takes. I feed the tank fishfood in the approximate amount that I think I will be feeding the tank when stocked. The water will go cloudy after a few days and stay that way for a while. Suddenly the water will go clear and you're good to go. Second way is to take a sponge filter out of a established tank and put it in there for about a month, assuming you have other filtration. I still don't go hog wild with stocking while it's relying on the sponge filter but after a month everything will be good. Also I only use the large sponge filters. I don't care that they're not pretty, it's about function. Again, preferred method is honestly all new stuff for me

I do about a week to 10 days. Haven't had an issue but others may have more info

I definitely second the using of the matten filter as a free side to do water changes. That might be the biggest win of this whole project 😂

Two videos I would reference that might help to finish out any design ideas that you have, btw I'm not saying you need it because I love your design here, but Greg sage has one on breeding Odessa barbs and keeping fish simple has one on breeding danios. Both could be a great help for you

I do really like ugf myself. Staying to switch to matten as I like them better for my needs but 100% use a power head with Venturi to add air. No matter what I always want air in my tanks for surface agitation and oxygenation. Also you never have to clean the mulm under the plates, that's pretty much a myth as far as I'm concerned. Plants growing into them doesn't matter either, water will still flow

I would assume they would be the same as any other melatonea genus rainbow.... although I must say I'm super jealous, they've been on mine and my wife's wish list for a while! Beautiful fish