Sandra the fish rookie

@lefty o That is REALLY good to know! I was so worried about the Corydora's.. the Danios and plecos I knew would be okay.. but man was I stressed...

@lefty o my house is kept at 68 year round.. so I am afraid they will get too cold??? But I have no idea to be honest.. and I was told that Rabbit snails need it warm..??? Again, I am still a "rookie" LOL

Good Morning All. Last night I was watching the tank, and noted the fish not as active. I always check the temps in the tanks before I go to bed (as well as the filters and air etc.). My tank dropped from79 to 70 degrees. I went into overdrive, had 2 extra heaters, and put them in, and slowly did water changes to get the water up to at least 72. Its a 40G breeder, with a HOB, and large ACO sponge filter, and a large air stone. Current stocking is 8 pearl danio, 7 panda corydora, 10 pygmy corydora, 10 otto, 2 Plecos, and 3 rabbit snails. I have been up every few hours during the night to check in on everyone, so far so good. Fingers crossed it stays that way. I have an extra temp regulator I am going to install TODAY! My questions to all of you are the following: 1) any diseases I need to watch out for? @Colu?? or anyone 🙂 2) I want to get 2 heaters this time, its a 40G so what size to I need to ensure that should 1 fail, the other can at the very least keep the water from dropping dangerously low or not being able to get too hot and cook the fish? 3) Should I actually have 2 temp regulators 1 for each heater? I am thinking that I will put the temp regulator on the larger heater that if failed, would alarm, and the other could maintain the tank till I get another heater in there. Anyone have experience with this? I would REALLY appreciate all the advise, and even product recommendations (heaters, etc.). PS. all the above and having a very sedated dog recovering from surgery that wanted to be my aquarium assistant. Stressful night 😞

@ARMYVET red root floaters and then I tried water lettuce 😞. I thought it might be because of the flow in the tank.. How do I know how much to add without making things worse? I know there are charts out there but there are not enough test kits to test EVERYTHING.. I have a phosphate test, copper test kit, and of course the standard API test kit , and GH/KH kits.. What else do I need to determine the plants are balanced???? I don't want to get rid of all the algae or my Otto's will die 😢

@ARMYVET I just ordered some bacopa and pogostemon stellatus octopus from ACO to add to this tank and the 40G. They should arrive any day now. I tried floating plants and they died.. Oh and I have a Crinum Calamistratum (that I received by mistake..) in each tank.. that will probably take FOREVER to grow.. Just have to keep at it I guess.. and add more easy green... but I am afraid to cause a nitrate spike or more algae 😞

I am confused 😕 How is it there is a lot of natural light when the tank is dark...? even with the blinds open, the tank is dark.. I can cut out the light in the morning and have the light on from 4-1030pm. Sad I am not in my office to enjoy it. (I used to be, but changed positions for work life balance). As for the plants, I have wisteria and water sprite, as well as hornwort (I think that is what it is) anubias (different types) and Val in there.. the issue is THAT WOOD! If I had to do it again, it would have been smaller, and I would have chosen different rocks as well. It was the first tank I ever set up and made a lot of mistakes with it.. the wood has a piece of slate under it and it has a big footprint, so trying to add plants near it is a pain because its not deep enough.. That is why the 40 gallon is much better.. not as fancy but a better balance of wood/rock and deeper substrate so plants do really well in it.. and it too is beside a window (I have an open concept house 😬. BUT the windows are tinted so it helps .. As for the otto's I already learned from that mistake, there were 7 and I only have 3 so lesson learned. I don't clean the back wall to keep algae in there for them to eat. I also supplemental feed them as well. I don't over clean it either.. that has taken a lot of discipline.. the natural verse pretty war that goes on in my head.. See additional pictures of the 20.. First one is the side closest to the window Second close up of the wood Third the other side If I could re do this tank.. I would.. but they are happy and healthy.. so it will stay as it it..

@ARMYVET my nitrates are at 20ppm. As for CO2, I don't run CO2, so I have no idea what the level would be 😞. I guess I could increase my easy green. I do add root tabs as well every month. Guess its still not enough. below is a picture of the tank (its in my home office). by the window. I have wide shutters that I use to control the early morning light. I actually don't get much light in this room. The sun rises in the front of the house, but does not really hit this corner so the tank does not get direct sun light. But I do take it into consideration so that is why I decreased the light in the tank.. thinking maybe even the little bit had an impact. as for the lights @Tihshho they are not fancy. but they are on a timer that is scheduled as follows: On: 09-11 am (off from 11-4) On: 4pm 1030 pm I am sure the problem is me.. but I am not sure what I am doing wrong. See a picture of the tank now (its currently 2:10 EST)

Here is what it looks like..

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I have no issue with the algae growing on the wood and can live with it.. it does look nice when its cleaned by someone though 🙂 As for the cause... I have no idea.. this aquarium is going on a year old. I feed the fish every 2nd day, water changes every 2 weeks (which water parameter wise, I don't even have to do but.. who doesn't like a bit of fresh water), I cut down on easy green to every 2 weeks and decreased the amount to 1 pump. Lights are on for 8 hrs. There is a large sponge filter, Tidal 35 HOB and an air stone. Plants have some hair algae, but I just trim it off.. because it won't go away NO MATTER what I do.. so I am just living with it for now. All new growth has no algae on it.. I just have to live with the 20G as it is.. and the 40G looking perfect LOL.. its fine..

Hello~ Okay current stocking guppies, (15ish) all very young (small) 3 albino cory, 2 pepper cory, 1 mystery snail, 2 shrimp and 3 otto's. want to add a pleco to clean up the wood and rocks, because the otto's are eating some of it.. but I think they might need some help. I was thinking of adding a Pleco, but was worried if it would be too small a tank for him/her? I have a clown pleco and a super red long fin in the 40G and as much as I like the clown, I NEVER see it. The super red long fin.. is out all the time. So I am hoping to get either a yellow or super red but the short fin variety. What is everyone's thoughts?

@DavidR I watched a few Father Fish videos, and he barely feeds his fish. However there are others that feed 3 time a day.. I am sure its species related or even breeding related as well.

When there is nothing on TV and I have watched every video to the YT channels I am subscribed to, I start to watch other videos. There is a lot of back and fourth regarding how often to feed fish. The fish I have in QT are fed more often to get them healthy, fat and ready for their new home. However my other tanks are fed every 2nd day and the pea puffer is fed everyday (1 fasting day a week). Is this too little? still too much? Curious to know what everyone does with their fish?

Congratulations!! VERY well deserved 🙂 👏

@Tihshho Thank you so much! I will keep an eye on it..

@Tihshho Thank you so much! I will watch him and make sure he is okay. The other one is more like white spots and there are no chips or damage to the tip like the other one. I have a picture of the other one below. I absolutely LOVE them. I mean.. I am a snail nerd.. but these guys are super cute!! and they are FAST! They lap around the entire tank like its nothing.. How large did yours get?

Thanks everyone! I am watching them very carefully. I have to wonder if the water where they were from was a bit too soft or the KH too low. My water is HARD... my PH is stable at 7.3 and KH stable at 5 (never lower). I have a large wonder shell in there and they seem to love sitting on it.. I have a heavily planted aquarium and feed high quality food. Fingers crossed they don't get worse. I was surprised that they had shell damage, and have let the vendor know and sent picture's as well. It is what it is, and I love them anyway and will ensure that they have the best life I can give them. @Tihshho how long does it take for that kind of damage to occur? could it have happened during shipping or stress of shipping?

oops. Picture below

Hi ~ I received my 3 rabbit snails. 2 of them have what appears to be some shell damage. They are doing well in my tank and are very active. I am concerned about these shells. My KH is stable at 5. I have coral in the filter and substrate and a wonder shell. I have been feeding them crab cuisine because it has calcium in it. Is there anything else I can do to prevent it from getting worse? The picture below is of the one with the worse shell. The other one only has sone white on the outer shell.

@Tedrock and @Fonske They are arriving today! I usually "plop and drop" but wanted to know if Rabbit Snails are more sensitive and need acclimatization??

I have a clear pepper mill and mix my krill flakes with spirulina flakes.. and I keep it in the fridge 🙂 super easy and clean way to feed them..

I am stalking the site every week waiting for these nets!!!! I have tried every net out there and just don't like them .. but it has not stopped me from ordering stuff on a regular basis from ACO.. LOL.. 😆..

@Tedrock OMG your rabbit snails are BEAUTIFUL!! I am nervous but decided to give it a try anyway. My water is VERY hard strips are purple and API KH is 22 drops.. , and I do have crushed coral in my substrate and in my HOB filter. My PH is a steady 7.3 KH 5 my temp is 78.9-79 degrees. I have a mystery snail in my other tank, and noticed that he had some damage to his shell way back.. and my KH was super low (my 5 gallon I could not even get a reading!) that is when I added crushed coral to ALL my tanks substrate and HOB filters its stable at 5-6 in all the tanks. What do they like to eat? I have 2 pleco's and they love veggies so I am hoping the rabbit snails do to. Do you acclimatize them (to water or temp)? or do you plop and drop? I ordered them and they will ship out Monday.

Flip Aquatics has them.. I have never seen them at my LFS. Aqua Huna does not have them. Not sure who else has these snails.. but they are neat looking..

I have mystery snails, pond snails and nerite snails. I wanted something a bit different. I was looking at rabbit snails. Does anyone have them? What do you think of them?

@Nooby okay thanks! Also, what about food? I just put in some mini wafers and they seem to like it. Anything else they like?