LaurieinIA

I have 3 aquariums… African cichlids, community (mostly tetras/danios), and a betta. Currently feeding twice a week, usually a combination of two of these foods, on a rotating basis. Most are nearly gone, so looking to fill out an order (to get free shipping) by adding foods from the coop. What’s the best “all around” food that I could potentially use in any tank? (I’ll still be rotating a variety)

Ok. I will monitor and go from there. The algae issue is looking much better in just a weeks time

Yes. This photo is about 3-4 months ago, so they have filled out more. All live except the hornwort looking one on the right.

My phosphates were out of control… maxed out on the API test. I know the source is my tap water, but buying/hauling RO water is not an option right now. I purchased Phos-zorb and put it in a week ago. Testing shows they are down to 2.0. Still a long way to go, but getting there. Will this packet of Phos-zorb take it any lower or is it likely exhausted already? Is there a better product that is easy to use in a HOB?

@SanFranPsychoAquatics Since moving a few months ago and no longer buying/hauling RO water for my 3 aquariums, I have hard water with high pH as well. My African cichlids love it, but my community tank has suffered even with the long, slow process of mixing water over until it is all tap water. What fish have you had good luck with?

I’m having issues with 2 pumps that are maybe 9 months old. Using check valves. I just might tear one apart this weekend. I have a backup on hand in case playing “Mrs Fix-it” doesn’t work out for me

Will do… thanks!

@Colu I have that on hand. I don’t tecall seeing it before I left for my trip. Should I treat the whole tank since I don’t know how long it’s been?

I just returned home from a 9 day vacation and noticed that a few of my African cichlids have black “mustache” and black spots - mainly on the face. Water parameters are all within normal range for my setup and no other fish seem to have this… only the 4 of this kind. Here’s pics of 2 of the 4. They are fairly small - did they just “hit puberty” while I was gone? 😜

I’m treating my betta for fin rot right now. Per the E.M. Erythromycin package… Same process as @AndEEss states, but 25% water changes, not 50%. I’m seeing improvement 😊

Thanks all! I’ll be adding a bottle to my next order as it sounds like the issue was resolved. 😁

I’ve been using both for a while At this time, I’m mostly concerned about monitoring nitrates since that test takes the longest, has a decent margin of error due to the procedure, and that I can’t tell the difference in the shades of orange unless it’s “barely orange vs obviously red”. I *think* my nitrate results are reasonably accurate across both tests. I like the liquid test for ph for the same reasons… accurate or not, I can’t tell the difference in the readings for ph in the strips. They all look the same to me unless it’s one end or the other. But, at least the liquid test is fast & easy Orange might be my favorite color, but I hate it when it comes to testing 😉

I’ve had my bottle for a while - since last spring - and at the time, it was kind of a known issue. So, I’ve been dealing with it and falling back on my API liquid kit. I’d like to test more often now that I’ve moved and want to change from buying RO water to using tap water… the strips would be super convenient. But, I don’t want to invest in another bottle if I can’t depend on them. From what you’ve experienced, maybe it’s been resolved?

Has the issue with the pads falling off the test strips been resolved? I ordered some a while back and I’d say at least 1/4 of my strips had lost the nitrate pad. Of the 48 I have left, 25 have lost that pad and who knows if the rest will fall off. Just this AM, 2 of the 3 I used looked ok - but then the pad fell off into the tank. I’d love to order them again if this issue has been resolved.

I’ve got something similar going on here in the Midwest. I used to easily go 2 weeks between water changes on all my tanks - even my African Cichlids. The last 2 months, I have needed to do weekly changes. At first, I thought it was my tap water (we recently moved) but I use RO water on 2 tanks all the time, only my cichlids were in tap, so that isn’t consistent with the issue. Even using mostly RO water for the cichlids the last few changes, my nitrates are climbing faster than normal. I’m going to limit feeding to 2x per week- down from every other day- to see how much that helps.

I don’t have an answer, but have a similar situation. I have a nano USB pump that stops in the daily. Doesn’t seem hot or anything, but needs good wiggle - sometimes a knock on the wall - to get going again.

On my 40 gal cube I’m changing from a HOB to sponge filters due to not liking the water noise made by the HOB. I’m going to use a nano pump with 2 medium sponges, stacked. I was assured it would work. Setting it up tonight… time will tell.

Thanks! I have everything ordered and am expecting it to arrive Monday.

I just checked out the dimensions and you are correct. The prefilter is the same diameter as a medium ACO sponge. I think I’ll plan to go this route. Thanks! @Odd Duck if I stack the sponges, do I keep the air stone way at the top or use a longer length to drop it down towards the bottom of the center column?

Thank you! No idea on the brand or exact size. It was gifted to me a couple of years ago by my BIL who was upgrading. I don’t know how long he had it. I finally set it up with cichlids a little over a year ago, then upgraded them to a 75 last spring and started over with this setup. My first with live plants.

Here’s a quick pic just now from feeding time. Setup is only 6 months old and we moved to a new town a month ago, which was hard on some plants… but they are finally settling in again. The anacharis in the back by the heater was all the way to the top until a few days ago when I trimmed it back. I was hoping the PSO on the left would take off more, but it’s been pretty stagnant so far. I’m looking to basically drop a sponge down right below where the HOB intake is now. @Brandon p thanks for the photos. Visuals always help

@Ragnarok12 thank you. I was hoping to hear this… both about the size of the sponge and that I could get away with the nano pump. Once I get things ordered, I’ll run both for a while and go from there

I would definitely do the air stone and will likely do the large sponge since it’s only an inch or so bigger footprint. I already use a large pre-filter on the HOB, so I’m basically just lowering everything a few inches to the floor.

I’m strongly considering changing from an HOB to sponge filters in my planted community setup - partly because it now sits in my living room and the water noise drives me crazy, partly because I no longer have someone 1/2 block away to check on things if the power goes out while I’m at work. The tank is appx 40 gal cube shaped. 24” tall. With where my plants already are, I don’t really have floor space to do 2 separate sponges. I could, just really don’t want to rearrange plants that are finally settling in again since we moved. Can I do just one large sponge or should I stack a couple of them? Is the coop usb nano pump strong enough? I love how quiet it is! If not, what’s a good QUIET air pump?

@Guppysnail thanks! I might just do this. Looks easy enough to do.