[Liquid Test Kit Stand - DIY ​ 📊📉📈 ​]

Im super clumsy and have knocked over my test tubes on more than one occasion so i knew i needed something like this but i just hadnt taken the time to do it. When i saw your stand today i decided i was done putting it off so i went out and made one out of an off cut i had lying around. So thanks Dave, if you hadnt made yours i probably never wouldve actually made one for myself.

[Using tumbled rocks from a childhood rock collection?]

On 7/19/2020 at 11:30 AM, Intrinsicat said:

I have a pretty decent sized rock collection from tumbling rocks smooth with my dad as a kid... id love to use them interspersed with gravel - but with the muriatic acid test work on tumbled rocks? I don’t have the betta for this tank yet - just starting it up so I have time to do ph testing as well. Any suggestions or should I just shelve the rock collection again? 

Those are very cool. You should post some pics after you set the tank up id love to see how it turns out

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

This is my first mini pond. Im still setting it up. I know its a bit late in the season but i live in a very warm area of los angeles so it should be fine. I ordered some plants from aquarium coop last night to get it started. 
 

[Hillstream Loach Fry!!!]

44 minutes ago, kkarsten said:

Very cool.  How is the flow in your tank?  Seems to be a regularly debated question with the hillstream loaches.  

Just looking at them, you would think it is a fish that prefers rapid like conditions.   

Id say i have a bit higher flow than normal in this tank for them but its not directional like a powerhead or anything. I just hot rodded the filter that came with it by removing the crappy cartridge and replacing it with aquarium coop sponge pad which increased the flow quite a bit. And then i added a sponge filter right up against a rock so that they can hang out on it in the flow. To be honest they dont spend most of their time in the high flow areas. They seem to treat the high flow more like a playground that they go flutter around in throughout the day.

[All my tanks (display and breeding) - May 1 Update w/ new FishTube video]

On 7/17/2020 at 3:48 PM, StephenP2003 said:

Spray foam, black aquarium sand (which is not really sand), and tan play sand, plus some dark brown and gray krylon fusion for some streaks of varying shades, topped with satin polyurethane to keep everything together. Then once it started growing algae of various types in the surface, it really started to look its best. Once cured, those paint products are inert. Or so I'm told by people smarter than me at chemistry. It hasn't caused any noticeable problems in the past 6 months. I don't know how larger fish would treat it in terms of destructive behavior. 

If you do the spray foam and sand once, the result is a very deep cavernous effect. Looks super cool, but since I was planning on keeping smaller fish, I was afraid something would get stuck and/or die in a hole one day and I'd never see it. So I did a second spray inside the caverns and loaded with sand again. 

If I could do it again, I would use foam that expands the least, and not use such a thick styrofoam board as the foundation. The background took up more tank real estate than it needed to. 

Your backgrounds look great, im gonna have to give this a try sometime! It sounds like i actually have all the materials needed in the garage right now. Ive never done a background before but i feel like it really takes the tank to that next level. 
 So you basically just sprayed insulating foam onto foam board and then poured sand over it right?

[New project - guppy/shrimp tank]

Wow they didnt waste any time at all! Haha

[TEST: Solar Powering the USB Nano Air Pump]

19 minutes ago, Bill Smith said:

Love that half-barrel! I want to set up a row of those things! Where did you get it?

Thanks! i found a guy about 20 min from me that does all sorts of stuff with them. Hes on instagram @ojai_crafter if you wanna check his stuff out. He gave me a great deal and cut me a 3/4 barrel so that i have a bit more room, i think its around 55gal.

[Hillstream Loach Fry!!!]

I just wanted to share some photos of my tiny reticulated hillstream loach fry. These fish are so cool and unique. I knew that i had a female and a male but i was not expecting to see fry so quickly! I am super excited that they’ve bred. I’ve counted three total so far and they seem happy and healthy.

[TEST: Solar Powering the USB Nano Air Pump]

Im stoked to see youre doing this! I am setting up a pond of my own currently, also in so cal and have been looking At these wondering if they would run an air pump reliably. Cant wait to see your results.

[Welcome to the C.A.R.E Forum - Look here first.]

Heyoo from Los Angeles, CA! Im pretty new to hobby, i set up my first tank about 8 months ago. Ive already added a second tank and am setting up a mini pond. Ive bred some long fin leopard danios and reticulated hillstream loaches so far and im looking forward to being active on here and seeing what you guys have been working on!