[Cycling a tank with established sponge filters]

This what I've done with all the tanks that use sponge filters. Tap water, Prime, a sponge from an established tank, Fritzyme 7, plants, and a heater let it run for a couple three days then start adding fish. Both of these pictures were taken shortly after adding the fish. I switched the sponge for the Ziss filter in the top picture.

[Care Packages for C.A.R.E. Forum Members!]

Congratulations to this month’s winners. 

[Spray bar vs normal output for discus?]

5 hours ago, Patrick M. Bodega Aquatics said:

Paul, how big is the tank in the photo?

@Patrick M. Bodega Aquatics it's a 120.

[Spray bar vs normal output for discus?]

19 hours ago, Jeff said:

@Paul how hard was it to build / set up your Venturi? I'm setting up a 90g Discus....and this intrigues me. I'm all about minimalist, when it comes to equipment in my tanks.

 

 

@JeffI found an Eheim Venturi. My return is 1/2" black PVC with an 90º elbow the Venturi also has a 1/2"intake so to make this work you need some 1/2" clear vinyl tubing to make the connection. It works like a charm.

[Ziss Brine Shrimp Hatchery]

Span the gap with a 2x4 then screw a piece of 1" PVC pipe to the board and you have a holder for the hatchery.

[Flakes, Pellets, Or Granules?]

I feed it all. You can feed your fish what you think is the "best' food in the world but if they don't eat it, it might as well be saw dust. 

[Spray bar vs normal output for discus?]

I have a Venturi on the return in my Discus tank which oxygenates the water which is what the spray bar will do. The spray bar will also spread the flow out.

[Best Community Fish]

You can’t go wrong with Rummy nose and Cardinals/Neons. Rainbows will give you lots of movement and color. 

[UV Sterilizer]

UV sterilizers will NOT harm your plants. The light will kill algae and microbes in the water column.

[brine shrimp egg left out of freezer]

25 minutes ago, SilveRx said:

So I usually leave the bag of brine shrimp egg in the bar fridge but I totally forgot and left it on the counter for a day. Is the eggs still hatchable or do I need a new eggs?

Currently doing a batch now but its on my mind that it has gone bad. 

has anyone done that before?

 

thanks

 

You’ll be fine.

[ELI5: why can’t you mix cichlids]

I have Kribs in my Discus tank. 

[Canister filters yes or no]

I think the argument for using canisters really starts with the larger tanks or with high bio load. For smaller tanks say 55 and less most canisters are expensive overkill. All my tanks are planted the only tank with a canister on it is my 120 Discus tank all the rest use hobs & sponge filtration.

[Is a quarantine tank necessary?]

13 hours ago, Patrick M. Bodega Aquatics said:

Hello everyone, 

I am wondering how necessary it is to have a quarantine tank for new fish. I am 13, I don't have the money or space to set up a aquarium that would only be used for quarantine. Is it possible for me to put the new fish in the aquarium and medicate the fish there? Also, I usually treat fish with API general cure, is this medication plant safe? Are there any other anti-parasite medication you think I should get instead? Thanks!

I ran short of tank space to quarantine so I threw a sponge filter and a heater into a 5 gal bucket filled 2/3 of the way up and then used a spare lighted lid as a cover. Result 1 quarantine tank on the cheap.

[Ziss bubble filter]

FYI it sometimes takes more than a week for the media to start flowing so don’t sweat it if it doesn’t move much initially .

[Loud hang on back filter]

Masking tape

[Stocking ideas for 40 breeder]

17 minutes ago, Daniel said:

Lovely aquarium and fun to watch!

[Stocking ideas for 40 breeder]

29 minutes ago, Eden said:

That’s Amazing! I love that tank!! Thank you @Paul

[Stocking ideas for 40 breeder]

@Eden this is my 40 breeder. It’s stocked with Panda Corys, Kribs, Von Rio Tetras, and Brilliant Rasboras. There’s lots of movement  throughout the tank and all the species are very hardy.

 

[Stocking ideas for 40 breeder]

1 hour ago, Eden said:

@Paul Do you have a better suggestion for a top water fish instead?  I have a glass lid from aquarium coop and it's really nice so I'm not worried about anything getting out.  I would like to hear your suggestion though.  🙂

 

No I don’t. You’ve got a good mix in that tank already. Add more of the tetras and Rasboras .

[How many discus in a 75 gal?]

11 hours ago, Daniel said:

I had the best luck with nickel size or smaller discus when starting with discus.

@DanielI don’t know of any of the better Discus distributors selling smaller than  2.5” fish. Anything that small would probably come from a local breeder. 

[20 gallon long stocking ideas]

Because of the footprint of this tank you may want to consider fish that will use the length. Dwarf cichlids like Apistos or Kribs, Peacock Gudgens, Live bearers like Endlers, Guppies, Goodeids, Killifish, Tetras, Rasboras, Corys, and the smaller Barbs will all do well in the 20L. 

[What is this in my aquariums?]

Your fish should eat them. 

[Stocking ideas for 40 breeder]

I would add more of the tetras or Rasboras you have they’ll give you more schooling behavior and skip the hatchets (jumpers).

[sponge virus under gravel filters?]

Just one more thing under gravel filtration offers much more surface area for biological filtration than a sponge. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

[Température range]

@Karen B.if you’re concerned about the loaches living with crayfish Ottos will have the same issues. Since your main fish likes cooler temps I would go with snails or maybe some smaller livebearers to help control algae. The other thing you need to look at is why do you have algae growing so fast. You may want to reduce the length of time the lights are on and how much you feed the fish as too much uneaten food will reek havoc on your water parameters and algae will take advantage of the situation.