MartyO
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Posts posted by MartyO
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A fan is definitely probably the most cost effective and as far a labor wise middle of the road. Ice can work also but requires a lot more labor as far as checking the tank and replenishing ice or water bottle. With the water bottle you wouldn't want to fully submerge it so you'd have to figure out a way to mount it so only say the bottom inch or say is in the water. Then yes you have the most expensive, but the least labor intensive along with the most consistent water temp a aquarium chiller. chillers are pricey, but can usually be found used regularly for about half of retail. I usually see some for about $100 here and there. My other suggestion join a axolotl forum i'm sure people have come up with some unique ways to keep these guys cool.
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My suggestion buy the new Coop test strips and test plus you can test more as they give you a lot of test strips for the price.
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I second Brandy's suggestion for sure. I'm currently trying to decide on stock for my 15gal when I set it up.
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Was wondering if anyone knows of any expos or such happening in Illinois or even Wisconsin, Indiana. Maybe a website that lists expos happening. Thanks
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19 minutes ago, 1moretank said:
I think I have to agree with @Streetwise , my tanks that have /had hair algae all get light from a window. I tested this theory by making a brown cardboard "curtain" to cover the top, sides and front of the aquarium that received window light. I left my tank light on the same schedule, but covered the tank with the cardboard curtain - only taking it off if the tank light was on - the hair algae completely disappeared in a few weeks. I have one tank that gets lots of window sun in the morning before the tank light turns on in summer but not an issue in the winter at all, since I don't want to move the tank, I try to remember it's "curtain" before I go to bed. Good luck in finding your solution.
On 3/16/2021 at 3:30 PM, Streetwise said:I run all my planted tanks the the same way, with the same substrate and lighting, but only one has hair algae. The only thing different is the room; it has way more windows and ambient light. I bought light-blocking curtains, and it has helped. This might be something to consider.
Same my saltwater tank is right next to East facing window so it gets blasted by morning to mid day sun. To help I placed a piece of cardboard next the tank. Once the tank was able to balance out I have then since had zero hair algae issues. May also help to get a snail or two or amano shrimp.
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On 3/16/2021 at 7:39 AM, Streetwise said:
It is probably not in the hobby, but I found a fish that can really handle the heat!
The Julimes pupfish lives in water that reaches 114 degrees:
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/meet-the-world-s-hottest-freshwater-fish
Out of curiosity, I did a little bit of research into chillers, since I have seen them used for Trout in the Classroom programs. They are not cheap! I saw some links to some DIY options, but didn't dig any deeper. You could probably setup a system where water recirculates between an indoor and outdoor system, which might be a fun engineering challenge.
I know they make a cooling "system" for car drivers. It's basically a cooler with cold water and ice and it gets circulated to a cooling "shirt" could probably do the same concept with a hose sitting in the tub cooling the water and then just replenish the ice every couple of days.
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I definitely would like to set one up. We are tearing down half of our deck this summer and I'm try and squeeze in a design to allow a tub or two. only problem is our yard has almost zero shade so would really need to make the design look good with umbrella stands. I would probably try endlers and some kind of ricefish. I don't know if cold water species would do good like I said no shade unless I set up some.
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I second @DSH OUTDOORS nutrients might not be enough also it may need more light. What light are you using currently?
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When reading the Co op blogs aquarium salt is usually a go to for lots of illnesses and Maracyn also possibly even Ich-X. As far as dosing that I can't help with other then follow the instructions on the box. Hopefully someone chimes in on the dosing/dosage part. You know what just get the Trio meds and the salt and call it done. Doesn't hurt to treat for everything as this point.
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17 minutes ago, Daedalus said:
Gotta pick a buddy cop duo name for them like Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. Or the lethal weapon guys
Murta and Briggs at least I think that's how you spell the first name. Can name them after the two detectives from LAs Finest the Bad Boys spinoff TV series
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3 hours ago, Ramie said:
Just got a 5.5 gallon aqueon.The silicone is a mess! Seeped through to the outside in many places thick beads of silicone on the outsidevat the seams.....smeared on the glass walls on the inside...little tails of it everywhere...spread different distances from the seams on the inside..hard to tell if the seals are good or not....i havent but one other glass tank (not aqueon) and its silicone is near perfect. So i only have that to compare it to. Should i be concerned? Aqueon makes so many tanks and so many people use them...is messy silicone normal for them and its really a solid tank..or is this a red flag?...not sure if i should go ahead and leak test it or just take it back....i live 2 hours from where i bought it so its not an easy return.
I literally just bought one of these myself from Petco last week. Yeah the silicone job is something to be desired by far. But I have to say the tank is holding just fine and quarantining some corydoras just fine. Leak test it and if it is not leaking you'll be fine unfortunately this is the kind of attention to detail you get from mass produced aquarium makers. Also Aqueon aren't the kind of tanks I would call display or center piece tanks.
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So apparently i just don’t know how these little guys behave at all. So everyone is fine but these guys literally have been chilling all day not moving much at all. Put a little food in just now and they are swimming like crazy. Also is it normal for corys to swim to the top of the water then dive straight back down?
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So we have fish, plants, shrimp, gravel. Just waiting on a store to release the CPDs. Seems like one of the corys isn’t going to make it barely breathing 😢. Swapped the pump on the tank back to the stock pump and it definitely added more flow which it needed. Picked up the trio quarantine meds along with bottled bacteria. I’m keeping the shrimp in the specimen container as they are kinda small and am worried about them getting sucked into the overflow. Guess this is why a lot of people use HOBs and sponge filters not as much worry.
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We have water! So seems like everything is good. It may have been a mistake to go with a smaller pump. I’m going to swap it out with the stock pump tomorrow and see if there is a difference. It’s flowing fine just not sure how much the fish will need. I’m use to the more flow the better. I may pick up some plants to see how the water is moving. Kinda hard to tell with nothing in it. Also you can see that the lid is in desperate need of some TLC. Was thinking of wrapping it with something fun. Have to hop on amazon and see if there is something like sticker bomb fish wrap. Also have to pick up some gravel tomorrow from a local. Then place another order in a few weeks for some root tabs and maybe easy green. Thanks for following along it’s a blast doing something different.
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Not sure which is better YouTube maybe a good source to find some quick reviews. Though from the research I've done it seems which ever is easiest to make your own DIY filter media for. What I mean is which one you can make your own filter "cartridges" the easiest as lots of people agree that replacing the manufacture ones is a huge waste of money and if you have live plants most cartridges have carbon which will pull out fertilizer you maybe adding.
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Also going to pick up some bacteria tomorrow and get both tanks cycling the main and quarantine. Super excited, still looking for the fish no one local seems to have them available.
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Thinking about retrofitting the Finnex into the top for the tank. I don't know if one light will be enough, though it might be I am still have the saltwater thinking which you need strong lights. 😁 Thinking of using epoxy to attach some kind of braces to hold the light in the hood. If I do that I'm have to find a piece of polycarbonate to cover the light. Let me hear your suggestions thanks.
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All right! Light was delivered along with the new pump and some misc "fun" stuff lol. Also got the pump installed in the tank will fill up later to make sure there are no leaks.
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Got my order of sponge filters for the quarantine tank. Still waiting on a light and couple of plumbing pieces and pump and the display tank will be up and running.
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You are going to need a heater in that tank. I'm not sure where you live and how long your winters are. But if your winters are 4-5+ months that's to long for tropical fish to be in a tank at 68-72, I would say anything longer then a week at that temp is bad. At least to keep the fish healthy long term.
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Thank you all for the responses and the feedback on the products you have used. This will definitely help me get going a lot sooner and easier.
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Welcome and congrats on the fish bug lol. Crazy how quickly tanks just multiple outta no where haha.
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16 minutes ago, joseph lambeth said:
do you run sponge filters in your other tanks?
No I just ordered a 4 pack from amazon. That's why I'm asking if the bottles work so I can jump start the sponges either just before getting the fish or even the same day as getting the fish. I'm just starting up a freshwater tank. I have had saltwater for the last 10years or so. I have always just let my tanks cycle for 2-3 months as nothing good happens fast in saltwater. Now with having lots of experience with keep salt I figured it was time to change it up.
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How to cool tanks
in General Discussion
Posted
came across another little trick doing a quick google search. If using a canister filter you would buy a styrofoam cooler and place the filter in it and place frozen water bottles or ice packs around it and it would cool the water in the filter and it would last hours.