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Kalita

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Everything posted by Kalita

  1. Kalita
    @Betsy This is happening in my tank too and I just came to ask about it! Great timing!
  2. Kalita
    I have em! 😁 I discovered them in my nano (5 gal) shrimp (/current 5 guppy fry grow out) tank. I never really thought about them existing in home aquariums so just another thing I've learned along the way in the hobby!
  3. Kalita
    Depends on the size of the tank and what's in it. Some fish like more flow and oxygen so that would be a case where I'd opt for 2 vs 1, especially if it's a long tank. I don't want any "dead zones." I like to ensure that nutrients are circulated throughout the whole tank. Additionally, can have more beneficial bacteria with 2 HOBs vs 1 - that's helpful especially if you need to seed new tanks. Also less chance of accidentally crashing cycle if you alternate cleaning.
  4. Kalita
    Angelfish for me... never got what was so special about them. I haven't kept any but I found myself considering doing so - that's a big change!
  5. Kalita
    I'm new to keeping shrimp but know they have some special mineral requirements for molting and staying healthy. I've seen some put crushed coral in their tanks for calcium, but I haven't done so. I don't know my exact hardness or TDS but I suspect they are mid-range (have seen calcium/lime build-up on tanks allowed to evaporate). I do have the Hikari shrimp cuisine but don't feed it everyday since they're sufficient biofilm. My question is, how much calcium do they need? Are there other good sources than crushed coral? What about pulverized egg shells? What other minerals are important for shrimp health/molting? One of my RCS is turning a cloudy-white. I'm not sure if this is due to molting recently/preparing to molt or if they're not getting enough needed minerals. I know one molted very soon after being introduced to my tank because I saw the exoskeleton, but since then, I added them (there was 3 total) to a larger tank until I re-scaped their dedicated 5 gal shrimp tank. Because they're in a 33 gal with lots of plants and rocks, I hadn't seen them much but now this one seems to be out and about much more. Not the best pics but gives you an idea of what I'm talking about. Thoughts? Should I just add the crushed coral? Anything else?
  6. Kalita
    Thanks! I'm still tweaking but I'm happy with the growth of other plants - new leaves/taller on pretty much all of them (anubias, buce, crypt, wisteria, java fern, marsilea). It's only the ST that's really lagging. There were lots of aerial roots at first (top pic was from earlier on when I first bought and didn't have root tabs). I actually see little to none now. I did relocate one or two plants for better light access and noticed the roots were decent (definitely grew since first planting!). I know moving those ones didn't help but I added some more root tabs (they were due) around them so hopefully that will give them a boost. The brown algae diatoms really seemed to love their leaves when it peaked, and having the structure it does, the snails didn't really go for it as much as the other plant surfaces or other surfaces in general. I really wanted to get a group of otos to help but they've been hard to find locally. I'm hoping now that the diatoms are under control that it will be able to grow fresh leaves... 🤞
  7. Kalita
    Light cycle is on pro timer. If I remember correctly, starts at 9 am but only at 10% intensity, 50% at 11, 100% at 1 pm, 50% 6, 10% at 10 off at 10:30. It's quite a long "on-time" but algae seems to be under control now with a lot of new plant growth on my other plants. I also have floating plants so helps block out some light too. I'll try adding some iron - thanks guys! 🙂
  8. Kalita
    Hoping I can get some advice for getting Scarlet Temple to redden up. I know it's considered a finicky plant by many and I can see why. When I first added it and during the weeks after, it was doing super well - sending out roots, showing nice colour, new growth (see photo), however now, it has become more brown colour, not growing as much. Some changes happened brown-algae phase in which it could have suffered from added more light (a second Nicrew SkyLED Plus) added more plants added more fish (6 endlers and 3 guppies) added more root tabs & dosing EZ green trimming Parameters: Temp = 77 +/- 1 pH = ~7.4 Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0 Nitrates = 10 -15 ish Hardness measured at Petsmart, and all they told me was it was mid range (suggestions for good hardness test kit?) I don't do CO2 so I'm sure that could be part of the reason, but there is good surface agitation (2 HOBs and 2 sponge filters). Before & Now
  9. Kalita
    I may be crazy, but I love the before look! Either way, envious that it grows so well for you!
  10. Kalita
    Gorgeous! Would definitely pop in a planted tank!
  11. Kalita
    I think I'll add in some more Val first to help frame and allow the rotala to really grow up and in. The Scarlet Temple on the foreground sides isn't really red right now. It was for a while, so I'm going to try giving it some more root tabs to see if I can't help it along.
  12. Kalita
    @Isaac M Much appreciated! And yes, MTS is real! This one is a 33 gal (36" L x 12" W x 18" H). I actually have a second that is in storage that was previously set up for African cichlids when I lived in a different province. I also have 10/15 gal in storage, and a 5 gal in the process of being setup as a Shrimp tank. It was a hard sell to even get the 5 gal so I don't think I'll be able to get the other tanks out of storage yet, unless as temporary fry raising tanks. As for stocking - I've never had Rams before and the idea scares me a bit honestly, just because I keep reading how sensitive they are. The tank is definitely established and has stable parameters, but my tap water has a higher than ideal pH for many of the South American cichlids, although right now it's been stable around 7.6. I'm sure they'd probably be able to adjust, especially where it is stable. There is a local breeder whose water is likely quite similar... Here's a pic of one of his Rams.
  13. Kalita
    Thanks! The rotala is doing well. It grew taller, but I keep trimming and replanting to get a thicker patch before allowing to grow upwards. The hygrophilia has taken a good hold too. I use Easy green fertilizer, Flourish root tabs, and Fluval stratum/eco-complete substrate. Stocking is light right now - 6 peppered cories, 6 electric blue enders, 5 yellow cobra guppies, betta, 2 nerite snails and some ramshorns that hitchhiked on plants. There's actually 3 RCS until their nano tank is ready 😊 I'm still deciding what else to add for fish... a school of cherry barbs? Cardinals? Rasboras? Or a pair of Rams? Kribs? Gouramis? So many options! I already want more tanks. I'd like to do African cichlids again. I love yellow labs but obviously not for this tank.
  14. Kalita
    Progress pic! 😁
  15. Kalita
    I'm in Canada (NB) and the Petsmarts here have notices posted on their doors. No explanation, but I too was suspecting the zebra mussel invasion.
  16. Kalita
    Wow! I think I'd end up with trout, perch or minnows if I tried this. Or leeches. Definitely leeches. 😄 I also caught a catfish once while fishing... is it hypocritical to go fish and keep fish? 🤔 I usually catch and release...
  17. Kalita
    They were sold as Peppered cories
  18. Kalita
    I have 6 of these little dudes
  19. Kalita
    Nobody around me understands how excited I am about the progress and plant growth in my tank so I thought I would share with you wonderful, fine folks. I'm a plant newbie as this is my first tank with live plants. I've added more plants since March 18, so yes there is more green for that reason, but also because of growth! The wisteria in particular has really taken off. March 18 vs March 29
  20. Kalita
    @James B @Cory reviewed the tank on YouTube. Go to 5:19 to check out his review of the filtration system. I did my own "hot-rodding" by placing an Aquaclear sponge filter pad from my cycled 33 gal on the inside of the intake instead of the filter cartridge TopFin recommends for this tank. It seems to be working well so far and isn't impeding water flow like the cartridge did in the video. Just discovered @Irene did a video on the same tank. I pretty much did the same thing without realizing it - great minds!
  21. Kalita
    Aquascaping is far from complete, however one of my new red cherry shrimps already molted. Hoping to get a colony going. I will add more plants as they become available (I will plant some trimmings from the ones in the 33 gal). For now, there is plenty of biofilm for them to feed one. I also have Shrimp Cuisine (which apparently my cat also loves 😒) but haven't put much in with the abundance of film. Anyway, here are some shots of the newly-molted shrimp.
  22. Kalita
    I'm leaning towards the Hillstream loaches, especially after watching @Irene's video comparing them to otos. In it she she says min 20 gall for 3 so I should be ok with 3 in 33 or should do I 4? A LFS sells for $12, though out of stock right now so still some time to decide...
  23. Kalita
    So I have a 33 gal with plants and driftwood that I'm slowly stocking. Currently I have 6 pepper corydoras, 2 guppies and a male betta (temporary). The corys are amazing for clean-up but I'm noticing some algae (not out of control) that I'd like an algae eater to feed on. I've been flip-flopping between a group of otos and a "super red" bristlenose pleco available from a local hobbyist. Oto Pros small size would be able to temporarily help out in 5 gal if algae if necessary without bothering shrimp won't uproot plants (+++) Cons not colourful more delicate need group? Bristlenose Pros Colourful Only need 1 Hardier Cons Plant disturber (---) Heavier bioload? What are your thoughts? Have you had issues with the BN uprooting plants? That con carries a lot of weight! Would LOVE Hillstream loaches but most places say they need 55+ gallons. Some pics for added benefit
  24. Kalita
    Just found about this app from another member! This is kinda what I'm planning...
  25. Kalita
    Ah! This is fantastic! I can foresee some time invested here - I am coincidentally also planning a planted nano!
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