[A Story of Healing…]

Super cool. I had no idea an eye could heal like that.

[Curious of how you all came up with your usernames!]

I was just trying to give people a snapshot of why I like fishies. 

"Ooooh" is very different from a high-octane interest. 

[Sharp-mouthed algae eaters?]

On 12/6/2021 at 10:47 AM, Odd Duck said:

The dark green stuff that is in little spots and dots seems to be very hard, doesn’t come off with a magnetic scraper, only with a blade, for me, but I have all glass and don’t have to worry about scratches unless I keep using a rusty blade.  On acrylic, I would go for horned/thorned nerites and maybe some marble limpets.

Yeah, that describes the algae I've got. 

I'll make a note about the horned/thorned and marble limpets. If the zebras don't scrape it off, I'll try that.

[Sharp-mouthed algae eaters?]

On 12/6/2021 at 10:18 AM, Odd Duck said:

Of all the species of snails that I have (the most variety is in my 100 G), I find horned/thorned nerites the most useful and versatile little cleaners by far...  They will show up on any surface in the entire tank.  Most other nerites tend to stay with hard surfaces.

Ramshorns will hit any surface but don’t seem to scrape things clean quite as well.  I have only rams growing in some tanks and the glass isn’t impressively clean in those tanks, sooooo . . . . . . .

Marble limpets (supposed to be a nerite relative) are a wonder for the glass and will sometimes work wood, too, if it has a promising layer of algae, but they very much prefer the glass and will even get down under the sand surface up against the glass.

That entire comment was interesting! 

I ordered zebra nerites for the tank walls, so it sounds like I might've chosen with some good luck. But I was actually preferring the look of marble limpets. I only chose zebra over them because there was a major price difference, but this is good info. I saved it in my snail notes.

I've had a similar experience with ramshorns. When I first got them, I put them in a tank that was caked in green algae. I'd come look again about every hour, and every time, there was less green. In a week, all the hard surfaces were clean. I remain amazed! That makes me wonder if that flat green algae, and this flat green algae, might be different types. Or maybe there's something about acrylic that helps the algae hold on. That other tank was glass.

[Sharp-mouthed algae eaters?]

On 12/6/2021 at 10:10 AM, Hobbit said:

@CalmedByFish my otos haven’t been able to eat the tough green algae. Let me know if the nerites get it! I can scrub the algae off with a rough scrubby pad but it’s SO much work!

With that comment, the magical internet has now told me that nerites are the only possibility. I hadn't found anything specifically saying otos can't do it until now - I'd only not seen anyone say they can. 

I'll update you on it. I'm not sure I'll put them into the acrylic immediately. I plan to separate them into different tanks so I can see who lays eggs, and keep that one(s) out of the favorite tank.

[Sharp-mouthed algae eaters?]

On 12/6/2021 at 8:51 AM, Sweetpickles said:

That's great! Thanks! I have 2 otocats in qt right now! I should get a nerite snail. I have a couple in my 20 gal. I have no algea issues in my 20 gal! I have a panda gara, tons of snails and shrimp. I am hoping my big tank goes as well as the smaller.

If your 20 has nerites and no algae, that sounds promising! Since you have multiple, maybe you could separate them into more tanks to keep more clean?

I decided to try some nerites. The cheapest I found (that looked like they'd arrive healthy) were 3 zebras for $16. They should arrive in about a week.

[To laugh or to cry...]

On 12/5/2021 at 7:10 PM, DaveO said:

Wagon train on the Oregon trail straight to your house.

@eatyourpeas Nothing in the package died of dysentery, did it?

[Sharp-mouthed algae eaters?]

@Sweetpickles I found this article about which animals eat which algaes.

It says nerite snails are, "especially handy at scraping off the very tough green spot algae." But it says about otocinclus catfish, "their mouths are ideal for... flat surfaces." 

I don't know if I should pay more attention to the words "scraping" and "very tough," or "flat surfaces." I'm leaning toward "scraping" and "very tough" though.  

https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/algae-eaters

 

[Sharp-mouthed algae eaters?]

On 12/5/2021 at 7:14 PM, Sweetpickles said:

I have used a microfiber cloth, it helps a little and I only use it on the front since it does take some muscle! 💪even the panda gara and snails don't get it off!

What kind of snails have you tried? I've tried Malaysian trumpet, bladder, and ramshorn. (Ramshorns have been excellent for me for getting off soft flat green algae, but not this hard flat green algae.) 

[Sharp-mouthed algae eaters?]

On 12/5/2021 at 6:48 PM, Sweetpickles said:

@CalmedByFishI am glad you asked this question! I have the same issue!! Looking forward to some good ideas! 

Good! I hope it helps you, too. 

I've tried every trick for decreasing growth, and succeeded! But once that type of algae is on a surface, it's hanging on like lichen in the arctic. It's unbelievable. 

[Sharp-mouthed algae eaters?]

Alright, Folks. I've got the kind of algae that looks like a mat of little flat green splotches on the tank walls. It won't even come off with ACO's "algae scrubber" sponges, and muscle-burning scrubbing. I'd use a razor blade, but the tank is acrylic.

I give up. There's got to be a critter that can help with this.

What kind of aquarium inhabitant can function like a razor blade? 

29 gallons.

pH 8.3.

An angel and a few platies.

Aaand GO.  

[Adding plants...]

On 12/4/2021 at 10:36 PM, Odd Duck said:

Do you mean like water wisteria, water sprite, anacharis, etc?  Yes, those are technically stem plants.  Many stem plants can be grown floating but may, or may not, have the same appearance. 

floaters but they will root in the substrate if they can reach it with their roots.

Yeah, that's what I meant. I didn't realize they may have a different appearance though. Maybe that's why my pennywort barely even pretends to grow.

I didn't know that floaters will root in substrate either. I actually just ordered frogbit a couple days ago (not here yet), so that's cool to hear! 

[What is This Film on the Water Surface?]

@Jennifer V Had another thought this morning. You said it looks like oil, so maybe check the fat content of the food you put in the tank. Maybe actual oil could be involved. 

[Adding plants...]

On 12/4/2021 at 10:19 PM, Odd Duck said:

Can anybody think of anything I’ve missed?

Good job!

I'll just add that a lot of plants can be grown floating, even if they're usually thought of as planted plants. What group of plants would that be called? Stem?

[What is This Film on the Water Surface?]

I don't know what it is, but I've found that it doesn't develop where the water surface is in motion. I'm guessing if you added an air stone in the area - even just for a few days - it'd go away.

[Greetings from California foothills. Been out of aquariums for 47 years when ick killed all my fish. Its come along ways since then. I enjoy the building of all my own stuff, all very cool.]

Cool viewing tower thingy. 🙂 

Welcome!

[Boil driftwood in a crockpot?]

On 12/3/2021 at 7:53 PM, Streetwise said:

I would just rinse off any dust and use it. I have more wood than tanks, and none of my pieces has ever caused a problem.

This is super interesting to me. I've heard wood can carry "pathogens" and "harmful" things into the tank, but I don't actually remember hearing of anything specific that wood might carry in.

I know "biofilm" is common, and that it's a bacteria some critters will eat. (I'm actually getting the wood in hopes of creating biofilm for my shrimp.) It's easy for me to understand that people think it looks gross, so would want to avoid it. 

I suppose wood might get man-made chemicals on it, and boiling might help somehow?

What about wood can be dangerous?

[Cherry Shrimp Hiding Under Filter]

Since they'll aim for hiding spots, maybe put the best (or only) hiding spots at the front of the tank, where they're easy to see. Other ways they can "hide" and you still see them are to give them floating plants to hang on the underside of, decor that makes a shadow they can sit under, giving them a blob of loose java moss to crawl around in, and just plain making the tank dimmer. Mine are also willing to brave the light to sit on a piece of catappa leaf, so luring might be a good method, too.

[White fuzz on new Anubias Nana Petite]

Just guessing here. If it doesn't look like biofilm to you, maybe search for pictures of cyanobacteria. 

 

[Boil driftwood in a crockpot?]

Title. I have my first-ever driftwood coming in the mail. To disinfect it, I was planning to boil it in a pot, as is the norm. But sheesh, I have a kid to take care of.

What if I just stick it in a crockpot on high, and walk off? I could notice when it gets to a low boil, set a timer for an hour, then turn off the crockpot. 

Any obvious problems with that idea?

[Strange Misconceptions in Fishkeeping]

On 12/2/2021 at 1:06 PM, StockEwe49 said:

Hi all, recently I have been thinking about things that are well known in the hobby that turn out false or half true. 

I actually think one of the biggest "well knowns" in the hobby, that isn't true, is that having an aquarium has to control you. Nobody makes us acquire more containers of water than we can comfortably keep up with. Nobody makes us over-spend. Nobody makes us give in to a whim to buy a fish... which then spreads an illness that wipes out the whole tank. 

Truly, it can be great for our well-being to have a lot of tanks, strategically spend a lot of money, buy a fish on a whim and quarantine the heck out of it first, etc. But there does seem to be a mentality that being out of control is to be expected in this hobby. It's not true. We are in control of ourselves. 

"MTS" is a good example. It's not a syndrome. There's no disease, or contagion, or lack of a cure. It's a choice.

Editing to add: That doesn't mean compassion isn't in order when our choices lead to stress or grief. Thought I should make sure that's clear. Compassion is always good, and it doesn't need to have "well you did choose..." added to it.

[Back at it]

Welcome!

[Best cold water fish. GO!]

On 12/2/2021 at 11:38 AM, JettsPapa said:

I keep goldfish in cattle troughs to control algae and mosquito larvae, and they do just fine under a layer of ice.  In fact, they survived the big freeze last February.

Do cows (or other animals) not mind drinking the fishes' ammonia? Or maybe it's just similar to animals drinking out of a river that has fish in it?

Also, super impressive that they survived that freeze!

[Filter sponge maintenance with SHRIMP]

How about ditching the "coarse" sponge, and using one with such teeny tiny holes that the shrimplets can't possibly get in? (I've never understood the idea of using coarse sponge to keep out fry. My platy fry easily dart deep inside the coarse sponges to hide.)

A few days ago, I found myself needing a tiny-holed sponge filter right away, but didn't have one. So I pulled the coarse sponge off its green frame, and cut a piece of "fine poly pad" to fit where the sponge would normally go. I held it on by putting rubber bands around the pad. So far, so good!

[Plants that don't need planting]

On 12/1/2021 at 4:01 AM, Torrey said:

Guppysnail has introduced me to suction cup planting

That's exactly what I came here to suggest! I vaguely remember someone on here saying they even did it with an Amazon sword. Plant weights are an option too. Really, for any plant, the roots need water and nutrients, rather than substrate itself. So if you've got nutrients in your water, your roots are getting what they need.