Stef

Here’s my tap water test after a minute. It’s Chicago water. My qt water change is 50% weekly and is a 10 gal. It has more fish (4 corys, a betta, juvenile bn Pleco and snail). My display tank is 20 gal long, only has 1 betta and 6 corys, ramshorns. For it, I’ve been doing 25% water change every month.

Hi @nabokovfan87, the strips sat while I filled and tested using liquid API test. My pH is usually 7.2 or 7.4. In this pic it was taken prior to the liquid pH and KH test.

Thanks @Theplatymaster and @Pepere I do not have the Seachem product but do have API pH up. I will work on the qt as it needs it. All my tanks were pandemic tanks and this is now my third tank going through OTS.

Hi everyone. So I have four panda corys that have been in a 10 gal qt for a month. The qt is an older tank that has a mystery snail, an adolescent BN Pleco and a betta. I did not medicate the qt when the pandas went in from my lfs. Fast forward to today, all pandas are healthy, eating and swimming fine. While checking parameters of the qt and the display tank they’re going in, I’m getting some big differences in KH. For the qt strip (left), I’m getting 0 KH. On the liquid (left) I got to 3 drops to change from blue to yellow. The display tank is getting at least 80 ppm KH per strip on right and I got 6 drops to changes from blue to yellow for the liquid. The pH for both tanks are the same per liquid test at 7.2. And so are the nitrates at about 20 ppm per strips. So my question is when transferring fish to a tank with higher/better KH, is there the same acclimation protocol? I would do a drip method. I’m just wondering if it’s better to do small daily water changes first on the qt before transferring the pandas.

Super cute betta face!! Love this image. Found it looking for betta apparel. For all the betta fans out there!

Jimi as in Jimi Hendrix and his song Purple Haze Purple haze all in my brain Lately things just don't seem the same Actin' funny but I don't know why 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky…

Wow, they are really brightly colored 😍 Thanks for the suggestion!

Hi All. I’m looking to add some color and activity in this 20 gal long. It’s been set up for a year and only has a betta (plakat), 6 panda corys and a few amano shrimp (lots of ramshorn snails). I have 4 additional pandas currently in qt that will be added next week. My main goal is to add some small colorful schooling fish and some activity with keeping the peace. My betta is a bit blind. He’s starting to get that condition where the scales form over his eyes. He is a grumpy betta. My first choice are ember tetras followed by CPDs. Also thought about maybe 3 male hifin platties. Lambchop rasbora crossed my mind too, but cannot find these. When I planned this tank, I really wanted rummy nose, maybe they’re too busy/active with a betta. My water parameters: Temp: 77F Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 20 pH: 7.2 KH: 6 GH: 300 Thoughts?

I’ve successfully used the Fritz Slime Out product for my 6 gallon cube betta tank. First tank I treated was in December and it hasn’t returned. I had been keeping it at bay by manual removal and additional flow but it wouldn’t go away. I got tired of the smell. Tank is in my kitchen. I did two doses and knock on wood it is gone. The tank only has a betta and a mystery snail and I do weekly water changes.

I use these tiny 1 oz containers for the multitude of fish food options I have. I keep the original package in the freezer and refill the little ones as needed. Also use them to thaw frozen foods then use a pipette to feed from. Also the 3 ml plastic pipettes get heavily used too. Have two nearly blind bettas. Couldn’t do without those either.

Can’t speak for the City of Chicago but north suburbs has Fish Planet in Deerfield and The Local Fish Store in Morton Grove.

I added a single assassin to my 20 long about a month ago. I have a betta and several panda corys and since I tend to over feed the corys, I have at least 200 ramshorns. After adding the assassin, it never moved for two days. Then it disappeared into the substrate and haven’t seen it since. Can’t say yet if it’s making a dent. @jwcarlsonwhen do you see yours? How do you know when your assassin dies? I didn’t realize when buying it that it could be female with eggs. So I do worry about having a different snail problem and never being able to put a mystery snail in there. Has any tried digging for their assassins when they need to relocate them? Or do they make an appearance every now and then?

I like it! Especially the little pandas peeking out from the cave. What are the tall plants in the left and right back corners?

He did not make it. He was bobbing/floating on the surface the next day. Never moved inside shell and started to smell really bad 😥

Thanks for quick advice. I have a nano block and other snail yummies. Will give those a try and give him some more time.

I purchased a small ish black mystery snail from a big box store last Wednesday (6 days ago). He’s maybe the diameter of a nickel or smaller. It was one of 3 snails in the tank that weren’t empty shells. He was attached to the glass in the store. I did acclimate when I brought him home. He hasn’t been active in my 10 gallon. Mostly laying on his side. Once he was up on the glass. Twice I’ve taken him out to sniff him. He smells like nothing. Today after work he was again laying on his side. His flap partially open and most of his foot tucked way in. What’s odd is that he had my tank’s existing ramshorn snails circling and one is inside his shell. I removed him and put him in a cup of tank water (as shown in photos). He does not smell at all. Is he on his way out? Do the ramshorns know something I do not? pH 7.2 Nitrates 50 Hardness 300 Nitrite 0 Ammonia 0 KH/Buffer 80 Water Temperature 78 F

Very pretty indeed! Like a periwinkle color.

Snail proof!! Now I just need the snails. Thanks for all the help. Was easy to cut. I used extra clips I had for the glass lid and it fits nicely flush with the glass.

Too funny @Bill. Totally shocked me how lightning fast he was. Ran up the net handle and onto my arm. Goosebumps!

I like shrimp but just not as a “pet fish” I love what they do for planted tanks and have several amanos in my larger tanks. But they give me the willies and remind me of aquatic mice. My very first group of Amanos I was netting into my tank and one ran out of the net and up my bare arm and I freaked. I had no idea they were that fast and that mobile. The shrimp fell into the water so he is fine but I’ll be forever scarred for life 😆

Hi folks. I have a new still in the box 4 gal Aqueon cube tank. I bought it at half off sale many months ago. I have several larger 6 gallon cubes going with bettas and snails. I’ve been hesitant on setting it up because it’s so small but so cute. I was thinking of doing a dirted dark water tank with a single female betta. Or possibly just a single mystery snail (no betta). I’m not into endlers or pea puffers or shrimp (yet). After it’s packed with plants and other hardscape, is it just too small for a single betta? Can a single mystery snail produce enough bio load to keep it cycled?

Gosh, that’s a big belly. Is she acting/swimming normal? Any pineconing? Could you try to distract her with a floating betta mirror? While she’s flaring at her reflection, feed the CPDs. I’ve had some females who did this behavior similar to males.

@dasaltemelosguy that is a genius magnet trick!

Ah ha, so the egg crate is supported by and rests on the back and side tank walls. I think I get it now. Thank you @Guppysnail

I want to add some mystery and nerite snails for this 20 gal long rimless tank but as it is, I think they could easily escape. The glass lid sits on clips and leaves gaps around the front and back of tank. I know I can get some egg crate and cut it to fit, but what do you use to attach it to the glass lid or rim? Tape? Hook? Can you cut the piece tight to wedge it tight to hold in place?