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xXInkedPhoenixX

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Everything posted by xXInkedPhoenixX

  1. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Absolutely @Martin. It's actually very easy and I'd highly recommend it. I tried planting Monte in a filled tank and it just never did anything (and I'm no co2). Actually @Patrick_G suggested it. You can see what he and later I did on my build thread for my Medieval tank starting here: But plain and simple, in a new tank, add the substrate of your choice, I did Eco complete and Fluval Stratum. I dry started Monte just by tearing up a piece shipped to me. (Patrick did even smaller pieces) I then put a little water in the bottom of the tank, plastic wrapped the top and sprayed the dry start plants every day. I believe I waited 5-6 weeks. My Monte is still doing well- I could have let it go a bit longer but I was eager to fill the tank and didn't care if there wasn't a full carpet yet. If you have the patience/time OR just a lot of Monte, it's super easy to do. Though he uses co2 I followed SOME of this guy's advice:
  2. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Hi @LadyRorschach! Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry I cannot speak to the ferts and Axolotls (not many keepers here unfortunately and I'm not sure @Cory has tested it with them), though it is invert and fish safe it may be ok. I can say, you don't really need ferts for the plants you plan to grow. I have been recently experimenting and only dosing 2 of my tanks with Easy Green (and I only grow "easy" plants like the ones you listed. The only difference I see is faster growth, the plants in my tanks without ferts are slower growing but just as healthy. Hope this helps.
  3. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Hi @David Willard Jr, welcome to the forum. I would hold off. As you already know the med trio requires the week treatment without waterchanges. The concern when feeding is ammonia of course- Cory says it's ok to feed 1x the 4th or 5th day this is the reason why (ammonia) So if I were in your shoes, I would hold off. Fish can be fine without food for weeks. It will be fine. Just watch for ammonia!
  4. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Piping in a little late here but just to confirm the Hygger lights are great and good for the budget. I will say that I've had to turn off the sunrise/sunset function and just use the timers (I put mine on 8) as they are SUPER powerful and grew a bit too much algae in my tanks. On the 8 hour setting, all the plants are happier. Regardless of how you use it, I think you'll be happy with the choice.
  5. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Looks like a smile to me my friend.
  6. xXInkedPhoenixX
    I'm 90% team algae. I can't stand hair algae even though I get the pretty green stuff- it's just very unsafe for not only my plants (as this is where it typically grows) but also for my fish. It's like a tiny fishnet- and nobody I have eats it, manually removing it is a nightmare and even after RR it hangs on for dear life. Yeah, no thanks. (I have seen it in tanks where it looks wonderful, but usually it's on a piece of hardscape so it's doing no harm there) I also don't like it on my glass so it gets scraped off. However, I do like a nice short green algae, even brown because I know my animals like it, it looks cool too. I know it's also a plant so I do welcome it to some extent in my tanks. But like any plant it needs to be "trimmed" and kept at bay so everyone can thrive.
  7. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Yes some of the stores sell "semi-aquatic plants" which means they can live with the roots in the water but not the leaves (it has happened to me!). @Mmiller2001 is basically a plant guru if you post a pic the mystery could be solved!
  8. xXInkedPhoenixX
    I LOVE a well placed resin sculpture myself. Looking good!
  9. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Some of what it may leach could be read as ammonia or just a ton of nitrates. Depends on what you use, your water, etc. This can theoretically speed up the cycle.
  10. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Yes it is true, whenever you start a tank you test frequently no matter what tank it is.
  11. xXInkedPhoenixX
    @Lennie I think as a general statement that can be true but not always. I used Fluval Stratum and Eco Complete (and I've seen several posts about how these could "leech" into the tank) in my 12G long. It's a very small tank. I dry started it with the monte carlo. The substrate was not covered entirely so it could theoretically "leach". I had zero spikes in anything. It's something to look for in a tank with any sort of planting substrate but not everyone will have this experience. You'll get more algae in a tank with nutrients too, however all new tanks experience these growing pains as well. I do agree it's good to test new tanks frequently to make sure these spikes do not happen.
  12. xXInkedPhoenixX
    If summer is somewhere around 2-3 months I'd do the dry start method. You could let it grow for a month- granted it won't necessarily be a full carpet UNLESS you get a LOT of Monte, then you'd be fine. It will give you time to design the tank, grow moss if you want and do research on anything else going in the tank when full. I let mine go about 5 weeks, it's still growing now that the tank is full but slowly. Which I prefer.
  13. xXInkedPhoenixX
    @Vítor Hi! It's definitely doable. ESPECIALLY if you dry start the tank. @Patrick_G did it with one of his small tanks and encouraged me to as well when I started a 12G long. You can get your carpet full or just started and fill the tank after. Yes Monte Carlo takes a lot longer in a no co2 situation, but I've found that to be a good thing as it is less maintenance. Planting while the tank is full was a fail for me in the past. With dry starting the roots attach better and it grows faster and covers faster. If you have the patience for it (because it will take time) I highly recommend.
  14. xXInkedPhoenixX
    They're adorable!
  15. xXInkedPhoenixX
    I searched the forum, It's not absorbed effectively through food. Water column is fine. I've never put it in food and it has worked many times for me even when, in the past, people told me to put it in food (and I didn't)
  16. xXInkedPhoenixX
    While treating with epsom is a legit treatment if the effects are too much I would consider using another med. What might you have on hand? And, have you gotten your nitrites down yet?
  17. xXInkedPhoenixX
    This can happen, what they usually suggest is make a 2nd bath with half as much salt and put them in there as a transition. You can make a 3rd bath with a quarter or less if you think it might be less stressful just in case after observing the 1st transition. You might even consider having to use less salt for future baths.
  18. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Avoid Garlic Guard for Betta, our Vet friend @Odd Duck advises there is evidence it does organ damage. If the fish is eating fine you won't need it. If I also remember correctly it is better given in the water column and is not more effective in food.
  19. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Looks like she's taunting you.
  20. xXInkedPhoenixX
    @Guppysnail I am definitely going to be adding some bristles of some kind to my future 100+ gallon tank. I'm part of a local forum that at times puts them up so wondering if I could get away with a couple of babies until the move. I only have 20s for now but they are talls not long.
  21. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Dear @Guppysnail guru, pray tell me (tried to search here but got lazy to be honest after a partial search), your adult Plecos, what size tank were a pair in?
  22. xXInkedPhoenixX
    You can dose up to 5x the recommended amount per Prime I believe and not harm anyone.
  23. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Ugggggh. I've had a tank crash too (lost most of the tank not all) but never figured out the EXACT cause only had guesses. I think that's the most frustrating part besides losing favorite fish. I'm very, very sorry. 😞
  24. xXInkedPhoenixX
    AGREED! I just do "easy" plants. That's what happens to work in my environment and me being a bit less plant oriented and not doing fertilizers. I've been using Easy Green as an experiment in 2 of my tanks and other than growing faster the plants don't seem any more healthy in my other tanks. However I'm not like @Mmiller2001 and enter competitions!
  25. xXInkedPhoenixX
    Super cute, and yes, eggs hatch in their own time so typically not all at once.
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