Solidus1833

I've got 4 different species of Pleco, and they ALL love ^ Xtreme's wafers. Its the one pleco wafer that all my plecos will attach to.

I think you got the main knowledge for BB and bio medias. If you would like to know more I suggest you watch some of https://www.youtube.com/user/pondguru 's videos on the subject. He explains different medias at a microscopic level and compares them with his own BIOHOME, which I've been using for years. Its a little pricey but I feel like it does way better than the Fluval media that came with my Fx4. Lasts longer too.

Wow 13yrs! Thats awesome!

HAHA, yeah it will be years before they are 'too big'. By then I usually sell them back and get some more young ones. Adult Clowns sell for a good amount of cash compared to when you buy them young. Currently I have 6 in this 72g. I want to upgrade to a 125g, but I sort of want to wait for a move that should be within the next 1-2 years. But I'm also eyeing a 300G for that move, so its all kind of up in the air. I love clown loaches, they deserve that name wholeheartedly. From sleeping on their sides, to playing with their food 'snails'. They are so much fun to watch.

I'm not sure what fish that is in the picture, maybe a molly? You may be correct about your fathers first batch, however, it is possible to cycle a tank safely using the 'fish-in' method. Using a water conditioner like Seachem Prime, to detoxify nitrites while the cycle locks in can be done, but usually not recommended for beginners. If I were you, Id give your father's tank another month to really get seasoned and see how the animals have progressed. Any more losses, or stress should be noted for further stocking. I would begin with taking some tap water to a LFS to have them give you a water test. You should also get an API master test kit and become fully versed with testing water. Here you can find out your water GH and KH, which is very important for keeping some fish and most invertebrates like shrimp. Again I'm not very well versed with shrimp, but I think they require a specific number of dissolved solids in the water column. Whether that's 'zero' or a higher number I've got no clue. Some species thrive in hard water and others in soft. Some can do well in either. This is where your personal research and not from just one source should be paramount to your success. One good method is to go speak to a local fish store and talk to them about their water. If you are on the same water grid as them, it could be a good start for some reasonable data regarding your own experiences. As you said, your home has a water softener, so that will be a variable, how much I cant determine.

When just starting out in the hobby, you may want to choose species you 'dont' have to change the water-table for. The one of the worst things a new hobbyist could do is fight their water source for specific species. I'd first look at what fish your father has and maybe go from there. Amano and cherry shrimp with hill streams is a common mixture. With kuhli's you may want more than 3 or 4, as they are very skittish and will hide most of the time especially if its a small group. If you are set on having shrimp, then other loaches (clown, zebra, yoyo, dojo) you will want to avoid as they absolutely love to eat shrimp and snails. If you are looking for some mid-water fish then I would suggest maybe 3-5 rainbow's, of really any species. Your question on 'how' many all depends on how much you want to do water changes and your overall filtration capacity. For example, put a fluval FX4 with a spray-bar on a 50g, and you may not have to do water changes for weeks depending on how heavy you feed. Put a HOB filter and maybe a sponge filter and you could possibly still get away with water changes every 2 weeks. I'm not an expert on shrimp nor have I ever kept any, but I think from my research they are happiest when the water changes aren't as frequent. I tend to do water 30% changes whenever my 72g goes from 20-30ppm Nitrates to around 80ppm. Which for me is about 7-10 days depending on how I feed. Fx4 cannister with spray bar, Stock list: 72G Fish List: Plecostamous; L191: Dull-eyed Royal Pleco 75F-84F pH: 6.5-7.5 L075,L124,L301,LDA002:Sarbaji 'Para' Pleco 78F-86F *75-78 pH:6.6-7.6 L270: False Zebra Pleco L200: Green Phantom Pleco Corydora; Albino: x4 72F-79F pH:5.8-7.0 Rainbowfish; Bosmanai: X4 72F-77F pH:7.0-8.0 *6.5-8.0 Sharks; Rainbow:72F-79F pH:6.5-7.5 Loaches; Dojo:Grey/Peppered x3 50F-82F pH:6.5-8.0 Dojo:Albino/Gold x2 Clown:x6 72F-86F pH:6.0-7.5 Other; Algae Eater; Siamese: x2 Total: 26

This is exactly how I get around the LF sensor issues. In my 72g I have two E-Series and a ziss air-diffuser inbetween them behind the DriftWood. Works like a charm. Also, I've noticed the E-Series temps are generally within 1-2Deg difference than the temperature probe I trust. So I set them to 78F or 77F. The E-series generally tries to keep the temps within 1.5 of the setting you choose.

I actually purchase my spray bar for both my fluval cannisters from a guy who used to have an EBAY store but is now on Amazon. Just do a search for aquarium spray bar and you will find him. Very easy to set up and cheap. It would cost you more to build one if you don't have the tools already. I also use fluval E series heaters and can attest to their 'low flow' signaling. It takes some time to get that heater in the right spot. Ive got two running in my 72 horizontally on the back wall with zero issues.

Yeah the L75 is an absolute beauty. I'm actually going to make another batch of repashy morning wood and paste it on a coconut cave and see if that works.

That's a perfect LFS day in my book. The LFS I really like is about 30mins from my home, and I had some RO water jugs sitting in my garage for months I needed to return. I had to cut my water with it after the Texas Freeze for a month. I happened to have the entire store all to myself. Knowing plant stock is low and their fish restocking wouldn't happen for another day or two I really just went to the tanks to admire the Biggins like Oscars and other species. On my way out my eye caught the phantom pleco and its the first time I've seen a green phantom in the store. Mostly these guys are gone the day they come in. So I asked how long he'd been here, and they said 9 days. ANNNND that's when I took another pleco home ha-ha. They are absolutely beautiful fish. I've not been able to get mine to really eat yet however, He spends his time eating on the glass and rocks, but I'm sure hell come around. He doesn't seem as timid during the daytime as my other plecos either (L191, L075, L270), which is nice. The yellow squash I put in last-night is all gone, but my (L191 Royal), and (L270 Chocolate Zebra) also eat that so that could have been them.

I believe they get around 5-6 inches.

i myself use the fluval 3.0 light for evening viewing. I have a dedicated 'sleep' mode I will use if I'm just not ready to go to bed and want to just watch the pleco's move about in the evening. I usually set it with about 5%yellow and 8% red, with a hint of blue like maybe 1% to make the tank a shade of reddish/purple. Then lay on my couch and drift away.

My house is 73 so the lowest the temp would drop during that time in the buckets at least would be somewhere around 75 from beginning at 78F, if I can get it all done within say 2 hours. I think I'd probably not feed for 2-3 days prior to the move also. Thank you for the input.

So, I've been looking into upgrading from my 72g to a 100 or 125g for a few years. I essentially begin by trying to plan how I will process this endeavor and I just end up stop planning and forget about it. Does anyone have any good tips for something like this? My process begins with: Using 4 buckets to separate the Plecos, then Use my 32gal Trash-bin (I sometimes use to prep water) to hold the rest of my stock and what's left of the 72gal water. Connect my cannister to the trash-bin to keep it cycling while I work. Use another bucket or 3 scooping out my substrate and plants. Removing 72g from its stand, replacing with the upgrade. Filling in with old substrate and additional, then re-plant. Fill the new aquarium about 1/3rd with old tank water. Re-introduce the fish, and fill the rest of the aquarium with fresh tempered water and conditioner. I would definitely use some Seachem Stability during this process. Does this plan read like it could work? Or is it too much of a risk to the fish and possibly crash my beneficial bacteria? I've been planning to purchase a larger home within the next year or two, so even if I don't upgrade, I will need to transport my aquarium to a new location anyway. That will bring a whole new set of variables as-well including water quality.

I went by my LFS for my normal trip for restocking water treatments, frozen-foods, and other supplies and this beauty caught my eye.

I was watching todays F1 race this morning and noticed one of my Dojo's planking on my driftwood. Bonus Dojo, on its usual Fluval E-series perch, and the third under some new crypts.

I've used Morning Wood for my wood eaters and Community Plus for everything else and had exceptional success with both. I've tried Soilent Green and some community/soilent mix with mediocre results. (here I was trying to get a little more spirulina into the bosmani diet). However, they seemed disinterested with the blend and preferred just community blend without the mixture. My clown, dojos, and corydoras were not as finicky. Below is an image of my L191 Royal, and L075 Para 'Sarbjai' Plecos monchin on some morning wood. The only time they share a meal is with repashy.

The dojo's I have frequently rest upon my E-Series heaters. Figured it was a good opportunity for some new photos. With a bonus of pleco bellies.

hahah it sure was. I thought of Dr. Grant when I saw my dojo hiding within the swords.

Ive got 3 grey/peppered ones and two albino dojos in a 72, they are awfully fun to have. EXCEPT when you plant root tabs. these suckers just go digging ahahah.

You know I cant get my plecos to really touch zuch or yellow squash. They absolutley love fresh cucumbers and canned greenbeans however haha.

That's what I need I think. The co-op root tabs just get chewed up by my dojos. Watching them spit out green capsule and try to eat it give me anxiety haha.