Jefft51

Nitrate and nitrite are non organic compounds and are ions. Nitrate is NO3- and Nitrite is NO2-. As such, these won't differ from well water or biological creation. However they can combine to give things like potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate (mmm bacon). I don't know how the tests for the ions work so not sure if you can get differing results with bound up nitrates/nitrites. So, if the tests are accurate for only the ions and you're seeing differing results as far as fish health, then it's something else (not tested?) If the tests are picking up bound nitrates then you would be getting a false high reading. If the bound nitrate compound is detrimental is another issue. So my conclusion is maybe. As a side note Ammonia is NH3. As far as fish surviving in high concentrations of Nitrates, sort of depends on the fish. Some are more sensitive and others more hardy. However the high concentrations might not kill the fish, it will stress them and make them susceptible to other things. Also I'm drawing on my chemistry classes from a looong time ago so take that with a grain of NaCl.

Just to add, looks like the faucets were for a washer hookup. Is there a drain for that? Did it drain to the floor? The hose I'm using with the transfer pump is a 1/2 inch 50ft hose. I'm going to get a better one soon so I don't have to unkink the hose everytime I use it. There is about 5ft of lift in my use. I'm pretty sure it would go a lot higher.

I see no problem reinforcing the wood shelves and using them. I would put 2x4 posts in the corners and the middle so the post takes up the weight from top shelf to floor. I am pretty sure the floor drain goes into your sewer system. If your sewer system ever backs up, you'll know. To make sure talk to a plumber in the area, But that's usually the case. If so, then I don't think it's a problem. Another solution is to use a transfer pump to drain/fill your tanks. I just started doing that and it makes things easy. Mine cost about $50 and has been a very good flow through an old hose that has way too many kinks in it. Heating. Cool water fish. White Clouds. Maybe even things like Bluegills and Crappies if you can find/fish them. Cory had a video about fish that can tolerate non heated tanks. Other solutions may be to cover/insulate the back and sides of your shelves. Pipe a vent right to the shelves? Maybe some type of sump and heat that?

Once a week makes it simpler. Once a day can make the amount of nutrients more consistent. How fast the plants use up the nutrients and how often and how much you do water changes affects the amount of nutrients available. Either way you need to adjust depending on how your plants and algae are doing. If your nitrates are high you may be fertilizing too much (or too few water changes or too many fish). My guess that in the wild, nutrients are about the same day to day but may change season to season. I don't know if plants do better or worse with nutrients going up and down or consistent. Probably depends on the plant. I also don't know what algae like. Conclusion, either way should be fine, just adjust as needed.

I set up a shelf in a spare room, now becoming my Fish Room. On it are the 45 gallon, a 10 gallon quarantine tank and two 5 gallon shrimp tanks. I put about 65 of the catfish fry in the 45 gallon (out of 87) along with a bunch of endler fry. When they grow out a little more I need to figure out how to get rid of them. I will probably not do anything else with the tank until after Christmas as I'll be away visiting my two grandsons. Then I'll probably put either Apistogramma or Kribensis in the tank.

I like the cat stand strategically placed for fish watching!

I just feed the tank fish food as if the fish were there. I figure the food will decompose and create ammonia at about the same amount as the fish would. It probably adds a day or two from adding ammonia directly, but has worked fine for me.

I like the plate idea. Similarly, I have a homemade minnow trap out of a plastic bottle. I tried using it this morning as I wanted to move a couple fish. About 5 minutes later it was covered in snails. There was no food in it. I also got the fish I wanted. Something about the plastic the snails liked?

About a week ago I put in about 9 red tuxedo guppy fry in with my big batch of corydoras aeneus fry that ranged from about a week to 3 weeks older. It seemed to make sense and I haven't seen them interact with each other at all, but they wouldn't be a problem anyway unless it was newly hatched corys with adult guppies. I think with cichlids, as long as the other fry aren't a mouthful, then it would be ok, at least till they grow out for a couple months.

I found those at a decorative rock place. The ones on the right have a reddish hue. I also got the flagstone there. I put them in water for a week before using to make sure they were inert. Also was careful there were no metallic flecks. I was hoping the tetras would school around them but they seem to like to hang out between. Also good crevice hiding spots for the Kuhlis.

It looks like you have places for the corys to hide so I would think you will get at least some survivors. The adult corys will probably snack on a few. Not sure of the endlers but if you get endler fry that survive probably not much of an issue. You probably will get a better survival rate if you take the eggs out, however you probably won't find all the eggs so you may get some in the community tank anyway. -Jeff

I would probably not buy a used tank if it needed fixing other than a good cleaning. Resealing a tank can be fairly easy until it's not. Broken glass is too much of a hassle to deal with unless you are a consummate DIYer (ok, maybe I am). You can get very good deals on used tanks if you wait long enough or are lucky. I just got a 45 gallon tank for $10 off of craigslist, advertised as a 30. I haven't tested for leaks yet but looks in good shape.

Just a quick note. If you want to use both vinegar and baking soda use them each separately for the best job. Mixing them together results in salty water and carbon dioxide. Yes it bubbles but not much cleaning.

I was contemplating what to do with my Corydoras explosion (I think at least 100 in my 20 gallon) so I browsed the local want ads. I came across a 30 gallon tank for $10 with gravel and lid. I couldn't resist. I messaged him and made the arrangements to come and pick it up. About 15 fry. Before I left, I looked up the dimensions of 30 gallon tanks and determined that I would be able to stuff one in my small car, which is a Scion FRS. I stopped at a store on my way to break a 20 so I could pay him. He had it in a trailered skiff with some other items he was getting rid of. He had carried it up from his houseboat. I'm not sure how as it had gravel in it still and two of us struggled to carry it. So we tried to fit it in my car and it Almost fit. He volunteered to deliver it for another $10 as I was only a couple miles away. So I took him up on the offer and we got to my house and placed it on the lawn. Whew. I measured the tank and it's 36"x12"x24" which makes it just under 45 gallons. No wonder it wouldn't fit. Tank Delivered! I took out the "clown.....dandruff" gravel which was about 60 lbs. I noticed a chip on one edge. I think he must have banged it trying to carry 120 lb 3 ft long tank by himself. It doesn't appear to be structural damage. Needs a little epoxy or something. Chipped edge Colorful Gravel Now I just have to figure out where to put it and what to put in it. I'm thinking Apistogramma. I might use the gravel to make a Sponge Bob themed aquarium. Maybe my LFS will trade catfish for Apistos. -Jeff

Fish keeping is very relaxing because of all the indoor fins. ....Ok, I'll see myself out.

It helped me to hang the container inside a heated aquarium to keep the temp up and constant. When the shrimp hatch, I hang it on the outside and put a spacer between it and the aquarium to make it sit straight. There is a little ridge on the Zeiss that stops the spacer from sliding down.

I played around a little with adding both baking soda to raise the KH and vinegar to lower the ph in the new water before I added it to tank. It seemed to work ok but I need to experiment more with it. Coral works unless you're trying to do a soft water lower PH tank.

I just got the Ziss hatchery. My first two batches I had the issue of the eggs at the bottom. I drained into a plastic container, shrimp and eggs. Sucked some up with a pipette and holding it at an angle, the eggs slid down to the bottom and I dripped them out. My last batch I hung the container inside a heated tank (previously outside at room temp) and used a tsp of eggs instead of 2. I got little or no unhatched eggs at the bottom.

I'm considering getting an automatic feeder, but how do you keep fish jumping out the opening for the food? Like Hatchetfish?

The first time I remember being interested in tropical fish was when I was about 6 or 7. Someone had a fish store in their garage next door to my grandma's in Spokane. This was about 1960. Later when we moved to Spokane I often walked to a LFS. I didn't start keeping fish till high school when we moved near Yakima. I must have had at least 10 tanks and raised several types of fish - zebra danios, bettas, pink convicts. Then came college, kids, jobs etc. Now that I'm retired I started keeping fish again. I now have 6 tanks in just over a year. My Corydoras Aeneus just spawned and I have a 20gal with way too many. Now I have to decide who to give some to or get more tanks. Picture is my partially stocked 65gal. You can't see the frog or kuhli's either. Jeff