Guppy Guy

So thats why my amazon sword won’t get any bigger. It’s in SAND!!! 🤣 🤣

Thanks @Patrick_G, but I am not that good yet. Maybe once I don’t kill java moss and duckweed though🤣

I just assembled the filter, and it works! Everything about the design works as intended, except the seals. Both of the 3D printed connectors have a slow leak. I actually filled the tank up all the way, but with the added pressure, the leak got a little bigger, so I quickly drained it. I will probably silicone one of the seals, and redesign the other for better performance.

I usually do it about once every 2 weeks. Before I re-scraped it last fall, there were a TON of plants in there, so they managed water quality really well. Now there is only a few that won’t grow for some reason, so water quality isn’t as good.

I already cleaned most of the worms out, but I will do it again next week. I’ll get one then. I have already removed the fish just in case that is the issue. I have also decided that I will start over with that tank, as that is one of the many problems it has.

OK thanks. It is worth noting that the tank just won’t balance out after re-scaping, so now there is hair algae everywhere. Also, the plants keep dying and the fish population went from over 50 to under 20 since then. With all the worms, is it possible that they are killing the fish?

Where do they come from? I feel that there is no point trying to get rid of them if the source isn’t addressed.

Nice! I’ve heard thats a good one. How did it get there though? None of the fish stores near me carry it.

I don’t know where to start. I hate my 10 gallon tank right now. After re-scraping it last fall, one thing after the next has gone wrong. Now there are these small white worms in the gravel. I don’t feed worms in my tanks, so these are not food. Does anyone know what these are? Also, I want to start over with this tank, but the gravel is special to me. I have had the gravel in that tank since I was 5 and had a betta fish. Will I be able to salvage it? Thanks.

All right, I have a new one! Whatever this is, it has been growing just under the gravel line, occasionally sprouting to the surface. Any ideas?

@Dolbec Aqua Designs, I noticed that you only have 114 posts total and 107 of those are memes! 😂 Thanks for the great content and I can confidently say that we all look forward to seeing what you come up with next!

Sorry for the late reply, only just seeing this. As far as CAD/CAM goes, I designed the diffuser plate in Autodesk Fusion 360 as a .STL object. You can use CAM in fusion 360, and it is very powerful, but even after 6 months, I don’t know what the heck I’m doing. Instead, I took a screenshot of the file from the top, and imported it into Inkscape. From there, I traced the bitmap of the picture, saved it as an .SVG file, and then fired up Carbide Create. I changed the stock size to 127x127mm (the size of the diffuser) and lined up the SVG as close as I could. From there, it was as simple as creating a few tool paths for the machine to follow. (I used a 1/16” bit for pocketing and drilling the holes, and a 1/8” bit for cutting it out.). It came out surprisingly accurate, I didn’t even have to post-process it. Laugh at me if you want, but I found it easier to do that then get fusion 360 CAM to work 😂. As far as my machine goes, I have a Sainsmart 3018 pro. It has been a great machine as far as hardware, but they give you nothing for software. It is also worth noting that bit sizes are limited to 1/8”, which is ok for most projects as the machine is fairly small anyways. My motherboard has been acting funny lately as well, as it is still accurate and all, but it won’t turn off with the power switch. Better off then on! 🙃 I will be upgrading it to an Arduino running GRBL sooner or later. It is probably not sainsmart’s fault for the motherboard. I keep it in my garage, and in South Carolina, the humidity is always 100000%, so that may or may not be the issue 😅. Let me know if you have any more questions. After finally getting silicone for the filter, I installed the bulkhead and filter nipple connector into the bowl and filter lid. I will drill a hole for the power cord after the silicone drys. With that done, all thats left is to make the lid (waiting on a friend for that) and assemble everything!

I would love some guppies like that, especially the blue ones. If you can't tell from my avatar, I love blue guppies 😉.

After I finished painting and letting it dry for a few days, I forgot to take a picture before starting on the electrical components for the light. Hopefully this one will suffice. I cut out 2 holes in the back of the machine; one for the USB input, and one for the lights output. Inside there is a buck converter set to 3 volts to step down the USB voltage to the LED voltage. Having this means I can also make a USB to barrel converter and power it from any wall pack over 3 volts. Wiring is only halfway done, as I still need to create the connector array as well as shorten a few cables, but my janky proof of concept worked good. I’ll share more when it’s almost done.

While I have no scientific behind this, here is my 2 cents. I have never seen a guppy change sex after it is born, but I did see where the water temperature they are born in could affect it. I have not seen this in my tanks though.

I just remembered that this forum has a fish swap forum for selling fish, and it is generally really active. You could list them as FREE and someone may take you up on that. I personally would much rather you do that then euthanize them.

I saw that, but I don’t want anyone to get hurt. That’s all.

I saw 24 and for a second I thought it was below freezing, then I remembered it was celsius 😂 24C = 75.2F

After reviewing your profile and seeing that you only keep nano fish, my first suggestion to feed them to a larger fish obviously won’t work. My second suggestion may or may not please you, but you could just leave the fry in with the parents. They will either eat leftover food the other fish don’t eat or be eaten, so it could go either way.

@Chick-In-Of-TheSea, the video is a good idea, but I just saw he used a soldering iron for the holes. PLEASE, NOBODY DO THAT!!!!!! Soldering irons generally operate between 350 and 400 degrees celsius (662-772 degrees fahrenheit), and that is way above the melting point of plastics. So much so that it will instantly vaporize the plastic into toxic fumes that are dangerous. I recommend drilling the holes out, or if you want to melt them, use the soldering iron on the lowest setting. usually around 250C (482F).

I know I’m late to the discussion, but here me out. If you take the lid to a 5 gallon bucket (the standard snap-one) and cut it in half, then drill a bunch of holes in it, you will essentially have a snap-on diffuser that fits on any bucket, and can be made to any needed size. Make sure there aren’t too many holes though, or water will spray from the sides.

While I am waiting on a few electronic parts for the light to get here, as well as printing the tank lid, I applied a coat of primer and dry-fit the filter system. Now you can hopefully see where I was going with the return line inside of the intake. I need to get more silicone though, as the stuff I used is old and crumbly. The pump will go inside the jar filter after I figure out how to route the power cord.

I’m paranoid about leaving two batteries touching in the container, let alone jerry-rigging fuse sockets 😂

My angels recently spawned, and I got to the free-swimming stage with the fry. They died because I wasn’t home to do a water change, and their little specimen container got dirty fast. I like the photo-bombing snail in the video 😂

I probably overthink clean hands in an aquarium. I use a tea tree soap that washes off completely and leaves no smell before sticking my hands in the tank, and I won’t do anything with a tank if I was sweaty from working outside. I don’t want the salts/dirt in there causing mystery problems I would never figure out.