Barnacle_Gil

Yup, Epsom salt (pinch) raises PH & Chlorine softens shells to hatch. Brine shrimp will survive for a couple days on their yolk sacks then need Spirulina to mature. YouTube is loaded with info. Good Luck!

Try using a tiny pinch of Epsom salt .......... I get 100% hatch rate w/Co-op eggs using chlorinated tap water, air & 78-80 degrees & initial 8 hrs of light.

Just a suggestion but I made a loop for hanging over the tank for water changes using 90 deg. hose barbs from Home Depot. https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-Plastic-PEX-Barb-90-Degree-Elbow-5-Pack-PXPAE125PK/301541106 I used 2 to make the loop. They fit very snug into 1/2" tubing. Use hot water to soften the tubing to get it over the ribs on the barbs. It works great and I don't have to fumble with clamps.

I'll soak plants for a while in a Kosher salt solution then rinse. I still quarantine everything without meds and just keep an eye on things.

After buying 2 Java Moss on line (the stainless steel screen square type) I added them to a small glass bottomed shrimp tank. I started noticing Dragonfly Nymph (1/4" - 6mm) ....... 1 then 2 then 3 then 4 ......... I sucked out (turkey baster) a total of 12 over a months time. Thank goodness it was a bare bottomed tank. I will NEVER put anything in my tank again without quarantining it for 30 days first! That's my 2 cents on plants anyway. Good lock.

I don't use the Top Fin brand but it looks like they come with an air stone. Try adjusting the air stone so it doesn't make contact with the the base when it's assembled. That's the only thing that I can think of that could be making noise.

You could search the www for "How to build storage shelfs" and click on IMAGES and you'll get a million ideas for it. Have fun, custom is better than buying but not always cheaper.

That's kind of a broad question. Do you have a table saw, tools etc.? Will you need extra room for goodies like CO2, air pumps etc.? Head room for clip on lighting? Storage under everything? Does it have to look pretty?

I'm no expert but I boiled an Oak leaf and dropped it in my Amano shrimp tank over 2 wks. ago and they are ignoring it. I guess the point of it is to wait for a Biofilm to develop but I got nothing so far. Maybe an expert could chime in and suggest something?

Great topic! #1. https://aquariumscience.org/ #2. Function first ..... Form later #3. If you can't "seed" a new aquarium ..... keep light intensity (if planted) to 50% and duration to 7 hrs. with only 10% ferts.. for first month at least. #4. Make sure your aquarium stand is mechanically sound! #5. ...... and much more

I ordered some Salvinia on Ebay and it included a "Mystery Freebie" floater. It finally arrived and the freebie is a small portion of Purple Fringe Riccia. There doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there on it. I'm quarantining everything of course but I don't want to mix it with the Salvinia if it is like Duckweed or something. Is anyone familiar with this Purple Riccia? Will it gum everything up?

All interesting points. I'm mainly concerned because I've ordered a few Amano shrimp and ideal parameters call for 80 deg. max. so hopefully they can tolerate a degree or two. What do you shrimp experts think? I won't maintain the higher temp.

Good info thanks, it looks like 86 degrees is critical according to Cory. I'll have to watch that whole video when I can spare more time. Thanks again!

Should I be alarmed that my tank temp. is reaching 81.5 degrees in the summer? This is in Michigan and no heater is running. Is anyone else experiencing this? It's exceeding all of the recommended max. temps for my fish and I'm concerned about stressing them out. What do you fish keepers do in the south? Just sayin' ???

The instructions do state that it can "negatively affect beneficial bacteria which remove ammonia and nitrite from water." I'll keep an eye on things and hope for the best since I'm not familiar with the product. Thank you for your response,