Minanora

In other news, I love what I decided to do with my quarantine tank! I wanted to get it ready for shrimp, but was trying to figure out how to get the PH to be similar to the 75G without actually putting substrate in the bottom. BEHOLD! The mighty PYREX dish that never gets used! Genius! Why had I never thought of this before!? And now my poor plants that got a bleach dip have a fighting chance. 10% bleach, but still, nobody likes bleach. Now the aquasoil is contained, and buffering my PH quite nicely to 7.8. Plus I can easily remove the bowl for when I'm doing stuff that requires a PH of 8.0, which is what the 20G is at. Quick fact about the sad looking pineapple house - it was part of the original 10G donation that was made to me years ago, it sat outside in the hot sun and cooked for a year. The person who gave it to me is awesome and I had to keep it. Plus it's easy to clean. I kind of want to paint it to look like a rock version that's growing a plant off of the top.

So my adventure yesterday: Long winded storytime, summary at bottom: I have this canister filter on my 75G. I only have it because my husband is not a fan of the waterfall sounds/trickles of the HOB filters AND I had an insane opportunity to get the darn thing. Stacking coupons... coupon errors, etc.. that made the canister $180, and I got all of the substrate I ordered, Planted Eco complete black x6, heater, glass lids, air pump, and spray bar.... for about $18 dollars more. So, steal of a deal and they didn't have the HOB I wanted in stock so, yeah. Oh and free store pickup, and free shipping, OH and they had issues shipping the 120# of substrate, so they also gave me a $30 refund, and I still got all of my stuff. Winner, winner, chicken dinner. Moving on! I have that spray bar for the dang thing... I had it pointed at the back wall originally because I wanted maximum flow, but didn't want to uproot all of my plants at the front of the scape. I also wanted to see how things went with using the flow over the heater (no significant differences btw) Mind you my heater is way oversized, I ordered the wrong one and when I went to exchange it, because of the coupon thing I would have had to pay a bunch more for the smaller heater. So I kept the behemoth! Moving along, again! I was messing with the spray bar yesterday to change the flow across the front of the aquarium because I was unhappy with the dead space in the front, collecting poo's and whatnot. The 27 babies in the tank had been fine with the flow going the other way, being dispersed by the back of the tank... Turned that spray bar around and it was a whole other ball game. So as I stood there and thought, "hmm, I'm not seeing anywhere that the babies can go for relief from the current" I took a look at the intake for the filter, which was now collecting the newly suspended poos (I even vacuumed beforehand), driftwood slime and stray leaves and I watch a baby go investigate... He tried so hard to get away, it looked like he realized that the intake holds no food, and was going to leave it be since it was trying to eat him instead, then he headed around to the other side of the intake tube, just out of my sight, I moved so I could observe him, and POOF, he was gone. In my mind I'm thinking "there's no way he just got sucked in there..." There's 27 in there, but somehow I know most of them by sight, and I'm sure he's missing. "Well, I've heard of babies living inside the canister, so I may as well just check." I go about opening the canister, forgetting instructions along the way, remembering the part where I close the valve BEFORE I unplug the unit, and then forgetting to actually turn off the unit as I pull up on the red release lever, spraying water inside my cabinet and thinking about how I should have known to turn off the darn thing before I did that. Now I've got the thing unplugged, disconnected and am trying to shimmy it out of the cabinet without accidently unlatching the head. For some reason I'm terrified that it's going to spontaneously turn back on and leak everywhere even though it's unplugged. I've only pulled the thing out one other time to see if it needed cleaning. I proceed to the kitchen sink with my 3 year old helper close behind. Now to begin unraveling the mysterious canister components that are totally due for a cleaning. Just a few days before the 4 week week mark, good job internet, high five for the advice. Driftwood aging probably made it gunk up a bit faster than it will in the future. So, I drain off the excess water into my cleaning bin, low and behold, swimming amongst the poo's and suspended detritus is a single, lucky, guppy fry! I scoop him out with a Taco Bell cup, photograph him for science, and return him to the rest of the Derp Squad. Cleaning the components of the canister is pretty much like a HOB, except that there's far more material, and after sanitizing the 10G and it's components, setting it back up, then doing a 50% water change on the 20G, treating it for ich, and doing a 25% water change on the 75G.... it's kind of hard on my back, having to stand there squishing the sponges, the carbon, the phosphate pads, MORE sponges, then trying to salvage the "polishing" pads before I get the replacement materials for the phosphate pads and filter floss that arrives on Friday... when I planned to do this task originally. After all of that and getting the canister back into the cabinet, I bust out the intake sponge that I should have installed to avoid this issue to begin with and get it on the intake. At least there's more surface for bacteria now, and I can get tiny shrimps without fear... I was planning to just do amano's but now, I may as well give the others a shot! So there's that; and I'm confident that when my female sword has her babies that more will survive. Win-win. That darn spray bar.... ugly, hilarious that it has an extension that does basily nothing other than house snails... I need to cut the outlet hose shorter so I can get the whole setup closer to the top of the tank. I may play around with dropping the U piece that connects the hose to the bar, to see if it makes the "extension" of the bar more useful. The whole thing is just a bit ridiculous though. I would have rather just had an Aquaclear HOB but husband wanted a canister, and I had the opportunity. I want him to enjoy the hobby as much as I do, and having the canister is a plus for him. In summary: I totally rescued a guppy from the bowels of my canister filter, added the intake sponge I bought for the setup, a month later, I think canisters are overrated, and the spray bar is subpar. Most notable I call my batches of fry "Derp Squads". Because when they're born, they're derpy and adorable. As seen below. "Derp"

I love your shrimps! The snails make a fine addition. They're beautiful! I have some scarlet temple that is behaving about the same as yours. Mine likes to generate blackbeard algae for me; which is soooooo awesome. Not really, it's quite frustrating actually. I love your layout though, it's beautiful and there's something seriously satisfying about shrimps perching on leaves like little lookout posts. Magical.

Welcome! Much good conversation to be had here!

I figured that I may as well start a journal of my fishkeeping adventure. After what happened to me today, and the fact that nobody in my physical life has any interest in my love of aquariums and fish... I think this will be a good place for me to socialize about the hobby and have people who are actually interested to share with. Anyway, I have two main tanks right now. I was told that I'm only allowed to have two... But I've had the "quarantine" tank set up for many months now and plan to get another soon. Hey I need one for babies and one for sick/new fish, right? Or do I need three... I do take my spouse seriously though. But I can dream. I have a 75G, Takashi Amano inspired tank with my first canister filter. I have mixed feelings about that. More on that soon. That's my adventure I had today that sparked my idea to make this journal. I also have a 20G Tall, "toddler tank" in my son's room that was his reward for sleeping in his own bed full time. He loves his fish, he's 3. I love guppies, always have, and have had guppies in just about every fish tank I've had through my life. Now that I have started my own family and have other input on what goes in the tanks, I've fallen in love with otos, swordtails and corydoras. Before I got married, my finest tank had two angles, three spunky, chatty, long whiskered catfish, a team of koolie loaches, an abundance of blue metallic guppies and a pleco. I also kept a single silver butterfly koi in my room that was my best friend for many years. I love fish, I love plants and keeping fish brings me great joy. For now, I have to call it a night, but I'll continue tomorrow. Here's a photo to hint at my canister filter adventure today... 😅 Update 12/4/22, Over a year after I started my journal. The first picture of the 75 in this post is from 10/31/21. Here is a photo of the 75G on 12/4/22.

Did the deed. The 20G has started it's ich-x treatment.

I'm cleaning my hospital tank as I type this. Longer cleaning than usual, bleach solution. Sidetrack: I had new plants quarantining in it. There were interesting hitchhikers in this set. Tiny white/clear swimming things, bugs so to speak, and thin white worms that ranged in length, longest one being about .5 inches. Check these guys out! Never seen them in my tanks. I took video, too.

@colu Thank you. I have 2 pregnant guppies (due in about 10 days) in there and maybe 10, 3 week old babies in this tank. Do you think it's okay to treat the whole tank? Or should I move the 2 with obvious issues? Assuming nobody else is showing fungal growth today that is. It's only 5:50am here so I haven't gone in my son's room yet. I dare not wake him this early.

I'll keep a close eye on the pleco. The fungus type thing that's going on with Plug the guppy, it is a very compact haze type fuzz. Not loose and flowy. But it probably is fungal. It appeared overnight. She was on the mend up until it's appearance this morning. It reminds me of the texture of peach fuzz almost. She's eating but is lethargic and not as social. If you think myacin will kick it, should I treat everyone for good measure? Or just pull Plug out and hospital tank her? Toddler named her Plug... I tried to rename her with no success.

Hello! Your tank sounds like it captures every mood of living lava lamp. Very cool. Excited to see everyone and your future projects!

Hello! Love your fishee family! I have a guppy that looks almost just like your guy swimming to the left. Mine's name is Pako and he's... spirited. So much so that he had to be moved away from the rest of the adult guppies. He has the mojo. All of it.

That's the weird thing; if it is ich, it's not like any I've ever seen. Those white spots appear to be at the tips of his hairs. However, I've never had a scale-less fish get ich before, and this is my first clown pleco that I've ever had, so I'm not sure if it's a usual coloration, or he's growing, or what. I normally only ever see him under the moonlight or dusk/dawn lighting that my Finnix CRV light cycles through. When I got him from the LFS he was super super pale from the stress of being removed from the driftwood he was hiding on. That was 3 months ago though. I definitely noted that colored up to his darker colors a few days later, but like I said, I've never really had the pleasure to see him in full spectrum lighting until today. I know he's eating well, he got his Rapashy treat last night and was all about it - he's a funny guy, he scoots his food under the Crypt-Tropica I have and hide out under there when he eats. It's definitely not like what that adorable little oto is showing there. I have pemafix and melafix in the tank right now because of the guppy that has the fuzzy wad behind her gil. Sheesus this nightmare needs to end. Think it would be okay to just dose everyone in there with ich-x or should I move him and his chunk-o-wood into quarantine? I feel like I'm going to need 3 more quarantine tanks for the fallout of that darn nitrate spike. I'm losing my mind watching my babies be sick like this.

Still watching things crumble in my 20G tall after that nitrAte spike... I don't see the pleco out in the light often, which was my first alarm for him. But his skin looks like he may have ich? or is it velvet? Any help is appreciated, this has been worse than a rollercoaster. The baby guppy photo bomb helps a little, even he's worried about the pleco. pH - 8.0 Nitrates less than 5 Hardness 12 Nitrite 0 Ammonia 0 KH/Buffer 12 Water Temperature 77

Ha! Thank you. I have honestly had guppies in every tank I've ever kept, except for maybe two goldfish tanks when I was really little. At least that I can remember. I love your guppy project! Your signature caught me off guard. I saw the word "Pico" and immediately thought you may be a home brewer. My husband and I brew beer and we use a system called a Pico Z. Stout season is coming... Oh wait, it never left. 🍺

Thank you. I hope fishkeeping will be something he enjoys for the rest of his life and not a chore. I had fish from the age of 3 until I was 19, then took a break until this year since my son is now 3 and can enjoy having a tank. It feels great to have fish again. I love your fish room!

Thank you! I love your 75 as well. Sweet stand! I was going to make my own cabinet but I decided to dedicate my time in other areas. Had to pick my battles for time spending.

Thank you! I love your fish room btw! Everything is beautiful! Also, keeping fish and having aquariums has been a huge part of my life since I was a little kid. Fish bring me peace. ^_^

Hello friends! I go by Minanora in the virtual world. We have two tropical community tanks and one "hospital" tank that is always occupied by new plants or some sort of project. I plan to get another 10G tank to help with efficiency between plants and fish since our current 10G is always holding up traffic. Usually with fry related activities. We have a 20G tall in my sons room that has some guppies, oto, cory's, a swordtail pair, tetras, and a clown pleco. We also have a 75G Takashi Amano inspired tank that is about a month old. This tank was cycled with pre-seeded media for the canister and completed a fishless cycle in a week! It's currently lightly stocked with a pair of swordtails, one male guppy that is too spirited to be with any other guppies, and about 27 baby guppies that are growing the bio-load slowly. There's also a bunch of bladder snails that are helping clean. I'll crowd them out with a colony of shrimp at some point. Besides my love of natural aquariums, I have a lot of hobbies, work from home full time with my kiddo, and we love to be outside. I grow a lot of food, I can food, I love to wakesurf, hike, draw, paint, and play various online and board games. We spend a lot of time with our family.

@Guppysnail Well, I did a 40% water change last night. This morning everyone seems a bit on edge. No change in the girl that's tilting to the sky. The other girl that was seemingly back to her usual self now has a white patch that's interfering with her gill. Think it's fungal or bacterial? I just gave the tank a dose of API aquarium salt. 3tbsp dissolved in a cup of the aquariums water. Hopefully that helps at least. I have maracyn, ich-x, kanacura, general cure, pimafix, melafix, paraclense, fin & body cure all in my fish med cabinet.

Thank you for the advice. I will give that a go.

pH - 8.0 Nitrates 5 Hardness 12 Nitrite 0 Ammonia 0 KH/Buffer 11 Water Temperature 77 How do I treat swim bladder issues after nitrate poisoning? I had a sudden 24 hour spike of nitrAtes after using some easy green root tabs. I got a spike from 5ppm to 80ppm, which caused three of my fish to get sick. One is fine, one is in a quarantine tank being treated with the quarantine trio due to her behaviours after, and the last one is having swim bladder issues. her form is perfect for a non-pregnant guppy; she's never had any issues before, I do not over-feed, she hasn't hurt herself as far as I'm aware. She's not bloated or too thin. The issue only came about after the sudden nitrate spike. She's eating, not as well, because she is off balance, but eating. Any recommendations for helping her? Anyone have this happen? The nitrate spike was on the 28th, I got the nitrates down to 20ppm on the 29th, and now 5ppm as of the 30th. Nitrates are steady at 5ppm today. Using the API master test kit. I ask for advice because I don't want to unnecessarily dose meds or stress her out by moving her. And I'm not sure what to do because the symptoms are from Nitrate poisoning not over-feeding, disease or parasites. I see answers for swim bladder issues related to the latter causes, but nothing definitive relating to Nitrate caused issues. As a reminder: this nitrate spike is a one off event that happened within 24 hours; I always keep my nitrates in check. I've seen a nitrate spike with the root tabs before, but not this significant. This is in a planted, 20G tall tank, that is balanced with the bio-load so the tank never goes above 5ppm nitrates. I check the nitrates daily currently since there are fry in the tank and do 20 percent water changes every other day for the foundlings. Thank you in advance.