BuzzDaddy21

Yes, it happens fast 😵, welcome, a lot of good help here if you need it. I don`t see any pictures, can`t wait for some.

Well, my score would be terrible, I might do a couple of the 20 items but would never do #8 even if someone gave me a system. Yes, those tanks are pretty but I`m not impressed (I think he has a pretty big ego) I don`t have much of an algae problem nor do I have many plants (Never did well with plants) I guess I`m just too lazy, water changes fertilizers and all the different plants that are available and the extra stuff to make those expensive plants to grow is way too much money. Oh yes, I`m cheap. I have nothing against anyone who wants to have tanks like those, I say good for you, It's just not for me.

When I got back into the hobby a while back, I thought a bunch of water changes was stupid and still do (The so-called experts say you must do water changes, I could go on a long rant about this 😜) Once I changed my tanks over, I don`t do water changes per say and I`m happy with the results and that's the only thing that matters.

Totally with all, but I also store upside down on a glass thingy from India, it`s nice but wish it held more.

It seems that I have evolved. I like the Fluval 107/207 canister filters (Guppysnail put me on to these.) they are easy and simple but limited on media types. I`m not a fan of Eheim`s cans but like the spray bar/intake items. I really really like the Fzone 10L stainless steel canister, and holds a crap load of media, your only limited by your imagination (Have one on a 40B and will get another when back in stock.) I also like HOB filters, but they require more maintenance IMO. I`m only using one sponge filter now and it's on a 20T along with a HOB filter.

Thanks for all of the replies however, I only crush bladder snails (They are in one tank only.) I know the pictures are not very good but it's a bladder snail that you see. I do like ramshorn snails they are in all tanks along with mts snails and I do thin out the ramshorns once in a while. Ramshorn color started out as orange with a gold strip (Still have that color) then went into different colors mostly dark even some with spots. I don`t know how big a ramshorn get but I have some that seem huge. I will try and get better pictures of the ramshorns I think they look more orange than red or maybe I don`t pay enough attention. Thanks again all.

Well, a while back I torn down a 40B because of bladder snails, after about a month set back up with new gravel and those rascals are back. Tank has been running for a few months now. I got in the habit of crushing some snails at the water line been doing this for about a week and noticed that the pygmy cory's liked to snack on them also the shrimp will steal them away from the cory`s. (Only have black shrimp and 12 pygmy cory`s and MTS and trapdoor snails and ramshorn snails in tank.) is it normal for shrimp /fish to do this.

Yep, I agree and IMO very hard to get rid of. I have one tank with them and not sure about them. (Getting ready to post something that I noticed in my tank.)

Yes, it does and if sitting on the bottom no oxygen will get through and if you don`t keep it stirred up the sand will turn black and stink. Play sand is more course but still needs stirred up. I had lots of problems with sand and do not like all the maintenance involved even with gravel, so I changed 5 of 6 tanks to something better. I still have a tank with pool sand (not much sand maybe 10 lbs. and the rest is gravel.) Good luck.

Will you try again or is too much work? I've got an empty 40B not sure about with it. I had a brackish tank years ago but forgot why. I have read some say salt water, others say brackish. I might have to pick your brain about this. Might be a winter project.

Well, I got looking in my 40B and saw all 5 Amano shrimp I got from my LFS and not sure when I got them, but all are doing great. Tank was setup last January 17th. went online to find more facts about them, didn`t know that imposters are sold, the article said that almost all Amano`s are wild caught. Naturally I wondered if mine are real Amano`s. (I`m not sure if it makes a difference - they look very healthy.) A couple weeks ago I received 10 Amano`s from AH and they are doing good so far, difficult to count but I have seen 6-7 so far in another 40B. Watching these made me miss my nap.😜 Has anyone tried to breed Amano`s?

I have a Fluval 107 and a 207 that I don`t turn off when feeding but the other canister has a feed function that turns back on after 10 minutes, I like that.

I have some that are huge and most started out as white but have changed to very different colors.

I sure have to agree with this and I`m not smart enough to understand all of the technical stuff but I don`t think anyone is wrong in how they approach the problem or what solutions will help. I think you have to weigh all options and find what works for you. I use lots of sponge/media stuff and BCB in my HOB and canister filters and at this point I`m happy how my tanks look, would I change things not at this time. I have enjoyed reading everybody's comments on this. 🙃

Yep, sure looks like an MTS and they are live bearers, only get out of control when you over feed. I have them in all my tanks and IMO are great.🙃

I also use HOB`s and canister filters but not on the same tank. I really like a round canister filter (Stainless Steel) because you are able to pack a lot whatever you want (I use several different types of sponges and other media and pack tight. (I just serviced the can after 9 weeks just to check how it was doing, could of went a lot longer.) How do I put this? Yes, I`ve seen his channel, he pushes biohome media and yes, I got some but I`m not sure how good it is but it's very expensive IMO.

I had 3 areas of BBA on a piece of spider wood (Some here know that I switched to slow moving plenums in most tanks.) as the tank matured over the last couple months the BBA disappeared and I thought cool, I also noticed some BBA on an anubias leaf and as that tank matured the BBA was gone, maybe I got lucky however I feel the plenums is why I`m not having problems with any algae of any kind, actually that's a lie I have a little hair algae in a 20L in some java moss but I`m waiting to see what happens. The only thing I know about plenums is that they work. Thats my two cents on this.

If I just had a few extra million laying around.😜

I was going to order CO-OP test strips until they raised free ship to $80, I guess I`m cheap, however when I spend money, I want that product to work, if not I want my money back. I suppose there's a use by date. I totally agree with this, I also wasted time/money chasing numbers but instead focused on what type of secondary tank inhabitants I wanted (Shrimp/snails) and adjusted the water accordingly. Now I check water every once in a while, just to be sure. (I ran out of test strips last year.) Worry causes way too much stress.

With only 6 tanks, a AWCS didn`t seem practical plus it would be very difficult. I hated changing water/gravel vac every week to the point of quitting because it became a job. I couldn`t enjoy the hobby. (This was part of the reason I left 30 years ago.) I had fish /plants dying and couldn`t keep water conditions stable, my first step was to quit listening to those so-called experts. After completely changing 5 of 6 tanks, I don`t change water or gravel vac. now and when I service the filters, that is almost the only time new water is added. I want to enjoy my aquariums and not have it become a job. I`m able to do that now without a lot of maintenance. 😜

I have both in all tanks, rams lay eggs - mts bear live young, both reproduce based on food availability. (I also have Japanese trapdoor snails these are the ones I want to breed.) Good luck.

I also use gravel with no problems, in fact have 12 more that should be here by Wed? going in another 40B with some Amano's. Neat little fish.

Thats interesting, when I need a break from life, I watch all the activity, shrimp are always busy.🙃

Welcome, can`t go wrong guppies🙃

I hate to sound to dumb, but what is blasting sand😕 also is your sand just sitting on the bottom if so, it will need some agitation once in a while. MTS will work to a point also, your 75 looks awesome can`t wait till complete.