braids

I feel you brother!

When I make a mess I turn off whatever causes agitation in of the water column. I let things settle (which means I have to go find something else to do lol!), and then either vacuum or add a medium sized HOB filter on and turn things back on. I run sponge filters for my main filtration. But I find if I've made a mess of things throwing a HOB on really gets things cleaned up quickly. I try not to use additives because it seems like once you add one thing you're adding another to counteract that one and then it throws something out of whack and pretty soon you have a much bigger mess than you started with. Plus it adds more expenses to the hobby. Sometimes additives are necessary - I'm not saying that, but I try the least method first and see where that gets me. Hope it turns out well for you!

That's awesome! That's what I was hoping for! And great to prepare ahead of time!

I think with planted tanks fish do what fish do naturally. They forage. And this is totally just my opinion I haven't read any research on this, just my observations. It comes from discovering, like you did, the fry you didn't know were there. Fish are so old. Older than we are. They know what to do, and at least with planted tanks we've provided the environment for them to be able to forage. It seems like we think because we've put them in contained water that somehow they forget their knowledge. They don't. We've simply reduced the size of their world and tried to replicate nature to the best of our ability. We collectively spend oodles of time and money to try to replicate what mother nature does seemingly effortlessly. Congrats you did a good job!😇

@Kat_RigelThis would be an excellent topic of its own. Please post it. Enabling yourself - Adaptivity - is so vital. I have physical issues and its an absolute necessity for me to make adaptations in order to continue this addiction - I mean hobby. Yeah hobby. It's a hobby until they create a 12 step program for it right?

How's your fishy doing?

I have 3 bulbs of the Madigascar in my 40 gallon. That tank is always about 80°. They are growing very very very slowly. When I do some switching about I'm going to try to find room in one of my cooler basement tanks and see what happens. The ulvaceus went gangbusters in that tank.

I've been watching that setup for nearly two years! Such a cool stack! Congratulations! I thought these would have been cool for a snake keeper. About the same time I first saw those there was a 40 Gallon Long Metaframe down by Mankato. I was trying hard to get the seller to make a plan, but it never happened. I saw a chrome tank with a Chrome stand in Mpls last year. I wanted that so so so bad. It still had the chrome light top too! I got lucky and found a chrome tank (not sure if its a Meta or not - have not looked for the logo yet) at a garage sale this weekend for $2.00! It does hold water - at least at the bottom as it had rainwater in it. And the glass is in super shape - a few light scratches on the chrome. No noticeable dents and the seals look surprisingly good. And then I found this vintage stand! Same era, but not as cool as the chrome one for sure! Congratulations on buying that super sweet stack set! Tank dimensions are about 30" by 13" by 16" I think it was. Came out to being a 27 gallon by all estimates. Its like a 20 long but 3" taller. @Daniel I just read your post about the 1930's (?) tank you were doing prior to the tragic accident. 😔 This tank also has a slate bottom. Is there features that would tell me the age of this? I presumed it was from the 50's/60's. I will have to look at this tank more closely when I can get some help to turn it around. It is in a storage room for safe keeping.

I am resealing a 55 gallon aquarium. It held water but all the silicone is gone on the corners. So for safety sake I'm resealing. This is the second time I've resealed a tank, but it was awhile ago. I don't want to do extra work that isn't necessary because I have really bad hands. I've removed the upright corners and am getting ready to remove the bottom, which looks great but I know I have to do that. My question is, is it imperative for me to remove the silicone at the top of the tank under the rim? If you reply, please include your qualifications for answering the question (I've been resealing tanks for decades, I'm an aquarium builder, etc). Thanks!

Sweet! I just picked up a macro kit at a garage sale hoping this would work and then I spot this thread! AWSOME!

Since they've been so stressed it may be a good idea to shut the lights off in their tank. And keep bright lights like computers and tv's from flashing in their tank. And kids and pets away and quiet. To help them relax a bit. They've been through a lot. I'm a bit concerned too about the quantity of fish in your 10 gallon. But transferring them again without a plan probably isn't good either. I wish I had more to offer than compassion. May what you need find you!🍀

*UPDATE* This morning the lines area gone. Could it have been tiny bubbles attached to her from when I added water? There was lots of tiny bubbles in the tank - but they dissipated and what was on her tail remained. But she looks right as rain today for which I am so very grateful! Stats: 40 gallon long with a sponge filter and a power head Established moderately planted tank 2+ years PH 8.0 (normal is 7.4) But I did feed a block of bloodworms if that makes a difference some how. Nitrates 80 PPM* (the plants are helping - out of the tap I'm 80-160 PPM) Hardness Unkown but I do live in an area for having Hard to Extreme water hardness Nitrite 0 PPM (normal) Ammonia 0 PPM (normal) KH 300 PPM approx. Water Temp 82 degrees My well water is poisoned with Nitrates due to agriculture practices of big pharma. They have killed our soil and our water.. We are in process of purchasing a whole house nitrate filter. It is about $2K. I've vowed to purchase no more fish until this is resolved. When I began fish keeping I had no idea about water chemistry. I now know much more. Know better do better. Earlier today I did a water change - about 40% - I match my water temp with a thermometer when refilling (I don't want to repeat a mistake I made once). Prior to this water change I do not believe my SAP had anything on her tail. I usually keep a close eye on her as I have learned they can be susceptible to stress induced disease. After doing the water change I noticed these distinct white lines on her tail. They are raised on one side only. I turned on the night mode on my lights to see if they would fluoresce but they did not. I also shined a UV light on her tail, but it did not react to that either. Unless it is pertinent to the discussion of the disease I would prefer to not receive an endless diatribe concerning my nitrates. I have done every thing I can do short of driving many many many miles to obtain cleaner water at great expense for the quantities I would need to maintain lower nitrate levels. I am aware of the situation and dealing with it. I'm more surprised by my ph. So much so that I ran the test again. This is my absolute favorite fish. I absolutely adore her. She's mad at me for accidentally having my flash on and won't come near me now. These are the best pics I've gotten so far. I don't want to keep causing stress so I'm not pressing the issue right now. (PS - don't let the calm nature of my post beguile you - inside I'm calmly freaking out - I don't want to lose her.)

Which was exactly my thought! Which is why I was confused why people were pulling them. Some said to throw them away 🤣.

Thank you Lizzie for moving this here! I feel much better now lol!

I have the Tetra Whisper 20 on my 20 long and it is quiet - its the blue kind of arched style pump. The 150 doesn't have that design so I don't know if the quiet translates or not. But I am inclined towards the Tetra because of that reason, but you know how different product lines can be vastly different... Thanks for your reply!

Is there a way to correct which section you've put your question in? For example - I asked a plant question in the General Questions section. It should have been in the Plant section. Subject section suggestions: Equipment -pumps, filters, co2 (that could be its own section I bet!), sumps, etc. Lights DIY - stands, sumps and stuff Dean makes! I'm so glad we have this resource!

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My Aponogeton Ulvaceus has almost finished producing leaves and is heading into its resting phase like all bulb plants do. I'm finding conflicting information on the net (go figure). Do I: Leave the bulb in the tank? Remove the bulb? If I remove the bulb: How do I store it? How long do I let it rest? Any growing tips would be appreciated - this is such an amazing plant! Next time I want to propagate seeds.

I've read that you can fertilize the blossoms by rubbing two blossoms together or use a paint brush to pollinate them.