From: Michele
Subject: AJB Yes! That is the exact plant
The amazon sword is the plant I am having problems with. I have a leaf muncher in the tank, but the plant seems to be taking THAT ok. The plant has been in the tank 2 weeks and I added some laterite and bought some biospheres plant food the next week. Now the old leaves have yellow splotches. I am thinking they aren't getting the right nutrients yet. Today I added root tabs with iron. I hope this does the trick. any other suggestions? I have an otb filter and the only cartridges I know of for the thing have carbon in them. I also use a ugf filter and it has carbon in it too. If I understood you right, this is ok?? I am trying to get another tank set up right(gravel,lights) and I will probably end up having to move this plant.....mean old leaf muncher. Sorry for the book and thanksamill!
From: AJB
Subject: Re: AJB Yes! That is the exact plant
Under gravel filters don't do so hot with sensetive plants. The root tab dissolves, and all the nutrients are sucked through the bottom. Try turning that off for a while, or go buy or find some slate and put it under the amazon and the gravel, so you can then plant it on top. This won't have a noticeable affect on the bio bacteria.
What fish are in the tank?
My amazon barley makes it, and I fertelize that puppy so much I spend at least 15$ a month on fertelizer for it. I use fertelizer made by aquarium pharm. I don't know much about laterite, expect most people say clear water is worth more than any affects that it possibly has. In other words, it is like feeding a bee pure water. Needs sugar or something to keep it buzzing, right?!?
My amazon grows really slow, its leafs are sometimes transparentish. I started giving it four root tabs, it does a little better. It will cover the bottom of a ten with roots, it sucks nutrients from the soil as much as through the leaves.
Oh and yes the carbon should be ok.
If you need anything, were here..
AJB
From: pam
Subject: what is jave fern disease?
My jave fern has black on the edge and then holes in them. I read someone had jave fern disease. Do any one know what this is and what to do to for it. My poor fern need help.
From: Clint
Subject: Re: what is jave fern disease?
This symptom usually denotes bad water conditions. Another possibility is that you have planted it too deep in gravel. Actually all you need to do is just cover the roots enough to weigh it down or attach it to driftwood etc.
Also Java Fern will sometimes start dying of "old age" in this manner, usually if they do a lot of tiny little plantlets will start sprouting from the leaves.
Clint
From: Pam
Subject: Re: what is jave fern disease?
I have the jave ferm on driftwood. They are small plants. Water is ok. I had them in a 40 gallon tank. I moved them to a 10 gallon tank. Hoping that will help. Do you have any more suggestions? have you heard of Java fern disease?
From: Newbie :)
Subject: Good vs. bad algae??
I've recently developed some brown algae/slime or something on some of the plastic plants and rocks and stuff in my tank. As I've only ever seen green algae before in my tank, I'm not sure if this is okay to leave or not. Any thoughts? Good or bad? Do I have a problem beginning here? It's not much, but if it's potentially harmful I'd like to get it soon.
From: AJB
Subject: Re: Good vs. bad algae??
Brown or black algae is not good. It means you are overfeeding or the tank is overstocked. Cut the feeding and clean off whatever you can. It is not harmful, but it signifies a harmful problem
AJB
From: Stephen
Subject: Feeding Bettas in a community tank
As people have been talking about in other threads, sometimes you want to put a betta in a community tank.
My question is, how do you ensure that the betta gets enough of his special food (either freeze dried worm things, or special betta food pellets) without other fish going after it first? I've tried different feeding scheduals (ex: betta food first then everyone else, everybody else followed by betta, etc). and he doesn't always seem to get any food.
Any help would be great! :)
From: Lois
Subject: Re: Feeding Bettas in a community tank
I usually give him a couple of his pellets before feeding the others. He is accustomed to swimming up when he sees my fingers above the water, so I just drop them in one at a time in front of him. If I am not fast enough he may strike at my fingers, which does not hurt but is a testimony to an excellent appetite! I then put in flake for the rest, and he gets at least his fair share of that as well. Sounds like your others also have good appetites.
From: Clint
Subject: Re: Feeding Bettas in a community tank
Bettas don't require any "special food". If he gets some of the regular food you are using for your other fish he will be fine.
All fish appreciate a lot of variety in their diet.
From: Lindsey
Subject: Can Kribs spawn in sand??
I have a pair of Kribs, and The female has been quite buisy emptying the sand out of her coconut shell. But books say that Kribs dont spawn in sand. Is this true???
From: Clint
Subject: Re: Can Kribs spawn in sand??
She is cleaning the shell out. I would expect her to lay some eggs on the sides or possibly the bottom of the coconut shell. She is getting rid of the sand to have a clear space to attach her eggs.
If this is your first spawn of kribs don't be surprised if they have some problems, it usually takes them a few tries to get it all right, but then they will keep you knee deep in baby kribs.
Good Luck,
Clint
From: Karen
Subject: Re: Can Kribs spawn in sand??
I really can't imagine why they wouldn't. And if she is clearing an area I am guessing she did not read the book.
From: Karen
Subject: Re: Can Kribs spawn in sand??
I really can't imagine why they wouldn't. And if she is clearing an area I am guessing she did not read the book.
From: Steph
Subject: Nitrite levels, part II
I wrote a few days ago about nitrate levels. As it turns out it was the nitirite levels that were high. Anyhow, I have been doing daily water changes for around 4-5 days now and I don't see much difference. Does anyone know how long this cycling process tanks?
From: AJB
Subject: Re: Nitrite levels, part II
It depends. My tank took about a month to fully cycle. What are the nitrite levels? Go to your pet store and ask if you could have some gravel from one of their tanks. If they give some to you, make sure it is from a tank that has not had any recent cases of ich or disease. How much of a water change? It could be you are changing so much water that it actually increases the time to cycle, because it takes some of the good bacteria out of the water. Are your fish showing any signs of stress? (resting on the bottom, hanging near the surface, etc). How big is the tank and what fish are in it? It could also be that you have too many fish or not a big enough filter. Not to make you feel stupid, everyone makes mistakes.
Hope that helps...
AJB
From: Steph
Subject: Re: Nitrite levels, part II
AJB, the chart that I have goes from around .02 to 1. The readings right now are at 1. I am changing about 25-30% of the water at a time. It is a undergravel filter. The reason I am changing so much water is because I noticed a white substance that seemed to be impacted in the gravel. So each time we do a water change we mix that up to try and get that out of there. It is a 2 gallon tank with 3 african dwarf frogs in it.
I have a 3 gallon tank with bio wheel filter coming monday and am going to move them to that tuesday or wednesday. I also have no plans to add any more frogs or fish to this new tank. Just want to get them into something that is a little healthier for them.
The frogs do not act lethargic or anything. In fact they act like they are still hungry, but if you look at their bellies after they eat they look like they could pop. In fact they are more active now then they were a few weeks ago when all the levels were perfect. Btw they have been in this tank around 3 weeks now. Only one frog hangs at the top of the tank and he only does that at night after the light has been off a while.
BTW for a 3 gallon tank will I need to purchase a 25 watt heater? I am in a climate that will be around 35-40 degrees and night and around 50-60 degress during the day this winter. Inside it will stay around 70-80.
From: AJB
Subject: Re: Nitrite levels, part II
A heater couldn't hurt, it will keep the temp stable.
When you get the knew tank, is there any way you could put the bio wheel on the tank already set up? If you do that then you wont have to recycle everything, which is what you will have to do if you put the frogs in the new one. Just as long as they don't show any signs of stress or it dosen't go up, cut the water changes. Do that much of a water change every week.
I am jeleous, here the wind chill gets -50F sometimes. (Iowa)
AJB
From: Steph
Subject: Re: Nitrite levels, part II
AJB, unfortunately no. I have them in a hexagon shaped tank now. So with the plastic piece that sits on top, plus the light there is no room for an over the top filter. So as long as it doesn't get worse don't do the water changes as often? I just hope the cycling process will be easier with this new tank since is filtering process is supposed to be so superior.
I can feel for you with the cold weather. I have some very good friends that live in Des Moines. I spoke to them yesterday and they were saying that with the wind chill there it was around 13 degrees yesterday. No thank you. I'm in Las Vegas, NV.
From: AJB
Subject: Re: Nitrite levels, part II
I am in a dinkey little town about 50 Min. from Des Moines, I was in my favorite pet store in Des Moines today, small world ehh!! ;-)
Yes, I read it and I kinda didn't really write so it could be understood. So don't do so many water changes, unless the water clouds up, then let me know. Yes the bio wheel is awesome, it does an incrdible job of biological filtering. You can see the color change on mine.
Could you put the hood to the side, the maybe tape it on and put the filter on? I had to do this once, and the only two drawbacks are that the tape has to be replaced after a week or two, and the light only hits half the tank. If you can't do that little trick then do the gravel trick. If you use the same color, take ALL the gravel from the old one for the new one.
If you have any questions, please ask.
AJB
(enjoy the warm weather, some of us don't get it!) ;-)
From: Steph
Subject: Re: Nitrite levels, part II
AJB, one of the friends that I was telling you about is originally from Oskalooska (sp?). So yes it is a small world :)
What I will do is put all of the gravel in the new aquarium with some of the old water. What I had planned on doing was giving them new gravel mixed in with old/new water so I am going to have to figure out how to do this. If the new water is treated (which it always is before I put it in, by chemicals and then sitting out at least a day) would it be ok to move them in the tank the same day? Because now I will need to put the old gravel in before they go in and I don't want to leave them in the old tank without any gravel for a night with the ugf. So the tank should come Monday evening and I will transfer everything over Tuesday morning so they have a full day to acclimate. Sound good? Not even sure that this post makes sense, just kind of thinking/typing out loud. lol
Steph
From: AJB
Subject: Re: Nitrite levels, part II
Sounds good.
I hate it when I do that, then you are the only one who understands it. "I am in my own little world. It's ok, everybody knows me here." ;-)
AJB
From: Lindsey
Subject: Spawning Gouramis
I have a pair of pearl gouramis, full grown. The male has an orange chest, and the female is fat. But i dont know how and when they spawn, how many fry, etc. Any info would be GREATLY appreciated.
They're in a 78 gallon, half is double layered. They are with 6 rams, 4 swordtails, and a cory.
thanx
Lindsey
From: Clint
Subject: Re: Spawning Gouramis
They will need a tank of their own to spawn in.
A 10 gallon will do, dont have a fast flowing filter or anything bubbling or agitating the surface. Include a floating plant for the male to build a nest around. Be prepared for up to 1000 eggs.
They like warm water to spawn in, 86F or so.
The fry are not hard to raise, much like Bettas, start em off with microworms.
Clint
From: fire ice
Subject: cory cats
so I've got the 30 gal all set up and waas thiinking of adding some bronze corys. Would 3 be a good number? what would my chances be of getting both sexes? Is breeding really as easy as it says on this website? thanks!
From: Clint
Subject: Re: cory cats
They will need a tank of their own to spawn, if you want to save some fry, they might spawn in the communal tank but he other fish will feast on the eggs. The only (unsure) way to tell sexes is to look at them from above and you'll notice that the female is always fatter or wider. They usually spawn in orgies anyway, so just have a few in the 10 gallon spawning tank, feed them really well until the female is obviously full of roe, add some cool rainwater and they should spawn.
From: fire ice
Subject: Re: cory cats
okay, that's perfect cuz I got an extra heater with the 30 gal so I can (temporarily) move out the goldfish in the 10 gal and use it as a spawning tank. How many fry could I expect from one spawn and is chicken ok for them? I'm guessing so, as long as it deosn't have any sauce or anything on it. sorry, I'm just too grossed out to cut up worms for them :)
From: Chris
Subject: Re: cory cats
How can you tell the male from the female?
From: Karen
Subject: Re: cory cats
Depending on how many other fish you have you could go with 5. It would give you a better chanve of getting both sexes and they act as a group. Three is good and you still have a good chance of getting both sexes.
yes they can be that easy to breed if they are happy.
From: Attila
Subject: Betta with some other fish PART 2
In the other message that I posted on the 22nd or 23rd (??) my question was if I would be able to put my betta in my livebearer tank and there was some question about the guppies that are already in there. On Tuesday I put him in there to see how he does. For the first 2 minutes he constantly flared, but then he stopped and calmed down. He doesnt seem to notice the guppies or any of the other fish, he acts just like he has no tankmates. He is eating, making bubblenests, and looks very healthy.
From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Betta with some other fish PART 2
I've never had any problems with bettas in tanks with other fish. They've always been quite doscile for me. Right now I have one in a 10 gallon tank with a few neon tetras, some gold barbs, and a male guppie...no problems. He likes doing laps at the back of the tank, and everybody else is content to let him be and do their own thing...except they do tend to eat his little betta pellets before he notices and/or cares that they're in the tank. :)
From: Karen
Subject: Re: Betta with some other fish PART 2
I'd keep an eye on him. I have a betta in a 5 1/2 gallon with three "feeder" guppies or as I prefer the wild type guppy. Been there for many months now no problems. I had a betta in a 15 gallon tall and he tore the gupppies apart.
Who can figure.
From: me again
Subject: Re: Betta with some other fish PART 2
Hi. My Betta was the same. He got healtheir and made more bubble nests. He forgot about them for a while then a week later he was getting reallly poed off at them and when i came home from school their tails were missing. Then the guppies went into hiding and unfortuenatly died of stress. Its a slow and agonizing death for the guppies and from my experience i wouldnt recommend them because i think the betta thinks their another male or just doesnt like their tails. A really good mate for him would be a bronze catfish. Their small and my betta loves him . he even lets him pop his nest.
hope i could help
casey
From: Mary
Subject: Re: Betta with some other fish PART 2
I would keep an eye on him as well as the others. I have never been able to keep bettas with any other fish, either the others will attack him and eat his tail when they realize all his flaring and chasing is fake or, he will actually attack the others. HTH
From: Aaliyah
Subject: Re: Clown loaches..
No, I don't think they eat plants, but they may eat snails!
From: Jeff
Subject: Re: Clown loaches..
Clown Loaches most certainly eat snails. I put a pair of clown loaches in my tank to take care of a snail problem and it was quite effective. They also appear to act as bottom feeders, although I've read literature that says the opposite. In general, loaches are very interesting and fun fish. They're my faves in the tank!
From: Karen
Subject: Re: my bold bettas!
cute
From: Karen
Subject: Re: Yellow --- Holding ???
She may be holding eggs that are not fertile then eats them after a few days.
From: LuvMyCichlid
Subject: Re: Yellow --- Holding ???
I thought about that too but she has been this way for about 3-4 weeks, still not eating and the male has finaly stoped trying to mate with her 24/7, they had eggs before but she either spit them out or swallowed them. This is the longest she has gone without food.
From: Karen
Subject: Re: Yellow --- Holding ???
strange.
Then I am at a loss. Sorry I can't help.
From: Michele
Subject: Re: SeaHorses
Check out the site:www.seahorses.de/index.htm
From: Mary
Subject: Re: Baby Guppies
Fish growth depends on several factors. Genetics, and unfortunately guppies as well as feeder goldfish have been inbred indiscriminately so much that most are not hardy. Pristine water quality as wells as a big enough tank so that they can swim (exercise). And of course proper nutrition. All these factors (perhaps others) play a part on the health and growth of fishes.
With guppies you can scrumble-up flakes to feed them. I wouldn’t buy baby food. What I do is take different fish food (flakes or pellets) like: spirulina, brine shrimp, freeze dried bloodworms, (any other) put on a paper towel and hammer to grind them up. They will get their color as they mature. The males of course will have the elaborate coloring but females too, have some coloring.
From: Karen
Subject: Re: I don't want it to die.... :( please help me......
Skip the multi cure.
Do a 25% water change. Use salt, gradually increasing it til you have 1 teaspoon per gallon. You can try this alone or you can use salt with ich cure.
Then to find out why they may have gotten sick.
What size tank are they in and how many fish? How often are you doing water changes and what is your filtration?
From: Cass
Subject: Re: I don't want it to die.... :( please help me......
thanks...i will try that...my tank is about 50l, and i got 9 small gold fishes all together in there. I change 25% water every week, and i have a under gravel and sponge filter.
From: Karen
Subject: Re: I don't want it to die.... :( please help me......
Skip the multi cure.
Do a 25% water change. Use salt, gradually increasing it til you have 1 teaspoon per gallon. You can try this alone or you can use salt with ich cure.
Then to find out why they may have gotten sick.
What size tank are they in and how many fish? How often are you doing water changes and what is your filtration?
From: Cass
Subject: details of tank
thanks 4 ur reply... i have the tank set up for about 1 and half weeks only. the pH level is around 6.8-7.0 and other like ammonia, nitrIte...I don't have the test kits for it coz when i bought it,ppl suggested I don't need those...
I have 9 gold fishes: 1 red cap, 1 lionhead(i think his proper name is ranchu, not sure), 3 koi, 1 bubble face, 1 black moor,1 gold pompoms and 1 ryukin (my sick baby)
I change(or planning to)water once a week since I only got it for a week and half... I got a shaking vaccum to clean the gravel and I got under gravel filter and a sponge under water filter.
I've already done everything that you (or other ppl) said, my fish still looks like it's dying...always stay at the bottom and not moving(use to move a lot).... :(
From: Mary
Subject: Re: details of tank
If your LFS (local fish store) told you that you did not need the testing solution and let you buy all those fishes at one time please rush and find someplace else to give your business to. Unfortunately, most LFS are just interested in getting your money not on the welfare of the fish or your success in maintaining your tank. Your tank is in the process of cycling which will not happen with the amount of fishes you have. I neglected to ask how big is your tank. However, even without knowing it I know you’re overcrowded.
I love goldfishes but contrary to popular believe they are not the easiest fish to keep. The fancy ones like the ones you mentioned except the KOI’s can live over 25 years with proper care and in a proper environment. They are able to reach the size of a grapefruit in the proper environment. Koi’s can reach over two feet; they CANNOT be kept in an aquarium.
Each one of the fancy goldfish needs a minimum of 10 gallon of water. And will need to be upgraded as your fish grows. Not providing the proper size tank will stunt the fish which will cause deficient immune system and poor muscle and bone structure causing fish to have a very limited lifespan.
I’m sorry to say that unless you return or find a pond for the 3 koi’s; and can provide a 75 gallon tank to keep the other 6 fishes they will all perish. Even doing daily water changes you will not be able to deminish the ammonia toxicity that are being produced by that many fishes in an uncycled tank.
Please make a search pay special attention to the section on cycling but do read all the information provided as time permits. Type: the krip HTH
From: Cass
Subject: details of tank
thanks 4 ur reply... i have the tank set up for about 1 and half weeks only. the pH level is around 6.8-7.0 and other like ammonia, nitrIte...I don't have the test kits for it coz when i bought it,ppl suggested I don't need those...
I have 9 gold fishes: 1 red cap, 1 lionhead(i think his proper name is ranchu, not sure), 3 koi, 1 bubble face, 1 black moor,1 gold pompoms and 1 ryukin (my sick baby)
I change(or planning to)water once a week since I only got it for a week and half... I got a shaking vaccum to clean the gravel and I got under gravel filter and a sponge under water filter.
I've already done everything that you (or other ppl) said, my fish still looks like it's dying...always stay at the bottom and not moving(use to move a lot).... :(
From: Karen
Subject: Re: Spawning kribs? or just good friends?
Just one brood at a time. They very well may have or are getting ready to spawn.
From: christina
Subject: Re: cardinal and neons vs glowlight and neons -- URGENT!!!!
unfortunately, the fish store where i bought the serpaes doesn't give refunds or guarantees on their fish. they are a very well respected store and their fish look better than any other place i've looked. anyway, the serpaes aren't really bothering my neons or cardinals anymore and i haven't had any more losses. they did the same thing with my first batch of new fish which just happened to be 8 serpaes (had three losses -- didn't die because of their tails being eaten off -- i think it was stress) and then with the neons -- they picked on them for about a day and those that survived (3 out of 4)haven't been bothered since. i'm thinking that they were just 'staking their territory' and making it known who was boss. anyway, i'm definitely NEVER going to buy serpaes again. i wish i had known they were so aggressive before i made the purchase. everyone i've talked to has been shocked that they have been so bad. i'm only planning to get five more head and tail light tetras so that there will be nine of them as well (the serpaes haven't bothered them at all) and then just six corys and one bristlenose pleco as you had suggested. the serpaes won't bother them, will they? right now this is what's in my 55 gallon tank:
9 serpaes (three deaths within 48 hours)
4 head and tail light tetras (no deaths)
8 neon tetras (one death within 24 hours)
3 cardinal tetras (two deaths within 2 hours)
i'd get more neons, but i'm afraid they'll be mean and beat them up. it was suggested that i find jumbo neons, but i really don't think that would make a difference. i'm thinking of maybe adding some glowlights too, but my husband really likes the red eye and diamond tetras. any thoughts on that? i think the serpaes are just mean little guys.
any further advice is greatly appreciated.
From: Chris
Subject: Re: cardinal and neons vs glowlight and neons -- URGENT!!!!
The red eye tetras are very hardy and will be able to take care of themselves I think. I don't know about the diamond tetras
From: Lois
Subject: Re: stress coat vs ammo lock 2
Appears from reading the labels that both remove chlorine and choramines. Difference is that Stress coat has something in it to replace/help the slime coat, and Ammo Lock II is supposed to detoxify ammonia.
From: Karen
Subject: Re: stress coat vs ammo lock 2
If you have chlorMINE in your water you have to use a remover that includes chloromine, not just chlorine.
If you do not have chlormine (I don't and consider myself very fortunate) you can use a chlorine remover or just let your water age overnight, which is all I do.
Stresscoat is good for newly transfered fish or a fish that has gone through some stress.
From: Karen
Subject: and I would like to add
Do not be tempted to buy replacement fish until we can help you figure out what is going on.
Neons are touchy and golds really do not do well in a tropical tank.
From: Karen
Subject: Re: opinions on quarintine tank
It really makes no sense to keep a quarantine tank running all the time. Unless you plan on buying a lot of fish over a long period of time.
A hospital tank, no point in trying to keep one cycled because most meds will kill your bacteria anyway.
From: Karen
Subject: Re: bio wheel..RE: AJB
Coming back to this a little late, but to repeat, no such thing as over filtering. As for to much flow your fish will tell you. If they are flying around your tank like kites on a windy day it is a little much. A little water movement is good, just be sure the fish are not fighting a current.
From: Karen
Subject: Re: Shy Gourami
Could be, and I suspect he will do the same thing in your daughters tank,
From: SAL
Subject: Re: Shy Gourami
Thanks Karen, I don't have anything else in my daughter's tank now. I wonder though should I get more tetras or something else to put in the small tank with the strawberry? I feel bad that he will be alone in the tank otherwise.