Faran

Nice big setup! Only advice I have is to get rid of the HOB (hang on back) filter and get a sponge filter (two or a double for your size tank) so you don't lose any babies. Also, Java/Xmas fern is a MUST, great job getting some for your tank already.

I used to raise giant clams at a Mariculture Research station in Palau so I've seen this before. The cleaner shrimps were literally cleaning the clam, most probably due to an infection. As you can see, the clam still has all reflexes so it was allowing the shrimp clean it. You may lose some flesh and the clam may have residual discolouration, but most likely benefitted from the shrimps action.

Hey Karen, So this is the guppie/BN tank? Must have been hectic fishing all of them out. Glad you have things sorted. Oh, I think Bill/Pegasus meant putting silicone on the INSIDE of the tank, not the outside. The pressure should keep it in place rather than push it aside.

Heya peanuts, Remember - MTS is NOT a competition Sorry to hear about your tank leaking, that's a huge fear of mine with these second-hand tanks. Which tank was it? Impressed that you are having stands built for all your tanks, that's an expensive investment. If you need any help or a spare temp tank give me a yell. At present I have 3 sitting empty in the garage :lol: Better stop typing and get sucking that water outta the carpet! Blue

Paul - I think your car would look lovely parked on your driveway. Getting in and out would be a serious mission though. I'd set up a system of hoists and pulleys to keep the door open and swing you clear before slowly closing it again. Converting your garage to an insulated fishroom - $5000 System of hoists and pulleys - $7000 The image of Paul flying through the air like Peter Pan - priceless! For those that don't know - Pauls driveway has a 45 degree angle and though short, you really wish the entire thing had stairs at times

Hi there, What seems to be the problem? Lights or filter? I've owned an AR980 (same tank, just 38cm wider) for 8 months and it grows plants just fine. Recommendation from me is to have the gravel deep enough to cover the filter seive completely. This makes it work a little like an under-gravel filter but will save fry if anything decides to breed.

2-3 weeks Practically impossible to remove fry from parents before then unless you wanted a 24-hour a day job feeding the fry. Sorry mate. Best move the breeding pair to a tank of their own and let them go again (if the fry get eaten).

Really? What fish were in your tank(s) that you double-dosed? Any scale-less fish? Mind you, the other two tanks that I double dosed are perfectly fine (aside from the dead Syno) with only dead Riccia and twisted Val...

Hi there, UV sterilizers are GREAT. Here's the things you should know (generally). You need to get a sterilizer that has enough wattage to sterilize the amount of water flowing past it. Also, bulbs need replacing - advised time between replacement is 6 months. Failure to do so loses efficiency until it's pretty much useless. They're great for removing water-borne bugs as well as algae spores and parasites.... basically turns the water sterile after it has passed by. They are NECESSARY when a central-filtration system is implemented. Should be put in your line for your external canister filter on the return side (from canister to tank). So down to the "should I get it" question. Got $99 to spare? Will it handle the water flow from your filter? 5W isn't much, unless you have a smallish tank.

Perhaps I should clarify. I doubled the initial dose. THAT was the bad idea. I'm sure that a double dose of the regular dosage (approx 1/4 of the inital dose) is just fine, but doubling the initial dose is the bad idea that I'm trying to help people avoid in the future. Quick update, all discus have recovered aside from two that have a bit of damaged skin (will heal with time, I'm sure). All the green hair algae has turned red and is dying. Mind you, with the water changes and after everything that I did in the end this is the result of only a regular initial dose. So Flourish Excel definitely works, just don't do the silly mistake I did!

I've come across advice time and time again in these forums on "double-dosing a tank" with Flourish Excel to get rid of unwanted algae growth. So, in a last ditch attempt to get rid of remnants of green hair algae and some sneaky black beard algae that seemed to survive a 12 hour bleach dip, I broke down and went out and bought a bottle. Following the advice, I doubled the initial dose.... BAD IDEA Mind you, the fish with scales do just fine, even at this ridiculous amount. But let me warn you - scaleless fish, including discus, will literally burn in this solution. I did a "test tank" the night before to see if there was any noticable differences and all seemed well and the red hair algae that was growing on the crypts wilted away... but the one fish I don't noramlly see, a syno featherfin catfish, passed soon after the dosing and I didn't even notice until after I did a whole day of water changes and "praying" to save my tank of discus who all started to go belly up within 15 minutes of the dosing. So, we all learn by trial-and-error and live and learn. I just wanted to share my experience with you so you might avoid having the same thing happen to you. Thanks for reading and always remember to take your time and move carefully when dealing with new chemicals/medications in your tanks. Keep an eye on your fish after a new chemical is added and do at least a 50% water change if/when you notice the fish are stressed out.

I've always raised my tank temps to 30 degrees while treating white spot. This speeds up the life cycle and helps get to the stage which the malachite green (primary active ingredient in white spot cures) kills the white spot. By the way, the plants absorb the malachite green. Best of luck and keep up the treatments!

Hi there, Once bloated, it's very hard to treat. Another member just went through this same issue recently and I'm afraid to say her pl*co didn't make it. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/what-w ... 11372.html If you read through that thread, you'll see recommended treatments such as shelled peas, salt baths, etc. Best of luck and let us know how you get along. Any ideas why your plants would be dying?

Wow, that's some serious equipment catastrophe. Glad you caught it!

here's a site with a diagram similar to tanksmans, as well as the opportunity to order any bits you may need - http://www.amads.com/Parts2_Fluv.html

Hi again, MCT, it sounds like your problem was the same as mine. Caper, I think your filter has the other problem I was telling you about. Your filter media is restricting the floe too much and it is filling to a certain point and flowing down the intake side as it's the path of least resistance. Here's a test for you, Caper. Remove the media (filter sleeves) and see if the problem continues. I truly doubt it would. If this fixes your problem, play (clean or adjust) with your filter catridge until it starts letting the right amount of water through to fix the problem. If removing the filter doesn't fix it then your HOB filter is leaning too far back. You'll need to find something to put between the filter and the glass of the tank.... Good luck! Blue

Hiya Caper This is my first time seeing this thread and I didn't help much with the original cloudy water problem, glad you got past that. Not for the hang-on-back (HOB) filter. Mind you, I haven't used one of these things in over 10 years but here's what I remember. The water flows down the intake side when the entire filter is tilted. Try putting a bit of cardboard uder the filter on the intake side and see if that helps. The other reason this may be happening is if for some reason the media is resisting the water too much so it's finding the path of least resistance, which is back over the intake. Try the cardboard thing, always worked for me Blue

Wow plantman, nice system! This is brians thread and all but I might be interested if he isn't.... ah, if I only had tons of money to spend...

fuzzy pics but it looks like females full of eggs and males. give them a try at breeding. here's a bit of info about them, including breeding and sexual differences.

Hello buttons, glad to see you've gotten a warm welcome from everyone so far Love the people and the help they give on this forum, aye? Good luck finding apple snails, they're an interesting creature but can destroy all your plants and even heard of them devouring the occasional sleeping fish... that's pretty rare, though. I noticed you said you're getting "spirals" on Sunday? If these are what I think they are, we often call them Malaysian live-bearers or the like. Just a note of caution - if these snails get in your tank, you will have to go to the ends of the earth to get rid of them. My advice is to stay away from all snails aside from ramshorns and the larger snails unless they hitch a ride on plants or decoration which you can't avoid. Not all snails are good snails!

Alan has a god point. My 460L has bracing like that and it's a lot stronger than it should be. I suppose it's up to your LFS on how they want to fix it tho.

Nah, ponds (even half barrels) sustain a stable environment naturally, and nature provides for its own water changes with rainfall, so no filtration NEEDED. I have a filter unit running on my waterfall just because it keeps the water cleaner, etc. LOL about the guppies with sweaters, btw

You wouldn't beleive the growth that java moss has in the sun. If you have plenty of light on your tank, it will do the same but it seems that WCMM prefer a bit of shade for spawning. As for guppies, all you need is that initial investment! I would take a look on TradeMe for some nice local guppy breeders. Should cost you only a $ or 2 each. Look at the tanks they come from for wasted females or males with droopy tails. Signs of the dreaded "guppy disease", which may or may not be related to inbreeding. So where's "back home"? By the way, with WCMMs all you have to do is chuck them in a half-barrel or a large terra cotta pot and they should be breeding soon enough....

Hello and welcome to the forums! White Clouds (henceforth will be referred to as WCMM) are an excellent starter fish and are easy as to spawn. The tank will not need to be heated and a healthy clump of java moss will be perfect for them. While an air-pump isn't necessary if you stock the tank correctly (1 inch of fish per gallon) you will most probably need to provide some kind of filtration for them to avoid a dangerous build-up of fish waste. While this can be replaced by frequent water changes, the "cycle" is an integral part of aquaria and the bacteria that turns ammonia->nitrite->nitrate will have to grow and develop to ensure that your fish and fry don't perish. I recommend a simple corner filter or sponge filter. Each of these are run by an air pump. Once again, welcome and feel free to ask questions. We're glad to help!

Sorry about that, you may have to leave it empty for 3-5 days to let the silicone cure before filling it back up. Is this the same tank that the crypts are for?