I've always suspected the endless supply brown gunk you get while cleaning filter sponges was coming from some kind of alternate dimension. It must be coming from the guppy's virtual tank.
Ok, I'll write you an article entitled "Why I don't like goldfish or discus" Hehehehe, Other than that, I'd be willing, but unable to write something for you.
Flowerhorns must be allowed, because they're here. I think MAF has an allowed list and anything that isn't on the list isn't allowed, plus as specific not allowed list, Seems a bit redundant.
Hmmm, I thought I had those two bookmarked, but I guess not.
To begin with, since it sounds like the top of your tank is totally open, measure up the size of a lid to cover it and go to any nearby glass place and get them to cut a sheet of glass to put on top. Should cost around $5.
I think you might have to worry more about the whole system going from a fresh and a saltwater to two brackish tanks and everything in both tanks dying.
I think the size of the siphon hose might make a difference, but I'm not sure if bigger or smaller would be better. I'm thinking a big one wouldn't be effected by air as much, but a small would have the water going through faster and might just carry the bubbles through.
Hmmm, yeah, going by those pictures the SAE looks nothing like the rest. If those pics are really indicative of the real fish. Judging from the pictures the SAE doesn't have a sucker type mouth either. It's just a straight forward middle feeder type mouth.
Peety, you don't need any holes cut in the tank, though that simplifies things. You can make/use a hang on back overflow instead, water just siphons into the overflow(Just keeping water level in the overflow at tank level) and then it drains out of the overflow exactly the same as it would a hole in the tank. Can't find any pictures or diagrams for you though.
I've also seen a yellow and black spotted puffer labeled as "Dwarf puffer"(Which I don't believe is the one you're meaning because it was a good bit bigger and very definite round spots) And a green and black spotted labeled "Dwarf Puffer". There may not be nearly as many puffers as cichlids, but given the hobby's liking for calling any thing that's small a dwarf and making up their own names...
Use as much of the old water as you can and just set everything back up after giving it all a good rinse if it's been sitting for a while, especially any cannister filters. Now would probably be a good time to do any work on the tank that you can't do while it's full if there's anything you've wanted to do.
The water changes should be enough. If it doesn't, you're at least cutting down on dirty water as a possible cause. You could do a couple big water changes, say 50% every other day and see if that makes a difference. But you'll want to slowly add the new water in when you do that because that'll be quite a big change for your fish if they're used to 10% a fortnight.
First of all, don't use the stress zyme. You're just throwing more garbage into the tank.
Second you could use a lot more and bigger water changes. With that little tank and as many fish as you have you're probably better off with at least 30% a WEEK. I guess it's not too bad though if you've got some fish breeding.
I'm not sure where exactly wifey got them, but she got a bunch of little plastic containers 50 for only a couple bucks. You could put however much food per day or two days in the container and have the neighbor just dump the container in the tank.
I think the dwarf puffers are really nasty. But I want more brazilians. I had 2 but lost one. Great little guy, I'm jealous you've got 6. The brazilians should be fine, but I think the dwarfs will probably start being nippy before long. You should find out what species they are, "Dwarf FW puffer" isn't much more descriptive than saying you've got a cichlid.
Oh, ok, now that we've got that figured out. In my 404s it's not actually attached to anything, it just fits tight enough into the impeller cover to stay. So if that's different with a 304, I don't know what else is different. You may be able to try, for a short term fix, wrapping some cello tape around the tip of the shaft until it's tight enough to fit into the impeller cover and hold the shaft straight.
Wait, little black head on the shaft? You mean the one that fits into the impeller cover and the shaft fits into that when you put the cover on?
Sorry, I'm just really unsure what piece you mean. I don't have a 304, but I'm assuming it's basically just a downsized version of the 404, at least pumpwise.
My homemade food I basically just throw in whatever I can find. Beefheart, liver, fish, carrots, spinach, a couple vitamin pills, brewers yeast, duckweed, garlic, spirulina powder, gluten flower to bind it all together.