Jennifer

Keep the water very clean, daily water changes, lots of good food and slightly warmer temperature. It should heal up fine with no treatment. No need to treat for something you don't have but if you are worried you can add salt or a topical antiseptic like acriflavine but these can be stressful and stress negatively affects the immune system (something you don't want with wound healing). I personally would just give it really good supportive care and if you start to see it going downhill immediately treat with broad spectrum antibiotics.

Nice. Those plants look great and are all pretty hardy so hopefully they will fare well.

Why can't the lights be attached to the lid which lifts on a hinge, like those red sea max tanks (I think it was those tanks anyway :roll: )? That way the whole light rack would just flip up from the hood so you wouldn't have to remove it for most tasks.

Oh, yes please!!

Exactly. The perfect low tech balanced setup.

So what is the scientific name of that one Alan? V. contortionist?

Agreed, I can be done, even with 18 hour photoperiods. It is all about balance between lights, ferts and CO2. Have the right balance and it is brilliant!

I know! Those discus almost make me want to get discus again. I just love that combination of the blues against the green. :roll: Don't want to do all those water changes again though!

Looks like Valisneria spiralis to me.

Vaccines are a preventative measure. They are basically small doses of selected inactivated bacteria or viruses which cause specific diseases and by introducing them to the body in a small amount they stimulate the production of antibodies. It is these antibodies that act as a special army against that particular pathogen so that if the body is ever exposed again, the army recognises it immediately and is poised and ready to fight it off. I hope I explained that in a way that makes sense. :roll:

Just for the record so nobody is confused, "Ich" or Ichthyopthirus multifilius is a freshwater protozoal parasite. A marine protozoal parasite that produces similar clinical signs is Cryptocaryon irritans and it is typically called 'marine white spot disease.'

Get a hold of the following supplies from a local vet clinic and PM me when you have them so I can tell you how to do it: 3 small specimen pottles 1 1ml syringe 1 needle cap (the clinic should have loads of these and can give you some for free) 6 microscope cover slips 3 microscope slides The clinic will have these (and they won't be expensive) but they may wonder what you are up to by asking for them! Disclaimer: I am not proposing to diagnose any medical problems for your fish, I am only offering to share my personal expertise in indentifying ectoparasites by microscopic analysis. I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide you with a result and what you do with any result is purely up to you. While the risk of collecting specimens is minimal, there is always a risk when you 'manipulate' an animal. I take no responsibility for any side effects that may occur from the handling of your fish during the process and I encourage you to research the procedure if you are at all worried. Just so ya know.

For the record, I have absolutely no knowledge about this at all but why not use a pair of clippers and a 40 blade (surgical cut)? I have clipped many animals in preparation for surgery and these can cut the hair very close to the skin (about as close as you can get) and done properly can be like shearing a sheep. Good clippers and a good blade would cost $150.

What a shame. I was in on a study in California almost a decade ago where we were trialling a vaccine. I suspect it won't be too long before one is available, but will it be in time?

:oops: No offence intended...just so that is clear to everyone. I really am liking your thought process and plans though fordayzbro, you really seem to have a great insite about what you want and you have a great eye.

8) Looking good! I'd go for option 2 as well but I would rig it so it isn't a problem to get into (if that is possible) nothing worse that a tank that is a pain to get your hands into. :roll:

OMG I have been wanting some of these! If any of you has some of these, please let me know! BTW, thanks P44, I love my new desktop wallpaper!

+1 :lol: Was thinking the same thing... 8) Glosso has its place but I think people are tempted to grow it just for the challenge rather than for the long term satisfaction of having a planted tank. If you want to tear down the tank in 6 months and replant, then go for all glosso, just my 2 cents though, everyone is different (and that was a broad generalisation after all). :roll:

There are three main types of parasites and all three can cause flashing (but flashing does not always mean that there are parasites). The three types are: Protozoa/metazoa (internal and external) Cestodes/trematodes (e.g. flukes/tapeworms) Nematodes (e.g. roundworms) The treatment for each of these is different: Protozoa/metazoa (something like metronidazole 5mg/L, dose once each day for 3-5 days w 25% w/c before each dose) Cestodes/trematodes (something like praziquantel 2mg/L for 24 hours, repeat in 10 days) Nematodes (something like levamisole 2mg/L for 24 hours) If you want, I can tell you how to collect a skin, gill or fin biopsy and you can send it to me to look at under the microscope to attempt to definitively identify if it is any one of those parasites.

I like your ideas and scaping plans. The variation in plants will keep it interesting for a while as they grow and develop. I presume you thinking those question marks could be filled something like this: http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2 ... l=1&id=128 http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2 ... ol=1&id=36

algae

:lol: My dog used to do that. Seriously, it's a wonder that fish could breathe with the gills all confined like that. :roll:

Perhaps a pool company would be a good place to start! :lol:

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