alexyay

The only fish the tank isn't too small for is the black widows. Definitely get a proper temperature reading as it may be too cold for the loaches. They'll also be pretty shy in such small numbers - they're most active in groups of about 6+ and need schools. Also with high bioload fish in such a small tank, check your nitrates - the loaches may be more sensitive to the nitrates than the others. Edit: I just read through previous posts and realized I've already said this, along with others. I think you'll continue to have issues with your fish if you continue to keep them in such a small overstocked tank (sorry to be blunt, but the last thing I want is for you to experience all your fish dying when it's preventable D:)

+1 - sunlight is just way stronger and longer hours. I think you just need to compensate for the increased lighting (which may mean not turning on your default lighting that came with the tank, unless it has a moon light or something like that) Can you put black plastic (wouldn't want to paint the sides black on such an expensive tank - maybe that's just me though lol) around edges that won't be viewed? (and just make it look tidy) Any light diffusion like shades will work. We have an outdoors tank which is algae central, but it's also not dosed with ferts (the high bioload somewhat helps) and CO2 - BBA was our major issue. We get green spot but that's not a major (never grew on the plants) - but at the moment with summer we're having a HUGE issue with cyanobacteria. We're not really sure how to fix it when we can't control the light hours, but blacking out the sides has really helped. It's also less in areas with high water flow.

The new lighting is NICE! Where'd you get it from? (how much more than the beamswork did it cost? D:) - I'm finding the beamswork a bit blue and lowlight, but the plants are doing OK. I looooove the ray shimmer effect from the LEDs though Scape is looking awesome! It'll be really cool to see the plants grow. What's the reason for the syringe in the CO2? I'm still looking at setting up some DIY CO2 for my tanks (keep on forgetting to save bottles lol) - I figured I could just do tubing straight into an air stone (maybe with a one-way valve)?

I'm getting it on the same plants - I didn't realize staghorn could be black, but if it can that looks to be what it is. I just scrape it off (not out of control in my tank yet)

Definitely do a test of all your perams - I find they can be a bit sensitive to water chemistry. I've also found sometimes BNs just drop dead :dunno: I've never had any hurt each other, but I had two die within the same week without any water chemistry issues or anything. Make sure they have enough hidey places. They're also BIG poop machines so can mess around with your bioload. May I suggest upping the loach school? Most loaches prefer to be in groups of 5+

Are you referring to the price of the killies? I have no idea what Adrienne was posting about D: $9.90 from HFF, which isn't bad for an uncommon fish. Yeah I'm working on finding Dad a wavemaker to increase the water flow - so far that seems like our only option. Not sure how much the angels and gouramis will appreciate it though :c

He's still not looking very well. Sometimes tries to stay upright but he just goes upside down and sits in the same place - if I touch him he swims away but he doesn't eat. The future doesn't look bright for him, looking at the size we got him in comparison to the replacement male we just got, we're thinking HFF got them in quite old (the new guy is about 1/2 his size) - we've only had him for a few months but old age is a possibility. All other fish are looking happy. RE: American flagfish, three weeks of wanting them, I finally have some :happy2: they're a wee bit aggressive with the plants and a bit boisterous but hopefully they won't terrorize anything/anyone. I've given them some string algae to see if they like that. Will they generally eat flake food? How long do you guys think they take to reach full size? Is there any particular algae people find they like best and whether I should be growing it if possible? (infusoria is easy to grow but the rest require changing my tank conditions around a bit). ...will they chew on my green spot algae? Because that'd be lovely (I'm not expecting them to do so lol) Also, instead of making a new thread - are there ANY fish that will eat cyanobacteria? It's someone else's tank, but it's 450L (really hard to black out) and is outside - lighting is totally out of our control.

I recommend groups of 3+, I think they're way happier with more c:

Yep, otos are the way to go then be very careful in acclimating them - I find mine prefer to have the lights off/dimmed, and a very slow acclimation. Let them swim out in their own time and generally be super careful. Btw, hello from RC!

Our SAEs just decimated the BBA we had - maybe you can find someone who already has a group and have a young one and give it to them once it gets big and has done its job? I love my otos - I've lost a lot through acclimation but the ones that remain are really cute. I haven't seen them eat one bit of algae though - but they like the shrimp pellets that I give them.

I was told peat was recommended for them (and to keep the pH neutral-ish) - I have told Dad to start on bloodworms as it turns out he was only feeling flakes (mine at home get white worms and love them!) I'll see whether he'll eat any blood worms tonight (he didn't seem to eat the flakes I gave him this morning)

Yup they're from him - they're pretty big and fat compared to the skinny little HFF ones I got. Because there was peat moss in it I imagine the parameters were different, I had been hoping that two days after he'd be looking better though :c

I don't know, only had it for a month or so, he came from HFF (I've had two females from them die by the way, one still living but the ones I got from chch are a lot healthier), so it all depends on when they come in. I just thought it was odd timing due to the new arrival of the fish.

Okay so I've been planning on getting these for a few weeks (going to get them on Sunday) - but I guess I just want some opinions to make sure I'm not making a huge mistake. They will be going in this tank, which sits at 25-26 degrees 120L 2x Thicklipped Gouramis 5x Threadfin rainbows Those are the only top dwellers I have, mid dwellers are 3x otos Also contains - 1x banjo catfish 3x hara hara cats 5x kuhli loaches 5x red whiptail cats 1x L129 pleco It's well planted but has a few algae issues, but mostly only green spot at the moment (I can make it so that hair algae or BBA grows for them though). Running an Aqua One 1000 canister, but not on full flow as it upsets the fish D: I've read mixed opinions - I plan on getting 1 male and three females (read that they prefer groups? Will the terrorize my fish and eat my plants? What experiences have you guys had with them? Also quick question, we had a male killifish alone in an 18L and added three females (one is temporary), also it is holding a couple of other fish (quiet bottom dwellers) - the tank is at 22 degrees and I just did a 100% WC yesterday. It's not my tank so I don't know what the levels were before I did the WC (as I was in a different city!) but apparently he was looking a bit stressed not long after the females showed up (was really happy the first three days, now has fins clamped etc). Unfortunately the original owner thought he was just looking lazy and didn't know the clamped fins weren't a good sign. He's looking lethargic, not swimming, pale-ish, clamped fins. I presume the stress isn't due to bad water conditions because of the 100% WC He's in a breeder net and hasn't perked up, any suggestions as to what could be stressing him out? Would females really stress out the male? Edit: Killie is a aphyosemion australe "orange"

Are those by any chance the shelving units from bunnings which come with a kind of mixed wood? Did you replace the wood (and if so, with what?) - we had a water disaster on the original wood which caused it to sink (tanks were sinking in over time anyway) and have now replaced them with plywood. Wondering what the best option is as they're pretty efficient units but I find heavy (even 30+L tanks) to sink inwards?

Found all three today which means there haven't been any deaths One is looking quite pale on its underside, though. Do you guys find that these are like otos where if they make it through the acclimation process they're OK, and just sensitive early on, or that they are very sensitive to water conditions changing or nitrates getting too high? I recently tested the pH for this tank and it sat at 6.4-ish - my other tank at 6.2 (tank water is at 7.6), I'm planning on doing some big WCs to help bring it up again and adding some crushed oyster shells to combat the pH dropping too low (I think the 70L is old tank syndrome and this tank has only dropped because of the CO2, maybe because of the piece of driftwood in it).

Moving house in Feburary D: I'll have to make sure to do things slowly for the sensitive fish (last time I did an emergency tank switch I lost an oto - don't want to think about moving to another city with them!)

Thanks so much! That makes a lot of sense now Glad I don't have an illegal cat (sold at the store as "Indian Head Catfish" - Hara Jerdoni). I saw Erethistes hara but figured it was a different fish (was expecting Hara to be the genus). I haven't seen my three (I think I saw one swim away when I put the lights on last night) - I think I might have to invest in a moonlight for my nocturnal fish. Only got them yesterday so hopefully they're settling in

Are these found in NZ? They're not on the list but I may have just bought some - it's been suggested that they're banjo cats but I guess time will tell on that one (3cm vs a 12cm+ - if they get bigger they won't be Hara!). So yeah - are they legal here if they're not on the list?

I don't think you'll fit all those in a stocking

Haha if only it didn't cost so much to be the guinea pig!

About to press buy now so I guess I'll let everyone know how it goes (haven't really gained enough info D:)

:nilly: it would be an awesome industry to get into - I hate being a student, got so many qualifications to get before I do anything

I'm keeping up with that thread but of course the tanks only been set up a few days so I'm looking for a few more definitive answers.

I'm seeing really mixed reviews on these - they're in my price range and I want one to replace my Aqua One T5-LO unit (not quite enough light - I think it turned my riccia to mulch, and killed both my swords a week after using it) - does anyone have pictures of their Beamswork LEDs, and whether or not they're able to grow plants under them (preferably medium-high light plants) Also, does anyone know the PAR rating of them? I'm looking at the 200 unit (31cm deep tank). I just don't want to spend $50 to find out it's not quite enough or it won't do the job at all.