Caper

Oh Caryl that is so sad In your slideshow it looked like you had a net over the lake, I mean pond, do you not have that anymore?

feeder (can't believe this is still going...awesome :thup: )

Well...let's see: AMAZING STAND AMAZING TANK AMAZING FISH Wonderful job! Caper

Love your pics! I still envy people who have the ability to keep real plants too Caper

Awesome pics :thup: Caper

Oh my gosh Caryl...I was wondering how I was going to find the original post about your pond. So glad, I found this WOW...WOW...WOW During the slideshow there was a picture of something on your deck...looked brownish and long...I tried to see if I could post if here but I don't remember how to do it. I hope you know what I'm talking about because I'm really curious to see what it is/was/?? Caper

WOW...what an awesome trip you will have...now wonder you are excited. Too bad you had to resign from your job but I can understand why you would resign over missing this trip! Looking forward to pics...BE CAREFUL BUT ENJOY! Caper

Thanks GrahamC Yes, the cartridges were sitting in the tank. I never thought of putting them in the filter on the other 29 g. tank, darn! I know many don't use the carbon. But doesn't it also help to keep the water clear??? When I bought my tanks, there were no lfs here locally. The only place to buy was WalMart. When I bought the cartridges that fit my filters they came with the carbon. I never thought to look for anything else now that we have a lfs! I always rinsed under the tap as I thought anything new to the tank had to be rinsed, rinsed, and rinsed. I never did buy any products to change the pH because I learned here that stable pH is better then changing. But I became nervous of considering some fish since the guy at the lfs recommended not to put some fish in the high pH. What do you mean by "total dissolved solids"???? It has been so long since I bought fish because of the tetras & barbs in one tank...and the last goldie in the other and 4 corys in the 10 gallon. So I need to brush up on everything again including what does "bioload" mean? :oops: Thanks again :bounce: Caper

Awesome job...doesn't even look like the same tank! Looks like it is new. Back to the calcium, what worked best...I had tried vinegar before and didn't help at all! Congrats on a job well done :bounce: Caper

Hi all, Back ground on tank: 29 gallon (can't find measuring tape to give dimensions) Last time it had a fish-before Christmas 2012 (last goldfish). - kept filter going in hopes that water would not become stagnant (not sure when getting fish) - kept filter cartridges (biological) in a tank that had fishies Last Sunday: - gave tank and filter thorough cleaning - at least a 50% water change - put in new heater - added ornaments given as gifts Monday: - noon time put in filters plus one sock with gravel from another tank - after work took water to pet store (yup, finally have one here!) to be tested - 0 ammonia - forget what the pH was...but do remember saying it was always high - bought 4 red wag platties (originally only going to get 2 but these guys are small) - then added one cartridge from another tank (this one has carbon in it) Bought new test kits for ammonia and pH. Every second day I am checking the ammonia-0. The pH test kit registers to 7.6 which in this kit is a dark bluish color. When I test, the water is definitely a blue. As always in the past, I find it difficult to get the exact reading on the pH but alas...it is and always was high. Questions: 1) Because I used cartridges/gravel from tank with fishies, will/should I still see the ammonia rise? 2) How long should I leave the sock that has the gravel from other tank sit in this tank? pH: 3) Long ago had: neon tetras, guppies, mollies, platties, um...don't remember others I tried. Back then I actually went to several places on the net and wrote down and compared pH, temp, etc., for the fish I had. With what I tested in the tank, should have been ok! At the pet store , they did not recommend fish in one location of their store (tetras, barbs, others can't remember) because of the high pH. He pointed out red eye tetras in particular but as I told him that is what I have in my other 29 gallon together with tiger barbs. Now I know that it is not always black and white when it comes to fish! But I wonder if that is why I had so many losses in the past because of the high pH????? Also learned (probably on here) that when I clean the bio filter and add the new one that contains the carbon, that they are rinsed in tank water removed from the tank. Before learning this, I know when I changed the carbon one, only rinsed under tap water then put right in filter (now rinsed under tap then put in bucket of tank water). Could this also contributed to losses??? When putting the filter directly into the filter only rinsed in tap water could I have been killing the good bacteria???? Sorry so long :-? Thanks, Caper :happy2:

Hi and welcome! As Lyndyloo stated...no such thing as a silly question. When I started out here, I asked lots...and they were still kind to me...lol. Haven't been on here in ages...but I have great respect for the fishy people on here:) Take care, Caper:)

Hellllooooooooo!

Hi! It has been much much longer since I've been back here :oops: :oops: Take care, Caper

Hi! I guess it was sad for you to leave behind tanks...but on the plus side you are getting to set new ones up:) Take care, Caper:)

Hi! I haven't been on here for quite sometime for numerous reasons...but unless there have been drastic changes you will get lots of help, meet awesome people, and share/learn lots. Take care, Caper

Hi, Haven't been on here in ages. But on the peas and goldfish, I used to feed my goldfish peas once a week. I just lost my last goldfish before Christmas. Personally, I will not have goldies again because they are better off in a bigggggggggg tank. Take care, Caper

Nice job...great idea! Caper

Hi! You will learn lots on this site. Saved me many times. take care, Caper

Hello! Have fun here...and I know you will learn lots. Take care, Caper:)

Hi there! Maybe if you let her pick out a fish! Caper:)

Cooked supper! Brushed Ginger while Tigger took running when he saw the brush. Took a visit to the best fishy site in the world...which I haven't been on in quite sometime.

Awesome pics:) Caper

It's been a long time. I hope everybody and their fishies are doing well! Must go try to read all the many, many, many posts I have missed! Caper:)

I find my ottos do a great job with algae witht he exception of green algae. Before I had my newest ottos, I had green stuff growing. The ottos didn't eat it so I cleaned it off. Caper

Sorry about your oscar Caper