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Post by missdiane on Mar 8, 2013 19:07:04 GMT -5
Greetings! This is the only site I visit for education now. I re-started this hobby unexpectedly by saving one Betta from a large store. Now there is:
3 gl. - several live plants (java fern, java moss, wisteria) - Betta named Chance, 1 tri-color horned Nerite snail - using Flourish excel, flourish comprehensive, cuttlefish bone - small wet/dry filter, heater, air stone at night only
10 gl - live plants (red crypt, moss ball, java moss, anubias, wisteria, water sprite, baby tears) - 4 Botia Striata, 1 flying fox, 2 dwarf powder blue gouramis - using the same ferts with the addition of flourish root tabs - aqua tech 20-40 HOB & sponge pre filter, extra foa, grid in filter, 75 watt heater, air stone at night
20 gl - basically the same plants but more of them - 1 crowntail Betta, 4 male guppys, 3 cory cats, 1 dojo loach, 2 white skirt tetras, 8 zebra danios, 1 oto, 2 nerite snails (IS THIS WAY OVER-STOCKED??) - Penguin bio wheel 150, sponge pre-filter, extra foam media in filter box, 75 watt heater, same ferts as 10 gl, air stone at night.
*I do twice weekly water changes of 15% each.
*I will buy wonder shells very soon when the cuttlefish bone is gone
*PH consistent 7.8 -8.4 - higher at mid day on the days I add excel, lower if checked right after the lights come on in morning
*nitrate 0
*nitrite 0
*GH 300 ppm
*KH 120-180 ppm
* (difficult to read on on Jungle 5-N-1 test strips)
* I generally siphon water from mid tank, rarely do a deep in-gravel vacumn
because of plants
* water temp 78
I realize that the GH & PH are not ideal for all of my inhabitants, but they are here now & I have no space to set up yet another tank. I'd appreciate any advice to make my fish lives ideal. Before finding this site, I was wandering around the internet where I'd get 100s of different opinions for any question. I really trust you guys & the information/education given here. That said, if my tanks are truly overstocked (some other sites made me feel like a fish abuser, others said I was just right) please advise. THANKS!
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Post by babygeige on Mar 8, 2013 21:53:52 GMT -5
Hi missdiane, IMO you are a bit overstocked in your 20 gallon. Zebra danios are zippy fish that like to have lots of room to swim around, and you have a lot of them. It is recommend that you buy them in a group so they aren't shy and stressed, but I'm worried that your tank is a bit too small for them, especially when you add in the other fish you've got in that tank. I do think it's great that you do two water changes a week. That will greatly help keep things under control. Plus having your tank planted will also be a help. I wouldn't worry too much about changing your PH around. It's better for the fish if it's consistent. If it swings too much too often, that can cause stress on your fish. Just do the best you can maintaining the tank, keep up with the water changes. I don't recommend adding any more fish, though. I'm curious, how well do the crowntail betta and the guppies get along? Does the betta go after the guppies? I'm sure Carl and others will have more thoughts, especially on your readings. I'm not a big science expert. Oh, and welcome to the forum!  |
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Post by missdiane on Mar 8, 2013 23:28:02 GMT -5
Hi Babygeige
Thanks much for your help. I've thought about giving at least some of the danios to a friend - they didn't really school when I only had 5 - that's why I added 3. They're actually very pretty - nice golden/silver colors
The crowntail is Mr. laid back. He doesn't take any notice of the guppies. Now & then he flairs at the Danios if they are swarming around his Betta hammock. My Betta in the 3 gl. doesn't like friends at all - consequently he has 1 small horned nerite snail to help with cleaning. the different personalities are amazing!
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Post by Carl on Mar 9, 2013 12:55:03 GMT -5
missdiane, Your 'numbers' are not all that bad, as babygeige noted, while a bit higher than normally kept for planted tank, it is not something to overly worry about As for the GH, this is perfectly fine and in fact the point that your pH rises during the day indicates photosynthesis is going on and the GH is not quite buffering it (but some change in pH is expected, regardless). While normally it is KH that buffers pH, it is GH that regulates ph during times of high photosynthesis From Aquarium Plant Care: "One more note, pH will climb during peak photosynthesis, especially in tanks with low hardness (yes hardness, not KH!)"About all I would consider besides a small but constant supply of positive mineral ions (part of GH) is making RO water 20% of each water change, and even this is optional, not something "you must do" Finally, I too am a bit surprised about your Guppies and Betta "getting along", as I generally do not recommend these fish together Carl |
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Post by missdiane on Mar 9, 2013 15:46:35 GMT -5
Hi Carl,
I, too, was surprised about the guppies. I initially bought 1 to live with my other Betta in the 3 gl. because internet sites listed them as compatible. That Betta immediately attacked the guppy. To save him, I had to place him in my 20 gl. He had gone 6 months without notice from my other Betta. that's why i went ahead & added 3 other guppies. of course I've since read in many places that they aren't compatible....
I followed Babygeige's advice & sent 4 of my Danios to live in a friend's 55 gl. I'm certain they will be happier & the 4 remaining in my 20 gl are swimming like they're in the ocean.
there's much and varied info on internet sites and people can really be hurtful when someone is not doing what they believe is correct. That's why I'm here exclusively now & send my friends this way as well.
Hope your daughter is better - thanks again for all you do
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Post by missdiane on Mar 10, 2013 12:54:52 GMT -5
Hey Carl!
One more thing - I'm on my way to buy water. Not certain if the water sold in the machines is RO - will check first or buy distilled. Just wondering what does adding 20% to regular water do to benefit habitat? Also, is there any negative? Like will adding RO/dist. drop the PH & possibly shock the fish? When I order my wonder shells, I know to add only a small amount at first. Is there any negative to wonder shells? YIKES! I hope that by now you're not saying, "oh no, it's miss diane again"
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Post by babygeige on Mar 10, 2013 13:38:00 GMT -5
Zebras are definitely neat fish. We had them in our aquarium when I was little. I may get some for my 50 gallon someday. It's nice that your friend was able to take some of them.
I know how mean people can get on forums when they don't agree with others. It's not very productive, is it?
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Post by Carl on Mar 10, 2013 13:46:09 GMT -5
Sadly this is more and more true and not just with aquarium fish forums.
Last fall I was on a SEO forum and was very dishonestly and viciously attacked. When a couple of co-workers signed up and defended me they were immediately permanently banned from the forum.
Carl
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Post by Carl on Mar 10, 2013 13:53:05 GMT -5
Hey Carl! One more thing - I'm on my way to buy water. Not certain if the water sold in the machines is RO - will check first or buy distilled. Just wondering what does adding 20% to regular water do to benefit habitat? Also, is there any negative? Like will adding RO/dist. drop the PH & possibly shock the fish? When I order my wonder shells, I know to add only a small amount at first. Is there any negative to wonder shells? YIKES! I hope that by now you're not saying, "oh no, it's miss diane again" For use in cutting hard tap or well water, RO OR DI are about equal (DI is slightly more pure, but that matters little for our purpose, only for topping off automotive batteries). All substituting RO in 1/5 of your 15% or whatever amount of water change you perform does, is simply makes the water less "hard" and lowers carbonates and pH too Basically no different than making some recipe and using less of an ingredient. As for Wonder Shells, there are no major contradictions other than adjusting to them. Planted Aquariums is where the main contradiction would lie, and even then this involves heavy use on already very hard water. In planted tanks using 1/4 to 1/2 normal dose should not be a problem Carl |
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Post by parker002 on Mar 10, 2013 14:11:39 GMT -5
I use Wonder Shells in all of my planted tanks and we have extremely hard water. The only negative reaction we've ever had is with cherry shrimp that had never been exposed to Wonder Shells before. The plants do quite well with them.
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