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Post by Carl on Dec 13, 2014 13:19:06 GMT -5
Washing your test tubes in well or tap water WILL contaminate your test. Good point! Not a problem with test strips, but something to think about with liquid test kits. I always had RO water with me while on my daily service calls, but even RO water is not best as with Ph in particular RO can still not fully clean a vial. It is DI (distilled or deionized) that is best, which I cleaned all test kits daily with when I got back to my office/store. Further Reading: www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/02/aquarium-test-kits.htmlCarl
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Dec 13, 2014 16:47:21 GMT -5
Hi Devon, I like your pics. I still have a little hornwort in my tank, but I've been ruthless about keeping it down (more than I would like), because for me, it mostly grows in long strands that get themselves horribly tangled around the other plants. I try to use a plant anchor to hold it in place, but that doesn't always work. A few times after I've done it--I usually place the weight closer to the "middle" of the stem (for each "cutting")--the plant has broken off from where the weight is attached by the next day. Not always, tho...I wonder why? I always have problems with high GH. The pamphlet that comes with the API GH/KH kit only gives conversions to 12 degrees, and probably 95% of the time my readings are near the 20s, if not over. Know how to convert to ppm? Angelminx Angelminx. The hornwort does get crazy, I've been letting it grow so I can cut it out and put it in another tank. I just let it float to make the fish feel more homier... Something for all the frogs (and snails...) to hang out. My GH is higher too, but I do know it's not a real issue. Over 500 ppm is where I get concerned. The conversion is 17.9 or 1 dkh... I've been monitoring it to see how long it takes to come down. When it's lower, I'll make sure to just put frags of the WS in.
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 2, 2015 11:50:14 GMT -5
RIP "Lucky"- My biggest and oldest Molly Came home to this guy on the floor last night! (I know, I know. No lid) I normally keep my water line about 2-3 inches below the rim. I just did a water change and filled it up all the way, thinking it would help with evaporation. With this and the new addition to the tank (a Gourami), the guy jumped right out. There has been a little more than usual casing in the tank, because of the new Gourami with the much older Gourami, thinking everything is his. When I came in, I noticed him on the hard wood floor pretty quickly. Picked him up and he had no slime coat. Fin clamped. Harder... Mouth slowly moving for air! I put him in the tank right under the HOB flow. Held him there. He jerked! Held him there. Like 10 minutes total. He started to move! Fins unclamped! Mouth moving much more! He was moving his whole body! I took him and put him in a MB, Aqua Dema, and Stress coat bath. We was alive! Swimming. Left him in the bath for about 30 minutes. Put him in a breeder net.... Prayed for the little guy. He was able to float and swim, though rested on the bottom of the net. Wouldn't eat. Went to bed and hoped for the best. Woke up this morning. Hopeful. He came back to life after jumping off a cliff like 4 feet tall and being out of the water maybe an hour or so. He didn't make it through the night I wondered what I could have done more. Longer bath. More flow next to the breeder net? Another bath in the middle of the night? RIP little guy. I was always impressed with you. Always holding your own in a aggressive tank. Largest Molly I've personally owned. You will be missed. Make sure to say hi to our other buddies when you get to fishy heaven
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Post by Carl on Jul 2, 2015 13:06:36 GMT -5
Sorry about this Devon. You almost saved him Carl
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Post by angelminx on Jul 2, 2015 17:45:09 GMT -5
So sorry about your guy . Of the fish I just lost, I had been especially rooting for Lefty (the Upsidedown cat with only one--the left--pectoral fin), and Snowball, AKA Freckles (wouldn't you know it, right after I gave him his official name, he got Ich...real bad ). I had only had them since 6/5/'15, but had really grown attached to them. I reeeally hope nothing happens to my baby banjos !
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Feb 1, 2016 22:17:40 GMT -5
It's been a while. Since my last post, we moved... which took me completely breaking down my 40gal and moving it. Then figuring what I wanted to do with it. I completely took out the plants and... replanted it! A lot of plants got sick and slowed growth from when I negleted the tank. Now I have new growth and it's starting to fill in. Specs. 40b GroBeam 600s Sunrise/Sunset Controller V2 sand filter 2 Sponges 18 watt sterilizer Flourite Rock focus with driftwood Co2 inject with reactor... which I haven't turned on in some time Liquid Macro & Micro & Potassium Airstone Two large Gromumi Fish One Black as they get Angel SAE Red Tail Shark pH 7.0 GH 15 KH 4 Right after some maintenance, notice a little snail explosion in the last day or two.
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Post by childofiam on Feb 2, 2016 11:47:06 GMT -5
I can't keep snails in my tank because of my African leaf fish crush them in their jaws. I bought some of the large Mystery snails from Petsmart and they didn't last a month. I would wake up in the morning and find a empty shells. I found some small pond snails in my Fuval filter and put them in the tank last month and Big Fred and little Fred ate them before they hit the bottom. I remember when I was young and had to move from time to time and how Tiresome it was to move a 55 gallon tank back then, so I feel for ya... I have been reading your tank blog and found it very helpful. I didn't know that washing test tubes out in tap water was a no no... and could contaminate your test. Anyway... I will be back to watch this setup grow as the first one did...
Richard
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Feb 2, 2016 17:32:23 GMT -5
Thanks. It's a process for sure! I wish something would control the snails. They have only been a problem since the break down. I'll take a bunch out, then there will some time... then an explosion. Not sure, cause the tank is pretty stable. Please will be in full boar next month or two!
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Post by childofiam on Feb 3, 2016 10:23:45 GMT -5
Thanks. It's a process for sure! I wish something would control the snails. They have only been a problem since the break down. I'll take a bunch out, then there will some time... then an explosion. Not sure, cause the tank is pretty stable. Please will be in full boar next month or two! You need to get some Assassin snails, they are snails that eat snails
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Feb 20, 2016 13:51:50 GMT -5
First time with co2 on this tank... About 3-5 bps? I'll measure co2 in the tank soon.
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Feb 20, 2016 14:06:56 GMT -5
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Mar 8, 2016 14:16:25 GMT -5
Tank is looking in tip top shape. Plants are coming in thick. Flow is dialed. Bio load is managed. CO2 and lighting are good good. Doing Sunrise/Sunset... Now just keep adding those nice plants and this will be just what I'm looking for. Morning Sunrise Flow is strong, just cant tell. Looks so claim Saying hi!
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Post by Carl on Mar 8, 2016 15:10:02 GMT -5
Your plants look great!
Carl
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Post by childofiam on Mar 9, 2016 16:33:57 GMT -5
What kind of emergent plant is on the far right side?
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Mar 10, 2016 19:04:24 GMT -5
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Post by childofiam on Jul 13, 2016 15:49:36 GMT -5
Any updated pictures of you tanks?
Richard
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 13, 2016 16:32:49 GMT -5
how neglectful of me. I haven't updated this thread in 4 months.... I'll get some pics asap.
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 29, 2016 15:50:25 GMT -5
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Post by Carl on Jul 30, 2016 11:00:28 GMT -5
Lookin Good! Carl
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