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Post by babygeige on Nov 10, 2013 20:30:05 GMT -5
A QT tank is a really great thing to have. It doesn't have to be fancy - I bought a basic 5 gallon tank, a small heater, and have a sponge filter in it. I don't even have a real light for it. I just use a desk lamp. Throw some basic decorations in there so the fish has somewhere to hide if it's nervous, and you're set. When the fish is recovered, you can put it back in the main tank, clean out the QT and put it away until the next emergency. It's also very useful when you get new fish too!
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Post by babygeige on Nov 10, 2013 20:25:24 GMT -5
Oh, I see. Will that help me get a feel for how the angel will react? I feel like I need to do something with this krib. She looks so lonely in the 5 gallon tank all by herself.
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Post by babygeige on Oct 25, 2013 21:58:32 GMT -5
Yeah, he's the concern for me too. I think he's too big for a breeder net. I'll probably just have to make sure I add the krib at a time when I'll be around to keep a VERY close eye on the situation. I've seen the angel really attack other fish once - I tried adding some harlequin rasboras. One didn't make it. I don't know if it would be different for the krib since harlequin rasboras occupy pretty much the same territory as the angel...
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Post by babygeige on Oct 16, 2013 20:53:49 GMT -5
Ok, so I think I've got 1 male and 2 females. The male and 1 female seem to be hitting it off quite well, but the other one is sad and lonely and picked on. This weekend I will dig out my 5 gallon and move her into it while I figure out what to do. Does anyone think she'd be ok in my 50 gallon? I know the pleco and cories won't be a problem, and I doubt the Colombian tetras would be as well. My question marks are the Siamese Algae Eater and my angel. Since the krib is more of a bottom dweller, my hope is that the angel won't be a problem, but sometimes he hangs out in the bottom looking around for stuff. I've never seen the SAE cause problems for any of the other fish, but the others were already established in there when I added him, so I'm not sure how he'd handle new fish. Back when he lived in the 30 gallon, he never caused any issues for new fish...
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Post by babygeige on Oct 4, 2013 11:27:15 GMT -5
I have the same seaweed clips. They are indeed quite nice. I had a different brand at first. I got it because it was a cute fish shaped one, but it broke at the third use or so. The Ocean Nutrition ones are much sturdier.
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Post by babygeige on Oct 4, 2013 11:24:25 GMT -5
Thanks Carl! I've been thinking I may need to move one of the kribs. The other two were picking on him really mercilessly for a while there, but it seems to be better. i have to figure out what genders I have here, that should help me figure out what to do!
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Post by babygeige on Sept 11, 2013 21:42:43 GMT -5
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Post by babygeige on Sept 11, 2013 21:36:24 GMT -5
I don't have any experience breeding anything other than shrimp (and that takes no skill), but I wish you luck! Keep us posted!
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Post by babygeige on Sept 11, 2013 21:32:06 GMT -5
I know I'm coming in on this kind of late, but are you certain the 5 gallon has been completely cycled and stable? Shrimp can be very sensitive to water quality and fluctuations in parameters.
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Post by babygeige on Aug 15, 2013 20:13:44 GMT -5
The barrel ornament was GloFish brand. Since I sent Petsmart the email, I've realized that other places sell this brand as well, so keep an eye out for them. Petsmart was great about the whole thing. Someone responded to my email with a couple of days and since I didn't have the receipt anymore, they were able to look up the transaction on my Petperks card and make arrangements with the nearby Petsmart store for me to get my money back. She also said that she was going to have the store send the ornament back to her so she could address it with the manufacturer. Who knows whether they really do that or not, but I was at least glad to get the money back. They handled it very well.
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Post by babygeige on Jul 28, 2013 20:09:16 GMT -5
I just sent PetSmart another terse email about another one of their decor items. I bought this for my betta tank: www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12290470&cp=2767036.2769124Today I noticed that the paint is coming off! I thought this would be better because it had a different kind of finish from the holiday decorations, but I was completely wrong. So yeah, I'm definitely done with aquarium ornaments from PetSmart.
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Post by babygeige on Jun 26, 2013 20:11:54 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum! I'm glad your fish are recovered from their sickness. Hang in there, it seems like you're getting the hang of it! It takes patience, but the reward of watching your new friends thrive is well worth it!
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Post by babygeige on Jun 26, 2013 19:48:30 GMT -5
Babygeige, I don't think your link to your photobucket is working right. Thanks for an update on the thread though. Sorry about that! I usually test links before posting. I guess I forgot. Thanks for fixing it, Carl!
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Post by babygeige on Jun 25, 2013 21:14:17 GMT -5
Wow, this is an old thread. I've since lost the fish I started this thread with, started a whole tank, and have had lots of new acquisitions. I didn't feel like cluttering up with another new thread though, so I thought I'd add to this one. Anyway, I bought some new residents for the 10 gallon. 5 Dwarf Emerald Rasboras and 3 Dwarf Sunset Gouramis. Here's a little video: s123.photobucket.com/user/babygeige/media/VID_20130625_210624_679_zpsd0447fec.mp4.htmlI'm a little bummed. The original file is much higher quality than Photobucket is showing, but you get the idea I suppose. The Rasboras are so tiny! The biggest one isn't an inch long, haha. They're similiar to the Celestial Pearl Danios, only much more shy. They hide in the back a lot, only darting out for food and to chase each other around a bit before going back into hiding. In fact, they hid all the time until I brought in the gouramis. Now they are a little more brave. I just love dwarf gouramis. They're active, pretty, and peaceful.
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Post by babygeige on Jun 25, 2013 20:55:13 GMT -5
I agree with parker002. Just go with a little bit of nylon stocking, you should be fine. I used this filter for a brief time with my first batch of shrimp and that's what I used. You'll still probably have to keep an eye on it to keep it from getting clogged with gunk. Make sure your tank is completely cycled - shrimp need good water conditions to thrive. Enjoy the shrimp! They're fun to watch.
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Post by babygeige on Jun 17, 2013 13:01:03 GMT -5
That looks great!
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Post by babygeige on Jun 8, 2013 22:31:33 GMT -5
Alternately you can just let the sand get sucked up and then strain it from the bucket when you're done (assuming you're using a bucket). I have a few strainers in the kitchen made from a really fine plastic mesh that work well and I find it easier than trying to meticulously skim the sand. Yeah, that's an idea. I'm leaning toward just keeping the gravel I have now. There are enough other fish I can get that won't require me to go through all that. I'll change up the plants and the decor and that should be enough.
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Post by babygeige on May 14, 2013 16:57:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the explanation, Carl. That makes sense. I generally don't follow the recommended media changing times on product packaging for most things. I just wait until something seems like it needs changed (like foam filter pads), but I wasn't sure how to determine that with the bio-chem stars. It's probably been about a year since I've changed them, so I suppose it won't hurt to swap some out with fresh ones.
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Post by babygeige on May 14, 2013 10:14:02 GMT -5
I've got a question about biofiltration media. I use bio-chem stars in my canister filters. API recommends replacing half of them every 6 months. Why is that necessary? I rinse them off every month when I clean the filter out and they don't get slimy or anything. In reading Carl's article about filter media, it seems that clogging and sliminess is more of a problem with ceramic rings.
I was thinking about trying a different type of bio-filter media (volcanic rock or Sea chem Matrix), but it seems like the bio-chem stars are just fine for my purposes. I have plants, so I don't think I need to worry about de-nitrifying media. I was just curious as to why they would need to be replaced every 6 months.
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Post by babygeige on May 11, 2013 17:00:52 GMT -5
I'm used to keeping a gravel siphon kinked while cleaning my 10 gallon shrimp tank (and I STILL almost always suck up baby shrimp!), so that might not be too difficult. I've got a couple of big decorative rocks in there now. I'm definitely tired of them, so they are absolutely going to be out of the future tank. We'll see. I've got some research to do, and my fish aren't dead yet, so there's time. Somewhere around here I have a "wish list" of fish I've been thinking about keeping. Now I just have to remember where I put it...
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