|
Post by Ameenah on Jun 15, 2014 22:19:03 GMT -5
Thank you Carl. I do like your double loop and pin tip and know it would be worth while for me; but, I will go with the purchase of the Fusion 700. I will make a note of your tip in my tank's journals for future reference. Yes, each tank has a journal, kept on computer in searchable MS Word format. I am opting to purchase the Fusion 700 for the big tank so that I will regain the great airflow, and its assorted benefits, while also giving myself a bit of peace of mind in power outages by keeping the air line check valves on the air tubing. I put my tank journals on CD for our house sitter as a valuable reference when we are on the other side of the planet each year. I also put out cat journals up the same way - but these are far less detailed. My other tanks are served by air pumps that are a couple feet above their tank water levels - no worries of back siphoning in power outages for them. I have to give a thumbs up to my SunSun HW 303B for being such a great workhorse working solo on the big tank while I wait to get my V-1000 FSB Filter back onboard. What a terrific value this canister is. Water chemistry is excellent. You will recall I run the canister and the FSB Filter independently on the big tank. The BEST PLACE to buy your own SunSun 303b is, of course, is from our friends at: AAP SunSun HW 303 B Rated at a whopping 370 GPH and Head Pressure of 96-inches this canister is the best on the current market!
|
|
|
Post by devonjohnsgard on Jun 17, 2014 9:06:18 GMT -5
I have to give a thumbs up to my SunSun HW 303B for being such a great workhorse working solo on the big tank while I wait to get my V-1000 FSB Filter back onboard. What a terrific value this canister is. Water chemistry is excellent. You will recall I run the canister and the FSB Filter independently on the big tank. The BEST PLACE to buy your own SunSun 303b is, of course, is from our friends at: AAP SunSun HW 303 B Rated at a whopping 370 GPH and Head Pressure of 96-inches this canister is the best on the current market! The extra goodies that come in the filter help out a lot too I'm glad it's working while the sand filter is being figured out.
|
|
|
Post by Ameenah on Jun 17, 2014 22:28:03 GMT -5
You are 100% correct Devon. The volcanic rock for the bottom filter media level in the SunSun HW 303-B is ONLY done by American Aquarium Products - and they do it for FREE!! I also appreciate that they test the canister before they ship it so when it is delivered it WILL WORK. Sort of like a Plug-N-Play only for a tank instead of a computer After my first online purchase from American Aquarium Products I don't find a need to drive to my local LFS for supplies or foods any more. I save money, get great value products, and of course Wonder Shells (exclusively sold at American Aquarium Products) and the best part of all is that it gets delivered to my house. I appreciate that American Aquarium Products is a major sponsor of this Forum too.
|
|
|
Post by devonjohnsgard on Jun 18, 2014 8:01:58 GMT -5
You are 100% correct Devon. yup yup
|
|
|
Post by Ameenah on Jul 11, 2014 19:40:32 GMT -5
I finally located and purchased both the Lemon Yellow Oscars (2) and Ruby Red (Red Albino) Oscars (2) and they arrived this week! They are about 2-inch size - not including tail fin - so will be spending a few months in the grow out tank. Each coloration was purchased from seperate locations but put them all into 1 grow out tank. They are sooooo cute and have such Oscar Appetites already!
I will include pictures of them in my next video tour - which should be later this week.
|
|
|
Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 12, 2014 11:54:43 GMT -5
I finally located and purchased both the Lemon Yellow Oscars (2) and Ruby Red (Red Albino) Oscars (2) and they arrived this week! They are about 2-inch size - not including tail fin - so will be spending a few months in the grow out tank. Each coloration was purchased from seperate locations but put them all into 1 grow out tank. They are sooooo cute and have such Oscar Appetites already! I will include pictures of them in my next video tour - which should be later this week. Yah, you found them! Glad to hear it and excited to see them. The tank is coming together.
|
|
|
Post by Ameenah on Jul 18, 2014 22:18:52 GMT -5
7-15-2014 Big Tank Video Tour youtu.be/IWgq9nvrIpIThe Cichlids are doing well especially the various Oscars who are growing like wildfire! The Common Plecostamus measure in at 8-inches - I think their biological output far exceeds their beneficial contribution to algae removal and plan to rehome them soon. I am still working to resolve issues with water pump that brings water to my FSB Filter - the pump sponge pre filter is getting filled with mulm way too quickly and inhibiting proper flow to the FSB Filter -- even forcing mulm through to the FSB Filter which is not a good thing. Thanks to Carl and Devon at AAP for their expert suggestions, I will be putting the pump back on a slab of slate atop the pool filter sand substrate and covering the pump with volcanic rock. The volcanic rock will act as a pre pre filter breaking down the biologicals before they have a chance to clog the pump's internal sponge filter -- and of course the volcanic rock will also provide a perfect micro-environment for more nitrifying bacteria too. Here is some great info on the benefits of using volcanic rock from our friends at AAP www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Volcanicrock.htmlTo keep the volcanic rock where I want it - preventing the Oscars from rearranging it, I will be using Lee's Filter Saver Bags (also available at the volcanic rock info link.) I really hope this will be the last little tweek I will need to keep the tank filtration working at optimal levels. The Lemon Oscars and Red Albino Oscars in the grow out tank are soon to be joined by a Red Lutino Oscar I happened to discover the other day while shopping for cat toys at a chain pet store. It was in a mislabeled tank and priced accordingly. This Oscar has a few more days in the quarentine tank before it joins the Lemon Oscars and the Red Albino Oscars. This bugger was a heck of a deal! I will put a short video up of the grow out tank soon so you can see these much less common Oscar specimens. I hope you enjoy the 7-15-14 Video
|
|
|
Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 19, 2014 13:27:12 GMT -5
Coming along nicely Ameenah. I do think the volcanic rock will do the trick. You can also try to secure the filter bag to the pump, so that no water can pass behind it. Mental wiring, sting, or maybe a rubber-band, but I don't know how long that will last. With this, and your fancy vacuum, I think you should be dialed in. Here's a video I think you might like, it's a 220 gal monster fish tank, ran all off FSB www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT7-nVIJcTAGreat looking fish and it sounds like you have the right processes in place for the new arrivals to prevent issues in the main tank. Great job all you hard work is paying off. It will be nice to watch these guys grow.
|
|
|
Post by Ameenah on Jul 19, 2014 17:14:07 GMT -5
Thank you for the video link Devon. Very nice Monster Tank - I love the Platinum Arawana! I am surprised that this tank holds such nice monsters in just 220 gallons. Are you saying it runs entirely off a FSB Filter? That's all? I noticed it has some pretty beefy air pumps going on - these also help with water chemistry.
|
|
|
Post by Ameenah on Jul 20, 2014 18:18:58 GMT -5
Here are some photos of the "new kids" Albino Red Oscars. (2) Lemon Yellow Oscars (2) either a Red Oscar or a Gold Oscar - time will tell how this one will look. I am hopeful for Gold. This is the slightly larger one with black fins. These are NOT DYED Oscars. The colors have been developed through selective breeding. They are in a grow out tank as they are only 2-3 inches right now. It will be a few months before they can go into the Big Tank. Attachment Deleted
|
|
|
Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 21, 2014 9:01:34 GMT -5
Thank you for the video link Devon. Very nice Monster Tank - I love the Platinum Arawana! I am surprised that this tank holds such nice monsters in just 220 gallons. Are you saying it runs entirely off a FSB Filter? That's all? I noticed it has some pretty beefy air pumps going on - these also help with water chemistry. It has two sand filters on the tank, I just not sure what size.
|
|
|
Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 21, 2014 9:02:57 GMT -5
Those are some awesome colors on those oscars. They will be quite the attention grabber in the 150g. Thanks for sharing
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Jul 21, 2014 11:07:41 GMT -5
Wow, your oscars are beautiful!! Carl
|
|
|
Post by Ameenah on Jul 21, 2014 18:58:36 GMT -5
Thank you for your compliments on our new lil Oscars. Seldom do we ever think of such natural vibrancy in Oscars - I guess that's why it is so difficult to find and purchase them. Would you believe these babies will develop even stronger color as they get older - we are really looking forward to that visual impact they will have in the Big Tank.
|
|
|
Post by devonjohnsgard on Jul 21, 2014 19:42:04 GMT -5
Thank you for your compliments on our new lil Oscars. Seldom do we ever think of such natural vibrancy in Oscars - I guess that's why it is so difficult to find and purchase them. Would you believe these babies will develop even stronger color as they get older - we are really looking forward to that visual impact they will have in the Big Tank. Yeah the colors are amazing. A heavy diet helps with color too. Really just overall health makes them produce stronger color.
|
|
|
Post by Ameenah on Aug 26, 2014 10:54:04 GMT -5
Hello Everyone First, I feel a need to explain my absence: My very first great grand child, Dimitri, was born about 4.5 months early by emergency cesarean section on Aug 11th in Anchorage Alaska. He weighed 1 pound 1 ounce and was 9 inches tall. Anchorage Alaska has a highly rated NICU and my granddaughter EternityDawn was life-flighted there when complications of pregnancy began. Dimitri died August 12th in his mother's arms. I maxed out my plastic to pay for the funeral and have had close friends donating to help out via PayPal which has helped more than can be known. We prepare for deaths of parents and in elder years even our siblings, but never for our grand children or great grandchildren. The doctor's removed the life support and allowed EternityDawn to hold her son as he died in her arms. EternityDawn and Dimitri were surrounded by my daughter Kimberly and her husband. Dimitri's father was away on business and unable to be at hospital. I have a new video of my big tank which shows a re-do to create a larger swim area to accommodate inhabitants more comfortably over the next 4 months - including the 3 months that I will be on the other side of the planet. You will see a new shelving unit, which I created (yes I will post how on the DIY section of EA) this unit holds the SUnSun 1542 water pump which is now surrounded by Matrix and volcanic rock contained in 2 mesh bags. Its many levels provide "hiding spots" and allow fishes to stake their territorial claims to compartments fairly hidden by large artificial plants. This re-do included removal of about 50 pounds of substrate which had provided a nesting ground for black sand formation (sulfuric nasty stuff). Finally you will see the removal of the two BN Plecostamus (now housed in Gourami/Tetra Tank and the addition of my Exotic Rare Oscar Kids... 5-inch Tiger Oscar 5-inch Albino Oscar 4-inch Lutino Oscar 2-inch Lemon Yellow Oscar (2) 2-inch Albino Red Oscar (2) 2.5-inch Red or Gold Oscar (waiting to see its final colorations) 4-inch Electric Blue 2.5-inch Jewel 5-inch Turquoise 8.5 inch Common Pleco (2 both to be re-homed soon) 3-inch Gold Gourami (3) 1-inch Rosie Barb (2) Click here to watch the 8-26-14 Big Tank updateEnjoy.
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Aug 26, 2014 11:55:18 GMT -5
I am so very sorry to read about the loss of your Great Grandson Dimitri.
If there is any consolation, it seems like he got the best care possible at a very good hospital.
Both my sisters lost infants/toddlers, one in particular just like this, but the week old son lost by my one sister did not receive very good care care which is still wound in our family (thankfully my sister had a daughter later who also had similar complications, but she was able to get into the world class Huntington Memorial Children's Hospital in Pasadena CA, who saved her).
Gods love and blessings upon your extended family
Carl
|
|
|
Post by Ameenah on Aug 26, 2014 15:52:54 GMT -5
Thank you for your condolences Carl. Yes, EternityDawn was told that she should wait at least 3 years now and that she is highly likely to experience similar issues in the future. I like to think that Dimitri was too perfect to live on a troubled earth, and that God made him an Angel instead. It takes a special woman to create an Angel, I too lost my first child in a similar situation - it is always a fresh memory to live with forever. Creating my shelving helped me through this loss by occupying much thought and hands on work.
|
|
|
Post by devonjohnsgard on Aug 27, 2014 9:18:02 GMT -5
My thoughts and prayers go out for your family. Also thank you for sharing the new video. The tank looks great. You have such a great selection of fish.
|
|
|
Post by Ameenah on Aug 27, 2014 18:56:56 GMT -5
Thank you Devon. I appreciate your kind and encouraging words.
|
|