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  1. LDBartholow

    Tiny Critters In My Tank - What Are They?

    I did do a small water change, and figured since they were congregating on the slice of carrot, I could bait them with some more vegetable matter and just remove them like you would snails. I just wanted to make sure they weren't harmful.
  2. LDBartholow

    Tiny Critters In My Tank - What Are They?

    First, I have checked the sticky about "hitchhikers", but these things are too small to identify without a microscope, so maybe someone can help me.   My betta tank is close to 2 years old. It's a 5.5g. I've never had any issues with it. The tank is lightly planted in my office. To clarify, it...
  3. LDBartholow

    Dreadful Snails...

    I do have a colormax bulb I can install, but the lighting unit won't operate if only one bulb is installed. I'll pick some macro ferts and liquid carbon today on my lunch break. Thank you!
  4. LDBartholow

    Dreadful Snails...

    It appears to be common pond snails, which means my plants are melting. Ugh. It is a newly established tank. I'm running 2 T5 6.7k bulbs (18w each) about 10 hours a day. My lighting fixture is right above the water. I have a 20g long tank. Dimensions are 12.5L x 30W x 13H. All the plants I...
  5. LDBartholow

    Dreadful Snails...

    I bought some new micro sword, and cambomba two weeks ago. It was pre-washed, inspected and treated (bleach method - which I know many do not approve of). I woke up this morning, and noticed a snail crawling along the glass. Upon closer inspection, there are dozens crawling all over my plants...
  6. LDBartholow

    New Betta

    Upon looking at your pictures, I would suggest turning your heater to a 45 degree angle instead of straight up and down. The theory is the angle will keep the heat from reaching your thermostat before the tank has reached the optimal temperature. I just found this out myself last week. I am...
  7. LDBartholow

    New Betta

    Look at my signature picture. It is a HOB filter which only inserts a tube. It works just fine and is actually less obtrusive than an internal filter. We will definitely have to agree to disagree.
  8. LDBartholow

    New Betta

    You misunderstand. Nowhere did I say I HAVE to do the daily water changes because of water conditions. I prefer to do small daily changes to ensure that the surface is clean. Every once in awhile, I do get a film from the various plants, snail waste, or a bubble nest gone awry. I have an...
  9. LDBartholow

    Most Likely To Survive With Betta?

    I buy most of my items from PetsMart. There shouldn't be any issue buying a glass tank from Wal-Mart. I know many fishkeepers that get their glass tanks from there because their prices are usually the best. I would then order/pruchase the filter, heater, lid, etc. from a PetsMart or PetCo.
  10. LDBartholow

    New Betta

    Hi there. I have a 5.5g planted betta tank. I do small daily water changes. Usually just a quart. Then once a week, I do a 20% change. The daily water changes are to make sure that the surface of the water is always clean. They are labyrinth fish, so they do come up to the surface to gulp air...
  11. LDBartholow

    Most Likely To Survive With Betta?

    I aim for 79 degrees. That's Deathwing's favorite temperature. Anything lower than that, and he gets quite lethargic. His colors even dull.
  12. LDBartholow

    How To Clean The U Bend Tubes On A Hob Filter?

    I'll give that a go as well. I would have never thought of that. Thank you!
  13. LDBartholow

    How To Clean The U Bend Tubes On A Hob Filter?

    I have various pipe brushes, but none that will bend the way it needs to. Actually, this used to work in the early days, but the bacteria (I'm assuming it is bacteria) has formed a formidable colony that won't budge. It requires a little "help". I guess I'll try some chenille pipe cleaners.
  14. LDBartholow

    How To Clean The U Bend Tubes On A Hob Filter?

    I did a search hoping to find answers, but I didn't. I'm probably not using the right terminology, so feel free to educate me I have an AquaClear 30 HOB filter that has a U bend. I've been running this filter on my 5.5g betta tank for close to a year now and the U bend is getting quite nasty...
  15. LDBartholow

    Most Likely To Survive With Betta?

    I own a 5.5 gallon tank. This is probably the smallest size I would recommend for a single male betta. His tank mate is a single ivory mystery snail, and I have tried ghost shrimp. Deathwing ate the ghost shrimp. I plan on upgrading to a 10 gallon tank within the next few months. In my short...
  16. LDBartholow

    Betta For My Office Space

    Greetings! I have successfully kept ghost shrimp and an apple snail with my male betta. I think when it comes to tank inhabitants, it really depends on the temperament of the fish you get. Deathwing has always been chill from the get-go. He doesn't flare at the drop of a hat like other fish. In...
  17. LDBartholow

    Need Some Plant Suggestions For My New Betta Tank!

    I bought my ammonia from Ace Hardware as suggested by others. It's a 10% janitorial solution. Think it was $6 for a gallon. They sell quarts, but they were out when I went. I have a 5.5 gallon betta tank. My substrate is a mix of flourite black sand and a very small amount of regular gravel. My...
  18. LDBartholow

    Do They Normally Hide In A New Tank?

    Do you have a lot of current in your tank? I have read that bettas do not like high currents or surface agitation. When I clean do water changes in my betta's tank, I turn his filter on high to quickly snatch up any particulates. When I do that, he hides inside his skull where there is no...
  19. LDBartholow

    Can This Be Right? Fishless Cycle Guidance

    I'm going to rely on this statement, because nothing is making sense. I didn't add anything other than the plants on Wednesday. I'll just keep testing :)
  20. LDBartholow

    What Tanks Do You Recommend?

    I agree whole-heartedly. I am still a fish newbie, but let me share with you what I've learned so far. I bought a betta before really considering living conditions. I bought it a small 1.5 gallon tank, because the pets stores lead you to believe that is humane. I mean, they sell the tanks...
  21. LDBartholow

    Start Up - Misty Water

    I'm still a newbie, but when I "accidentally" didn't rinse my flourite substrate enough, my tank looked like a bowl of chocolate milk. I bought some Fluval Water Polishing pads. Within 24 hours in my HOB filter, the water was clear. There is also a product called Clarity by Seachem. Since my...
  22. LDBartholow

    Can This Be Right? Fishless Cycle Guidance

    1) Using API Master Kit. Bought new from the LFS a few months ago. I've been using it on my betta tank at work. Doubt expiration has anything to do with it, as all bottles have 2017 use by date, and as mentioned. I've used this kit during a fish in cycle with my betta. It seemed to be accurate...
  23. LDBartholow

    Can This Be Right? Fishless Cycle Guidance

    Greetings! Hope everyone is having a great day. I've researched fishless cycling until my eyes bled, so I feel I have a good grasp of how it is SUPPOSED to work. With that said, I am a newbie, and ran into a peculiar situation. Last Thursday (Jan 3), I set up my new 20 gallon long tank for...
  24. LDBartholow

    Greetings From Texas!

    Let's see. The name is La Shell. I live in Texas. I've always wanted to be that person with the awesome fish tank, but never found time in my busy life to actually commit to it. Last year, I bought a small 5.5 gallon tank for my office and stocked it with a lone male betta who I have named...
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