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IMO, using pH stabalizers are more harmful for most fish moreso than having one that's slightly different (but constant) than what they're used to in the wild. Most people will say that such and such fish needs this type of water parameters so isn't compatible with another type. Unless they...

Rinse them in water you take out of the tank. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about it. There will be more than enough bacteria in your filters and some in your gravel to make up for it.

I have an Emperor 400 and an AC 500 on my 55g.

I only ever had 1 in a tank at a time. A couple of times it was in a 29g but mainly it was in 55g tanks.

In my limited community fish experience, I would have to say there are only 2 community fish that I like, a redtail black shark and serpae tetra. I don't even know why but I like those litle guys so much! :blush:

I had both, the green and the orange and black striped. I think it was because they were nippy and too outgoing for the rtbs', maybe? Maybe the rtbs' thought they'd get the Tiger Barbs before they could get them? I had Serpae's also and they didn't bother them as much but still chased a bit...

Personally, I wouldn't put a redtail black shark in a tank less than 55g. They are just too aggressive, and in a 30g that aggression will be heightened. They really hate Tiger Barbs, ime, also. Mine always chased them relentlessly. Others may have a different opinion so maybe wait and see what...

Yep, I was going to say the same thing. Don't change a thing and it will go away as your tank matures.

I don't use any foods that are older than 6 months. 10 years??? :sick:

Thanks you, Lisa. :good: You guys may turn this piranha man around some day. ;) lol Well, I'll never be without my beloved piranha's that I live and die for but I enjoy learning about cichlids from you guys. There's a wealth of knowledge on this site. I've mainly kept dovii, umbee...

Large cichlids will decorate their tank how they like it. It will never look good to us but what can we do? They do it for that reason, out of boredom and for breeding.

I've had quite a few redtail black sharks and the biggest only reached 6" and those were the males. The females were generally an inch and a half smaller.

I've never had one before and read that link. I didn't know they were considered aggressive fish? :blink:

Not to mention you shouldn't ever get just 1 or 2 if they are the more common P. nattereri (Red Belly piranha). 3 or more only which means a 75g for life. They are very small in the lfs but will be approximately 5-6" in 6 months. If he wanted to spend a little money and buy online, that tank...

Hmmm, the last 2 posts, by Tokis-Phoenix and Dany, bring up an excellent point. Personally, I don't know so it would be nice (and a good learning experience) to hear from those that are against feeding live foods for their perspective on which way is more humane for the feeder fish to die-...

Oh ok, then it's not a salvini. Thanks for clearing the colors up for me tho. :)

They are pretty dark but the top one looks like a Salvini.

Congrats!!! :good: it sounds like it took them a couple times to get it right and now they have a bead on things. That's normal to lose the first batch or two. Let them take care of them and everything should be fine. Watch out for aggresion problems though. :)

Thank you very much for that Miss Wiggle. I was hoping you wouldn't be offended. Like I said, I'm the only one who thinks that so take my opinion for what it's worth, just a minority thought among others trying to help all of us out from time to time. I, in no way, consider myself an expert...

I've never heard of them so I don't know anything about whether or not they've been dyed or not. If they are dyed, please don't buy them. Don't buy ANY dyed fish. Just let them die in the tanks at the LFS so they will stop torturing these poor fish.

I agree 100%. There are always trace levels, however, any levels are toxic even the trace levels. With the cheaper kits we use show them they are at more than just trace levels, even at the kits low levels. You could be on to something about the filter. I'm not saying I'm right and actually...

QFT. I wouldn't ever use those things. You can very well come home to dead fish. Don't worry about only going a week without feeding for mature ciclids. They can easily go 3-4 weeks without food. Feed very well 2 days before and do a large wc before you go.

It doesn't matter how slightly high your levels are when it comes to ammonia or nitirite. ANY levels are lethal to fish. You said you cleaned your tank previously after your fish died before. How long was your tank setup before when your fish died? Was your tank cycled? Was your nitrite and...

Good point. I'm guilty of saying "75g" minimum for an Oscar. When in all actuality, I'm talking about the footprint for the average 75g tank whereas what's normal for me may not be for others or maybe it's a custom built tank. This is also misleading because the "average" 75g and 90g tanks...

Some get larger than 12" IMO, the minimum tank size for a single fullgrown Oscar is 75g.

Great post, Tokis-Phoenix. You touched on quite a few things I think and also the "hippocrite" part. The post just above yours I even said I felt that way thinking the way I do. Even though I'm at fault for it and you probably added- ...because of what I said, I agree with you there...

I apologize also. That's why I started my post saying To Play devils advocaate.... I am interested in hearing what others think and what you thought about some live foods being ok and others not because I fel the same way. I don't agree with large fish that suffer but I do with small fish...

Why don't you chill out? You're the one being immature. I actually agree with everything you say and wanted to hear more about it. I find this thread fascinating and am learning a lot from others as I figured others might also. I won't bother ever responding to you ever again since you're...

To play devils advocate... You can't pick and choose which live foods are ok to use as feeders based upon your personal beliefs and expect everyone else to be ok with it. If you say you don't agree with large fish because they suffer but small fish are ok, that's different but you said all...

I don't think it hurts them but it loses it's nutritional value.

What's the expiration date on it? I wouldn't use foods after 6 months. Sounds like a good deal to me tho.

Oh no, not at all. I'm agreeing with you 100%. :) The point of my post was that he didn't use a test kit and felt safe. I only meant I don't either but I don't always feel safe and noone should have that false sense of security and a testkit will catch things faster than him or I will by...

I don't use test kits either. I haven't for probably 15 years or so, can't really remember offhand. I'm not about to say or think it's the right way to go and by using one you can be a couple days ahead of the game if something does go wrong. If you've been in the hobby long enough you can...

I only asked what died before to see if there was a pattern going. I'd have to agree with Wilder that your nitrites killed your fish.

LMAO @ "Back to these sluts of platies" :lol: :lol: :lol: That's sig material there. Maybe it's that water there in the UK?

:lol: I'd love to see the thread on that and how hotly that one gets debated! :D

Wha??? You sound like you could be overstocked!!! Yer a terrible fishkeeper! :P

Ok, I apologize if you thought I was talking down to you. I've seen a few people say thir levels were fine with 2ppm ammonia and nitrites. It could be another problem causing this then. Perhaps velvet or ich or some other bacterial infection. I would try treating for a bacterial infection with...

Your ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0ppm?

Definitely would have to say the culling. :good: