Search results

I can’t imagine any factory built stands would not support the length of an aquarium they are claiming to support, that would be a lawsuit waiting to happen. A simple google search yield many different brands of stands for 55g tanks that are at least 49”. Can someone show me a 47” stand?

A standard 55g aquarium is 48” long, not 50”. Any off the shelf stand for a 55g tank will do just fine.

pwilk, As you claim you are a reef hobbyist, I am shocked to see how you don’t understand why or how the algae issue in a freshwater tank is solved. The dynamics going on in a freshwater tank are the same in any reef. Yes, many extremely sensitive acropora dominated reefs are running great with...

No, they wouldn’t be of any use for tap water.

A 100 micron and a 1 micron are very different sizes, if that is what you are asking?

Hi oldroamer, I wouldn’t worry too much about catching up to date on the advances made since the 70’s. The only critical part to understand is the nitrogen cycle and cycling your aquarium properly. After that, your existing knowledge and experience with fish will guide you most of the way. I...

The smaller the micron size, the finer the mesh and better filtering capabilities. A 100 micron sock would allow particulate 100 times larger than a 1 micron sock to pass through. Your naked eye can see up to 40 microns. A human hair is about 70 microns, bacteria range from 0.3 up to 5 microns.

If you take the python completely out of water it will break the siphon. The goal is to, once a full siphon starts, angle the tube at 45 degrees and just leave a very tiny amount flowing into the tube. I might be able to take a video of this on my next water change. In the interim just create...

1 Micron Felt Sock

Also, forgot to mention, a related species, Elassoma evergladei, is somewhat commonly available. I remember seeing some from Bluegrass Aquatics a while back.

What about a pair of banded pygmy sunfish (Elassoma zonatum)? They are a small, incredibly hardy species native to the Eastern U.S., they don’t even need a heater. They prefer to be bottom dwellers and are inactive so I think a 3.5 gallon tank would be OK. Pretty markings, some exceptional...

Broadly, the “film” that may appear floating on the water’s surface is likely a mix of lipids, proteins, algae, bacteria, particulate matter and microorganisms. Without a microscope, we can’t really identify exactly what the “film’s” composition is. It will vary from one aquarium to another...

It sounds like you have two issues as already pointed out by Colin_T and Lajos_Detari, being internal and external parasites. In the case of external parasites, I’m a big proponent of 3% salt dips for discus provided they are healthy enough to endure a little stress. Also worth noting, do you...

If you have no live plants yet as you say, simply shut the lights off. That will solve most of the problem. Wipe the plastic plants clean, shut off the lights and do a 100% water change before adding any fish. That should be all you’ll need to do. A little bit of algae in going to happen in...

Yes, nearly all UV sterilizers on the aquarium market are near useless for free floating pathogens. Some algae issues might be improved by a generic UV sterilizer but it will still miss 90% of the target. The models that hold their weight are well into the hundreds of dollars and generally need...

Arizona Aquatic Gardens has some frighteningly horrible customer complaints from the B.B.B. :blink: They currently have an “F” rating, here’s a look. I’ve heard so many horror stories from AAG over 20+ years that I would avoid them like the plague.

Shanunm81, Are you totally sure you are going the spring water route? If this is want you want for certain, I would run the UV on the water before ever enters the display tank. Also, for what it’s worth, 99% of UV sterilizers on the aquarium market are near useless. When I recommended using UV...

It is not totally necessary to engage in the boiling/straining process. Although, if I were in your shoes I would personally, the potential pathogens alone are not worth the risk for me. The sock will not work in a filter, it would be used to strain the water after boiling to remove...

Shanunm81, Aside from the concerns about pathogens in water you collect yourself, also consider the amount of particulate organic carbons (POC’s) in the water that you can or can’t see with the naked eye. Even if you test the water at the source for nutrients such as n03 and P04 (nitrate and...

ancient11, Finding common livebearers online should be easy even during COVID-19 restrictions and delays. If the Wet Spot doesn’t have everything you need some reputable online vendors that carry most livebearers are Aquatic Arts, Blue Grass Aquatics, Flip Aquatics, Twin City Guppies, Michaels...

kerncake233, I know I am arriving to this party quite late and you have already taken many different steps of disinfecting your aquarium. If you need to ever do a full system disinfecting please consider using potassium permanganate. It’s a water soluble oxidative agent with no toxic by...

A 42g would be fine for zebras. The price of L46’s is pretty high, many sell at $300/$400 each. They’re also very hard sex to the naked eye as juveniles. You would need a small group to ensure you would have male and female specimens. And spawning is extremely difficult, no one has been able to...

Maybe try some rare seasonal killifish or Mexican livebearers? Zebra plecos also come to mind with them now being on the CITES list and people having a tough time getting them to spawn.

I suppose it’s possible. I do think it’s unlikey though given that if a person on a hobbyist level is able to source such a species chances are there are many other hobbyists, commercial breeders and scientific institutions that would have the same access as well.

If you were able to find privately bred specimens to begin with wouldn’t their survivability already be safe though?

There are many species still being collected, illegally or not, that are threatened in the wild. I would be careful of purposely looking to keep a threatened species however good the intent may be. The reasoning for this is A) If it’s a wild caught specimen your purchase is just exacerbating...

Yes, of course a fish only system will have considerably less costs and equipment associated. I’m specifically talking about a reef system, with corals, not a fish only system. A person looking to dabble in saltwater clearly does not need all the costs listed above. I’ve successfully kept dwarf...

Just to put it into perspective the costs of running an average reef tank, below is what was needed for my 43g soft coral system. Used 33g Tank, Stand and 9g Sump-$400 (New is $1110) Replacement Plumbing-$230 Flexible Tubing- $30 RO/DI- $190 Refractometer, digital testers and syringes- $330...

Do you remember what brand it is?

@Stan510 This is an acrylic tank from 1985? So cool to see it lasting that long! I thought my Eheim classic canister filter from 1999 was old!

Thanks everyone. Lots have changed on TFF since the early/mid 2000’s! A lot of the member names I recognized on pinned threads have unfortunately haven’t logged on in years. Anyone from the early years of TFF still active here?

While I do agree that Discus are much better suited to low lighting, I do disagree that the vast majority will die within weeks as you suggest. Most blackwater species will adjust to most any light levels provided their other needs are met. There are countless brightly lit aquascapes with...

There are 6 species in the Carinotetraodon genus, all except the common “dwarf pea puffer” broadly fall under common a common name variation of “red-tail” or “red-eye” puffer. Common names in this genus are of little use as they all similar in appearance, size, location and behavior. One...

Hi, Used to be active on these forums years ago (over 15 years ago now!) and I’m back. Long time aquarium hobbyist both freshwater and saltwater, back into the hobby after a long break. Hope I see some familiar names here from ages ago! Hope I can bring some insight and contribute to a forum...