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Basically, if the filter has been kept moist, then around 50% of the bacteria will die off per day (so 100% of the bacteria are there on day 0, 50% on day 1, 25% on day 2, etc.). So now that it is day 4, only 6% of bacteria will still be alive, but that is still quite a lot more than are in tap...

Clean the crap off the top of the sand, then gently run your fingers through the sand. You should not be stirring it up enough for it to go into the water column, so it *should not* matter whether the filter is on or off.

List the water parameters please. What are the dimensions of the tank? And décor? Very likely, it's the Betta.

ICEAL first thing is go get a *liquid* set of tests, these *must* include ammonia and nitrite. IMO/IME, the second most important kits are KH and GH, with nitrate and pH coming last. Guppies and balloon mollies should both have at least a 60*30*30 cm tank for a few fish. If you want to have a...

If the filter has been kept wet, then 25% of the bacteria should be alive. It will take 6-12+ weeks for the new filter to cycle if it was not seeded. 6 weeks is the minimum time even if it was seeded. Bag up with a bit of water and air, don't let it dry out. Dump it in should work fine unless...

Hmm, bulb is probably 15-20 mm diameter and leaves grow long, but I will trim them down to maybe 8-10 inches for posting (they will grow back within 1-3 weeks normally). Babies on big rhizome roots to medium-sized adult plants. Probably more of the smaller ones than the big ones.

Crinum is no problem, £7 for one plant. Would you prefer a selection of Crypts or just C. wendtii 'brown'? What size plants?

I've got Cabomba, loads of cuttings, floaters, Crypts, Crinums, Anubias, moss, etc. I'm going on holiday for 2.5 weeks from today, so all of those will be ready for trimming back by the time I come back. Is there anything specific you're after?

It is definitely too small for angels and most likely too small for Corys (I consider that most dwarf Corys should have at least a 60*30 cm footprint tank). Do you know what species the Corys are?

Can you check the expiry date on those kits? Otherwise, I recommend that you get your water tested with another kit (for example, at the LFS) or test something with a known pH, ideally using a calibration solution or otherwise something that you can find around the house… for example, saliva has...

Well, if it's a 50*20*20 cm tank, than most microrasbora, small tetra, dwarf goruamis, small livebearers, etc should be fine (depending on your water parameters), but if it's a cube (for example, 30*30*35 cm), then you're limited to slow-moving fish, I would say.

What is the highest reading on the mid-range pH test and what is the highest on the high-range?

What are the dimensions? Water parameters? Best option is likely to be to a trio of harem-type Apistogrammas (for example, most common ones are A. cacatuoides and A. agassizii), with 15-25 tetras of one species (for example, 20-25 neons or 15 rummynoses). I would also top up the Corys to 10. 4...

What are the dimensions? Your (tap) water paramenters? Best choice is likely to be shrimp, Betta splendens or dwarf fish (and by dwarf, I mean really, really small).

For them to achieve their full potential, I suspect that they would require around an 8*3 ft footprint tank. Personally, I would not keep this species because of its potential adult size and the fact that it reaches its full size in home aquaria only extremely rarely. It is one of the fish that...

From the readings you posted, I would say that you've been a bit enthusiastic with the ammonia (not a problem) and the cycle is progressing. Can you post the full log please? And your tap water parameters? (Test pH after tap water has been stood in a clean glass for 24 hours.) You should not be...

Sure, I'm sending some Vallis out today, so will let you know how many I have left.

I buy all plants online because I do not have an LFS which I want to support, also my LFS do not have a worthwhile selection anyway. Worth keeping in mind that not all plants come from Asia, there are a number of European nurseries too, and not all nurseries treat their plants, so ask the seller!

PM sent I sure do, how many are you after?

What sort of light is that over the tank? (Wattage and type of bulb are useful) It might be a cute little thing now, but think of what it would be like when it all grows up… :rolleyes:

When I said Mopane wood, I actually meant red moor wood >.< This is the sort of piece I was imagining: http://100sklepow.pl/storage/aquarium-designer/productgallery/opt_133026702511306872131714011460.jpg

Can you check the ingredients on the med? I have this nagging feeling that it does contain something quite nasty that will build up, if not removed from the water by carbon or water changes, and is harmful to the fish. The instructions are correct in saying do +1 treatment after all symptoms are...

I find that link useful for IDing algae, but not so useful for figuring out the cause because those do not correlate to my own experience, so I always wonder if they are more relevant when one is messing about with bright lights, CO2 and fertilisers as any of those can throw things out of...

Sharp sand, if you are just going for sand.

I use freeze dried black worm, which are quite high in protein and quite nutritious. They are available from the Australian Black Worms company (I think there are some on eBay, in case you don't want to pay the outrageous postage costs) and are very good value for money. I have used them to...

Hi, is your filter cycled? If yes, how exactly did you cycle it? (For example, by adding household ammonia until you got double zeros for 7 days in a row.) It is normal for fish to look for food all the time, especially fish like guppies. Assuming your filter is fully cycled, you can feed up to...

+1 quick scrub under the tap to get dust and spiders off, and then in it goes.

…breeding pairs of *what*?

Hmm, in that case the only thing you could do is upload it elsewhere and link to it. If you have never kept plants before, then be careful to not get demanding ones as they are quite likely to die off. Probably anything undemanding would do ok, but do not expect all of them to work with your...

Some will, some won't. Generally, things like malachite green and methylene blue will kill off the filter bacteria (some of which are gram-negative) when higher doses are used, but most generic antimicrobials will not because they either do not contain those or contain low concentrations of them...

Any chance of a larger photo? I would add a tall piece of Mopane wood in one of the corners, pointing it towards the other side of the tank, and some plants around it, probably tall plants behind it, and shorter plants going to the other side of the tank and to the front.

Just to double check: do you know to move all the media from the old filter into the new one? This is something that you need to speak to Hagen about, their website has information on how to contact them. I would personally expect that a hood modification will not affect the warranty on the...

"Live sand" is something for marine tanks, so you probably want to list it in the marine section and point out that it's been used in freshwater (which makes is just sand, not live sand). Here is what Wikipedia has to say about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_sand For next time, you can...

Off topic: when did you upgrade?!?

Did you wash it before you added it? Normally, if you wash the sand until the water is running clear, then wash it again, and fill the tank gently, without disturbing the sand, the water should be relatively clear. For the moment, fill a spare filter or the filter for the larger tank with fine...

It is probably a good idea to avoid the aquarium salt while you keep tetras. It sounds like the gouramis had finrot, which is usually curable with medication, but they are very picky about water quality. Can you please list your exact water parameters? How did you acclimatise the new fish...

I have never had any problems keeping Bettas over sand and they are found over sand in the wild… also, they're not really stupid enough to confuse food and sand! Anyway, you can try selling all those bits off on here, you might be able to make back at least some of the money that you spent on...

I got my custom tank and cabinet from ND Aquatics. If one buys both, I think one gets free delivery. Sliders are probably plastic runners for the coverglass.

Cyanobacteria? Manual removal works, also antibiotics do and there are some targeted products available too. Blackouts should work, but don't expect them to be 100% successful without the manual removal. Neither fish, nor most plants, should be affected by week long blackouts. If you have a...

What Tom said, and I would probably add an extra fine sponge into the filter, before the media, for the first day.