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  1. Autonerd

    Die-Off

    Meeresstile, thanks for the info -- I have only tested immediate pH on my tap water, I will try 24 hrs and nitrate tests. Unfortunately I don't have a setup for a quarantine tank -- the last time I added creatures (besides ghost shrimp and the assassins) the tank was freshly cycled, so it *was*...
  2. Autonerd

    Disappearing Fish

    Two mature fish have just died, so I moved this to the Emergency forum:   http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/433687-die-off/   Fish Herder, I use an AquaClear 30. Fish acclimation: Floated fish in bag in water, then added some of my tank water every 10 mins or so, and eventually netted...
  3. Autonerd

    Die-Off

    Hi all -- A follow up to a post in Tropical Discussion (http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/433643-disappearing-fish/)   I mentioned that I was trying to restock my 2-year-old tank, adding more Neons and Dwarf Corys. Most of the new fish I've added have disappeared. (I suspected a ghost...
  4. Autonerd

    Disappearing Fish

    Yes, and I haven't found fish bodies... we have a dog but she's a picky eater. 
  5. Autonerd

    Disappearing Fish

    Hi all -- I have an established 15 gal tank (you helped me establish it!) that's about 2 yrs old. I started with six neons, six pygmy corys and a couple of ghost shrimp. The ghosts are gone, cory population has dropped to 2 and neons to three. I also have a small MTS population (so much for...
  6. Autonerd

    Malaysian Trumpet Snails And Algae

    I got some hitchhikers on a plant I just bought. I nearly panicked, but having read up on them, I've decided not to rush out and buy those assasin snails. Not many so far, maybe half a dozen, but 4 or 5 of those have popped up in the last couple of days. My question is this: I've let some brown...
  7. Autonerd

    Red Spot On One Gill, One Fish

    Just noticed a red spot behind the gill of one of my neons (he happens to be the smallest). The wierd part is it's only the one gill and it's only the one fish -- the other 5 (and the other half of this one) are fine. I noticed this right after a 5 gal water change, I did not test the water...
  8. redspot.JPG

    redspot.JPG

  9. Autonerd

    Pygmy Cory Rip - Should I Replace Him?

    Thanks -- I've had them about 2 months, and they were the first fish to be added to the tank. I've been fully stocked for abotu 7-8 weeks. I have noticed that a couple of them have grown significantly bigger than the others...the one that died was one of the little ones. Could some of them not...
  10. Autonerd

    Pygmy Cory Rip - Should I Replace Him?

    I found one of my pygmy corys dead today. :( Water chemistry is normal, I hadn't noticed any strange behavior from any of the fish, and I didn't see anything unusual on his body. I'll watch the tank carefully for a few days, but if there are no other problems, should I replace him? I have 5...
  11. Autonerd

    New Filter.... How Do I Avoid Re Cycling?

    I am about to make a similar switch... upgrading my Tetra Whisper PF10 to an AquaClear 30. The media is not the same size, but if I put the black mesh from the Tetra at the bottom end of the AquaClear's "sandwich," will that suffice? Should I also include the pouch that holds the carbon...
  12. Autonerd

    Gravel *and* Sand?

    Update: Took a couple of days for the water to clear, but the fish seemed none the worse for wear. My filter stalled once, so I checked it religiously and it seems to be working just fine now. I went all sand and added pebbles on the surface in the corners of the tank, plus a bigger-rock...
  13. Autonerd

    Feeding

    My LFS uses a turkey baster to deliver food to the bottom of the tank. That might help. What about feeding different types of food, some floating and some sinking, at the same time?
  14. Autonerd

    Gravel *and* Sand?

    Thanks everyone! I just did the conversion to sand last night, and the tank is still clearing. Going to see how the sand looks once the water is clear, and then probably add some larger rocks and smaller pebbles on the surface. Removing the pebbles and seeing all the crap that got stirred up...
  15. Autonerd

    Oops! Frozen Bloodworms Un-Frozen

    Hi all -- I left my package of frozen blood-worms out on the counter last night, so they are cold, but un-frozen. Do they go bad? Can I re-freeze them and keep using them? Thanks Aaron
  16. Autonerd

    Cycling Question?

    If I'm reading your log correctly, you've only added ammonia once or twice, is that right? If not, sorry, ignore the rest of my message. :) If so, you have a ways to go. From what I understand, cycling is done when you can repeatedly add ammonia and 12 hours later both ammonia and nitrite...
  17. Autonerd

    Gravel *and* Sand?

    Cool, thanks all! I will give it a try. Next question: Will the plants do better in the gravel or the sand? Aaron
  18. Autonerd

    Water Testing

    Welcome from another newbie!! I started with a fish-in cycle on a small (15g US) tank and three fish. Two died, so rather than get more fish I took the remaining one back and switched to a fishless cycle. Doing a fish-in cycle requires a LOT of water changes, while a fishless requires a LOT of...
  19. Autonerd

    Gravel *and* Sand?

    Just got some pygmy corys, and after reading more and looking at pics, I want to change my gravel (pebble) substrate for sand. Read lots of messages on how to do it, so I'm set there. Here's the thing: My wife really likes the pebbles. So I'm wondering, can I do both? Not on top of each other...
  20. Autonerd

    Shrimp Pellets For Pygmy Corys?

    Hi all -- New (cycled) tank, so far I have a dwarf gourami and six pygmy corys. I bought a can of shrimp pellets for the corys (said they were good for bottom-feeders)... but the pellets are as big as the fish! Set a couple in the tank and they do seem to disintegrate eventually, but my...
  21. Autonerd

    Help With Fishless Cycle

    Got something similar from my spouse, who had a bet going that we'd never get fish in our tank. (I won.) Fishless cycling took 5 or 6 weeks but it was well worth it (those daily water changes with fish-in were a royal pain in the butt). I used 4 ppm ammonia and one helping of the...
  22. Autonerd

    Lots Of Dead Ghost (?) Shrimp At Lfs

    Odd. I went back yesterday and the colony of dead shrimp were gone... wonder if they cleaned them out or if they got eaten.
  23. Autonerd

    Lots Of Dead Ghost (?) Shrimp At Lfs

    Was at my LFS (Aquarium City in Canoga Park, for any of you Los Angelenos) and noticed that the ghost shrimp tank, which was carpeted with live ghost shrimp, also had a bunch of pink, dead ones -- maybe a couple dozen. Not being the sharpest tool in the shed, I assumed that was food. Wife said...
  24. Autonerd

    Time To Stock! Need Help And Advice

    Thanks, Moochy! I didn't think about that possibility.
  25. Autonerd

    Time To Stock! Need Help And Advice

    We added a dwarf gourami this evening. Everything I read made him seem like a good choice with other community fish, plus I think starting with just a single fish is a good idea. My wife came along (her first trip to the fish store with me) and we looked at some of the other fish I'm...
  26. Autonerd

    Time To Stock! Need Help And Advice

    Thanks... hopefully they will chime in!! I do like the dwarf gourami idea, that's one I've been tossing around for a while, knowing the potential problems. And it lets me start with one fish.
  27. Autonerd

    Time To Stock! Need Help And Advice

    And mine is newly set up... Which reminds me, how long should I wait before adding the next group of fish? Am I looking for specific results in my water tests?
  28. Autonerd

    Time To Stock! Need Help And Advice

    Thanks, that makes sense. I hadn't really thought about guppies because I don't want baby fish, but I guess if I have all males, that shouldn't be an issue. :) I have been leaning towards cardinals over neons, but from your logic, since I could do more neons than cardinals, they might be worth...
  29. Autonerd

    Time To Stock! Need Help And Advice

    She Who Must Be Obeyed is in favor of a gourami, she had one and considers them indestructible. I was worried about guppies because I don't want babies, but I suppose male guppies won't have that problem. I'm curious -- why the guppies over the rasboras? Thanks -- Aaron
  30. Autonerd

    Time To Stock! Need Help And Advice

    Hi again -- Looks like my 15g tank is fully cycled and it's time to start adding fish! Man of Fish suggested 6 corys, 6 cardinals, and 6 harlequin rasboras, plus some ghost shrimp, which sounds like an interesting setup. My question is, which fish should I add first? In what quantity should I...
  31. Autonerd

    I Never Thought This Day Would Come!

    My nitrates are indeed going to 0 in 12 hours. (Ammonia has been dropping to 0 in 12 for a while now.) I'm roughly 4 weeks into the cycle, btw. And I will probably wait a few days -- I have a 3-day business trip coming up next week and don't want to leave newly-arrived fish! No worries, Tom...
  32. Autonerd

    I Never Thought This Day Would Come!

    ...but it has! 4 ppm ammonia to 0 nitrites in 12 hours! I've just dosed back up to 4 ppm to make sure this isn't a one-time thing, but from the rate at which everything's been dropping, I think my tank just might be cycled! So my next step is a 90% water change, which should get my pH and...
  33. Autonerd

    Fishless Cycle: This Seems Odd...

    I don't know yet. I got some great suggestions on the forums in an older message, but I can't remember what they wre offhand! :/ I was looking at small schooling fish (I have a 15 gal (US) tank). Corys on bottom, maybe some cardinals... oy, I just can't remember the other suggestions. Aaron
  34. Autonerd

    Fishless Cycle: This Seems Odd...

    Will that affect the tank long-term? In other words, once the cycle is done, can I let the pH drop to its natural level of 7.8 or so, or do I have to keep it at 8 or above?
  35. Autonerd

    Fishless Cycle: This Seems Odd...

    Well, the water change seemed to do it -- as of this morning my pH is back in the mid-7s and ammonia is down to 0. Nitrates still at 40. I'll do another 1/3 WC today just to be on the safe side. Thanks!! Aaron
  36. Autonerd

    Fishless Cycle: This Seems Odd...

    Thanks very much. I just did a 1/3 water change, I'll let everything run for a little bit and then re-test the values and maybe change some more water. If the pH stays still low, I'll add baking soda.
  37. Autonerd

    Fishless Cycle: This Seems Odd...

    Whoops -- I haven't been checking ph as it hasn't been changing, but I just tested and it's at 6.0 (lowest the test will register) down from the usual 7.8. Think I found my problem! I did some searching, it looks like the solutions are either baking soda or a water change. I don't know my kh...
  38. Autonerd

    Fishless Cycle: This Seems Odd...

    Hi all -- I'm about 20 days into my fishless cycle. My tank had been reliably dropping from 4 ppm ammonia in 12-15 hours. Nitrite is at 0 after 24 hours and accelerating. Buuut, in my last couple of tests, ammonia has been creeping up to 0.25 and even 0.50, even with nitrite at 0. Nitrate has...
  39. Autonerd

    Fishless Cycling

    I'd like to make a suggestion for the original article. It recommends adding an airstone to help with oxygen. The members recommended that people with HOB filters can lower the water level so that the water pouring into the tank causes bubbles and surface disruption. I did this and it appears to...
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