55 Gallon, And All My Mistakes

[Ninjouzata]

Does he have a way to get up to the outflow of the filter? We cut up some craft mesh and situated it there for ours to hang on to.

 

[Squeegeatc]

There is a really tall fake plant over there, but he doesn't even go to that half of the tank.   He likes the house.  The house has 2 bubblers, so lots of current.  I'm not sure if it is the right kind of current, though.  Yesterday he spent all day just sitting on the house.   Not picking, not fanning.   Just sitting.  He is hiding again. 

 

[Squeegeatc]

2 months later and I FINALLY get to come update!!!    (darn computer malware issues)
 
First of all, the ammonia is finally stable.   In fact, it is so stable that we have a fully stocked tank now.  The Blackskirts were rehomed, so that left an opening.   Current stocking is 7 cardinal tetras, 4 kuhli loaches, 2 upsidedown catfish, 5 rasboras, a platy, a guppy, a bamboo shrimp, and 3 baby angelfish.   Yes, I realize we are taking a risk with the angels and tetras.   I have heard this go both ways.   I'm keeping a close eye on them.  Right now, the cardinal tetraas are almost the same size as the angels. 
 
Second, the plantings are going very very slow.   I have several batches of staurogyne repens that I'm trying to grow thick for the kuhlis and (eventually) the shrimp.  The wysteria died off.   The vals almost died off, but seem to be coming back from the roots.  The single anubis is staying the same, but appears to have a weird hairy algae growth. 
 
Third, the 10 gallon RCS breeding program is so far a HUGE success!    My 3 or 4 BIG dark females all hatched the first batch of eggs and are working on the 2nd.   I have shrimplets everywhere.  They are so much fun to watch.  Unfrtunately, the java moss came with snails.   I'm having a devil of a time.   Can't use snail killer----can't use assasin snails.   Both will harm my shrimp.   Crushing by hand is a pain.
 
4th......about to UPGRADE!!   Well, we hope.   A 125 gallon is on the back of my father in law's truck as we speak.   It has to make the trip from NC to LA----12 hours+.   IF it makes it here in one piece, we will be moving the 55, decor and all, to the new 125.   The 55 will be redone as a ciclid tank for the hubby.  He has FINALLY realized the whole ammonia cycle thing and has been very very supportive lately.  It's nice to be able to plan this together.
 
I will have loads of questions concerning moving the tank.   But I'll save that for the main forum.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Very exciting. Do keep an eye on the angels once they get bigger. Not only for eating the tetras but if a pair forms they may kill the 3rd one.
I'd get more khuli loaches, rasboras, and upside down cats when possible as they all prefer groups of 6+.
 
I wouldn't really worry about the snails..but you could put something like lettuce in at night and in the morning remove it. Keep doing that and you should get a lot of them out.
 
I hope the 125 makes it in one piece!

 

[Squeegeatc]

Very exciting. Do keep an eye on the angels once they get bigger. Not only for eating the tetras but if a pair forms they may kill the 3rd one.
I'd get more khuli loaches, rasboras, and upside down cats when possible as they all prefer groups of 6+.
 
I wouldn't really worry about the snails..but you could put something like lettuce in at night and in the morning remove it. Keep doing that and you should get a lot of them out.
 
I hope the 125 makes it in one piece!

I had 6 rasboras.   We lost one of our older ones.  It was fullsized when we got it, so not really sure how old it was.   And honestly, those 5 have hooked up with the single guppy and platy.   It's weird-----they think they all 7 belong together.   I MAY get more platys if we can upgrade, but not the guppies.  He was a bonus with some ghost shrimp a year ago. 
 
We had to drive 90 minutes away to get the kuhli's, and they only had 4.   I was bummed.   We are getting at least 2 more when we make the next trip.   Now the cats, I have been debating that.   I'd like a few corys, too.   BUT can't "afford" 6 of each.   In fact, I really can't get 4 more upside downs in the 55 gallon, either.   Now IF the 125 makes it, yes.   I will be getting more.  I am also concerned aout too many bottom feeders.  if I fully stock corys, kuhlis, and upcats, that's 18 fish on the bottom.  PLUS the RCS will be moved over as soon as I have a large enough colony.
 
The snails are just ugly.   They are EVERYWHERE.   And teeny tiny.   Some barely bigger than a pin head.  I really want to use the moss that is in there, so I took out half and have it in a bowl.  I keep draining it and adding plain ole tapwater to it.   The chlorine should kill off the snails.   I plan on making a wall or carpet using it and some screening. 

 

[Ninjouzata]

Ahh okay, I'm sorry to hear that. Fish are funny My female guppy (accidental purchase) hangs out with our rummynose tetras.
 
I doubt the chlorine will do anything to the snails, they're very hardy. I have had quite a few while cycling a tank so they were taking ammonia at 3ppm. Not all of them made it of course but it's amazing how much they can handle.
I did take the ones I could grab out and put them in other tanks though as I felt bad. Snails not for everyone I guess but I love mine!

 

[Squeegeatc]

Hmm...I read something about very very hot tap water killing snails and eggs.    Maybe THAT is why I'm seeing so few in the bowl of moss I set aside.  
 
or the cat is eating them when he drinks from it!!   LOL

 

[Squeegeatc]

I have a gravid rasbora!!   I'm sure the eggs won't survive, but still.....fun!!!   The 125 will be here soon.   We'll know in a few days if it is still water tight.
 
BTW---The LFS sold me 3 angels, saying that they needed to be odd numbers.   Someone ELSE said they needed to be even numbers.   I hope I did this the right way.

 

[Ninjouzata]

If two of them pair up they may kill the 3rd one. Are you looking for a pair or just wanting multiple angels? If you want a pair most people get 6 and wait for a pair to form and then re-home the others.

 

[Squeegeatc]

No, I didnt want a pair. Just wanted something kind of flashy. I really want some dwarf gouramis, but all of my local options seem to have issues with the disease.

 

[Squeegeatc]

The 125G holds water!!    But the pump is burned up.  We have bought 50lbs of play sand and 50lbs of pea gravel, washed the snot out of it, and laid it in the tank.  So far, the only local pump we found is $200.  I'm hoping we can find one cheaper online.  We can afford to be patient.  In the mean time, the cardinal tetras appear to have columnarius.  1 is dead, a 2nd is sick.  My hospital tank is a doggone vase.   No air stone, no filtration.   I should probably just euthenize him and get it over with.   If a 3rd shows signs, I'm going to figure out how to dose the whole tank.  I need to look a bit more into that with the bamboo shrimp.  He may have to be moved to the red cherry shrimp breeding tank. 
 
Because of the bamboo shrimp, I've decided to use as much of the old water as possible. If I dump him in a brand new tank with fresh water, I'll starve him to death.
 
next step is to move the vallis into the new tank.   I'll have to wait to move the staurogyne repens because the kuhlis love it.

 

[Ninjouzata]

For the columnaris I would make another thread. I treated mine with Maracyn 1 & 2 together. I did the entire tank though as it can be quite contagious.
 
Pump as in filter, right? Perhaps check out the Sunsun Canisters? I have two of THESE on my 129g.

 

[Squeegeatc]

I had already started a thread for the columnaris.   I think it has stopped, with only 3 cardinals gone.  Still keeping a very close eye on my guys.  I am dosing with Melafix.  The guys in the other thread said it won't work, but the 4 guys in the LFS said it would.  Conflicting info everywhichway.
 
And no, Ninjouzata, a real pump!  LOL   This tank came with a wet/dry filter with bio balls.   It is an amazing system.   A siphon moves water from the tank into the filter, then the pump moves the water from the bottom filter back up into the tank.  It moves approx 1000 gallons per hour.
 
I took the activated carbon out of the sacks in the 55 gallon, and then put the sacks back in the filter.   I figure the sacks equaled biomedia too.  Last night we came home with 3 Blue Platys and 4 Red Wag platys, and moved over the Mickey Mouse and the Fancy Guppy.  Took 1/4 of my filter media and slipped it into the wet/dry filter.  Heavy Duty daily testing on both tanks starts today.

 

[Ninjouzata]

You want a medication that treats gram negative bacteria IIRC. I am not familiar with Melafix so not sure if it does that..it should say on it if it does. I'd trust the people here over the people at the LFS.
 
Oooh okay! I have no idea about that stuff. Sounds great, hope you can find a decently priced pump then
 
Definitely keep an eye on the water parameters. Enjoy your new fishies~

 

[daizeUK]

I don't believe Melafix is particularly effective against columnaris.  From what I understand it's little more than a natural antiseptic but at least adding it can't hurt.