MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum - FreshWater General Discussion

Algae/Phosphates/Nitrates

GrandHokie98 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:32:35 GMT

So i have two tanks, one 29 gallon and one 10 gallon, both have elevated phosphates and nitrates, but the large one looks great while the small tank is progressively getting more and more covered in algae and all the plants are dying.

I have been doing regular 25% water changes every week in both tanks in an attempt to lower the levels, but they never seem to get any better.

If i'm not mistaken, plants are supposed to like phosphates and nitrates, so why are they dying?

Here are the levels both tanks are the same...
Nitrites=0 ppm
Ammonia=0 ppm
PH=7
Phosphate=10+ ppm
Nitrates=80+ ppm

If more info is needed, just ask... i'm familiar with jeep forums and what info is necessary, but fish forums are new to me

ID sharks- behavior change?

EnyaGirl — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:24:21 GMT

I have 2 ID sharks in my 55-gal. tank. Before I get yelled at for having these....I didn't get them. They came with a tank that I inherited the care of. It's just them and a pleco. in the tank.

They are usually very active, swimming all over the place, but for the last week they have been hiding, at the bottom of the tank behind decorations. It's very odd that they're both behaving in the same way all of a sudden. I did lose a couple fish in a recent move, and had some nitrite issues which have now been resolved. Water tests show no ammonia or nitrites. Water temp is kept. around 76. Could their behavior be changing because they're suddenly "alone" in the tank (except for the pleco. who rarely comes out), or what? It's really odd....throughout the day I see them come up to the surface every once in a while, but other than that I do not see them swimming around in the tank at all. They went from being my most active fish to me checking for signs of life because they're so still!

Any ideas?

My Molly Fry Keeps Getting Ick! :(

temull2 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:09:44 GMT

This is probably the 4th time my molly fry has gotten ick over the past 4 to 5 months! and it comes out of nowhere! All of a sudden, she's nearly completely covered by white fuzzy spots!

I keep treating the tank with "Ick Clear" and that usually takes care of it for a week or two. The first three times were all within the same month, so I'm thinking that it was just a really bad case that wouldn't completely go away. Also, I would usually see 1 or 2 spots before I treated, but this seemed to happen overnight! What in the world happened?!

It's also no affected any of my other fish at ALL. I haven't seen ANY spots on them.

Question for rasbora people

bassbonediva — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:39:46 GMT

I was googling random smaller, non-aggressive tropicals and looked up "rasbora" (as a generic search term, basically). I knew about the harlequins, which seem pretty "common." But then, I saw a picture of a galaxy rasbora. Does anyone know how accessible they are? Are they something I can order through my local fish/pet store (not the box store)?

Here's a link to a pic, in case you're wondering what they look like...
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cwbt2D65i9...ra_galaxy1.jpg

Epic Fail, How do I fix this??

jjqs11 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:15:50 GMT

Alrighty.
I have failed, badly.

Ive had my tank running for about 5 weeks, but I really didnt do any research before I started, and I fear Ive screwed myself lol.
HELP!

Alright, I have...
A non aggressive American Chichlid, A betta, 6 Diamond Tetras, 1 Pleco, 3 Platys, one that I think is prego. :S

Alright, so I added a couple barbs, was told they were good to do a fish in cycle.
6 if Im not mistaken.
Apparently babys arent the best though, and they all ended up dying. :( <- Within a week that is.
Then I added the betta/chichlid/and a moly.
Then the week after, the tetras... For some reason, the fish store told me I didnt have to wait to add fish... Only now that I look online, I find out... lol.
So...

Now everyone seems healthy, but my water looks like crap.
And Im told, if I have some live plants/properly cycled ect, my water will be crystal clear.

Therefor, I would love to do the following.

A fishless cycling, and adding the soil stuff under my rocks, and adding live plants.

If I wanna do this, I need to remove my fish from the tank for the 2-3 weeks its going to take me to do the ammonia cycling...

What is the cheapest/best way to getting my fish out of the tank for those 2-3 weeks.

Is it possible to, *I KNOW THIS IS MEAN TO THE FISH*, put them in a un-cycled tank, for the 2-3 weeks, allthough I know they will stress, having a good tank to go back in later on may be worth the 2-3 week stress?

I dont know.
Tell me if theres anythign I can do.
I dont really wanna buy another tank, then fishless cycle it, then transfer my fish, then fishless cycle this one, then transfer them back.

One of my friends has a fish tank though, cycled/planted ect.

Would it be best for me to bring my fish to his tank for the 2-3 weeks?
Will they be stressed out if they are put in his tank, then brought back to mine? Take into account, adding my 12 fish to his tank, would be extremely over populated.
Ahh, Im so confused.

Can I get a Parrot Cichlid?

vo1umeone — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:01:17 GMT

Soooo
I set up another 29 gal tank...I know, I'm slightly obsessed with fish.

Anyways, I'm wondering if I could get a parrot cichlid? In the tank, there is a small pleco, two little fruit tetras, and two mollies. The mollies can be moved if they have to. I have a 30 and 10 gal filter in the tank, and a heater if necessary. I also have a little cave for it to hide in.

I don't have a light/lid, though. The tank is under my other 29 gal, and I ran into the problem of the bottom tank being too close to the bottom of the other tank to fit a lid in between easily.

Also, just curious. Is there a tank size that would be equivalent in width and length to the 29, but not as tall (my 29 is 30x12x18)? Maybe a 20gal long? It is hard and time-consuming to do water changes with the 3.5 inch gap above the bottom tank.

But back to parrot cichlids. Would one be compatible with the other fish? And would it be okay without a light?

What to do.....

Hippie Chick — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:58:22 GMT

Hey Ya'll,

Looking for a somewhat active, easy to find/take care of, schooling fish that will live happily in a 20g (tall) planted tank with a frog, gourami, & cory cats.

What is in it:

Hardscape:
Play sand
Slate
River rock
Driftwood
Flora:
Java fern
Anubias barteri
Dwarf Sagittaria
Hygrophila corymbosa
Anacharis
Couple mystery bulbs from an assortment pack.
Fauna:
1 Dwarf Gourami
1 African clawed frog
3 Harlequin Rasbora ((Down from a school of about 10))
2 Cory Cats
1 Otocinclus Catfish (had a couple)
couple ghost shrimp
$h*+ load of cornocopia snails
Equipment:
1 bubble stone
1 20/30 Aquaclear hang on the back filter
no heater, I live in Florida

I believe my frog is slowly eating my rasbora's & shrimp. He seems to leave the Cory Cats & Gourami alone.

I'm looking to restock with a school of something the frog will leave alone.

Any ideas?

help me please.

buddhababy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:29:49 GMT

so this is probably the third time that i've had to clean my tank due to death of fish, but every time i clean it and sterilize it and get it ready for the fish, they still die within a few weeks of getting them. i take very good care of them and keep the tank clean. I am now down to a dwarf gourami and two neon tetras. the thing i don't understand is, i used the same kind of tank as my other, i use the same filter and filter cartrages, the same heater, the same plants, the same airator, feed them the same food, and use the same water for the tanks and the fish in the other tank have been alive for over four years now yet the fish in the one tank can't last more than a few days to a few weeks. any idea of why this might be?

will this work then??

kezdoc09 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:16:38 GMT

atm i have two small tanks upstairs one with 1 male fighter and an otto and the other has 9 amano shrimp, 2 golden apple snails and 2 adf's.
i also got two quite big tanks downstairs so really want to cut down a little so wanted to invest in a slightly bigger tank than the ones upstairs and merge the two together. So my question is are these compatible?
1 male fighter
1 otto
9 amano shrimp
2 golden apple snails
2 adf's

need some ideas

hayer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:24:28 GMT

i have a 55 gallon aquarium with: 3 boesemani rainbows
1 dwarf gourami
5 black skirt tetras
5 cory cats
1 BN pleco
5 serpae tetras

could i add a golden dojo loach that is in my 46 gallon bowfront and 1 or 2 more rainbows? i would also appreciate stocking ideas for the 46. it still has fish in it that will soon be moved to a 125 gallon after it is cycled. if the loach can't go in the 55, it will go in the 46. i know for sure that these fish will go in the 46: 1 male halfmoon betta
1 bumblebee goby (who is thriving!)
5 cardinal tetras
5 white cloud mountain minnows
5 rummynosed tetras
4 oto cats( not sure...)
6 pygmy cory( depending if loach is there or not!)
but i would like more ideas. Thanx so much!!!

African dwarf frogs, amano shrimp and crabs?

kezdoc09 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:38:01 GMT

Hi, at the moment i have 9 amano shrimp with two adf's and 2 apple snails. My lfs is selling red clawed crabs, does anyone know if the crabs would go in this tank with the shrimp and frogs safely?

help high nitrite levels!!

mattmctyre — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:36:01 GMT

ok well lately i have had kinda murky water. ive done a few water changes tested the water and it was good. today i test the water and the nitrite levels are high. i dont know what nitrite is or how to lower it help!!!

Dust/Dirt ?

MadridKid — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:37:30 GMT

Hey guys, on the surface of my water, inside of my betta's tank, there is a dust/dirt that just floats around constantly. it gets worse everyday, and i dont know what it is, or how to stop it! what do i do??

55G Rescue/Journal

GregBox — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:27:28 GMT

Well my buddy's fifty five had a huge problem when the center support broke and the tank started to bulge and deform. Lucky he had another 55gallon not being used in the basement so we were able to swap out the tanks before he had a flood on his hands. We ended up painting the back of the tank blue with Kyrlon paint that bonds well to glass. While we were in the process of a complete re-haul he decided to change things up and go with two substrates, one being florimax black substrate and 30 pounds of white marine sand. In terms of stock he has a school of 2 neons, 3 emerald cories, platties, and krypts. The tank is planted but needs to grow out. Here are some pics of the process hopefully the water will clear up soon and I'll be able to get some better ones.

Here is the tank and the hardscape.

Attached Images

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	Nates 55g resque 006.jpg (46.6 KB)
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	Nates 55g resque 013.jpg (48.3 KB)

Setting up a new tank

BareFootAviary — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:05:33 GMT

So as stated in my "welcome" thread, I am setting up a new tank. It has been years since I have had my own freshwater tank (had my 90g SW for about 6 years before having to take it apart last year but 7-8 years since my freshwater tanks). I want to set up a 15g planted SA tank, but I want some criticism before I go ahead and do it. Here is what I hope to do:

Fish:
small school of Julii Cories (probably 3?)
3X German Blue Rams
5X Blue Tetras (or Black Phantoms, depending on if the Blues are available at the time)
A few Otocinclus or a smaller Pleco (I was recommended a species that stays under 4")
and 1 Apistogramma (probably an Agassizi)

Plants:
Anubius
Aponogeton
Java Fern
Hornwort
Moneywort
Cryptocoryne
Hemianthus

Filtration will be a biowheel/cascading of larger than recommended size, lighting is still to be determined but will be moderate to high. Substrate will be sand and nutrient-rich fertilizer base.

How does this sound? Anything that sounds bad or raises a red flag? I don't want to start setting up until I get my figures right and decide on if I can get the fish I want for the tank size I want, etc. I don't have a lot of room for anything bigger or I would set up my 30g...but the boyfriend says we don't have room for a stand...(the 15g would be on an existing piece of furniture).

So, fire away!