Fish Lovers 3.0 [new poll]

[satuurnity]

Hi! I've decided I want to start diffusing CO2 into my tank,
but I have no idea how to start. Can anyone explain what
I need and how to set it up? Thank you! xx

[Naeco]

Yes, I know. But we have had plecos in the past that were in this tank that didn't get much bigger than 6-8 inches. They were perfectly fine too. My problem is that I need another algae eater. The pleco cleans up the big areas but not the fine spots. For example, the gravel, the grooves of the rocks, etc.

If a common pleco reaches 6-8 inches and stops growing there is something very wrong. Hopefully they were bristlenoses.

Can you explain in detail the aggression you observed with the barbs? Tiger barbs are naturally aggressive fish so some aggression within the group is expected and is not cause for alarm.

I had a few other tiger barbs in my tank and they were heavily picking on the other fish. Then, one day, all of them started fighting each other heavily until two or three died. There were two left and they were still fighting. It was really stressing out the other fish so I took one and put it in my brothers tank. Ever since then, the one in my tank has been chill and doesn't pick on the other fish as much.

[Hime]

Yes, I know. But we have had plecos in the past that were in this tank that didn't get much bigger than 6-8 inches. They were perfectly fine too. My problem is that I need another algae eater. The pleco cleans up the big areas but not the fine spots. For example, the gravel, the grooves of the rocks, etc.

If a common pleco reaches 6-8 inches and stops growing there is something very wrong. Hopefully they were bristlenoses.

Can you explain in detail the aggression you observed with the barbs? Tiger barbs are naturally aggressive fish so some aggression within the group is expected and is not cause for alarm.

I had a few other tiger barbs in my tank and they were heavily picking on the other fish. Then, one day, all of them started fighting each other heavily until two or three died. There were two left and they were still fighting. It was really stressing out the other fish so I took one and put it in my brothers tank. Ever since then, the one in my tank has been chill and doesn't pick on the other fish as much.

If you only had 5 or 6 of them, that may have been the issue... Tiger barbs are know to be aggressive/harrassing, so they need numbers to divide all the picking among each other. Same applies to some tetras, like yeah some may say generally 6 is enough for schooling fish(though I personally go with 10), but in reality it can be over 10 or even 20 fishes before the school works. Sometimes decoration(=hiding spots) can also affect the behavior of the fish. Like if there's a fight, can the weaker fish go easily hide behind something if needed. Or simply the tank is too small for them to fit all their big egos, as I've seen tiger barb tank size recommendations be closer to 40gal.

Yes, I know. But we have had plecos in the past that were in this tank that didn't get much bigger than 6-8 inches. They were perfectly fine too. My problem is that I need another algae eater. The pleco cleans up the big areas but not the fine spots. For example, the gravel, the grooves of the rocks, etc.

If they were bristlenose then that size is ok, but if not I'd be worried. Also good ol' bristlenoses(and many other plecos) can live 10+ years fairly easily, so if you've had plecos in past that only lived about half of that or less, I'd be concerned again.
If you got algae issue, algae eater isn't the best solution for it. It's more like band-aid to hide it. Ottos are nice little algae eaters, but I've noticed they aren't really effective against anything other than brown algae(diatoms).

Hi! I've decided I want to start diffusing CO2 into my tank,<br abp="907">but I have no idea how to start. Can anyone explain what <br abp="908">I need and how to set it up? Thank you! xx

Were you thinking pressure or DIY-kind set up?

[satuurnity]

Hi! I've decided I want to start diffusing CO2 into my tank,<br abp="907">but I have no idea how to start. Can anyone explain what <br abp="908">I need and how to set it up? Thank you! xx

Were you thinking pressure or DIY-kind set up?[/quote]

Well I'm not too great when it comes to DIY so pressure probably c:

[scuttlefish]

eeek I'm so excited! For my birthday, I'm getting a 40 gallon tank! So I have a couple of questions-
How long will it take to cycle?
And what fish do you suggest?
I'm wondering about Shell Dwellers? Or a group of platies? What do you guys think?

[Hime]

@Floofems<3:Then I would suggest a ready made CO2 kit, which has everything needed(except maybe the gas bottle) in it. Though be warned they can be bit costy. If you don't have very large tank that needs large amount of CO2 you can use Soda Stream's gas bottle as gas source(it's fairly cheap and easy to get refilled).
I'm no means an expert in CO2, as I still lack one myself despite my plants needing one, but I've done little research on subject though mostly on DIY stuff. But basically for pressure version you'll need a CO2 gas bottle, regulator that fits the bottle(preferably with magnetic valve to stop the CO2 for night), bubble counter, diffuser and CO2 proof tubing(like the ones used on air stones, but apparently not all of those are made of materials that contain CO2) to connect pieces. You will also need something to monitor the pH levels, as CO2 if given too much with too low KH will lower it. There are things that are placed inside the tank have indicator liquid. And then there are the electronic versions that can be also hooked into the CO2 system, so that when the pH drops below certain value the system stops to CO2 flow.

I once came across this webstore and someone said they had fairly cheap and good stuff related to CO2 setups. Now I don't know if that is true or not, but maybe it can help you at least get started. https://www.co2art.co.uk/collections/complete-co2-systems

eeek I'm so excited! For my birthday, I'm getting a 40 gallon tank! So I have a couple of questions-
How long will it take to cycle?
And what fish do you suggest?
I'm wondering about Shell Dwellers? Or a group of platies? What do you guys think?

That's awesome! c:
The cycling will take either day or about a month, depending which way you go with it. The easiest, fastest and reliable way is to use filter material and possibly some substrate from already established and properly cycled tank. The good bacteria live on all the surfaces in the tank, so if you move something from running tank to new one, bacterias will come along(unless you let the stuff dry or wash it really well). You could also stick the new filter into already cycled tank and let it run there for week or so maybe and then move it to it's ment tank.
Fast cycle way number 2 is to use ready made bacteria products. Down side to them is they are not totally reliable, some more some less. So you really need to do your research on these products and still carefully monitor the water parameters for at least couple weeks(though it's good and smart to do that anyway with any new tank, no matter what cycle method was used). But if you get lucky/find good product and the product works, you can basically add fish the next day or few days after(depends on the product, some say after 12 hours and some are added few few days before adding fish). It's important to read the products instructions and follow them, as they are usually the right.
Then there's the old and reliable method with ammonia/fish food as start. I'll leave its explaining to someone else as I'm not best person to explain it most likely. But basically this method will take weeks, but the result is almost always well cycled tank.
I have plenty of personal favorites which I'd like to have. Bolian rams probably the most in that size tank, or some other small(or dwarf) cichlids. Maybe small pleco on the bottom and nice big school/shoal of smaller fishes. Or go with bit cooler water theme with bunch of corries and/or sewellias on the bottom, and then in the mid water danios and minnows... So many choices, and I want them all. XD

Shell dewlers, at least the ones I know about, are from Lake Tanganyika, so their water parameter preferance is not the same as most aquarium fish(like tetras, bettas, gouramis etc.). So if you choose them, any other possible fish you'd get would also need to be from Lake Tanganyika.
Platies could work in the tank, they just reproduce like crazy and I'm just not personally fan of them. Swordtails could also work if you want to try something little bigger with similar looks, but I wouldn't mix the two in same tank as they can cross breed.
________________
So I've been wondering for awhile is my nitrate test not functioning or is there something in the water that makes it always read pretty low. Today while changing water I did little test; took 5 liters of old water, added some nitrogen fertilizer into it(aquarium use kind) and did a test, and then for comparison did another test from the normal changed water. And surprise surprise, my test actually works, but I have very very hungry plants apperently as once again the test was reading only 5 in the 'clean' water. Nitrogen added water tested 20... -__- I'm also out of potassium fertilizer, which is showing on the plants, but luckily the nitrogen one also has potassium in it so it should patch up the need at least little bit.
And I recently realised I only have 9 corries left. ;_; Some of them have died one at a time over quite long period, but I didn't realise I have already lost 4 until recently. So I guess I need to start thinking about buying few new ones sooner or later.

[scuttlefish]

@Hime
Thank you so much! The first tank I set up (my five gallon) I had no idea I needed to cycle it, so I'm clueless on the topic of cycling. I'll do a lot on research on that, though.
Bolivian Rams are really pretty! I'm open to all suggestions, since I don't have a "dream fish" or a tank setup I've been thinking about for ages. I haven't visited my local pet store yet, since I moved here pretty recently, but from what I heard, they have tons of fish. I should probably check it out before I get too attached to one species of fish
What substrates do you all prefer? I really like the look of sand, but how hard is it to clean?

[satuurnity]

@Hime - Thank you so much! I need one for my plants as well c: (though I'm not sure why else I'd need it, haha). May I ask what you know about DIY versions as well, as those do seem a little pricy for just my ten gallon? Thanks again! x

[PeachFuzz]

@Hime
Thank you so much! The first tank I set up (my five gallon) I had no idea I needed to cycle it, so I'm clueless on the topic of cycling. I'll do a lot on research on that, though.
Bolivian Rams are really pretty! I'm open to all suggestions, since I don't have a "dream fish" or a tank setup I've been thinking about for ages. I haven't visited my local pet store yet, since I moved here pretty recently, but from what I heard, they have tons of fish. I should probably check it out before I get too attached to one species of fish
What substrates do you all prefer? I really like the look of sand, but how hard is it to clean?

Sand is great! It's not difficult to clean imo. I actually find it easier than gravel. You just take a siphon like you'd use for gravel but instead of sticking it down in the substrate you hover it just over the sand. All the fish poop, extra food, and things like that stay on top of the sand so you can easily suck it all up.

[WhiteWater ;]

What substrates do you all prefer? I really like the look of sand, but how hard is it to clean?

I second with what peachfuzz says. all my larger tanks are sand - not only for the looks but when it comes to 125+ tanks, being cleaned with as little work as possible is best haha. I personally find it not only easy to clean, but even easier than gravel. with gravel, leftover food and waste goes down in between the rocks and not only is it harder to get out, but it is sometimes hidden. with sand, all of that waste stays on top, so not only is it easier to pick up with a vacuum/siphon, but you can see it - meaning that you know (roughly) how much waste is in the tank and you can make changes according to that!

that's just my opinion, though c: