Recent content by AbbeysDad

I used a now discontinued API Tap Water Filter filled with API Nitra-Zorb. I set it up to trickle well water through to use for water changes. It was very efficient and I could recharge the media by soaking in salt water. The resin lasted forever as it was not contaminated by dirty water!!! 😊

Rather odd to post but I felt some might be interested as Byron was such a mentor to many 'fish friends'...

It is with great sadness to share the news that my friend Byron passed away in the wee hours this morning. I well know that many here will share my sadness. We have lost a great fishkeeper who was always willing to help a fellow hobbyist. Byron fought the good fight for a very long time but as...

As many of you know, Byron Hoskins has been my friend for many years as we were both moderators on another fish forum years ago. As a matter of fact, when a new company took over that forum and I was expelled without cause, Byron left in protest on my behalf...cementing a lifelong ,albeit long...

Hello Addict. I've been in the hobby over 50 years and used to also obsess over frequent partial water changes. Now frequent partial water changes are great, just maybe not as critical as we once thought. I also used to think that getting the crud out of the filter as soon as possible would be...

There was a time grasshopper's that I once religiously did 50% weekly water changes along with filter cleaning. I have since relaxed this the every other or even every 3rd week for partial water changes and I don't clean filters until the water flow is visibly reduced...as the filter houses a...

MTS are great, however, these snails will only burrow to levels that also support oxygen which may not be the case in deeper fine sand where anaerobic conditions exist. Btw, in tanks where I have substrate, it's all pool filter sand. :)

Just my two cents..... Although plants may do okay in fine sand, I tend to believe that roots have an easier time in slightly coarse sand or gravel. Coarse sand is also more permeable better ensuring against anaerobic regions. Remember not to stir the sand! Disturbing sand may trap detritus...

There may be some personality traits that create a likelihood for MTS or other hobby/obsessions. I remember as a youngster I would go through what my mother called phases, there was a coin collection, a rock collection, gardening, Gerbils, and of course tropical fish. There may have been others...

Not all fishmeal is created equally. Some is merely heads, skin/scales, and bones. Fishmeal made from whole fish is better, however, it may still be loaded with preservatives and sit in a warehouse for an unspecified period. Clearly fish foods made from whole fresh fish are better, but few and...

Automatic feeders have been debated by hobbyist's since they came along. Some swear by them, some swear at them. I'll confess to have mixed feelings about them. In general fish are preprogrammed to feed whenever food is available. In the wild, the availability of food may be few and far between...

Keeping pets of any type seems a bit of a double edged sword. On the one hand, to some, it may seem cruel to cage or otherwise confine any critter. Then again, look at how cruel nature can be. Bad weather, predators, poor food supplies. Like my dogs over the years, my fish are well fed and live...

It was virtual so you bring your own snack and a favorite beverage. :-)

Culturing/Collecting Live Foods

Well, it's all been said (happens when you come to the party late!). Plants, especially fast growing stem and floating plants (slow growing plants, not so much), adsorb ammonia as their nitrogen source as they grow so pollution is converted into plant tissue. In so doing, this ammonia does not...