Recent content by BrianK

I just found another benefit, sort of. I have ramshorn snails (on purpose). They were beginning to have more of a population than I want but I just saw a fish eat a cluster of eggs right off a leaf. I think they might be eating some of the smaller snails too but I am not sure on this.

All females

I haven't noticed but I haven't looked closely and the lights are off now.

Yes, Florida flagfish. I would not mind getting another but I have no way to guarantee getting a male. I only have big box stores near me and neither have flagfish. I had to mail order these. Mostly just one is nippy and not excessively so and yes, nips at my Boesemani rainbow fish as well.

Just wanted to share in case anyone is struggling with hair algae like I was. My snails don't touch it, my pleco doesn't touch it, amano shrimp got eaten by my fish. I did keep it somewhat under control with Algaefix but I really don't like using that. Anyway, about a week ago I put in a few...

Those look like Amano shrimp. The momma will carry the eggs until they hatch but the babies will not survive. They are hard to breed because the babies need brackish water to survive.

if all the fish get skinny and die, you might have TB in the tank.

I suggest a bristlenose pleco and platys for hard-ish water. Maybe some Amano shrimp as well.

When I do top offs (which I usually don't do except occasionally in the summer), I use distilled water.

I have Christmas moss. I keep it thinned and I blast it with a turkey baster before water changes. That keeps the mess to a minimum. It looks like a mess right after the water change but half a day later, all is good. Actually my shrimp keep it cleaned up too.

I had problems until I added extra potassium in addition to flourish (now thrive instead of flourish).

I do everything the same but I only do about 20-25% water changes weekly.

Here's mine. I like the bowfront myself. It magnifies the fish.

You don't have a sterile aquarium. Bacteria is everywhere, you are just waiting for them to multiply to sufficient numbers. Every time you touch anything, feed fish, put plants and decor in, add subtrate and water, have air circulating, you are adding bacteria.