Recent content by fisher_guzzi

Wilder. Is there information on the proper way to strip down a tank? Do I just empty the tank and rinse the gravel? I don't like using chemicals, but is that necessary in this case? Thanks for the noting the website about NTD.

Thanks for all the comments. Unfortunately for them, I had chosen the neons as my first fish. The solo neon did come to the top when I entered the room and swam around a lot for now what I figure was almost 1.5 years. So, he didn't do too bad inspite of me. But now I see all the things I had...

Well, my final Neon Tetra died. He lasted actually quite a number of months. I felt guilty that he was alone (except for some dwarf african frogs and a pleco). He didn't seem unhappy, but how would I really know. I kept thinking I should get him some school mates but didn't want to put them...

forgot to ask what size tank do you have? I hear 1 inch of fish per gallon is recommended. You do not want to overload your tank immediately. My wife and I put a pond in our backyard and nature took a slow approach too. First the insects, then the frogs, then a snake or two.

I am fairly new myself. Welcome :D This is a great website. There are people here with tons of experience so listen to them. IMHO I would steer away from tetras until the tank is further along. I went straight for them and they didn't do well with the cycling. I got 4, then 3 died. I got 3...

Tim, Still trying to digest all your information. I have an airstone in my 5.5 gal tank. Because there is a plant in it I am thinking of taking it out like you suggest. However, I wonder if my fish/frogs will have a problem with it. They are used to it and the oxygen I assume it brings it. The...

Tim, You really have some great information. Thanks. I bought some plants with weights and they told me to leave it on. Why do you say "ALWAYS REMOVE THE RUBBER BANDS OR LEAD PLANT WEIGHTS"? I have small gravel (1/4") and found it difficult to get them seated in my first 5.5 tank. Then in my...

I am starting a 10g tank with 3 types of plants, bananna fruit, sweet flag and something else. The sweet flag is stripped green and white and thin rising to surface. This is starting to brown. I got some plant food from PetSmart that was recommended. Its iron based. Doing only a little. Where...

Excellent. Thanks, First Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. The last two characters of ammonia helped me to get the IA. NitrIte, then NitrAte. My nitrite was .5 and nitrate was 40. Then I took out about 3/4 a gallon of water using a siphon hose keeping it near the gravel. Put back water that was...

I have a couple of neons and years ago when I had tanks I feed the geophagus b.s flake food and would get brine shrimp, and some red worms that were cool they yo-yo'ed up and down. Now I have tetras and they have such small mouths. I am guess from another post they are eating the planaria, but...

I have been reading letters on this site and many refer to cycling. What is it? When is it over? Is there a place here I can go and read up on it? or any other place for that matter? TIA

After many years I returned to setting up aquariums. I never had neon tetras before so gave that a shot. Hmmm, let see I have had 4 or 5 die. Two remain. I bought some from a local fish store and the others from Petsmart which seemed cleaner. I get the impression from talking to the people at...

Thanks for all the notes. gadazobe, I had plecs before. I know they get big. I have a 10g and will be setting up a 20g at least for that growth. Will probably get some Cichlids. I see it happens to just about everyone. You start small and then it grows and grows. sandyd, it looks like it would...

2 neon tetras, 2 african dwarf frogs, 1 plecto and some small snails that came with the plant I added.

Well, here is a follow-up in addition to a new question. When I got home the day I first noticed them the population was "gone". I figured the planaria were notural, so I wait to look for them the following morning. I found a few. So, could the African dwarf frogs or more likely the plecto ate...