Recent content by shelbycole

Oh good gosh. The manager of the water company warned me not to use spring water, but purified water or distilled water. I asked if I should add minerals, he says he uses purified (RO) doesn't add any to his fish tanks. I give up.

What has to be done with RO water to make it okay for fish? I've been toying with the idea because I'm at the worst of both wo rlds when it comes to the water in my house. I bet it gets expensive, too... I'm waiting for the manager of the spring water company to call me back. After I called, I...

My husband really doesn't trust city water, that's why we drink spring water. Here is the info for my tap water: http://www.mcohio.org/Montgomery/CCR_2012_v3.pdf   I'm switching to the tap water for my fish because I know the water parameters, and my drinking water company is being tight lipped...

Just thought I'd update everyone, and have a couple questions:     My nitrites are finally showing up, yay!   I planted some dwarf pennywort that is growing like a weed, and have a big marimo ball that is turning more green every day. Unfortunately, my Argentine sword died from burying it too...

My biggest struggle right now is finding either a pair of ghost or cherry shrimp that don't have ridiculous shipping prices. I'll have to tell my pet supplies plus to order me a pair of ghost shrimp once my tank is cycled.

    You are officially my best friend Anyone who chatted with me yesterday knows I came by 5 marimo moss balls on eBay for 99 cents and I got so excited! lol   OH MY GOSH   I'll take 30!   I bought one from Marimo Kingdom, it was a tiny thing that cost about $7.00 altogether D:

I was using a 10mL syringe from when my husband's daughter was ill. I was guessing that 1 drop was 0.10 mL, because that's how it appeared.    We have all sorts of medical supplies, she had a rare sarcoma and succumbed to it about 6 years ago.

Hey everyone, thanks to all who replied. I believe my problem was that I added initially 3 drops of ammonia, and just that tiny amount made the test kit read off the charts as pale yellow/green color. After another 90% water change, it showed up dark blue-green. After another, it read 8.0. Still...

My substrate is completely new gravel that I got yesterday at Petco, so that couldn't be it, either. I did a test this morning and it's reading 0.50ppm, but it REALLY stinks of ammonia. I'll try a PWC and see if that resets things, though I've tried doing that a few times last night.   I didn't...

  Not so sure my answer warranted such a glib response.   What I meant was, what would happen if the plant died and OP was relying on the plant to control ammonia and was unable to get to LFS for a new plant or LFS out of stock on Sword Plants and opted for a different plant instead and new...

  Not so sure my answer warranted such a glib response.   What I meant was, what would happen if the plant died and OP was relying on the plant to control ammonia and was unable to get to LFS for a new plant or LFS out of stock on Sword Plants and opted for a different plant instead and new...

I was joking when I said that. I have no desire to get another one after losing Axel like I did. That's why I opted for a planted tank.     Blondie: Knowing that, I'll wait to get another fish until we get a bigger house and I can have a 10 gal cycled for my new betta, if I'm ready for one by...

I guess for a 2.5 gallon, a little sword plant is enough...that just gives me an excuse to go get another fishie D:

The tap water PH is naturally very high, but I mix it with our drinking water, with is prettty low, 6.4. It usually balances out around 7.6 or so, but I've read adding ammonia raises the PH, anyway. Should I just put triple the amount in and hope it gets to 5ppm without the plant eating it all...

I had to nuke the filter with hot water, salt, and sunlight, he passed away from a sudden onset of a strange fungus that appeared when we went out of town for a weekend, right after I did a PWC.   Nitrite looks to be about 0.10, probably from the tap water, NitrAtes are 0ppm, and PH is 8.8...  ...