What did you do with your tank(s) today?

sir_keith

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As to crashing the filter, in the past Ive had bacterial blooms if I did too heavy of water changes so I try not to exceed 50% so my tank doesnt turn white. Just past experience with my tanks.
That probably says more about the input water than anything about your filters. I never do less than 50% water changes, and often considerably more than that, and have never seen anything like you describe.
 

DMD123

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That probably says more about the input water than anything about your filters. I never do less than 50% water changes, and often considerably more than that, and have never seen anything like you describe.
That could be something there, I have had problems in the past. One time I lost a school of roseline sharks within two hours of a 50% water change because I forgot to dose with Safe. Lakewood says they get water from underground aquifers and make it sound as if they are not doing a whole lot but they must be doing something to the water.
 

sir_keith

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That could be something there, I have had problems in the past. One time I lost a school of roseline sharks within two hours of a 50% water change because I forgot to dose with Safe. Lakewood says they get water from underground aquifers and make it sound as if they are not doing a whole lot but they must be doing something to the water.
That's remarkable given that these Cyprinid fishes (a. k. a. Denison Barb) tolerate such a wide range of temperatures, as well as pH and hardness parameters.
 

DMD123

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Just before leaving for work this morning I saw a ton of earthworms out because of the rain so I caught a bunch and fed the red wolf. He was very happy with the treat. At times I feel like it might be a good idea to start up a little worm farm so that my fish could benefit along with my yard.
 

BPSabelhaus

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If they take stuff from the surface, a dubia roach colony is easy as well. Good calcium source, can be gut loaded just need about 80 - 85 degrees (I use an under tank heater) to breed, eat veggie scraps and the frass / waste bedding (rolled oats) also make great fertilizer.
A small / medium tote (5-10 gallon) with a ventilated lid, some egg cartons, heat source is really about all it needs aside from changing the bedding as needed. I have plenty and could easily separate out some breeding adults and some juveniles to grow up if anyone wants.

Fed the fish, scraped a couple tanks / filter cleanings this morning then got Shanghaied into moving medical equipment out of the wife's old clinic to move to the new one. Building changes hands tomorrow and wife had a busy couple weeks being short staffed and having to actually do medical stuff instead of management. Missed a few opportunities due to that, but it's done now.
 

DMD123

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Lots more earthworms last night and this morning so the red wolf has been getting a lot of treats. He is looking very satisfied, a bit plump but not too big. But he keeps searching for more! lol
 

BPSabelhaus

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Collected about 8 scuds and moved them into the terrarium today. Moved a plant a little bit so the water critters and plants can be seen better. Willow is growing roots down to the water, most everything has fresh growth going except the violets. They cut back on flower production compared to the established ones outside. Likely putting growth into rhizomes after being disturbed. Some leaf growth, but I bet it's spreading as much as it can.
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Finally tried out the glass / ceramic bit. Getting the hole to start was rough, but eventually got it to start with a slight angle. First attempt didn't break anything so success :)
 
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DMD123

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Weekend tank cleanings that also involved swapping out the sand for gravel in the 46g bowfront.
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Debating to keep the Spiderwood in there or to scape it totally differently, but the brown gravel is what I wanted in there. Since I already had it, even better, no money out of my pocket for that change. Back when I had my 210g I had used this same gravel, Estes Deep River. Always loved the red/brown color of it, of course it depended on the lighting since I use this in the Fluval and it looks all washed out instead of rich like in does in the other tank with the Beamswork lighting. On my way to getting the fishroom done the way I am planning.
 

lloyd378

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I stopped by aquarium paradise yesterday and they had some pretty rare ( for the hobby recently anyways) west African cichlids in.

They had a tank of hemichromis elongatus camourounesis in stock. These specific fish have only been imported into the hobby for only the past few years.

I bought one for my classrooM tank, as I’ve always loved the hemichromis elongatus the most out of the three species of 5 spot jewels as they grow the smallest at a max size of 7”, are the least aggressive (I’d same similar to most Central American cichlids) and have real beautiful side markings as an adult.

I am attaching a picture of mine and then a couple of adults I know from a member of the hemichromis group I admin on Facebook.IMG_9118.jpegIMG_9120.jpegIMG_9817.jpegIMG_9818.jpeg
 

DMD123

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Lots of earthworm feedings for the puffer and red wolf fish these past couple days. Saves me money on frozen treat foods.

Still trying to figure out what I want to do for my aqua-scape for the 46g bowfront. I have some nice larger stones I can move over from the Fluval but still debating trying live plants again or to just move the plastic ones over.
 

BPSabelhaus

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Functional mock up of the new filter for the pond. 8 holes to fill in the bottom still, plus I need to glue the strainer and adapter I printed out together. Cleaned several pounds of BBA out of the 60 gallon to prepare to move the baby goldfish into, but I apparently have a 1.5-2 in pumpkinseed in there. Gonna have to figure that out lol
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lloyd378

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Came into work today and noticed that my juvenile Oscar has a white mark on its forehead. I worry it may be the start to hole in the head….. it was a cheap petsmart Oscar so I’m worried it’s due to genetics as I keep the classroom tank in great shape with weekly gravel vacs and water changes. ( modeling good fish husbandry to my 150+ students).

My hemichromis elongatus that is in the tank with him is perfect, so I worry it might also be a bite mark from the hemichromis. I’m going to have to watch it for a bit.IMG_9831.jpeg
 

DMD123

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@lloyd378, I think its the beginning of hole in the head. My oscar has a scar in the same exact spot from it. Yours is young enough that you might get it before it does too much damage.
 

DMD123

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Well a week of earthworms and my red wolf is plump and also acting out. I tried feeding him a pellet last night and he spit it out, lol. Back to pellets for a while to break him of his snobbishness.
 

BPSabelhaus

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Operational check today for water flow, leaks etc... Holding steady at two screws lol There is minor seepage from some of the rivets I used to plug mounting holes. Not sure if I want to add some sealant to the other side or just deal with very minor seepage. It's not dripping just a little wet underneath. I'd even bet it's just the two slightly loose rivets. Happy with the sounds as is for once, maybe it's just missing it for a few months lol But it does sound like flowing water going down a slight rocky slope.
 

lloyd378

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Operational check today for water flow, leaks etc... Holding steady at two screws lol There is minor seepage from some of the rivets I used to plug mounting holes. Not sure if I want to add some sealant to the other side or just deal with very minor seepage. It's not dripping just a little wet underneath. I'd even bet it's just the two slightly loose rivets. Happy with the sounds as is for once, maybe it's just missing it for a few months lol But it does sound like flowing water going down a slight rocky slope.
Is this strictly a backyard water feature or do you use it as a pond too?
 

BPSabelhaus

Well-Known Member
Is this strictly a backyard water feature or do you use it as a pond too?
This is for the goldfish filtration. Though currently there's no filter media so right now it's a water feature lol But all my filters for the pond are also water features for sounds, movement, light and plants. Though the pond grass and willow take a lot of nutrients out so I don't bother growing strawberries anymore. It's been through so many different setups over the years. This latest is everything I've learned from probably 6 different versions from bog to now this almost riverine filter that I wanted the underlying table to be three years ago. Part of me just wants that entire center open with elodea flowing in the shallow stream.
 
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