Aquarists unite: fish are friends, and food
- Thread starter Siliconemelons
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Guest, it's time once again for the massively important and exciting FoH Asshat Tournament!
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Aamry
Blackwing Lair Raider
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My son's fish all died when his mom moved, so I took the tank.
Unfortunately I set it up on my counter top and didn't notice I had a small pencil sharpener underneath it, and it cracked.
PetSmart had a deal on a 36 gallon Top Fin tank, only 99.99 with a "bow front". Looks really nice. I picked up a Marineland filter for it though, because the topfin brand that came with it sucked hard and not in a good way. I also picked up some bubblers and an air pump.
Now.. I can't seem to keep the bubbler air hoses underneath my substrate. Any ideas how I can keep them weighted down that won't be harmful to fish or plants? I'd really like to get the floating hoses out of the center of my tank.
Unfortunately I set it up on my counter top and didn't notice I had a small pencil sharpener underneath it, and it cracked.
PetSmart had a deal on a 36 gallon Top Fin tank, only 99.99 with a "bow front". Looks really nice. I picked up a Marineland filter for it though, because the topfin brand that came with it sucked hard and not in a good way. I also picked up some bubblers and an air pump.
Now.. I can't seem to keep the bubbler air hoses underneath my substrate. Any ideas how I can keep them weighted down that won't be harmful to fish or plants? I'd really like to get the floating hoses out of the center of my tank.
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a c i d.f l y
ಠ_ಠ
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Get some suction cups with hose clips to hold the airline against the side of the tank. Without the air of the line pulling up the bubbler up it should stay put. I wouldn't run tubing under the substrate, just along the back of the tank.
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fris
Vyemm Raider
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bubbles are for surface agitation, more surface area, more o2 mixing into the water. the bubbles themselves don't add o2 to the water. if your filter agitates the top of the water enough, you don't need bubblers, unless you like the pirate ship treasure chest that opens every few seconds
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a c i d.f l y
ಠ_ಠ
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Depends heavily on your stock and quantity. A lot of fish sold are surface breathers that don't need aeration, and with enough fish that aren't, the surface breaking aeration of hang on filters and canister filters won't dissolve enough O2.
I have 6 redline sharks, 6 SAE, a dozen cories, 8 congo tetras, a dozen black tetras, a spotted cat, and they absolutely would not survive without a bubbler. I tried, but with just the cories and red lines they were all constantly gasping in the water, or the cories who can also surface were constantly surfacing for air. All fish are chill af with the added air, even in shit quality water.
I have 6 redline sharks, 6 SAE, a dozen cories, 8 congo tetras, a dozen black tetras, a spotted cat, and they absolutely would not survive without a bubbler. I tried, but with just the cories and red lines they were all constantly gasping in the water, or the cories who can also surface were constantly surfacing for air. All fish are chill af with the added air, even in shit quality water.
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SyKicK
Trakanon Raider
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If your plants are growing ok, I wouldn't even bother with Co2. I have a couple Co2 tank setups sitting around and I don't even run them anymore. They just seemed to cause more problems with algae then it was worth. Unless you are actually good with balancing Light levels and Co2 (which I wasn't good at). You might be better off with just some good fertilizers.
Btw amazing looking tank, I'm super jealous.
Btw amazing looking tank, I'm super jealous.
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a c i d.f l y
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Cichlids and planted tanks generally don't mix. They tend to rip plants apart. Why a lot in the hobby stick to rock work or wood work with cichlids. Planted tanks are for passive community fish.
If you plan on running plants, I highly suggest this product for dosing nutrients. For a carbon supplement, get a gallon of glutaraldehyde from ebay for $20, dose about 10ml/day (toss the little activation bottle that come with it, if you mix that in it will completely kill the tank). Add CO2 and you'll have some beastly plant growth. I used ferts and glut on a heavily stocked tank for 5 years. Glut will also nullify any algae growth, so you can go super high on lighting without much concern.
Fertilizer Packages - Green Leaf Aquariums
NEW! MetriCide 28 Glutaraldehyde High Level Disinfectant Fruity Scent -1 Gal. | eBay
If you plan on running plants, I highly suggest this product for dosing nutrients. For a carbon supplement, get a gallon of glutaraldehyde from ebay for $20, dose about 10ml/day (toss the little activation bottle that come with it, if you mix that in it will completely kill the tank). Add CO2 and you'll have some beastly plant growth. I used ferts and glut on a heavily stocked tank for 5 years. Glut will also nullify any algae growth, so you can go super high on lighting without much concern.
Fertilizer Packages - Green Leaf Aquariums
NEW! MetriCide 28 Glutaraldehyde High Level Disinfectant Fruity Scent -1 Gal. | eBay
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Aamry
Blackwing Lair Raider
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Yes they are.
bubbles are for surface agitation, more surface area, more o2 mixing into the water. the bubbles themselves don't add o2 to the water. if your filter agitates the top of the water enough, you don't need bubblers, unless you like the pirate ship treasure chest that opens every few seconds
Of course I do! I even bought a rocking sunken ship. They make my inner child happy.
Thanks, I'll look for some at the store.
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Aazrael
Avatar of War Slayer
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Thanks!
We got really easy plants in the tank atm. My girlfriend is the one running this operation and she buys and mixes her own nutrition (PMDD, Poor Mans Dosing Drops). She usally adds it at water changes. The goal is grass/moss on the floor of the tank but that will need more lamps and CO2.
The chiklids we got right now does not seem to do any damage to the plants, but I know some species can be annoying and dig all over.
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lurker
Vyemm Raider
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I haven't looked in a while, but once upon a time they used to sell weighs to wrap around air line to help hold it down. I used to try to use objects like rocks or rocking sunken ships to hold airline. Suction cups work great for a while. Then invariably they get brittle and fail. They are my last resort.
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Siliconemelons
Naxxramas 1.0 Raider
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What "light" that is not 100$ fancy light should I get for my tri-betta tanks? Their poor plants died, no light apparently.
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a c i d.f l y
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Grab one of these from home depot and plug a full spectrum CFL or LED bulb into it. I had four of these (w 75w equiv CFL's) over a heavy planted tank before I bought a $300 LED strip. I can suggest bulbs, but just find one that's 6500K that states full spectrum. Likely cost you less than $15, though not that elegant.
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a c i d.f l y
ಠ_ಠ
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SyKicK
Trakanon Raider
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Aamry
Blackwing Lair Raider
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Those look fucking amazing. My tank is a desert compared to yours, but I just started mine Friday. How long have you been growing those plants?
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a c i d.f l y
ಠ_ಠ
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SyKicK
Trakanon Raider
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Dashel
Blackwing Lair Raider
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Damn. I just have 2 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank with a couple of plastic plants and a fake Spongebob pineapple house.
What is maintenance like on these bigger set ups? Goldfish are apparently very dirty fish, I think I need a bigger tank.
What is maintenance like on these bigger set ups? Goldfish are apparently very dirty fish, I think I need a bigger tank.
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