Fish Keepers

[burn_this_city]

I've got a 46 gallon fresh water planted tank.

3 Roseline sharks
2 yoyo loaches
1 clown loach
2 Chinese algea eaters
1 bristolnose pleco
1 red tail shark
3 mollies
2 zebra Danios
1 African butterfly fish
3 dwarf clawed frogs

Edit: I've also got 2 dwarf krib cichlids.

[Wookie]

Okay - they're actually Spotted Green Puffers the guy at the store wasn't sure. But my sleuthing has shown them to be SGP's.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by noel

This is what the shark looks like.

Whatever you do- don't leave the tank lid open. I had the same species of shark, and he was the only fish in the tank with a name. I was cleaning the main tank so everybody was hanging out in the "hospital tank"; which I didn't have a proper lid for. I walk by and notice he's hiding better than usual. Turns out he jumped.

He was the last holdout for me to justify keeping the big tank (which had become etched from me trying to clean it once), so now everybody lives in the smaller tank. (Which is still bigger than they all need.)

[Smyth's Skate]

My tank has a programmed blue light that simulates moonlight. I snapped a few photos tonight.

[flamingchina]

I have a 45G tank with an Oscar and a Pleco....
He's kind of ended up a Dwarf Oscar (kept with too many tank mates when he was young, I got him later)

[Stumptown]

I've got a 55 gallon wet/dry system with one big pleco, 7 rummy nose tetras, an unknown number of khuli loaches (somewhere between 3 and 5 - I've only ever seen 3 at a time) and 4 corydora cats. Right now it's just a cloud of algae. I've done 50% water changes every couple weeks, tested the water, cleaned the bioballs, changed the lighting spectrum, tried several different algae killers, and no matter what I do, every few months I get a bloom that won't die. I think it's something in our municipal water supply - Portland doesn't chlorinate. I'm about ready to start buying DI water from a marine shop nearby, see of that doesn't clear it up. But I'd rather not have to haul all that water. Having a big tank can be a lot of work, but I do love my fishies. We've had Pleco for about 11 years now, and he's really big. One of the khulis and two of the corys we've had for 7. So whatever I'm doing wrong with the water doesn't seem to bother the fish, at least.

[Rifleman]

I had crabs before, but now they are gone.

[Jake]

^Try a UV sterlizer. It would be easy to plumb into a wet/dry system and would clear up the problem in hours-days. They can be expensive, but are worth it.

I did freshwater for a couple of years, but switched to saltwater/reefs in the last two years. Now I work at an aquarium on Oahu, on an OPT training program. It's fun, but I definatly want to get away from the marine mammal razzle-dazzle and focus on aquarium systems.

[Stumptown]

Originally Posted by Jake

^Try a UV sterlizer. It would be easy to plumb into a wet/dry system and would clear up the problem in hours-days. They can be expensive, but are worth it.

Thanks, I may try that. I was expecting to have to replace my lighting hood after one of the ballasts died, but the nice folks at my shop exchanged it for a new one (bless them), so my aquarium budget can accommodate a sterilizer. I've always heard them recommended for ponds, but for some reason never thought about it in tanks. If it keeps the frequency of water changes down it'll be worth it my time spent.

[bcb]

My kind of tank:

[troutman]

I have a Malawi tank, about 70 G IIRC. OP - you probably know about Gold's Aquarium on 17th Ave SE, specializing in African cichlids?

[Smyth's Skate]

Originally Posted by Stumptown

I've got a 55 gallon wet/dry system with one big pleco, 7 rummy nose tetras, an unknown number of khuli loaches (somewhere between 3 and 5 - I've only ever seen 3 at a time) and 4 corydora cats. Right now it's just a cloud of algae. I've done 50% water changes every couple weeks, tested the water, cleaned the bioballs, changed the lighting spectrum, tried several different algae killers, and no matter what I do, every few months I get a bloom that won't die. I think it's something in our municipal water supply - Portland doesn't chlorinate. I'm about ready to start buying DI water from a marine shop nearby, see of that doesn't clear it up. But I'd rather not have to haul all that water. Having a big tank can be a lot of work, but I do love my fishies. We've had Pleco for about 11 years now, and he's really big. One of the khulis and two of the corys we've had for 7. So whatever I'm doing wrong with the water doesn't seem to bother the fish, at least.

Green algae is usually a by product of too much nutrients and too much light.

What I do fo algae outbreaks is decrease the feedings substantially, cover the tank with a blanket, and keep the lights off. After a few days you should notice the algae dying off.

[Smyth's Skate]

Originally Posted by troutman

I have a Malawi tank, about 70 G IIRC. OP - you probably know about Gold's Aquarium on 17th Ave SE, specializing in African cichlids?

Yeah, I have been there a few times. I spread my spending around. I buy my fish at Riverfront and Pisces and my dry goods at Big Al's. I also ship fish in from The Afishianados in Winnipeg.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Smyth's Skate

Yeah, I have been there a few times. I spread my spending around. I buy my fish at Riverfront and Pisces and my dry goods at Big Al's. I also ship fish in from The Afishianados in Winnipeg.

Riverfront is gone - did they move somewhere else?

[Smyth's Skate]

Originally Posted by troutman

Riverfront is gone - did they move somewhere else?

Yeah, they are on Barlow just south of 16 Ave.

[Stumptown]

Originally Posted by Smyth's Skate

Green algae is usually a by product of too much nutrients and too much light.

What I do fo algae outbreaks is decrease the feedings substantially, cover the tank with a blanket, and keep the lights off. After a few days you should notice the algae dying off.

Tried all those things many times, it always comes back. The tank doesn't get any direct light, and I was working with a hood with only one working fixture for about two years, and it only got worse when the lighting was lower. I think I'm going to spring for the UV, if that doesn't do it, I give up.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Rifleman

I had crabs before, but now they are gone.

Did you use the cream?

[Wookie]

Doh,

My tank is only 12 Gallons, someone told me it was 33 when I bought the puffers. I didn't really pay attention - now worried it's a bit too small.

In the market for a 30+ Gallon tank.
Can be 36" L 13" W and whatever height. (in case anyone has one lying around haha).

[flamingchina]

Tons of used tanks here:
http://albertaaquatica.com
And usually much better priced than people on kijiji

[burning_acid1]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

Wow that's a nice one. Too much work for me so I will just admire other people's aquariums.

I wasn't a huge fan of cleaning up the tank when I had one. It's too bad!