New Aquarium

[InbetweenDreams]

@Cridders88 Oh CO2 definitely helps, basically speeds everything up and if you're dealing with plants that are difficult (which are usually plants that aren't truly aquatic) can make or break. But if someone wants to do CO2 they really need to go to a welding supplier that deals in various gases. A 10lb cylinder should last a year or more. The expensive part is the initial investment. Not sure how CO2 tanks are dealt with in the UK...or the US as I haven't decided for sure that I want to go that route, plants definitely speed up on it but in the long run that might not be what you want. If the plants take over the tank you're having to trim and cut stuff which you probably won't have to do very often w/o CO2.

I'm glad you found the video useful

Right now I'm using Seachem Flourish and once I run out I will probably buy Aquarium Co-Op's Easy Green a lot of people like it so I'll see if the hype is real or not lol.

[InbetweenDreams]

So I did a little update on the 55 gallon tank and the other tanks...because now I have MTS. I don't think I will do CO2 most likely, seems I've almost got the tank balanced and much less hair algae and I'll be damned if the black beard algae is going away too...that's probably the only thing I have done right.

Long story short, I bought more ember tetras and did not quarantine and infected most fish (except the corys) with ich. I have almost got it under control after 3 weeks, now starting to dose maracyn to hopefully avoid any secondary bacterial infection. Did also treat for parasites. So always quarantine the fish you get, treating this stuff is hard on fish. 4 of the 10 new ember tetras died in 72 hours after getting them and also lost my betta do to my foolishness.

I am unhappy with the fish store I got them from because the prices they charge you would think they were quarantining and medicating the fish they sell.

Anyway here's the video I took...

[Cridders88]

I'm really sorry to hear about your troubles with ich @InbetweenDreams. It is a bastard to get rid of and it really takes it's toll on the fish in the process . My local fish stores  quarantine new arrivals for a day or two, but unfortunately ich can lay dormant much longer than that so sometimes ich does get into your set up at home. One of those deeply unfortunate things, but it sadly does happen on occasion. Quarantining new arrivals is definitely the sensible route, but it isn't always possible. I just do not have the room for a second tank. Fortunately, I've not had to deal with ich for a long time.

Sorry to hear of the deaths. Any deaths are hard but especially the betta. Love those guys, and yours was a beauty. RIP.

EDIT: Just watched the video, I would probably treat the 55 gallon too to be safe. Though you removed all the fish showing Ich, there is a significant chance it is now at least lying dormant in the tank ready to rear it's ugly head later.

Looking forward to some updates on the guppy breeding, hope it goes well

[InbetweenDreams]

Oh yeah I did forget to mention that I have been treating the 55 for ich... It's definitely better to not have to since the doses are much higher and thus more expensive. I would hate to have to deal with parasites, that gets really pricey really quick in that large of a tank and probably a good reason not to have a huge tank.

Seems that getting the temp at or above 86 F will kill off the ich, but the question is how well will the fish deal with it being that hot.

[InbetweenDreams]

So, I did finally get all the fish in quarantine cured of ich. It has recently made an appearance in the 55 gallon tank but I think it should be easier to get under control since only a few fish have it. I do have some new fish I am going to add, got some x-ray tetras...

   

All of them appear to be fine and healthy but got to wait until I get rid of the ich in the 55 gallon tank. Also got some red cherry shrimp...

   

I got 30 of those guys and I think only one was dead when I got them, so hopefully none became a meal.

So I have had trouble with guppies, not sure if it is just luck or if the rumor is true that guppies aren't very hardy anymore due to inbreeding over the last 40-50 years. I added crushed coral to make the water hard, raise the ph and so forth. I do think the guppies I got from a chain store was a mistake... they would only sell me 4 guppies, saying that guppies need 5 gallons per fish...which is nonsense. 3 of the 4 they sold me died in 24 hours and it wasn't because my tank was full of ammonia. I did go to a local store and picked up 8 and I've only lost one so far. A few of them do seem to be a bit off, not familiar with keeping guppies. I have been adding medication to treat for any possible bacterial or parasite infection. One of the guppies lies on the bottom, as if they're on their last leg, then swims off and acts fine, something none of the other guppies are doing.

At any rate, if the guppies don't work out another fish I was considering was Japanese rice fish, they're not quite as virant to look at but can tolerate a wide range of temps, 59-82 F is their "comfort zone" but can tolerate 35-108 F since they are named rice fish because they're found in rice patties where temps can swing drastically. They do like brackish water since they can spend some time in or near the ocean. Of course, I don't want to do brackish water since I want to do plants. Brackish water has too much salt for plants. I don't know if there are any aquatic plants that will live in brackish water or not, haven't looked into it, but I am pretty sure that it would be more difficult to manage all that outside.

That being said, I am curious about a brackish water tank, just don't really have the room, or need, to setup another aquarium. I would probably want to do something around 29 gallons so I can have a little room for error.

[Camfer]

If you do a brackish tank I think you could have a mangrove tree growing out the top!

[InbetweenDreams]

@Camfer that would be cool, would definitely need to be a large tank if one were to do it long term. Believe me if I could afford to have one these monster tanks, say 600+ gallons I would lol but definitely have to be able to commit for a lifetime for something that large (and expensive).

[Camfer]

10 gallons -> 55 gallons -> 240 gallons -> 600 gallons, yeah, that sounds like the normal evolution of the aquarium hobbyist!

[Cridders88]

10 gallons -> 55 gallons -> 240 gallons -> 600 gallons, yeah, that sounds like the normal evolution of the aquarium hobbyist!

If only I had the room! Perhaps it's better that I don't haha

[Cridders88]

@InbetweenDreams. Guppies are definitely not very hardy souls these days. I am guessing your PH is stable? Apart from that it probably is just the intense breeding they have been through . Sorry you aren't having much luck with them presently.