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NetMax
brief introduction of themselves, their set-up and their interests.
Myself (NetMax) have 2 tanks running (and 1/2 dozen empty tanks around
the house). There is a 70g with Platys and loaches (Yoyo and Clowns)
and a 120g with Mono.argenteus and Julies (J.regani). I design/build
my own filtration systems, stands, canopies and underwater carvings
(see website http://www.netmax.tk).
I started in the hobby in the late 60s (as the Rift lake African
cichlids were being discovered), and worked in the trade (pet shops)
for several years in the 60s and again more recently managing several
stores. I'm out of the trade now (own a non-aquaria business), but
still a fishaholic. My location (well-water and house built into a
hill) won't let me have much of a planted tank, or a pond, but that
doesn't stop me from having opinions (and I have over 9,000 posts in
Google to prove it ;~).
cheers & welcome aboard
NetMax
Nikki B
I have several tanks set up
----------
120g w/ no fish yet
------------
40g long w/ several Fancy GF: Ryukin, black moor's, calico telescope,
Red Caps, apple snails
---------------
40g long w/ ten female Betta's
---------------
39g high w/ 1 adult blue gourami, 2 baby blue gourami, four angel's, 4
clown loaches, reg pl*co, plants
---------------
10g fancy guppy tank, apple snails
-----------------
10g with 100-200 betta fry
--------------
7- 2 1/2-3 gal male betta tanks
---------------------------
Interests: Fish keeping, tank & house plants
Thanks Nikki
-ED
without. I've just setup a heavily planted 55gal w/zebra danios,
elegant cories and a betta pair.
Save The Planet For Another Day..=)
carlrs
I stareted in the hobby in the lates 60's as a child with a 10 gallon
aquarium. I slowly moved up, adding a 40 gallon SW in 1976. The next
year I got a job a LPS and was the manager of their aquarium depts of
three stores. In 1978 I started a maintenance and design business in
LA. (CA). In 1979 I opened an aquarium store. Over the years I added
some large accounts including the Bakooka restaurants, where I sat up
105 aquariums, most over 100 gallons. I also have done work for Disney
and have many corporate accounts.
I had to move to Oregon and sell my maintenance and design business to
my partner (and brother in law), so has to protect my daughter and wife
from a "bad person". I now have an online business and design some of
my own products (UV Sterilizers, Medicated Wonder Shells)
Before I sound like I am trying too hard to sell myself, I visit these
groups (often not posting, but just reading) to learn more, then
offering my advice if I think it can be helpful.
Carl
Aquarium and Pond maintenance and Design since 1978
Now on the Web since 2004
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/
Phyllis and Jim
8 (53 years ago). I have had them most of the time since. In college,
my roommate and I bred a bunch of tropical exotics in Boston back in
the days when you couldn't as easily bring them up from Fla. As we
sold, we added new tanks. Finished with no profit, but a wall of tanks
and a commercial pump.
Now I have two major tanks in my office (I am a professor of marriage
and family therapy). They are made from 1/4 plate. The larger is 8' x
18" x 9". The smaller is 39" x 18" x 9". The big one has large
tropicals (oscars, tin foil barbs, silver dollars, etc) and no
plants...but a wall of philadendron has its roots in the tank in a 2
litre bottle. I smile every time I see the converted fish waste! The
smaller tank has fish from our pond that are overwintering. Goldfish,
koi, tropicals.
The tropicals will go into the home pond in the next month and begin
the 6th anual cycle.
Our home pond is 3,900 gal. 2.900 in a main pond and 1,000 in veggie
filters on a berm. Our website on our profile has pisc of us and of
our ponds.
Nice to meet all of you.
Jim
Pt.a...@gmail.com
I started keeping fish about 15 years ago. I learned a lot working
part-time in a really good fish store for two years. I'm a scientist
with a lot of training in chemistry and biology, so the fish
physiology, tank ecology and water chemistry parts of fishkeeping come
pretty easily. I've bred African cichlids, fancy guppies, a few
killifish, and even kept a nano reef. My real love is aquatic plants
and my tanks are usually bright green jungles in various states of
wildness. I regularly lose otos and shrimp among the plants for weeks
at a time, even in 10 gallon tanks.
My lease prohibits large tanks (a common clause around here) so I'm
running small planted tanks right now. I've got a 10 gallon packed
with baby's tears and watersprite that's currently home to a trio of
killies I'm trying to breed. There's a 15 gallon tall planted
community on the kitchen table, and a couple of 2 gallon betta tanks
filled with mosses and crypts. I've also got a whiskey barrel pond
setup outside.
I've learned a ton in rec.aquaria over the years and am always glad
when I can pass something useful on.
Gill Passman
I'm Gill....and I'm a fishaholic...I also have a severe case of MTS...
:-)
I've kept fish on and off for many years - mainly goldfish up until my
son nagged me for a tropical tank for his birthday two years ago. We
quickly got hooked and the number of tanks in the house grew and grew -
not only in quantity but in size as well.. lol
All of my tanks, with the exception of the Malawi tank, are heavily
planted....
I'm currently running:-
130gall 6 foot tank
Occupants are:-
Boesman Rainbows
Clown Loaches
Celebes Rainbows
Neons
Panda Cories
Black veil tailed Angels
YoYo loach (getting some friends for him later)
Amano shrimp (not sure how many as I don't see them too often)
Leopard Pl*co
This tank is still a work in progress.....both in terms of stocking and
planting....and getting the stand finished - it still needs a proper
lid - I'm getting bored of sliding the piece of hardboard currently
sitting on top to then have to slide the glass lid to do anything in
the tank - but enough of that....
2 x 47.5 gall 4 foot tanks
One is a Malawi Tank...filled with Ocean Rock and rather a lot of Mbuna
that breed like rabbits. The substrate is white Coral sand. Any plants
that go in here immediately get covered with algae and often get
uprooted. The fish are a little aggressive but interesting to watch.
The Alpha of the tank is called "Mr Batter" . As well as the Mbunas
there is a Snowball Pl*co in there...
The other tank is a Community Tank - the one that was set up after
getting hooked after my son's tank......It was supposed to be the only
one but I guess most of you know how the story goes....It's current
occupants are:-
YoYo Loaches
Boesman Rainbows
Red Rainbows
Neon tetras
A sole surviving fancy guppy
Flying Foxes
Otos (not sure how many)
Opaline Gouramis
Platys (ever increasing)
Queen Arabesque Pl*co
1 x 30 gall 3 foot tank (my son's really)
This one replaced his original tank as he started wanting more fish
than it could accomodate - hmmm, wonder where he gets that from :-)
Pearl Gouramis
YoYo loaches
Mollies
Glowlight tetras
Rasboras
1 x 15 gall tank (mainly used for QT for new fish)
This was originally my son's. The contents vary......once I stop buying
fish this one will be going in the garage....
1 x 5 gall tank
Very heavily planted - no substrate on show......It contains some Blue
Eyed Gertrude rainbows...
1 x 7.5 gall tank
This is a Hex tank but suffers from green slimey algae in whatever
incarnation I try....I will be moving the fish soon and starting again
in a different location. It currently holds some Blue Eyed Gertrude
rainbows who will join their buddies in the 5 gall.....
and some sitting in the garage.....
That's pretty much the tanks.....my other passion is for gardening -
something I seem to have noticed that other fishkeepers also share....
Gill
techi...@gmail.com
I currently have a 4ft containing malawi cichlids and catfish (nice and
dramatic for the dining room), a 2ft containing small tetras and a
visually impaired angel (nice and pretty for the lounge), and in my
study are a 3ft containing two female axolotls (need to find a new
male) and a small tank above my desk with a female betta who watches
over me as I type. More recently I got a goldfish and shubunkin for my
half-barrel pond.
It's all featured at http://www.gorge.org/fish if anyone wants to see
piccies etc (I must update it to include the pond!)
Cheers everyone!
Flash
Phyllis and Jim
Where do the people live with all those tanks?
Jim
Nikki B
for another tank, even if we have to get rid of the kitchen table or
what ever else is in the way.
Nik
Gill Passman
Actually I'm banned from putting a tank in the living room - the Hex
snuck in there and I'm getting nagged all the time to move it out....
Gill
PS my tanks take up less space than my daughter's toys....
fbh...@gmail.com
still-not-fully-cycled tank with 3 Black Neon Tetras, 2 Glowlight
Tetras, and one lonely Harlequin rasbora. In fact, I assume that since
these are schooling fish, they are all lonely. But they appear to be
happy and healthy. What do I know of fish psychology... I have to
give a million thanks to all the experts on Usenet who have given me
such great, generous advice.
My water is very hard and the pH is high, so once it is cycled I still
have a lot of thinking to do about which fish to keep. And I will
ultimately want to go for some live plants.
Cheers
Gill Passman
Welcome to the group....check out the faqs and especially the following
one:-
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin.html
Please feel free to post any questions that you have - we will be happy
to help you out...
Gill
pistor
110 g - heavily planted home to the following species:
clown loaches
yoyo loaches
zebra loaches
angelicus loaches
kuhli loaches
peruvian angels
bosemani rainbows
turquoise rainbows
albino ancistrus
brown ancistrus
siamese algae eaters
various cory species
various shrimp species (feeding survivors)
20 g long tank - heavily planted home to:
one albino ancistrus
cardinal tetras
red cherry shrimp
crystal red shrimp
amano shrimp
feeder shrimp
taiwan blue shrimp
bumblebee shrimp
and a couple more species of shrimp I can't remember, plus some
hybrids. :)
techi...@gmail.com
(it's windy and the trees are shedding sticks and flowers) and I
spotted REALLY cheap small acryllic tanks... it's a cheap store which
has everything including airline etc cheaper than a fish shop, and I go
for airstones and dog treats... and I so nearly bought some more small
tanks for my study... before common sense kicked in.
I hope my fish are ok, I've netted out as much as I can but I bet some
crud has sunk, and I oxygenate as much as possible but the pump only
works while the sun is out - as soon as there's a cloud, it stops!
Should help in summer tho. Hope goldies are tough blighters. They are
doing their job tho - there's no mosquito larvae anymore.
Frank
I have 3, soon to be 4+ tanks running, but the wife don't know it yet.
Two tanks are 90 gal. planted community tanks, the 3rd a 5 gal.
neon/cardinal tank, and if I get away with it, the 4th will be a
breeding tank for a half dozen plecos I picked up last week. Been
breeding and raising fish since the early 60s. Opened a few pet shops
in the 70s - wife left and took pet shops in 80. Back to basement
breeding till the late 90s when I sold out, shortly after getting the
two 90s and *tried* fully planting them, finding out I don't have the
green thumb needed to keep them alive - got help with the plants and
everything is looking good to date.................. Frank
Gill Passman
Welcome to the group :-)
Are these plecos Zebra Plecs by any chance? ;-)
Gill
Nikki B
Nik
also wondering with gill what kind of pl*co's
Frank
Hi Gill - sure are. Guess they know me better than I know myself at the
pet store. His cost was $50.00 each, which he sold them to me for. At
that price it was all 6, so I would breed them and sell his store the
young. (That's the only part I haven't told my wife yet ;-))
....................... Frank
Frank
>we are glad to have you here :) .......
Really, r e a l l y, glad to be here! We can once again talk about our
hobby - fish..............Thanks, Frank
denizen
small pl*cos, platies, rainbowfish, zebra danios, white clouds, blue
gouramis and lots of easy-care plants. There are also two small planted
aquariums, each with a goldfish. Finally, there's a tiny plastic
aquarium with plants and ramshorn snails. Excess snails are fed to the
clown loaches.
I started aquarium keeping in the 1960s, took a 10 year break and then
returned to the hobby about 1990. There had been changes in the
meanwhile, notably increased knowledge of the nitrogen cycle and new
approaches to planted aquariums.
Thank you for the invitation to join this forum.
Mister Gardener
commonly philodendron. You said the roots are anchored in a 2 litre
bottle? In the tank? I'd love to see some pictures of this - covering a
wall, sounds cool. Does the P-dendrum get enough light from the ambient
light in the room or is their a window nearby?
MG
Mister Gardener
pl*co in recent months. We will look forward to the next article about
successful breeding of these honeys. I wish you an extra big asterisk
between you pl and your co.
MG
videoman
forum - but it is great to be here and we should be able to stay on
topic now! The previous newsgroup's noise was ridiculously unbearable!
Any way - I have 3 tanks in operation right now. One is a 55 gallon
with 2 silver dollars, one powder blue (or blue color morph of some
kind) beautiful (should be female) cichlid which harasses the silver
dollars but the silver dollars are way too quick to get hurt,
apparently the silver dollars just get pushed around and it looks like
no big deal. The cichlid might also be eating fancy guppies and all I
know about it's eating habits aside from what I have read is that I
have never seen it swallow anything. Apparently in nature these
cichlids primarily eat plants and crustaceans, but maybe a little
protein too (if that makes sense?). I have tons of fancy guppies again
in that same tank (about time for another donation to the local lfs),
java fern and tons of hornwort. I have some pond snails which I have
seen the cichlid mouth but not swallow a few times. I use 2 power heads
with marineland sponge pre filters, a bio wheel pro 60 with marineland
power head with sponge pre filter, a fluval 404 with marineland sponge
pre filter, and finally a jungle senior air powered sponge filter. I
use 2 40 watt fluorescent lights and 2 ebo jager heaters. I also use a
rondomatic automatic feeder and auto-top-off system to make up for
evaporation so i don't have to top off manually every 2 days.
I have another 55 gallon aquarium with 3 musk stinkpot juvenile turtles
and a ton of fancy guppies with various equipment with most notably a
bio wheel pro 60, and a auto-top-off system, among various
combinations/setups of the other equipment I previously mentioned in my
silver dollar tank.
I thirdly have a 15 usa gallon aquarium in my bedroom with a steadily
growing population of fancy guppies, 5 (I rarely ever see any of them
though, and as far as I know there might not be any left!) kuhli
loaches, pond snails, and a relatively large Amazon sword plant.
Various setups of the previous equipment too.
I love what I have and plan to keep things this way so I guess I don't
have mts! :-( But the future holds a lot of promise and my only
conundrum left with this hobby and my setups is population control with
the fancy guppies but I should be able to always deal with that by
making regular donations to the local lfs.
Good luck all and later!
Mr Gardener
just about everyone here is a feeling of freshness, excitement, and
friendhip. Like we all haven't seen each other for months. It's a good
atmosphere for getting down to what we are all here for, talking fish and
plants. By the way, you mentioned your silver dollars and how fast they are,
that came as a big surprise to me with my first group of these fish, they
look so delicate - but man can they move out in a hurry. As much as I love
them, I love my plants more, and they can mow down a planted tank in record
time.
MG
Gill Passman
Why don't you start a new thread and tells us all about them. Someone
was discussing them a few days ago (Nikki I think) - it would be of
great interest to us all :-)
Gill
Adam
I THOUGHT I knew what I was doing when I threw up a 10g on my desk at
work (straight out of college, need something to make me feel like I'm
not trapped for the next 40-50 years of my life!!). I then realized
that I better find out what I am doing. I started searching around on
google and found that forum that shall remain nameless on google
groups. I have learned so much and gotten really into aquaria in a
short 8 months. I currently have a 10g on my desk at work with a
smattering of fish and live plants. I took some cuttings (PLANT
cuttings that is) and have been growing them out for sale/trade/larger
tank. My most recent addition is a 10g with a few LDA25's that I'm
trying to get to breed. I seem to like the catfish more and more. I
don't have much room, but a larger tank is coming. I live in New
England and would like to set up a north east US biotope. Thanks for
setting this up!! I almost had to learn how to use a newsreader!!
IDzine01
I'm IDzine01 aka Christie.
I have several small tanks ranging from 5 gal to 29 gals squeezed into
my tiny apartment. My interest is primarily in Betta splendens,
specifically researching their health, behavior and general care.
(haven't yet taken an interest in the breeding side of things) I'm
currently keeping dwarf puffers, dwarf gouramis, African dwarf frogs (I
told you it was a tiny apartment), zebra danios, otos and peppered
cories. I also enjoy a planted aquarium but am no expert on the
subject.
I am my own webmaster and I am currently hosting a site for anyone
interested in learning about bettas. It tends to be geared toward
beginner to intermediate (whatever you'd call it) betta enthusiasts.
http://www.nippyfish.net
I am also hosting a Blog (yeah, I know I finally caved) that offers
supplemental information to my website. Basically, I offer my opinion
to questions that get emailed to me about bettas.
http://nippyfish.blogspot.com I don't know if it's actually helping
anybody yet but it gives me a chance to blab on more about my fish
addiction so yay for my blog.
Oh, and I'm a regular around here so most of you already know this
stuff.
So, yeah... um, see you guys around.
techi...@gmail.com
tried treating with meth blue but to be honest it was so sick, it just
had no chance. :( In everything else my bettas have had (finrot etc) I
have been successful in meth blue (they have their own tank so no
problems with treating the whole tank apart from the gravel going a
pretty colour!)
2pods
Nice and quiet in here, just the sound of aquarium and fish discussions
:-)
I've been keeping fish for about 4 years now, with two small ponds and
some half barrels in the garden, and three Juwel tanks inside.
The smallest pond has 4 goldfish, a small shubunkin and a small tench
(both destined for the bigger pond as soon as I can catch them ! ).
The larger pond has 3 shubs, 2 orfe, 1 large tench, 4 teeny tench, and
a couple of comets.
Both ponds are over-filtered with inbuilt UVs and planted.
Downstairs we have the Juwel Rio (400ltrs) wich has gravel and a lot of
planting, 5 danios, 3 gold veil-tail angels, 1 koi angel, and two
marble angels, 4 clown loaches, 4 bronze corys, 1 elegant, 1 albino, 1
sterbai corys, an ever varying number of platies, and 3 dojo loaches.
Externally filtered with Rena XP3 and 15w Vecton UV.
I also have a small plastic tank with filter for 3 teeny goldfish from
last year's fry who will be heading small pondwards.
Upstairs I have a Juwel Rio 240ltr with 1 SAE, 6 clown loaches, 6
bronze corys, some platies, and a dark angel.
Again heavily planted with Rena XP2 external filter and a Vecton 15w
UV.
In the Juwel Rekord 60ltr we have plants and platies to keep the filter
ticking over ( this is normally used for quarantine).
Plants get Seachem Flourish and Excel.
Peter
Uncle Chuck
of folks like NetMax et. al.
I used to have an aquarium as a kid, didn't have time for it for a few
decades, and picked the hobby back up again after a period of
disability. (Some of my old hobbies just weren't practical anymore).
I'm trained as a molecular biologist/chemist/microbial ecologist, but
work out my science issues on my fish and my garden these days.
I currently have a 46 gallon bowfront tank, a tall 20 gallon, planted,
Q-Tank, and a container pond on one of my balconies. I use heavily
modified Aquaclears on my tanks and rolled my own filtration system off
a pond fountain intake. I stick to soft/acid water fish, in keeping
with my municpal water supply.
46 Gallon Tank Residents:
Dozen or so Ghost Shrimp
8-12 Corydas (3 spawning adults), let's see how many make it through
development to adults.
One softball sized AppleSnail (P. bridgsii), named Petunia
3 Otoclinus catfish
5 Silver Hatchet Fish
5 Harlequin Rasboras
5 Cardinal Tetras
Quadrillions of Microbes
20 Gallon (Q) Tank Residents:
Half-Dozen or so low-light plants, like Java-Moss and Anubias
Dozen or so Breeding Ghost Shrimp, depending on what the YoYo's are
eating today
3 Khuli Loaches
3 YoYo Loaches
Dozens of lurking pond snails, thanks to the plants (see YoYo comment)
Quadrillions of Microbes
Seasonal Container Pond & Q-Tank Residents:
6 White Cloud Minnows
Dozen or so mid-high-light plants
Visiting Red-legged (Cascadian) Frog
Visiting Pacifc Tree Frog
Requiste microbes and visiting insects/fish food
Mr Gardener
> work out my science issues on my fish and my garden these days.
You're not alone. I'm finding that when everything is said and done, it all
comes down to aquariums and gardening.
Mister Gardener
Stokes
breaks from the hobby.
My new interest at the moment is Malawi Cichlids. But I have kept just
about all types of freshwater tropicalsand goldfish. Currently I have a
300l aquarium with discus, clown loaches, a zebra and two yoyos, a BGK
, assorted small tetras and pearl gouramis. Its pretty well planted. I
also have a 120l Malawi tank, which contains 10 mbuna and 2 peacocks,
and a Siamese Algae eater,with no plants here and lots of rockwork. And
a 50l that is standing empty and was intended for use as a breeding
tank, when that gets off the ground. I also keep snakes and I have a
hand reared jenday conure, who I think also loves the fish, as he often
tries to fly in whenever I'm doing a bit of cleaning. I would like to
try my hand at marine some time.
I appreciate all the good advice dished up by NetMax, Gill, Frank,
Carl, Altum and company, I've learned a lot from you guys over the
years. For many years I have read the newsgroups, though not partaking
actively, as I'm a bit of a shy guy. Much respect to all of you and
hopefully we won't be dogged by trolls here (touch wood!) Its a great
idea that everyone here has told us a bit about themselves and their
interests. And thank you for having set this group up. Bye!!
default
strictly to introductions, it would be easier to read and maybe even
refer back to once in a while. With so many replies being sprinkled
in, a newbie (me) coming into the group and wanting to read up on
everyone has to wade through many other posts to read the bona-fide
intros.
If interested, either the moderators or those that own the "non-intro"
posts could delete them and clean up the thread.
steve
default
Started with a gold fish back in 1966 or so and soon got a real
aquarium, a five gallon tank with light and corner filter. Neon tetras
and angel fish were my favorites back then. Later I obtained a "full
size aquarium" 10 gallon tank to let my daughter use the 5. She later
got the 10 and I moved up to the "fish store size" tank, 55g.
Lately I've been re-bitten with the fish bug and I recently had 5 tanks
running at once. I've since moved to smaller quarters and only have
the 55g and a small 3g at work on my desk. When all 5 were going, I
had my newly aquired knowledge of plants flourishing in a 55g, a rock
tank with Malawi cichlids in another 55, Angels breeding in a 20, their
fry growing in a 5, and either Red Cherry Shrimps or dwarf south
american cichlids "Apistogramma Borellii" breeding in a 20.
Thanks for setting up this new group. I enjoy reading and really like
the community that we'd formed over the last couple years.
steve
JoeA
JoeA here, Boston area, and very pleased to move into this "healthier"
NG.
I'm back into the hobby after about 10 years. I'm 40 now, but started
as a young teenager. That first tank was a 20Long, now I'm using the
same iron stand with a 37 US Gal Tall tank.
I may start a new thread on undergravel filters, but if people want to
chime in (avoiding a flame war), I'm open to opinions.
The setup is the 37 Gallon, with a reverse flow undergravel filter and
an overhead Eclipse filter with Bio-Wheel. I used to use the hang on
tank filters (with UGF), but my space is so limited I had to put it
right against a wall, which is why I bought the overhead filter &
light. (the benefit is that it had 2 strip lights, which I needed for
the tall tank).
I've gathered UGFs are not loved anymore, and suspect it's because
people don't like pulling the dirt deep down. That's a primary reason
I went with reverse flow. My unverifed observation is that vacuuming
with the reverse flow did show less dirt. Whether that was because of
the reverse flow, or because of a different fish load, I can't be sure.
I will say I am lucky though. Because my tank is all glass, and I use
the old fashioned cast iron stand, I can look up to see what dirt gets
under the plate, focus my vacuum there, and by watching small specs
under the plate, I'm sure that water is flowing under the plate to the
other end of the tank.
So, I've always been a 2 filter type of guy. I never worry about
destroying bacterial colonies when I replace the floss/carbon pack.
Truth be told, I only replace the pack if I had to use meds. Which
means 99% of the time I'm using a mechanical & biological filter,
hardly ever a chemical filter. Again, I don't want to start a
"religous" debate, but in my unique instance, the Reverse UGF works for
me. So now I have a question on fertilizing plants. Do I pour in
liquid, or push a tablet in near the roots. I suspect the tablet is
best because even when it disolves, nutrients float about.
I must confess I'm very sad over the loss of a Betta that helped cycle
the tank. I added long fin Zebra Danios, and a couple weeks later, the
Betta had frayed fins, and I apparently moved him back to his own tank
too late. Felt very guilty 'cause he appeared to be living in paradise
when he was alone.
So, my ph hovers at 7.2, and I'd like some suggestions. I tried to
keep the ph at 7.0, but it was a constant battle and 5 Neons
disappeared, but the tiny baby neon that got caught in the net at the
store is doing well. I plan to go with Cardinals since they are listed
as good at that ph where the Neons weren't. I hope they adobt the
Neon...
I want a pair of Kribensis too, they were FUN to watch before. Cichlid
personalities are so different. I'm also looking for a midwater pair,
maybe dwarf Gourami? Suggestions welcome here too.
So, that's my Guest Book entry! Glad to be here, and welcome replies.
My tank is borderline small, mainly because of the length. I'd love to
have Angels again, but they seem to feast on Neon/Cardinals!
IDzine01
and females.
IDzine01
last year. Where do you get your fish supplies? Have you been to any
Boston Aquarium Society meetings?
-Christie
JoeA
Been here my whole life, not sure I could leave, but am tempted at
times!
Hmm, where do I get supplies... A variety of places. I *try* to
support the local owned, but I work next door to a Petco. I kinda
spread the wealth, including mail order 'cause I like to get the
catalogs. Beyond the Petco, I'll visit Tropic Isle on Rte 9 in
Framingham and the Newton Pet Store (which used to be a Debbies a long
time ago). Right now I'm keeping an eye on the Tropic Isle place since
they have a tank of Cardinals I'm watching. I want to make sure
they've been there for a week or 3 before I buy. They are the place
where I found Endler Guppies. My wife loves Gups, so I bought 2 pair.
One of the males had a bladder problem as he sat on the bottom. I
doubt I'll replace him since I think it's far more humane to have 2
females per male. I expect to be over run with fry anyhow. Some of
them always survive.
Never been to the meeting, is it worth the time?
Any favorite shops you can recommend?
joe
JoeA
Boston area stores/etc/
I'll look there for suggestions.
joe
IDzine01
Nook in Acton. The worst I have seen was this place in Waltham (not the
PetCo) but I have forgotten the name.
The BAS meetings are SO worth it. They have auctions every month that
are ridiculous (in a good way). I have gone home with BAGS full of
aquarium plants and fish and I don't think I've spent more then $10 at
any given meeting.
NetMax
<snip>
Hi Joe, at all possible, I'd try to match/acclimate fish to your
natural pH. The matching of pH to fish is greatly overemphasized
(imo), and frequently more stressful to the fish. The *stability* of
the pH, quality of the water (low DOCs & NO3) and temperature stability
would all be more important than the matching of pH. You just want to
avoid pairing extremes, such as low pH fish (ie: Discus) into high pH
(>8.4) water (or the opposite) as this can be problematic.
NetMax
read <snip>
Hi Steve (default), your point is well taken about keeping the Intro
thread to just intros, and I feel the same way (much easier to later
reference). On the other hand, these stray posts do start some
interesting new topics. Hopefully posters can tidy up after themselves
a bit. Anyone can delete their own posts so once a new thread is
started, they can go back into the Intro thread and delete anything
which isn't an 'Introduction'.
The level of moderation here is really really minimal - primarily to
remove spam and watch for trolls. We are trying to keep the fairly
free-spirited environment of Usenet (before the arrival of the trolls).
In this way, what generaly happens is that the group governs itself to
what they feel are important, starting with members making suggestions,
just as you have - welcome to TFA : )
pistor
> Hi Joe, at all possible, I'd try to match/acclimate fish to your
> natural pH. The matching of pH to fish is greatly overemphasized
> (imo), and frequently more stressful to the fish. The *stability* of
> the pH, quality of the water (low DOCs & NO3) and temperature stability
> would all be more important than the matching of pH. You just want to
I agree 100% Unless you want to breed discus or some other extreme pH
fish, you will be fine with your local water. My fish all thrive and
I've never messed with pH.
Victor
Fishy
I used to post on rec.ponds but not in the last few years. I have 4
aquariums and 7 ponds. The details are all on my site, fishpondinfo.com
Nikki B
glad your joining us
I have a mini lop also, looks just like yours.
Nik
AlanM
I'm living in Beautiful British Columbia - Kelowna to be more specific.
Could I be any luckier?
I got out of the hobby in 1989, selling the last of what was once
several 100 gal. aquariums. I had a major disaster with a 120 on the
second floor...but I digress.
My daughter asked me if I would look after her 10 gal. tank while she
was off doing the standard backpacking through Europe thing. Okay, I
said, despite the fact that she had names for all of her fish.
That was almost a year ago. Now I have a 6 aquariums in total (who can
resist? There's more planned, but I haven't mentioned that to my wife
just yet). There's a 45 gal with tin foil angels, boseman rainbows and
all of the male guppies that resulted from the original pair my
daughter had. They are prolific!
I have been trying to grow plants, as it has always been a desire to
have a well planted aquarium, and I've been having some success
recently (before moving - see below).
The female livebearers occupy a 37 gal. I had to slow it down!
I just bought a 20 gal. for $10 and it doesn't leak! That's to add to
the three 10 gal. aquariums that only see partial duty depending on
what's needed.
I recently had a major setback moving to a new house. I lost most of
the plants - they don't acutally do very well out of water and in the
heat even if it's for a short time. Oops. So far, the crypts and
swords seem to be making a comeback. My fingers are crossed.
I recently began a culture of microworms and have a BBS hatchery, so
the fry should be happy. I can't seem to find a grindal worm culture,
but would like to. I asked the lfs and they looked at me like I was
speaking some foreign language! If it's not frozen, they haven't heard
of it. I never really kept live food - this is a new experience.
My fish have been feasting on mosquito larvae recently as I found a
supply. Now to find a daphnia pond! Maybe this weekend.
Thanks for creating this group - there are people with too much time on
their hands. Too bad they don't keep fish!
AM
anglerfishuk
it too, but not as bad as some lol, I live in the UK and currently I
have a 13g in the lounge with a population of Purple Emperor Tetras, a
V large Gyrinochelius aymonieri, who thinks he is the tank boss, and
newest Additions are 6 Ancistrus sp Cats, which I adore, also have
another 13g in the bedroom sitting quietly awaiting some inmates but
cycling itself happily ,
I have been keeping Fish off & on for about 20yrs and have kept all
different species but must admit to being a die hard Catfish &
Cichlid fan.
I would like to set up a Malawi Tank but limited space in my flat wont
allow it and it not fair to squeeze them into a small size tank, so i
will have to make do with some others lol,
Got to say you guys & gals are amazing just hope the Trolls stay
away, this is the best Fish group i have known on the net and i have
been in a few that started well but soon died out, but this looks
to go from strenght to strength,
Andy aka anglerfishuk
LM
I'm Linda..
I grew up with a cold water goldfish tank(s).. but tropical is
something I got into recently.
I started a 37G tank about 4 years ago. It's a heavily-planted
canister+UGF tank (yes.. a heavily planted UGF.. I didn't know what I
was doing when I started, so I didn't know this was potentially not a
good combination... although it seems to work now). it has 4 bushy
amazon sword, over-grown java fern and anubius that are crowding the
sword plants, and some stem plants floating (since the fish dislodges
them from the gravel). at this point, whether the UGF is functioning
or not is under debate.. probably all clogged up with sword plant
roots!
The 37G tank had 4 lace gouramis (t. leeri), 4 SAEs, few otos (never
know how many there are in there. when I think they've all died off
and buy a few more, few more come out of the bushes...), 4 zebra
loaches (b. striata), and about 9 botia sidthemunkis (dwarf chain
loaches)... they were all happily living together for about 2 years,
but recently I had some tank disaster (weird disease outbreak), and
lost 2 gouramis and 1 SAE. currently none of the loaches or otos are
affected, but 2 of my remaining gouramis are in quarantine in a 10G
tank... still not sure what killed the other two, and affected the SAEs
(3 of the SAEs ended up with pine-cone scales, etc, but 2 recovered,
while 1 died. one remaining never got sick).
Hopefully I can beat this disease outbreak, and have another peaceful,
stable tank...
I also have a 6G Eclipse tank with a betta and couple of otos in it.
hoping to move it into my toddler son's room as soon as he learns not
to bang on the fish tank thinking it's funny! now he points to the
tank saying "Beh-taaah??" wondering why the fish disappears amidst the
java fern jungle as soon as he approaches, and doesn't want to
entertain him. sigh.
so.. I intended to have only one tank, but currently have 3 :-P hope
to reduce it to 2 though!
Linda
Justice
zebria dian and a banded ranbow, the ranbow has passed. since then I
have 3 planted tanks more to come. right now there contents are
20 gal: 3 clown loaches, 1 zebra diano, 4 harlequen rasboros.
10 gal: 5 upside down cats, 3 glass cats
10 gal: 2 yoyo loaches, 1 red tail black shark
fish I want:
baracuda, rope fish, arrowana,
other intrests are computers, linux, driving rally
NetMax
I'm Linda..
... (yes.. a heavily planted UGF..
... I didn't know this was potentially not a good combination...
... whether the UGF is functioning or not is under debate.. probably
all clogged up with sword plant roots!
<snip>
Research old tank syndrome. This occurs when an accumulation of
decaying organic matter messes up the water's chemistry by
significantly increasing the bioload on the tank. In a hard water
tank, this manifests itself in uncontrollable nitrate levels. In a
soft water tank, it depletes the buffer (kH or alkalinity) and causes
the water to go acidic (low pH). Either can/will stress the fish
causing death (which cannot be treated by medicine). If the pH starts
bouncing, the ammonia in the water cycles between non-toxic NH4 (when
the water is very acidic) to toxic NH3 (when the water looses acidity
like after a water change).
This may be what is happening, (or happened) in your tank from your
description. If you need more info, start a new thread topic.
cheers & welcome aboard
NetMax
kathy
I'm just adding onto the guestbook thread. I think :-))
kathy, from rec.ponds.
Hope this works and is safe :-)
I'm a pond keeper.
3,000 gallon pond and 800 bog. I'm a critter ponder.
Everyone is welcome. Fish, plants, frogs, turtles, insects, birds,
snakes, dogs.
I love nothing better than to find a strange critter and figure out who
showed up.
I run www.blogfromthebog.com April 2005 to Jan 2006 is all about
the pond and bog.
Starting in May I retasked it to be a blog about student
teaching and education.
I will be finishing up my masters degree this summer and
student teaching in the fall. I'll try and check in the calm
spaces of my life....
~ jan
in that pond.
Koi ponds, 2 connected, total gallons 1500.
Lily pond, 1000 gallon
Master Gardener since 1996
Did first pond in 1995, lily pond 2001, & MG Demo Pond 2000.
Website on the above at www.jjspond.us
Day job, ParaEducator of special needs students at the middle school
level. (Only 8 more days and we're free for the summer.)
Family, 3 boys, youngest almost 18.
Middle in the Army at Ft. Hood.
Eldest works along side hubby in Networking business.
I'll be watching for the ponding threads. ~ jan
Lana
Hello All,
Max suggested that I post in the guest book, and I hope I'm doing
it right. I'm used to using Outlook Express or Yahoo, and this is a
whole new ballgame.
Anyway, I'm Lana. I live in a very small town in West Virginia.
I'm married, and we have 3 grown daughters, and 3 grandchildren ages
11, 10, and 8.
I've been keeping fish for about 15 years. I started by accident.
My mother in law bought some goldfish for her grandson. He lost
interest, she didn't want to keep them, and guess what happened? I
started keeping fish.
Over the years I've had goldfish, angels, oscars, guppies, and the
usual assortments of tetras, corys, mollies, and so forth.
I'm currently down to one lone fish. Nemo is an albino convict
cichlid who resides in solitary splendor in a 55 gallon tank. I don't
usually name my fish. My husband's two year old great-niece calls every
fish she sees Nemo. Anyone care to guess what her favorite movie is?
I do have 3 empty 20 gallon tanks that are begging to be filled
again. I'm going to wait a little bit, because we may be moving, and
one tank is about all I'd care to uproot.
From what I've read, I think this is a very fine group of folks.
I'm pleased to be here.
Lana
Christine O
Nice to see everyone here. I don't have a tank, but am learning as much
as I can about fish and caring for them before I do. I have a budgie
named Mr. Moxie.
However, I have garnered a great appreciation for fish through
identifying them. My job requires identifying and labelling
photographs, and I sometimes research the animals to make sure they are
correct. I'm getting really good at id'ing trevallies, grunts and
sweetlips :-)
I look forward to reading everyone's posts, even if I don't post much
myself :-)
Best,
Christine
Mr Gardener
favorite soda, (AKA pop to some of you), MOXIE. Moxie was recently named the
official state drink of Maine, and I think we're about the only people who
drink the stuff. In fact, the over fifties are the only Moxie lovers, young
people hate the stuff. Sigh. Kids today.
It sounds like you have a really neat job, I would love to hear more about
it. Meanwhile, welcome aboard our life raft in the sea of, well, those other
aquarium groups.
Mister Gardener - you may call me Mister for short.
danny
my name is Danny i have a 30 litre biorb with 6 neons 4 platies and 2
glowlight tetras.
my tank is planted with some artificial ferns.
thats all i really have to tell anyone about.
Danny
LM
I had OTS a while ago (>1yr).. but this disease was after I
re-stabilized everything to where it is (25% water change/vacuum every
2-4 weeks or so). pH is low, but stable, expected level of the soft
water (~6.6 or so). I've tried to keep fish that likes soft
water/acidic tank so it will tolerate the condition (zebra loaches are
the ones that are not exactly softwater/acidic fish, but.. didn't want
to get rid of them, so..). and few months ago, I relocated the tank,
so during that move it got a very very good vacuumming, so the tank is
as clean as a planted tank could be...
I did post questions on the disease outbreak on the other newsgroup,
but obviously most of the true members had escaped to this group
already. :-P so I will repost and see if I can get help...
linda
Mellie101
experience (and not much) with goldfish at the moment. I currently
have 3 tanks running. 1 x 55g with 1 ryukin, 1 black moor and 1
fantail. I have a 10g with my 2 month old fry in it. Hoping to have
him in the 55g soon. I also bought a small ryukin today (Rooney) which
is in a cycled 2g just for a couple of weeks before he goes in the 55g.
Once the 5 of them are happy in the big tank I hope to expand into the
realms of tropicals. Just a few neons and white clouds to start with.
Waiting for our basement to be done so that I can get a nice tank going
down there. Hoping one day to be able to afford a salt water.
Mr Gardener
Hey Mellie - I was just thinking about you last night as I was going through
my mental list of who I haven't seen on line for a while. Glad to see you
here.
MG
Christine O
I thought I had replied to you last week, but I think Google Groups ate
my post!
>Moxie was recently named the
> official state drink of Maine, and I think we're about the only people who
> drink the stuff. In fact, the over fifties are the only Moxie lovers, young
> people hate the stuff. Sigh. Kids today.
Hehehe! I learn something new every day! I don't think we get that up
here...is it like root beer? He got his name because he wouldn't go
into the take-home box and flew around the store. In a way, I'm glad
fish can't fly :-D
> It sounds like you have a really neat job, I would love to hear more about
> it. Meanwhile, welcome aboard our life raft in the sea of, well, those other
> aquarium groups.
Thanks for the welcome. It took me a while to figure out where everyone
had gone :-D My job is a little ho-hum, but I like looking at pictures
all day. I also catalog them so that people can find them on our site.
There are about 3200 fish pictures in our collection - about 3700 if
you include the seafood ones :-D
Best,
Christine
Mr Gardener
like Dr Pepper - it's super charged with caffeine, but most young people
won't touch the stuff. It is most commonly drunk by old guys who gave up
beer drinking for one reason or another. It's made in Georgia, but I don't
know anyone in Georgia who's heard of it.
Please. I mean please give us your url.
MG
mikelincs
Sapin when I retired last year. I had fish in the UK, and have now got
a tank here. It's 120 litre, community tank. I ahd a few problems
starting up and lost quite a few fish. but recently my problems seem to
have sorted themselves out. I currnetly have a few neons, and other
tetras, 3 corys, 1 Albino, 1 Leopard and one other. I pleco, got him at
about 1" long, he's now a good 4.5" and growing well, 3 gouramis, a red
fin Shark and three angels + assorted guppies, mostly now ones born in
the tank, but the angels are keeping the numbers down. Never heard of a
drink called Moxie, but San Miguel goes down weel on a hot day here.
Mister Gardener
> Sapin when I retired last year.
Hi Mike - welcome aboard - can you tell me where Sapin is? I can't find it
on a map.
Never heard of a
> drink called Moxie, but San Miguel goes down weel on a hot day here.
Moxie is the official soft drink of the State Of Maine - be sure to try some
on your next holiday to Bar Harbor.
MG
mikelincs
Mike
Phyllis and Jim
Enjoy the forum.
Jim
miyabee
tanks - 1: 2.5 gallon tank with 2 freshwater puffers and 1 Betta,
2: 10 gallon tank with 4 red clawed crabs - 2 female fiddler crabs and
1 male fiddler crab, 8 ghost shrimp, and 3 Indian Mudskippers and 3: 20
Gallon tank with about 5 African Cichlids.
Our favorite tank is the 10 gallon with the Mudskippers - those are the
coolest fish ever! You can literally hand-feed them - My mudskippers
are starting to get used to me messing with the tank and feeding them -
so I'm hoping to be able to hand feed them one day.
Frank
I have a 70 litre tank with coldwater fish. i have minnows, zebra,
leopard & giant danios, a comet, fantail, shubumpkin, 2 weather
loaches, 2 sucking loaches, 2 paradise fish, 2 lionhead ranchus & 2
apple snails
Would love to get more or bigger tanks and a larger variety of
coldwater fish - but we don't seem to have a great choice in this
country. would love someday to have a marine tank
Frank
Phyllis and Jim
Frank wrote:
> my nickname should have changed to FrankW by now
Welcome, Frank! I hope you enjoy the group.
Jim
ifb-online
Been around and posting quite a bit in the last couple of months. As I
write, my first tank (120 litre Juwel Rekord 120) is about two months
old. I did keep the classroom fish tank in the holidays as a 10 year
old back in the early 70s, but that's the sum of my previous aquarium
experience!
I started off with six Zebra Danios, although one turned out to be a
Kyathit. Two of the Zebras and the Kyathit died within a few days of
purchase despite very careful monitoring and water changes. Another
Zebra injured its tail and it didn't heal (probably used melafix too
late) so I was down to just two Zebras - both the long-finned variety.
Well, one of these just disappeared - no idea what happened. My theory
is that it may have jumped and one of our two cats had it, though the
hood lids are only left open slightly when the tank is hot. Quite a
mystery that one. I then bought three more Zebras to keep the one
remaining one (which is doing great) company and three more Kyathits.
One of the new Zebras got stuck behind a badly fitting piece of
backround material and I thought it was a goner, shredded tail,
non-functioning pectoral fin and looking very dazed plus being bullied
by the others. Used a breeder box to separate it but wasn't very
optimistic. Well, now you can hardly tell which one it was - completely
back to normal and healed.
Since the tank cycled I added a pair of m/f Dwarf Blue Gouramis, but
the un-gentlemanyly behaviour of the male forced the addition of a
second female. They now have regular stand-offs with each other if the
male isn't chasing them. Sometimes they chase him!
I also added a small albino Ancistrsu Bristlenose Catfish - great algae
cleaner; fantastic fish, despite my daughter admonishing me for buying
an albino (not intended, but that's all the shop had on that day).
Since added three small unidentified Corys (sold as Pandas, later
admitted by the shop to being C.Melanistius, but I'm still not sure)
and two Amano shrimp, but one of the Corys died after just two days for
no obvious reason. Will probably get some Pepper Corys if I can't find
any more of the 'spotted Bandits' I have at the moment.
The tank is pretty well planted and desperately needed extra light, so
I DIY added a second tube in the hood (quite proud of that one!) and
I'm now also running a s/h Hagen CO2 yeast brew system, using my own
yeast formula (goes very well, but only for about a week at a time so
far).
That's about enough for now!
Ian
longgone44
I have run a small pond/filter business for locals for 10 yrs as an
extension of my interest in this hobby
I have followed and posted on rec ponds for ~ 7 yrs and still return
to see if it is getting any better - maybe a little
I am a retired auto worker for 3 yrs and have had a ~1000 gal pond
for 11 yrs with about 40 GF and 2 Koi and 2 lotus pots up on the deck,
growing nicely
Gale :~)
Phyllis and Jim
freedom of the trolls to mess up a fine site. Phyllis and I hope you
enjoy this one and our eventual pond site...if we get enough working
here.
Jim
Phyllis and Jim
Phyllis and I lived in Cambridge for several years while I took a
degree and then again on sabbatical. We spent a good deal of time in
London as part of a candle firm that I started with a friend at
Cambridge. Enjoy our group.
Jim
tr...@io.com
rec.aquaria.* in the 90s. I recently revisited the newsgroups and
it's sad. I prefer newsgroups and news reader clients to web based
fora. Ah well. Did anyone consider doing a moderated news group?
Folks used to do those...
Anyway, I started keeping fish in the mid-70s with a 10 gallon tank.
That grew over the years until the peak where I had a 200 gallon tank,
two 90s, two 30s, assorted 20s and 10s and a single 5 gallon (useful
for breeding). At one point I also had a sunken concrete pond, but we
moved.
After my goldfish died around 2000 (swim bladder disorder, mainly), I
sort of lost interest and while a few tanks still had water in them,
there were no fish.
My four-year-old is now interested in fish so we have a newly
refurbished 20 gallon going, with a power head driven reverse flow UG
filter and a Penguin power filter on the way. He picked out cardinal
tetras (four) and coryadoras (sp?) aneaus (3). He was soooo excited at
the pet store when the tank was finally ready for fish and he could go
choose some. I thought he was going to bounce off the walls (though
he's very good about not touching the glass).
I'm thinking about refurbishing the 200 gallon tank. However, it's a
plywood and glass DIY job (beautiful wood finish) and it doesn't seem
to shed heat well. When we ran the lighting system (17 years ago) it
eventually reached about 10 degrees F above room temperature, which was
too hot for plants.
Anyway, lighting technology has changed a lot in the last decade, and
I'm going to do some temperature tests and maybe I can get the thing
going at a decent temperature with acceptable lighting. A chiller
would just cost too much in investment and operationally.
Is thekrib a static archive or is it still updated? I noticed that
articles on lighting seemed not very recent.
Over the years I've bred livebearers (of course), bettas, tiger barbs,
cherry barbs, goldfish, gold severums (had no idea they got so big
before they breed), anglefish, and Flame angels. The latter surprised
me actually, and while I got a few fry, by the time I had rotifer
culture up and running, it was time to move and they didn't breed again
after that.
Phyllis and Jim
of doing the hobby with Dad. I remember starting with a 20 gal tank at
age 8. Never lost the novelty and joy.
Welcome to TFA.
Jim
Nikki B
so much about every thing. So feel free to update us on what you are
doing. Thanks for joining
Nik
Mister Gardener
> rec.aquaria.* in the 90s. I recently revisited the newsgroups and
> it's sad. I prefer newsgroups and news reader clients to web based
> fora. Ah well. Did anyone consider doing a moderated news group?
> Folks used to do those...
Welcome aboard, Jeff. Your questions about the hows and whys of our group,
including our consideration of a moderated newsgroup, are answered in the
topic area "Announcements/Suggestions." This topic has been pinned so that
it will always appear on the first page of TFA as the fourth topic. If you
don't find the answers you are seeking, please feel free to add your
questions or comments to Announcements/Suggestions.
MG
tr...@io.com
Mister Gardener wrote:
> > I recently revisited the newsgroups and
> > it's sad. I prefer newsgroups and news reader clients to web based
> > fora. Ah well. Did anyone consider doing a moderated news group?
> > Folks used to do those...
>
> Welcome aboard, Jeff. Your questions about the hows and whys of our group,
> including our consideration of a moderated newsgroup, are answered in the
> topic area "Announcements/Suggestions."
Ah, thank you. I see it was well considered. It wasn't that easy to
create a new moderated group even when Usenet was working the way it
was meant to. Maybe if I go and hang out in one of hte programming
groups I'll be able to convince someone to write a client that reads
Google email lists, but looks in all regards like NewsWatcher. :-)
Okay, back to fish discussion. I think I'll go start a thread about
lighting.