If I can not have plants in the main tank would it help or even make sense to grow them in the sump to help with nitrate ..read more

Hi! I just got an email from Aquarium  Co-Op saying yeah it's been awhile, what's up, are you having any problems? Well, yeah! Perfect timing. Thought I would try here first. First of all, while I have had an aquarium for MANY years, this past 6 or so months has marked my first try at planted ones. I am having at least 2 issues that I would love to get advice on. 1. algaes  a. new cube: I started a new 20" cube in Feb right before I had knee surgery. I was trying to make it planted and have been building a house to put in it out of little stones while recovering from surgery. My idea ..read more

I searched the forum.  One of my 7 Panda cories has not been eating anything from the looks of the poor thing.  I didn't realize it as I see about 5 of them at any time.  All of the rest of the tank inhabitants appear healthy.   Water parameters are stable 6.8 pH no chlorine, no ammonia and nitrites, under 20ppm nitrate. I feed a combo of sera catfish wafers, and veggie flake, and vibra bites.  As this is what they feed at C-MACS store.  I would have thought sick if the poor thing had been showing signs sooner I wonder if it is the stress or maybe just not we ..read more

I was recently given a new to me 80 Gal tank. I have a small school of 7 large Congo Tetra that I am thinking of moving into it from the 55 they are in now. They are getting large and giving them more space seems a good idea. Was thinking of some sort of Gouramis as a tankmate to them but have not bin able to find anything of that combination. There is a lot on smaller Tetras with Gouramis but since Congo are much larger I am wondering if how that would change things between them. Any information or references would be most appreciated ..read more

Whether it is part of the hardscape, the plants, or even the inhabitants... what is the favorite part of your tank? I'll go first! I love this whole corner, but my favorite part of it is the moss! I was getting really frustrated because it wouldn't stay down and it was way past my bedtime, so finally I just shoved it in place, and to me it looks awesome in the foreground. I love seeing all the cute threads of moss ^__ ..read more

I remember there were some old posts about using sodium thiosulphate  but I'm struggling to find them.  So is anyone using it as a dechlorinator instead of the big brand preparations and if so how are you dosing it ?   ..read more

I have been having milky (not cloudy from particles/debris) water in my mature axolotl tank....and I'm not sure why. There's some minor foaming/bubbles where water breaks from filters. The tank has been established and running for years. Any help is appreciated. Tank parameters: Ammonia - 0 (according to Co-op ammonia strips; API kit is long expired.) Nitrite - 0, Nitrate - 5, PH - 7.0, GH - 120, KH 40-80, Chlorine - 0 (Prime and/or Tetra dechlorinator is used) Temp - 60-64 F Water change schedule: generally 25% twice a week. Feeding schedule: every other day - Live worm or sinking carnivore p ..read more

I've been using black sand, but I've heard this isn't ideal. I'm moving my sterbai cory tank and have the chance here to change out the substrate, and I'm wondering if a lighter color would be a better choice ..read more

Question -  if you use a Planeria trap, what do you do after you trap them.  I believe we have a responsibility to not introduce non native species into our water source. I never flush or rinse anything down my drains.   ..read more

I find it really odd that the market for blue acaras has been flooded with the morph known as the “electric blue” acara. EB acaras are generally more than twice the price of true blue acaras, so I guess that explains it. But I generally prefer pets that are closer to the wildtype, and not morphs. Even my LFS is having a tough time ordering blue acaras for me. It’s weird, because you can still easily find oscars, Jack Dempsey, ram cichlids, angelfish, etc. that still have the original colors and patterns. I’d rather not order fish myself, but I might have to. Anyone else lament how hard it has ..read more