I am planning to get a 120x60x60 cm tank and want to get competition level lights. I have been looking at the UNS Titan, the ADA Solar RGB and the Chihiros Vivid 2. However, after looking at reviews and watching videos, i have seen that sometimes the vivid 2 is faulty and malfunctions after a few months. The Titan and the Solar Rgb are not adjustable and way too pricey. IF I was to get the vivid 2, how many would i need to get high lighting in the entire tank ..read more

Ok so I know I’ve posted a lot but I have all the questions! So finally after a few weeks my ammonia level is 0.25 ppm and my nitrate is 20-40ppm and nitrite is 2.0 ppm. I have read dr Tim’s fishless cycle info but confused. Do I add more ammonia and wait for a day and retest? Do I do a water change? What is my next step! I don’t want to mess this up because my kid is asking everyday if we can go get fish yet. It’s a 10g tanks with some live and some fake plants. Finally got my ph to 7.4... Almost fish time? Help ..read more

Hello everyone, I have a pretty big tank in the works and was referred to this forum for any questions or help I might need. I am fairly new to the fresh water side of tanks so I’m trying to soak in as much as possible within these next few months before my tank arrival. I am having lots of confusion on the filtration side of things. I am stuck on what sump size to go with, whether to choose internal/external overflows, what size holes to request to be drilled if going internal overflows... Advice for 1100g planted tank ..read more

I originally was averted to "pest" snails because it's something I wouldn't be able to control once I set them free. I went above and beyond to make sure all the plants etc I ordered were pest free to the point where I even killed some of them LOL. As I kept researching, though, I came to the conclusion that it is actually encouraged to keep snails in shrimp tanks. Plus, they're just fun! I originally settled on a nerite due to them not reproducing in fresh water... however.. I kept getting... What's your favorite snail in a shrimp tank ..read more

Hi all, I have a 16g planted tank that's been up for right about a year now. I've got around 15 rasboras, an unknown quantity of cherry shrimp, two amano shrimp, a couple otos, and a nerite snail. Everyone is happy and healthy. A few of months ago I ordered some plants from a local supplier, and while I did do a peroxide dip, it seems I brought some pest snail eggs into the habitat because about two months ago I started seeing large numbers. I've been trapping and picking them, and even... Migrating leaking, snail-infested tank ..read more

I have a need to cool a 48" x 18" terrarium that stands outside. This is for carnivorous plants. This is a difficult thing to do. The reason for the placement of the terrarium outside is to not incur the energy costs of grow lights. I have a "House of Hydro" fogger that brings the temperature down just a little bit, but doesn't get the temperature down enough. I am looking to cool the terrarium from 90 degrees fahrenheit to 70 degrees fahrenheit. I also have a pretty good peltier... Terrarium Cooling ..read more

Soo I see that some reefers use lime wood airstones for use in their protein skimmers. Anyone try lime wood diffusers for CO2 and find that the bubble size was small enough? On a side note I've not been too happy with the creamic ones I've tried. Some have leaks or developed leaks, bad check valve and one glass one was actually noisy with a hissing sound. Think the Fluval el cheepo was the best of the lot really, and surprising. Any recommendations appreciated. Oh gave up on in-line... Lime wood diffuser for CO2 ..read more

Hi All, I am really enjoying rediscovering the hobby, I kept a 70 gallon tank in high school and then went off to college which started years of moving every few years (new jobs, grad school, summer internships, etc). In high school, I lived in the south bay (about 1.5 hours away from San Francisco) so would make trips to San Francisco where I would be sure to visit all the well known LFS's in the city. One of those was Ocean Aquarium, and to my very pleasant surprise, Justy and Ady are... Hello from San Francisco (Rediscovering Tanks after 30 years ..read more

Hi All, I am really enjoying rediscovering the hobby, I kept a 70 gallon tank in high school and then went off to college which started years of moving every few years (new jobs, grad school, summer internships, etc). So I hadn't had a tank until last year (age 48) when a friend moved away and gave me a terrarium he didn't want to take with him. It was small but watertight, so I put in a filter and light and got a few fish and some java moss and that sparked the obsession again and now I... Hello from San Francisco ..read more

I bought this ludwigia repens last week and am trying to grow it out of substrate. I want to tie it to some bonsai wood I have to make a red bonsai. I’ve tried this before but it always ends up dying. I’ve even tried growing it in substrate and it still melted away. I bought from a reputable source and it was much darker red when it first came (even straight of out the mailer). I decided to try one more time. This time I thought I’d leave it alone while... All Over Pale Ludwigia Repens ..read more