The home made sumps I've seen pictures of here really have me excited about putting this together. Can you recommend any books, or websites that would show me how these things flow internally?

I had similar issues with my corydoras aeneas last week. I lost 2 of my 5 and and had another sick one recover. In the end, it seems that I got some fish who were not in the best of shape. The advise of Cory_Lover and also MatsP really helped me get it sorted out. Good luck in working out your probl...

Wow. I have been planning to build the stand for the tank. If I do that, I can build the space for the sumps to ba air tight as a measure against evaporation. I also like the sump idea as a way of hiding a heater where the cats won't try to hide behind it, something that several of the cats I like a...

Beautiful!

Thanks, Hitch. I currently have a pair of LDA-25 and a trio of albino cories. Populations of both species will be increased with the larger tank and I would like to also add some banjos and a black lancer. Higher up, it will be a showy community tank, mollies, platties, tetras, rasboras, and et cete...

I'm also getting ready to set up a 75 gallon tank (altough I am jealous of your bowfront- congratulations!). The tank that I just picked up is predrilled for a sump, but it has none of the parts for it. I'd love to hear what you all think about the advantages of canisters vs. sumps. Can a canister b...

It sounds like you need some way to kick start your cycling for the sake of your remaining fish. I won't claim to be an expert (quite the opposite, in fact :-X ), but I have had great luck with a bacterial additive called SafeStart. I got it on the recomendation of Dan Miner, at PetLand in Pasco, Wa...

If we didn't have faith in the quality of the site, if the site was notorious for poor quality (which it's not, obviously), then these things wouldn't be nearly as funny! It's the jarring contrast with the expected norm that adds to the humor. Lord knows that I am guilty of these mistakes. My litter...

if they're aware and it's still there, we're wrong not to laugh. I have always believed that humor is where you find if and we miss out on most of what's good, if we ignore such gifts. As long as it doesn't hurt anybody, it's fair game.

Can they filter the substrate through their gills, or, if not, how do you keep their tails planted?

Thanks. I like the idea of a biotope, but I've already blown that idea with the mix of fish I have, who will be moving into a bigger home as I set it up. So far, I have mollies from the Carolinas, tetras and cats from South America, a loach from Asia, and minnows from the upper Midwest, in the good ...

Wow! A Pl*co with yellow flowers! I wonder where they sell them.

I just acquired a a tank that will be the tank I've always wanted, once I get it set up. The questions I have have to do with suggestions ways to set up the tank. It is a 48-inch, 75 gallon tank that has been pre-drilled for filtration. I am at a complete loss as to how to set it up (it is drilled, ...

Where can we find the specifics? I probably won't be able to go, but if I can, I definitely want to.

You're right, Mats! There are words for people like this, but decency, manners, and rules of ettequett prevent me from listing any of them here! These are the same vermin that send the old "send me you banking info so I can share my millions of dollars with you" scam. I wish there was more...

Thanks, everybody! There are a couple of stores here locally that could probably round some up for me, including 1 that I will go out of my way to do business with. Dan and the gang have been great at every turn for me. I have never bought fish online, or through the mail and, while I know it's a no...

Not the answer I was looking for, but Thanks: At least I know what I have to do. It will be awkward, but at least I have a means. When I get back from Seattle, I will go grab a couple of plastic carboys and start bringing water home from Petland. I'm still learning the rules and ettiquet of these fo...

Thanks! I'll check it out. That might explain why one of the comets in my better half's tank has been clamping his dorsal fin since we brought him home. Would some form of chemical filtration, like activated carbon help, do you think?

Now I am even more baffled. When I read your reply, the lightbulb went off in my dim little mind about the Sulphuric acid (used to make the stuff in Junior High). You're right, of course, but wouldn't you expect that to make my water more acidic than it is? It test yesterday at a pH of 7.6.

It's a well that draws from the Odessa Aquifer in the Central (Mid-Columbia) Region of Washington. The sulphrous, or sulphuric smell is not the "rotten egg" smell of hydrogen sulphide, but the "brimstone" smell that is more often associated with black powder. Sulphur dioxide, I b...

Thanks, Mats. i can't help but wonder if the chemicals that are disolved in our water might be part of the issue. It's one thing to test for pH and hardness, but how likely might it be the the other chemicals in the water are issues? Water from the Odessa Aquifer tends to have a fairly sulphuric sme...

The tank has been running longer than that; closer to a month. I only uploaded it to PlanetCatfish in the last 5 days and I'm still learning the controls for the site. Also, when I started the tank, I used a starter culture/water treatment (I believe from AquaSafe, if I remember correctly). The wate...

I have a group of 5 Albino Cories, who are one of the highlights of my tank (18 gallon Via Aqua VA-680), which they share with a pair of Parotocinclus Jumbo and various tetras and live-bearers. Yestarday, I lost one (resting on the bottom is one thing, resting on your side- not cool). and today two ...

The Pacific Northwest, USA! Grew up (raised, anyway) in Oregon, but now in Eastern Washington. Addicted to aquaria since 2004, when I got my 4-year-old daughter a pair of goldies to distract her from the kittens in the local pet shop. Had 7 tanks at one time, but now down to 2.

One of the fish I'd like to add to my community tank is a banjo cat. Had one of these guys when I was a kid and thought it was neat then. When I've asked around about them I have gotten dumb looks (with the exception of Dan Miner, at the Petland in Pasco, Washington), but no help finding one. Are th...

Don't get too crazy, pointing out Petco's mistakes. :-X I have found that it is a fantastic way to get the occasional bargain. My most recent example is a glaring one; I picked up 3 Gold Sailfin Mollies (2 males and a female) at the Richland, Washington Petco for $2.59 each because nobody took the t...

Forgive a dumb question from a neophyte, but what is meant by "c*****ds?" I see references to pl*cs all the time and assume it is some form of shorthand for Pleco, Is there a reason for these shorthand (for lack of a better term) notations? I am having fun learning about catfish and the co...

I am new to the PlanetCatfish community and I've been amazed at how fascinating these creatures are. I currently have 2 Pitbull/Goby Plecos and a trio of albino cories. I have been a member for a few weeks and have lost countless hours enjoying reading up on the fish I have and several more I'd like...

Thanks. As you've probably figured out by now, I am new to keeping cats. I love my aquaria, but never gave much thought to my janitors having much personality. I started reading up, when I set up my 18-gallon tank, to avoid getting someone who would outgrow the tank. The pitbull/goby plecos I got ar...

I just added a trio of albino Corydora Aeneus to my tank. They're great little guys and everything I've read about their compatibility in community tanks is right on the money. I keep a log of my fish, including common names, scientific names and registry numbers (like my Pitbull Plecos/LDA-25). I h...