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About Nick
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I can answer virtually any question relating to freshwater aquariums. I specialize in everything and anything to do with planted and unplanted community tanks, from stocking and compatibility to technical, plant care, set-up and maintenence. I have experience with all kinds of fish and have cared at one point or another for almost every kind of freshwater tank through the years. I can also help find you the best equipment and foods for your money. There are certain products that are useless, and ones that are great, usually the only way to find out is to try them, and I have tried them all. ----No goldfish questions!!! I can and will reject all questions about goldfish, so do not bother asking me them.

Experience
I have been keeping fish since I was 6, I have numerous tanks set up right now and I am the department head of the fish section at a local pet store.

Organizations
Aquatic Community.com

Education/Credentials
University

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Fish > Freshwater Aquarium

Questions Answered By Expert Nick
In Category Freshwater Aquarium

Subject	Date Asked

How can I help my nipped pleco??	9/14/2008
Q: Sorry the previous question was unclear. My common pleco has been nipped almost bare of his pectoral ... A: You can separate him, add a product called MelaFix, and do 35% water changes every other day. ...
compatible? what to feed?	9/12/2008
Q: "I have slowly over the last 5 months or so put these fish together in my tank in order of which ... A: Wow, so many things going wrong with your stocking, did you do any research at all? Ok, here we go ...
plastic plants in aquarium	9/11/2008
Q: I have a 30 gal tank and have put in a number of the plastic plants in it. I have had this aquarium ... A: I need more tank info than that. The fish, the water change scedule, the parameters...etc. Algae is ...
Mollies	9/11/2008
Q: We have had our 30 gallon tank now for about a year now. We had 2 mollies 6 guppies 3 of each and 5 ... A: Well, by parameters I meant ammonia, nitrite, nitrate...etc. But never mind about that. The dancing ...
Mollies & Bass	9/10/2008
Q: Hey, Can a male black sailfin mollie breed with a normal black mollie I just got them a couple ... A: Yes I do. Most people keep them poorly though, they catch one a quickly set up a tank for it. Then ...
Keeping the tank clean?	9/10/2008
Q: I have a 30 gallon fish tank that I bought about 3 months ago. It has 6 tetras, 2 tiny frogs, 2 ... A: No, the snails do not do that great a job. They clean algae but contribute to the ammonia levels in ...
Coral in freshwater tank	9/10/2008
Q: Is it harmful to cichlids to have a piece of blue coral as decoration. It's a 50 gal. tank with 10 ... A: Yes it is, some corals release harmful toxins when they die (which will be in minutes, in fact ...
Lesion on head of fish	9/10/2008
Q: I was gone for a few days only to return today and see that my Pachoo(sp)? has developed a large ... A: You mean Pacu? If so, anything you treat now will come back later. Pacus should be in at least 300 ...
Mollies	9/10/2008
Q: Hey, Can a male black sailfin mollie breed with a normal black mollie I just got them a couple ... A: Yes you can.....well maybe petsmart is iffy but all real pet stores will have it. Look for Instant ...
sick fish ich	9/9/2008
Q: I have a 55 gal freshwater tank with a power filter large enough for a 60 gal. I currenly have 2 ... A: The salt may not kill your pleco, but if you are worried about it add a tablespoon for every 20 ...
feeding betta fry	9/9/2008
Q: hope you can help? my betta fry are just starting to drop out of the bubble nest, male is still ... A: Anabantoid fry have extremely small mouths, and in all likely hood will not be able to swallow baby ...
Keeping the tank clean?	9/9/2008
Q: I have a 30 gallon fish tank that I bought about 3 months ago. It has 6 tetras, 2 tiny frogs, 2 ... A: The water should be changed at least twice a week, no exceptions. Sorry, fish keeping is no walk ...
pH levels	9/9/2008
Q: .. I have a 75 gallon tank with 2 koi & 1 telescope. I just bought a ryukin which will go in as soon ... A: 7.8 is fine, no need to adjust it. Fish care about the stability, very few care about the actual ...
sick fish ich	9/9/2008
Q: I have a 55 gal freshwater tank with a power filter large enough for a 60 gal. I currenly have 2 ... A: Something has to be causing all this. What are your parameters? Also, your filter is much too ...
Mollies	9/8/2008
Q: Hey, Can a male black sailfin mollie breed with a normal black mollie I just got them a couple ... A: Chances are no, and if they do most of the babies will be deformed, however the molly may already be ...
peas as a remedy?	9/7/2008
Q: So, I have one chubby angelfish. He is fairly young, and I believe that his girth is from not being ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
why all my plecostmous die?	9/7/2008
Q: I have had 3 plectostomous die in 1 week period. My tank is 50 gallon tank with angels and gouramis ... A: It's the pH up. Fish don't care about the specific number, they canre about stability. A fish would ...
hard water, ph level	9/7/2008
Q: I have a new aquarium, 75 gallon, Rena canister filter, 1 week old. The water from our well has a Kh ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
fry	9/6/2008
Q: my molly fry are now 4 weeks old , at what age is it safe to release them back into our main ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
Fish selection opinion	9/5/2008
Q: Hey Nick me and my brother recently set up our 40 gallon tank with a pretty generic filter heater ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
feeding and protection	9/5/2008
Q: i'm just wondering how i can get my tiger barb to stop picking on my other fish? the one fish he ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
Water for Freshwater Aquarium	9/4/2008
Q: I understand that using tap water is best, due to the needed minerals, and treated with a ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
stocking tank	9/4/2008
Q: i have a 26gallon well planted freshwater tank that contains 3 gold barbs,1 head to tail light ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
plants	9/3/2008
Q: I have a new 20g tank. I cycled it for 3 weeks with 3 zebra danios and just added 1 Dwarf Gourami ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
my fish tank	9/3/2008
Q: i have a cold water fishtank and it gets so dirty very quick. can i have some tips on how to ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
how to take of only remaining baby balloon ram	9/3/2008
Q: i bought 2 baby balloon rams 3 days ago from my LFS, they were in terrible conditions and their ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
setting up my tank correctly	9/3/2008
Q: I bought 2 Red Oranda fishes (med size) this week. I told the salesman this is my first time owning ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
Lighting System - 55 gallon tank	9/2/2008
Q: What lighting system would you recommend for a 55 gallon 48 X 12 if I want to grow plants requiring ... A: First of all, sorry for taking so long to answer this. My account password was lost, and it took the ...
Plecostomous color change	9/2/2008
Q: I have a 55 gall tank with 2 Angels, 2 Discus, 2 Cory catfish, 2 Plecostomus and some small ... A: I find the statement "All the fish are very happy" to be very untrue, based on the stocking I see ...
OSCAR - fight damage	9/2/2008
Q: I have 3 Oscars in a tank, 2 adult and 1 juvi. The 2 adults came to blows the other night and have ... A: He may not survive from that, but it is possible. With clean water, fish heal by themselves. ...
Lighting System - 55 gallon tank	9/1/2008
Q: What lighting system would you recommend for a 55 gallon 48 X 12 if I want to grow plants requiring ... A: For medium light I'd recommed getting a flourescent fixture. There are many kinds, if you want I can ...
gold snails	9/1/2008
Q: I have two gold snail... how long after they mate will it take for then to produce babies? and about ... A: That depends on many things. The female will hold the eggs until she thinks it is ok to lay them. ...
pangasius catfish	9/1/2008
Q: I have bought two pangasius catfish and they hide in this log all day long. I am really ... A: They are stressed out from the extremely poor water quality. Not only is your tank severely ...
fighting japanese fish	9/1/2008
Q: we have a small (kit)tank with one japanese fighting fish we just bought and it is a new tank. we ... A: Most likely poor water quality. A filter does not keep a tank clean. It only provides a place for ...
fish	9/1/2008
Q: he has a proablem every time after i feed theme his floating for hours and fighting to get down in ... A: Swim bladder disease. Caused by poor water quality. Increase water changes to 25% every other day. ...
upside down catfish	8/28/2008
Q: I have purchased an upside down catfish and am having trouble feeding it. It has been alive for ... A: The other fish wil likely try to eat them. You can distract them though. Maybe feed something the ...
Driftwood	8/27/2008
Q: I have recently picked up some driftwood and rocks that i found on the beach, i would like to put ... A: Dip them in vinegar first. If they sizzle, you can not use them. If they do not, its good. Then you ...
Tropical fish deaths	8/27/2008
Q: I wonder if you could help steer me in the right direction. I have had my tank up and running for a ... A: Learning how much to feed is an aquired skill. You ideally want to feed enough that you can see a ...
Tropical fish deaths	8/26/2008
Q: I wonder if you could help steer me in the right direction. I have had my tank up and running for a ... A: I think you were just overstocked before. A single pleco produces the same amount of waste as a half ...
Baby Fish?????	8/26/2008
Q: I bought three Balloon Mollies about a 10 days ago. Two of them (male and female) developed some fin ... A: Go to your pet store and pick up a floating breeder trap. They are about $5. They float in the main ...
Tropical fish deaths	8/26/2008
Q: I wonder if you could help steer me in the right direction. I have had my tank up and running for a ... A: The cave fish wouldn't be the problem, they are just like any other fish. More likely is it the ...
aquarium decoration	8/25/2008
Q: I HAVE A 20 GALLON FRESHWATER TANK. IT IS CYCLING STILL. I HAVE JUST A FEW MALE GUPPIES.THE TANK IS ... A: Whoa there! You don't need to type in all Caps, my eyesight is fine! Thanks for the concern ...
Bronze Cory Disease	8/25/2008
Q: I have had a long running issue with one of my bronze corrys, and unfotunately today he died. He ... A: It is not fungus, it is a very common disease called Ich. Very contagious and fast spreading, ich ...
Betta fish doing terrible	8/25/2008
Q: I'm sure my betta fish is about to die. He lost all his color his fins look awful and frayed, he ... A: Well, it is definitely NOT overfeeding. It is swim bladder disease, caused by poor water quality, ...
sick fish-	8/23/2008
Q: I have a 125 gallon tank with various community fish. it has been cycled, ammonia is 0, nitrite 0, ... A: Yes, it is definitely ich. You can go to any pet store and pick up an ich medication. I like API ...
Ich or fungus?	8/23/2008
Q: On August 15, 2008 I purchased from PetSmart two Red Wagtails and one Black Molly. My first mistake ... A: Man! Use some paragraph breaks once in a while. Naw, just kidding, I'll manage. It is definitely ...
Discus in a 29-gallon tank	8/22/2008
Q: I'm creating a 29 gallon planted tank but am not sure about how many discus I am able to add in the ... A: Sorry to burst your bubble, but, none. Discus are schooling fish, and they need to be kept in ...
Auto Power Outlets	8/22/2008
Q: I have two freshwater tanks set up and have some happy fish living in them. My tanks are 20 and 26 ... A: You must keep the filter all 24/7, but if you have a bubbler you can turn it off during the day ...
Aquarium setup & gravel selection	8/21/2008
Q: I'm a first time fish owner, to answer all the instructions: I have roughly a 110-125 gallon tank ... A: 1) Gravel should never be used with discus. Discus need PRISTINE water to grow properly, with gravel ...
New fish tank	8/21/2008
Q: I have a 20gallon fish tank and i was wondering. Is two cardinal's two otos, four big guppy's one ... A: Your tank is not cycled. Read up on cycling here- http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php Also, ...
african chiclids	8/21/2008
Q: i just want to know how much african chiclid i could put in my 30 gal thank i have 3 as of right now ... A: Once you have your original stock of cichlids it is hard to add more. They will kill each other as ...
high amonia levels, swamp looking water	8/20/2008
Q: I have a 33 gallon 7 week old freshwater tank. We currently have 9 fish (3 danios, 3 tetras, 1 ... A: Your tank is still not cycled. Every time you add more fish that the bio-load can handle, you are ...
Low Ammonia & Nitrite levels	8/20/2008
Q: I have a 15 Gallon Hexagon Tank stocked with 8 Neon tetras, 3 Guppies, 2 Glo fish, 2 Catfish and one ... A: Normally, with an established tank you can do this no problem, but with your new tank you have to do ...
Low Ammonia & Nitrite levels	8/20/2008
Q: I have a 15 Gallon Hexagon Tank stocked with 8 Neon tetras, 3 Guppies, 2 Glo fish, 2 Catfish and one ... A: I would guess that it was your filter. Your filter holds much of your beneficial bacteria, and the ...
Broken Filter, carbon everywhere!	8/20/2008
Q: I'm in the middle of cycling my 130 litre tank (no fish) and the end cap has fallen out of my filter ... A: Well, you don't need carbon in fish tanks at all, so after you clean it up you don't have to replace ...
breeding beta fish	7/30/2008
Q: I bought a 6 gallon tank have some colored rocks on botton have a heater reading at 80 degrees have ... A: You can cycle it with the fish in the tank, but do not add any ammonia. Just do frequent water ...
deases, cloudy water	7/29/2008
Q: I just set up a new 16 gallon tank for my two growning fish (a pictus and a redfin, before they were ... A: Not sure your questions......I'll answer the ones I understood The water will always be cloudy in ...
breeding beta fish	7/29/2008
Q: I bought a 6 gallon tank have some colored rocks on botton have a heater reading at 80 degrees have ... A: You haven't cycled the tank, so you'll have to do very frequent water changes. Moniter ammonia and ...
moving fishtank	7/28/2008
Q: I have to move a 20 gal. tank which holds 6 fish- 3 angels, 2 ?? smaller, orange....a danio and a 5" ... A: 90% is just a very rough number, remove as much as you can while keeping the fish underwater would ...
Cichlids in a 3 Gal	7/28/2008
Q: Hey, I have a 3 Gal tank (12.1L) with a Aquaone ClearView 200, 200 L/Hr external filter and a 25W ... A: There is no way you can put any fish in there. Even thinking about torturing a poor cichlid in a ...
hey	7/27/2008
Q: i got a question regarding algae[green] you might gets this question alot what is the best way to ... A: Algae is caused by free radicals in the water. Remove the radicals, remove the algae. Increase ...
issue with fry getting sucked up in filter	7/26/2008
Q: My female swordtail just had about thirty fry that I was able to save. I put the fry in a ... A: You can take one of the Aquaclear aquarium sponges, and cut it so it fits over the intake. Simple as ...
Can't get my water clear	7/25/2008
Q: I have a 75 gallon tank with an Oscar, parrot fish, jack dempsey, 3 jewel chilids, and a pacu. My ... A: As I'm sure you know, your tank is severly overstocked. Even daily water changes can not keep this ...
New Aquarium	7/25/2008
Q: I just got a 10 Gallon Aquarium 2 days ago. I was going to transport some fish from an existing ... A: The Danios need schools of at least 4 and the glo-lights need to be in schools of at least 6 to live ...
New Tetra	7/24/2008
Q: I recently purchased twenty of a new tetra I have never seen before, called "Red-Eyed Submarine ... A: Sounds like your pet store has been making up new names for old fish. Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae ...
fish tank	7/24/2008
Q: Hey i have a 1 gallon tank with 1 betta.Do you think i can put ghost shrimp and guppies? A: Not really. That tank is cramped already with just the betta. The betta would kill the guppies ...
Newly set-up tank	7/24/2008
Q: Hey, I just bought a tank about 4 days ago and im really new to this aquarium stuff. Ive got 2 ... A: Well you are doing everything properly, gotta keep up with those water changes to help the cycle. ...
new aquarium	7/23/2008
Q: I am 10 years old. My dad bought me an aquarium 3 weeks ago. I went to the fish shop and asked them ... A: Well, I have no idea what your parameters are or if you even cycled your tank, so I can't say there ...
AFreshwater plants	7/22/2008
Q: Our plants are constantly dying. We have bought extra gravel to ensure the roots are covered, we use ... A: Here in Canada we use parts per million to measure nitrate, I did not know you were using mg/l. ...
AFreshwater plants	7/21/2008
Q: Our plants are constantly dying. We have bought extra gravel to ensure the roots are covered, we use ... A: I'd just like to say right now, that it is physically and scientifically impossible for your nitrate ...
problem with bgk fish	7/21/2008
Q: 20 g for another 8-9 mounth max before i get a 125g tank Rope fish(1),Tire track eel(1),Mini crab(1) ... A: He is discolored because, obviously, he is stressed from being in such a small tank. He will color ...
Setting Up My Cichlid Tank.	7/21/2008
Q: I will be moving in three weeks and setting up my 40 gallon (finally). As I have 3 baby Acei ... A: You sound like you know what you are doing. You are smart to stay away from plecos, they do get ...
5 gallon tank	7/20/2008
Q: OK, I'll admit it right upfront. We bought fish/aquarium first and NOW we're researching and asking ... A: I would definitely get a larger tank as soon as you can. If the tank is brand new you are going to ...
What is making my fish sick?	7/19/2008
Q: I did a 25% water change and then within a day I saw these white blotches on my fish, they seem to ... A: Ich is a parasite caused by poor water quality. Continue treating as you are now. When doing ...
new aquarium	7/18/2008
Q: hey there, We have acquired (neighbor was walking it to his trash, yes holds water) a 56.80 us ... A: There is no question here? Do you have a specific question? I can tell you right now though that ...
Swordtail tail/fin damage and agression	7/18/2008
Q: I saw your answer a couple of days ago about nitrate burn and I was wondering if the same thing ... A: If you have 0 nitrate than your tank is still not cycled, in this case it would be nitrite and ...
sword tail sick	7/18/2008
Q: she jus stays in the corner and isn't her normal self ne more. I just saw today she has a white spot ... A: Yes you should clean it more! Water changes and gravel vac should be twice a week. Change 25% of ...
buldge on Sunfire	7/17/2008
Q: my one year old male betta, Sunfire, has a small bump on the right side of his body.the bump is at ... A: It is caused by poor water quality. You should be doing 60% water changes TWICE A WEEK. Not once a ...
Balloon Body Gold Ram	7/17/2008
Q: I have a 10 gallon tank. It's currnetly holds, 2 white skirt tetras, 3 x-ray tetras, 1 rose tetra, ... A: Your ram still has to get used to the food. Keep feeding it, always always, just keeping feeding. He ...
Balloon Body Gold Ram	7/17/2008
Q: I have a 10 gallon tank. It's currnetly holds, 2 white skirt tetras, 3 x-ray tetras, 1 rose tetra, ... A: Good, good, and good. Tetras in general are very active feeders, you just need to get some food ...
fish breeding and about baby fish	7/16/2008
Q: once you can see that the Mollies have bred about how long will it take for the babies to be born? ... A: The gestation period is about 1-2 months. It is very different between fish depending on the ...
Mixing fish	7/16/2008
Q: I just got an aquarium and i have a common pond goldfish that i put in it. My friend went out and ... A: No, they can not live together. Goldfish are cold water, tropical fish are....tropical. However, ...
UG filter in my turtle tank	7/16/2008
Q: I just bought a Perfect-a-flow undergravel filter for my 20 gallon long tank, and it sits under ... A: UGFs are completely useless. They can actually hurt your tank by ruining a cycle, it would be ...
Balloon Body Gold Ram	7/16/2008
Q: I have a 10 gallon tank. It's currnetly holds, 2 white skirt tetras, 3 x-ray tetras, 1 rose tetra, ... A: Your tetras are darting because they are scared. Tetras need to be in groups of at least 5 to feel ...
bett fish and guppies	7/15/2008
Q: I have a 10 gallon freshwater tank, filled with guppies and neon tetras, and one angel fish. Can I ... A: You have enough problems with that angelfish already. They should not be in tanks under 30 gallons. ...
na2 and female guppy problem	7/15/2008
Q: I have a 5 gallon tank that I thought would be cute to put goldfish in for my son, soon to find out ... A: Who told you that you could put that many fish in there? In my opinion, no fish should be kept in a ...
What is wrong with my fish?	7/15/2008
Q: Ok I will try to be brief and still explain. I am fairly new to the hobby. I have a 55 gal. with ... A: That is very strange. The darkening in color is a good thing, it means they are getting used to the ...
Breeding Guppies	7/13/2008
Q: Please help me, because i don't want to make a bad mistake. A: There is nothing to breeding guppies really. The most important thing is getting the male to female ...
will anything keep my tank gravel clean?	7/13/2008
Q: I've got a 15 gallon tank that I can't seem to keep clean. The current inhabitants are a molly, two ... A: They are in separate tanks, they have separate diets. Maybe one isn't fed as much. Also, internal ...
bala sharks	7/13/2008
Q: Bala Sharks are my favorite kind of fish, and I want to try breeding them. I'm pretty good with ... A: Yes, it is a very hard topic! I'm just going to say right off that you will not be able to breed ...
Hairy Algae	7/12/2008
Q: I see numerous posts re use bleach, don't use bleach. I have a serious problem with hairy algae in ... A: Turn off all the lights in the tank for about 4 days, put a blanket over the tank, make sure no ...
will anything keep my tank gravel clean?	7/12/2008
Q: I've got a 15 gallon tank that I can't seem to keep clean. The current inhabitants are a molly, two ... A: The problem is your pleco, nothing else to it. Plecos are HUGE waste producers, and the only ...
Beta Fish and algae	7/12/2008
Q: I have my beta fish in a 5 gallon tank with live and plastic plants. The last two months the tanks ... A: Algae is caused by free radicals in the water. You can get rid of these with water changes. You ...
MOLLIES	7/10/2008
Q: I SET UP A 29GAL TANK I HAVE 12 MOLLIES ALL TANK RAISED . I PUT EVERYTHING FROM MY OLD 15GAL SLATE ... A: Your tank is not cycled. Even though you put in a bunch of things, it doesn't cycle a tank ...
Planted Aquarium	7/10/2008
Q: I have recently bought a 20 gallon tank which i have decided will have a planted setup. I live in ... A: CO2 is not nessesary, but you can introduce it at any time. It is beneficial. However, you should ...
white tip shark cat	7/10/2008
Q: I have a new (a few weeks old) 55 gallon tank, with 7 neon tetras, an angel fish, 2 swordtails, a ... A: Word of advice, never trust the pet store employees! Three reasons- 1) They are mostly kids out of ...
I think my betta has gill disease?!?!!!!?	7/10/2008
Q: and first off thank you for taking time out of your day to read my question and try to help me and ... A: There are many things going wrong with your tank, so I'll just go through them in stages. The ...
Water Change Killed Fish.	7/9/2008
Q: I have been running a Red Sea Max Aquarium with fresh water fish in it for about a year now. Every ... A: Well, for starters you can get rid of the Easy Balance, no point in that. I'm guessing it was a ...
Goldfish - Sudden Fin/Tail Damage	7/9/2008
Q: I hope you can help me. I have two goldfish (a comet and an orange ryukin) in a 40 gallon tank. I ... A: Yes, it is definitely Nitrate burn. Water changes should be 25% twice weekly minimum. Drop tests ...
white tip shark cat	7/9/2008
Q: I have a new (a few weeks old) 55 gallon tank, with 7 neon tetras, an angel fish, 2 swordtails, a ... A: Yes, it is normal. Most catfish are schooling fish so they like to follow each other around. Since ...
Are our white cloud minnows happy?	7/8/2008
Q: We have a 27.73 litre (6.1 gallons) Clear Seal tank and a Interpet PF mini filter (says suitable for ... A: Q1- They are just playing Q2- That is true. Yes they like bigger groups Q2.5- Your tank isn't big ...
ich vs. neon tetras	7/8/2008
Q: I am i newcomer to fish as a hobby but i have tried to bring myself up to speed on set up and ... A: Your tank isn't cycled. Until you cycle your tank the ich will keep coming back and you will always ...
Freshwater aquarium plants	7/8/2008
Q: We have an 80 gallon tropical tank and are enjoying live plants for the first time. Things were ... A: Ok...but what I need to know most is the wattage of the bulb. Either way, I can identify the main ...
plants	7/7/2008
Q: We just restarted our tank and it has been cycling for about 4 weeks but stills has some amonia like ... A: Wait until ammonia is at 0, then do a water change. Plants depend on your lighting. But java fern ...
Goldfish Aquarium	7/7/2008
Q: I have just acquired a small aquarium (10 litres) and have two goldfish. I have a filter & a live ... A: That tank is not large enough for too goldfish. Two goldfish should have at least a 150 litre tank, ...
Fish Additions	7/7/2008
Q: I have a couple of questions relating to my recently purchased 26 gallon tank for my molly and platy ... A: They would go to the bottom from stress, especially if there aren't enough plants. For schooling ...
oscar fish	7/7/2008
Q: my oscar is not eating like it should 1 little worm every three days and is very thin any ideas wont ... A: You can not feed only worms. Oscar have one of the most complex diets of any fish. They should be ...
fin nipping	7/6/2008
Q: 200litre tank ,2 blackmoor ,2 fantail,2 shubumkins,2 red caps, hi there we have recently introduced ... A: Usually there is a little agression when a fish is first introduced. It shouldn't be a problem ...
Panda Corys	7/6/2008
Q: I am planning to get a freshwater aquarium and want Panda Corys. Do you know of a brightly colored ... A: The fish you can get depends on your commitment. How many cories you can put in dependings on how ...
Found some sort of insect in my tank	7/5/2008
Q: I'm brand new to owning an aquarium. It's a 20 gallon freshwater with hornwart plants. I have had it ... A: You recycled the tank. When washing out your filter, you must wash out little pieces of it in tank ...
red water	7/5/2008
Q: hey there, i just aquired a 46 gallon bow faced tank. i have balas, mollies a 4.5 inch tri color ... A: Tannins. They leach from the wood into the water. You can boil your wood to remove some of the ...
angel fish	7/4/2008
Q: i have a 90 gallon freshwater tank about a year old and my water is perfect in all ways and i have ... A: Likely nitrate build up and dead spots, caused by infrequent water changes. You must do 25% water ...
filter	7/4/2008
Q: do I really need a filter for my goldfish,because thier so expensive! A: Yes, all tanks need filters. If you can't afford to pay $20 for a filter reconsider the hobby you ...
Betta/Pleco Compatibility	7/4/2008
Q: I have a male betta & a albino pleco in a fully filtered & heated 5-gallon tank. When I first ... A: Ahh! See, this is why I think we should I push for scientific names used more frequently. There are ...
Eggs	7/3/2008
Q: My julii cory (female) has been digging uder rock for the past few days and staying there for about ... A: All fish have different personalities. That isn't just my opinion, it is scientific fact. Some fish ...
Eggs	7/3/2008
Q: My julii cory (female) has been digging uder rock for the past few days and staying there for about ... A: Ah, the problem comes into focus. Cories are schooling fish, and should be kept in schools of ...
new tank	7/3/2008
Q: Let me start off by saying that i am new at this aquarium thing. I inherited 20 platy fish from ... A: I'm nodding along as I read your post, sounds like you've got everything right on! I would take out ...
Betta/Pleco Compatibility	7/3/2008
Q: I have a male betta & a albino pleco in a fully filtered & heated 5-gallon tank. When I first ... A: No worries, the pleco should be able to stand up for himself. However, I believe that is the least ...
Eggs	7/2/2008
Q: My julii cory (female) has been digging uder rock for the past few days and staying there for about ... A: Is probably scared and looking for a place to hide. Cories do not like bright lights, and they need ...
what kind of fish can i add to my tank?	7/2/2008
Q: i have a 12 gallon tank with 1 white angelfish, 3 dalmation mollies, 1 red tail shark and 1 lyretail ... A: Your tank is extremely overstocked as is, I would not add anything else. Rather, it would be a good ...
breeding platies	7/1/2008
Q: I bought three sunburst platy fish and a five gallon tank two days ago, next thing i know there's a ... A: I'll go through and answer your questions one at a time. The babies will likely not live. You must ...
Slime	6/29/2008
Q: I recently bought an adorable betta fish and I keep him in a 2.7 gallon tank with a heater that ... A: The slime could be two things. 1) If it is oily then it is caused by you having your hand in the ...
Traveling with Fish.	6/29/2008
Q: This may seem a bit odd but, i am leaving my home for a month to go up to my other house. Leaving my ... A: You will need two things, a heater and a filter. The wrap is a good idea too. It can be any type of ...
fish tank growth	6/29/2008
Q: in a 30 gal tank with angel fish and tetra barbs and a plocostommus i have suddenly developed a pink ... A: Sounds like a strain of hydra. Caused by overfeeding of course, very common. There are many ...
Water quality killing my guppies?	6/28/2008
Q: I have had a small 10-gallon tank set up for about 3 months. I gradually added a final total of 3 ... A: pH change. RO/DI water has a pH or about 6.0. Your tap water, like you stated is MUCH higher. This ...
Pregnant Platy	6/27/2008
Q: I have recently purchased a pregnant female Platy. She is a light colored yellow so I can see right ... A: Like I said, that matters a lot on the individual fish, and there are no real set guidelines. The ...
Pregnant Platy	6/27/2008
Q: I have recently purchased a pregnant female Platy. She is a light colored yellow so I can see right ... A: It is different with all platies but generally speaking, the gravid spot goes through 4 color ...
handling betta with fishnet	6/27/2008
Q: I have a question about the best way to get my betta out of his bowl for water changes. His bowl is ... A: Is the spot elevated off of the skin? What I mean is, does it look like a bump or more like it ...
fish compatiblilities	6/26/2008
Q: I have a well established 30 gallon tank.My tank has angels,gouramis, one red tail shark and ... A: Your tank sounds pretty well stocked already, I would not add anymore fish. African butterflies ...
Black Moor	6/26/2008
Q: How are you? I have a question. How can you tell what gender your black moor fish is? Thank you! :) A: I am doing well thank you! Goldfish are very hard to sex, and it is only possible to sex them at ...
Goldfish jumped out of the tank	6/26/2008
Q: Yesterday my goldfish jumped out of the tank. I found him on the kitchen floor almost dead, so I'm ... A: You can buy a product called MelaFix. It will help to repair lost tissue. It will only work if you ...
red devil cichlid	6/26/2008
Q: i was wondering... What other fish or cichlid can be put in the same tank as a Red Devil cichlid ... A: It depends on the size of the tank, but generally speaking you can't put the red devil in with ...
Ick treatment and plants	6/24/2008
Q: My tropical freshwater fish have ick. I've never treated ick in a planted aquariumm but my current ... A: Well, normally you wouldn't have to worry. It can stain the plants though, they turn a blue color, ...
Freshwater 30g tank full of cichlids help!	6/24/2008
Q: Okay so my roomate recently moved out and left a 30g tank in his room that has now become my ... A: Well, like you said you are super overstocked. I would get rid of everything but the green terror, ...
Freshwater tank problems	6/24/2008
Q: Nearly two months ago I got a fish tank as a gift from a friend. It's one she had for a while, so ... A: First off I'd like to say that really, none of your tests can be trusted. Test strips are really ...
unclear water	6/24/2008
Q: I have had my 100l aquarium now for two weeks and the water looks filmy i am worried that did ... A: Nothing is wrong with the plants, your tank is just uncycled. That's it. Simple as that. All tanks ...
Freshwater tank problems	6/24/2008
Q: Nearly two months ago I got a fish tank as a gift from a friend. It's one she had for a while, so ... A: Why are you correcting the pH? Those pH correctors were meant for saltwater tanks only, and for some ...
crawfish	6/23/2008
Q: my name is Rhonda, my husband is wanting to know if it is possible to raise crawfish in a aquarium? ... A: Yes it is possible, however they need a lot of territory if you are going keep more than one. You ...
Betta	6/22/2008
Q: Can I put a mail and female together? and should I have a heater for them (or him)? I have a mail ... A: No, you can not put in one male and female in that size tank. Fi you want to mix the sexs you will ...
curious about an aquarium stand	6/22/2008
Q: tank and I'm just curious what you recommend for a stand that will hold the weight? Do you think a ... A: I prefer the nice look of wood stands, but I have heard to metal stands work too. The wood does look ...
blood parrot and tiger barbs	6/22/2008
Q: i recently purchased a blood parrot and added it to my 75 gallon tank with 9 tiger barbs,two ... A: Tiger barbs are always going to be agressive towards each other. Sometimes they will kill another ...
i dont know if this will be a promblem in the future	6/21/2008
Q: i actually have a couple of questions first is that i have 3 red wag platy's 4 zebras the colored ... A: Ok, question 1- Every and all fish have slime coats on them. I would take the chinese algae eater ...
my new 30 gallon tank	6/20/2008
Q: I have 3 2" ryukin and 6 baby ryukin can koi or any other fish go in there its kind of cheap looking ... A: Your tank may be empty now, but it won't be for long. Right now, if you plan to keep all your fish ...
baby fish??	6/20/2008
Q: ) but i heard a pop and i looked down and i saw one or two babies un born so i ran downstairs and ... A: Ahhhh...thanks! You can't really tell when she is going to have babies. All fish are different. ...
1 yr old mollies	6/20/2008
Q: about a year ago, I choose to breed a dalmation and a black molly, and was successful. I ended up ... A: They should be reaching adult size soon. If they don't it is because you are keeping too many in one ...
baby fish??	6/19/2008
Q: ) but i heard a pop and i looked down and i saw one or two babies un born so i ran downstairs and ... A: Wow, I have never heard of that before! Still, the babies were born prematurely, and with the ...
striped peacock eel w/ panda cories	6/19/2008
Q: I just added 4 panda corys to my 55 gallon freshwater which also houses 5 false juli corys several ... A: There should be no problems, peacock eels are usually peaceful fish. And even if it were agressive, ...
Unidentified critter	6/19/2008
Q: I found a critter in my 20g planted tank. It is about a half inch strait long thin body. It has 4 or ... A: Sounds like your fish just had babies! It is likely the platies, but danios are also prolific ...
fish wiggling	6/19/2008
Q: I just changed my water earlier today, and now several hours later I have noticed one of my silver ... A: Why are you putting salt in the tank? Salt does nothing but stress fish. It does work as a disease ...
bata	6/18/2008
Q: hi i was wondering wat tipe of fish Batas can be with A: BETTA The fish is called a betta not a batta. Just to be clear. It depends on the tank size. They ...
what kind to buy	6/17/2008
Q: freshwater tank with 3 baby shubunkins and 4 common feeder goldfish 2years old and 7 white cloud ... A: Do not buy anything else! It would be a very good idea to take your goldfish back to the store, or ...
Leaf Fish	6/17/2008
Q: I feed my fish brine shrimp, earth worms, flakes, blood worms and live feeder guppies but I have ... A: It sounds like you are doing everything right then, he must just be taking his time getting used to ...
betta water	6/16/2008
Q: Ok so I have learned that betta aren't supposed to be kept in distilled water, which I had had mine ... A: Spring water is the worst. Tap water is the best. Not sure why everybody gets caught up in all ...
i have a funny gourami	6/16/2008
Q: I have him in a 28 gallon tank with 2 angels, 1 silver dollar, 1 giant danio, 2 long tailed danios, ... A: They change color depending on the lighting, the time of day, and the feeding. Very normal. Your ...
Feeding Guppies	6/15/2008
Q: I am interested in adding 3 guppies to my tank, but have heard they need greens. Is this true? and ... A: If you have any algae in your tank, they do not need greens. Also, read the ingredients on the main ...
Leaf Fish	6/15/2008
Q: I feed my fish brine shrimp, earth worms, flakes, blood worms and live feeder guppies but I have ... A: There are at least a dozen fish that can be called leaf fish. If you could give me either the ...
Issue with my freshwater 10gal tank, plz help	6/15/2008
Q: We've had our freshwater 10gal tank up and running for about 2-3 months, we origionally had about ... A: Nitrite means it is almost cycled. Buy a product called Seachem's Stability, and use that as ...
aquarium salt in freshwater tank	6/14/2008
Q: I add about 1/8 teaspoon aquarium salt per gallon of water along with stress coat (14 drops per ... A: No need to do it quickly, just do your water changes like normal. The salt won't instantly kill the ...
bugs in tank	6/14/2008
Q: i have a 55 gallon freshwater tank which previously housed a couple of large oscars and an algea ... A: Bugs are from the river rocks, you are supposed to pour boiling water over them. The white things ...
aquarium salt in freshwater tank	6/14/2008
Q: I add about 1/8 teaspoon aquarium salt per gallon of water along with stress coat (14 drops per ... A: Your doing everything right, but I don't agree with salt. The entire point of salt, is to weaken ...
Aquarium lighting	6/14/2008
Q: I have a 29 gal freshwater tank with a 22 watt long bulb for lighting. It came with my aquarium. It ... A: Your black skirts are not stressed from lighting, they are stressed because they are in too few a ...
Tiger barbs	6/13/2008
Q: I have a 10 gallon fresh water tank that I have been having for a few months now. I have been having ... A: It would definitely be a good idea to get a bigger tank. Keep it as it is for now. I would get a 20 ...
handling betta with fishnet	6/13/2008
Q: I have a question about the best way to get my betta out of his bowl for water changes. His bowl is ... A: No, no, no, no, no. Never, under any circumstances do a full tank clean....EVER! It is worse than ...
Ghost Shrimp	6/13/2008
Q: I have a 5 gallon fresh water tank and I keep buying ghost shrimp to put in there...I keep 3 at any ... A: Yes that does help, and now the answer is VERY obvious! Two things you are doing wrong here. 1) ...
Tiger barbs	6/12/2008
Q: I have a 10 gallon fresh water tank that I have been having for a few months now. I have been having ... A: The biggest tiger barb will ALWAYS be agressive towards the others in the school. However, if you ...
oscar pH	6/12/2008
Q: What is the best pH level for oscars? Also what other fish co-habitate well w/ oscars? A: pH is not important for oscars. What is important is the stability of the pH. Do NOT mess around ...
discus fish - help!!	6/12/2008
Q: heya, i set up a discus fish tank around 2 months ago, i could only afford a tank large enough for ... A: You will not be able to sell these guys until they are at least a few months old. Here's a quote ...
shubumkins	6/12/2008
Q: I have three shubumkins that I have for about four months now,they all seem fine,but I see one of ... A: This is a swim bladder disorder, caused by poor water quality and not enough space. 3 shubunkins ...
Ghost Shrimp	6/11/2008
Q: I have a 5 gallon fresh water tank and I keep buying ghost shrimp to put in there...I keep 3 at any ... A: Ghost shrimp are highly sensitive to changes in water parameters. A quick change in temperature ...
Bettas	6/11/2008
Q: I have a small tank that is about 2.5 gallons. I've heard that bettas can be kept in small tanks and ... A: For some reason....people think bettas are....special. And that they can be kept in anything. Well, ...
disease of texas fish	6/11/2008
Q: i have two texas nad one flower horn two piranahas and one pair of big tiger shraks in my aquarium ... A: Oh my gosh that is terrible! The poor fish! That is such a small tank! Please tell me you are ...
Black Moor question	6/10/2008
Q: I have a black moor goldfish sharing a 10 gal. tank with 4 other fish. We've had ich in the past, so ... A: Your fish will not live long, and the only thing you can do about it is to get a bigger tank. There ...
lyretail molly?	6/10/2008
Q: pregnant or not? or maybe she's a balloon lyretail molly? i have done some on line searching for the ... A: Balloon mollies are a type of molly. They just have a spine deformation. It is very likely your ...
NO3 high after water change	6/10/2008
Q: I have a 40Gal tank with 20 fish, Zebras, tetras, 2 red tailed sharks, 1 Peco, Mollies. I have 1 5 ... A: No, the brine shrimp isn't the problem. Brine is a very good idea, just make sure not too much is ...
happy fish??	6/10/2008
Q: I am new to the fish business so I am sure I will have plenty of ??'s but for now I just wonder how ... A: Your welcome! So then I'll address your questions one at a time here. In order. Danios- Yes, with ...
Algae Control	6/9/2008
Q: From the advice of a friend, I am using a photocatalytic oxidizer product in which I applied ... A: While this product does work, there are better solutions. It shouldn't harm fish, but it will harm ...
fantail fish	6/9/2008
Q: my fish has gone all limp and has cloudy eyes and his tail has gone all split like looking i have ... A: My fantail fish I am assuming you are talking about goldfish. I will need to know he size of your ...
fishes	6/8/2008
Q: i just bought new tank 10 gal and have 6 fished (community one) need to know if they breed n do they ... A: Well, it looks as if you just jumped right into this new tank, and it is not cycled at all, which ...
NO3 high after water change	6/6/2008
Q: I have a 40Gal tank with 20 fish, Zebras, tetras, 2 red tailed sharks, 1 Peco, Mollies. I have 1 5 ... A: First off I have to say...WOW. 200 is crazy. Now, this can be caused by two things. 1) Tap water. ...
Cant kepp Aquarium cool	6/4/2008
Q: Help! I have a 55 gal freshwater setup: 2 28" 15w bulbs in aluminum reflectors, heater is unplugged, ... A: The tetra filter could cause heat. I don't like the tetra filters too much, they over heat easily, ...
happy fish??	5/30/2008
Q: I am new to the fish business so I am sure I will have plenty of ??'s but for now I just wonder how ... A: Sounds like you are doing everything right so far! Give yourself a pat on the back! Fish shouldn't ...
raising feeder fish.	5/24/2008
Q: I bought a needlefish a little while ago but i live about 2 hrs away from any petstore so i would ... A: You should not be feeding any fish live feeder fish. They have no nutritional value, and carry ...

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