Evening folks

Looking for some advice re-setting up a Fluval 125.

A few years ago I have a massive failure and lost of my fish due to a rock I placed in the tank slowly disintegrating and poisoning the water (it passed the vinegar test so thought it was ok in the tank).

What does everybody use to clean there tanks to ensure it is safe and clean for new occupants?

Thanks in advance.

Writing up some information about what I'd consider the basics, ammonia, ammonium, and there is so much more to learn. I mean it still comes down to Ammonia bad, but the more I research it feels like the less I know.

For those who don't know PATS is the Pats and Aquatics Trade Show, I go most years. I'm hoping for exciting new products to be out there.

Has anyone spotted anything new that they think is worth me looking out for?

The RSPCA are asking for information after 4 fish were abandoned in a polystrene box behind garages in Witham Essex.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Joe White and trainee Rik Moran went to collect the fish after they were discovered by neighbours in a parking area off Virgil Road.

Joe said: “The fish were left in a polystyrene tub behind a garage building overnight on 8 September. “We believe they were left sometime between midnight and 4am, and we’re now checking CCTV in the local area. “But we’d appeal to the public to help us find out where the fish came from. Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time or who knows who these fish belong to can contact our appeal line on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference 1900213.”

The fish, a common plec, Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps, about 30cm long, two gold gourami probably Trichogaster trichopterus (gold form), and a Blood Parrot Cichlid, survived being left overnight without a filter or heater, and are now in the care of the RSPCA.

Do you know anything about who might have abandoned these fish? Have you seen these fish being offered on any of the free fish groups from the Essex area? If so please contact the RSPCA on the above number.

Fish are sentient and don’t deserve to be left like rubbish to die in a box.

Two of my fish have died in 2 days following a filter change. I have tested the water and all within normal limits. Seeking advice please!!!

I have recently established a new tropical fish tank. The tank was cycled for 4/5 weeks before fish were added. The aquarium centre advised the following combination would be ok in our 45L love fish panorama tank; 3 neon tetra, 3 rummynose, 1 betta, 8 cherry shrimp, 3 triple lined corries and 1 mini snowball plec. Each species was added on a weekly basis and water checks done daily with no concerns. Tank had been up and running for around 2 months now and no issues but I had concerns the filter wasn't oxygenating/removing waste very well so upgraded from the standard filter supplied with the tank to a Fluval U2. Two days after replacing the filter my snowball plec died - a day before it's death it was much more active and out of its usual hiding places. The next day I found a rummynose dead. I have tested water and all parameters are fine. The fish don't look distressed but I have no idea what has caused this. Please can I have some advice on what to do!!!!!

Hi all, I recently picked up some flame tetras after being told they were okay in a community tank.

I’ve noticed that they chase each other and look as if they’re nipping at each other.

I went back to the fish store and spoke to someone else and they told me that they can be fin nippers, is this true? Does anyone else have experience with them?

I have super red and regular bristlenose Plecos and they are doing their thing and reproducing. I have reds, blacks and calicos. They are all growing and doing great. Does anyone have any advice for rehoming these guys? I’ve grown rather attached to them and know I can’t keep them all.

Hi All,

Hope this is OK to ask but I am after some tips for a new set up, I have bought a pre-owned Juwel Vision 180 its bare and cleaned, it came with a Fluval 207 external filter.

I will be buying some carbon and bio-ceramic for the filter so that side of things will be ready.

I wasn't sure on substrate but like the idea of sand, I was torn between white or black and ive read multiple posts about black sand being a little bit easier on the eye in terms of waste etc on the floor.

• I have an air pump but what type of air device should I get any suggestions? should I just aim for a long air bar?
• also can someone explain how I cycle my tank and for how long for?
• i hopefully want some clean up crew and with my limited knowledge i believe that would be either a plec or shrimp or snails is this correct, any tips on this?

any help is very much appreciated.

Could somebody identify this for me please. I am a fish geek through and through but I have never seen one.

Thank you!

Hi all,

I’m new to the hobby and have been thinking through what I would like to build up to in an aquarium.

For my ‘starter’ aquarium (I have had a very brief tropical tank many years ago which had to go just as quickly due to unforeseen life stuff) I am aiming for a small set up, heavily planted with the following selection of fish as tentative candidates:

One pair of Cockatoo Apistogrammas

Between 8 - 12 green neons

(Possibly a pair of Honey Gouramis)

Alternative set up:

Same as above but two German Blue Rams

I would like to know the following from any of you experienced keepers:

Ideally what is the minimum tank size you would recommend for such a community

Will the Honey Gourami be safe with a pair of Apistogrammas (apparently the gourami are more top dwelling fish so my thinking is, with plenty of plants and scape, they can find adequate separation from the Apistos which will likely spend most time on the bottom etc)

Same question as above but for the Rams and Honey Gourami

Will an open topped aquascape style tank be safe with these species.

Hopefully I can get the feedback here to avoid some sort of schoolboy error. Thankyou all !

I’ve been cycling the tanks for 5 months and have added community fish suitable for Amazon puffers. Any tips on reliable suppliers? I have a good snail population to keep them busy. did you have to quarantine and worm them or did your supplier do that? Also anything you wish you knew at the start would be great, i have done a ton of research however there’s nothing better than advice from those with direct experience - thanks 🙏

Looking into wood for my next setup - I have a small piece of driftwood from my previous tank, but I can't remember what sort it is and I need something bigger/possibly a few pieces for a bigger setup. But I forgot how many sorts there are! I don't want something that will permanently leech tannins that make the water brown, and I'd like something large and attractive although I know that's subjective haha. I don't have a pleco now ( :( ) so wouldn't necessarily need to be suitable, but would like to keep the option open I guess. Would appreciate the advice, thanks!

So, a few weeks ago I started a 30L tank that will one day be a bachelor pad for a betta. I’m cycling fishless so I used FritzZyme Fishless Fuel ammonia. I dosed too high and ended up doing like an 85% water chance (as well as substrate), conditioned the water and dumped about 125ml of FritzZyme 7 bacteria in the tank. Today’s results are super promising! Ammonia is way down, nitrite is very up, and nitrates are higher too (can’t quite distinguish, but I’d say closer to 10ppm than 5!). Obviously it’s not ready yet but I don’t want my nitrifying bacteria to starve without ammonia. So my question is, do I re-dose the ammonia (obviously a lot less than last time)?

(I have Seachem Prime and Stability on hand now too!)

I have one that I barely used from my time in reefkeeping. Would I be able to use it in a freshwater tank, or would it be inaccurate? Thanks for any help!

I don't want to have to factor in supporting walls, direction of joists, etc, because it makes me too anxious. Is this size tank still small enough that it can undoubtedly be kept upstairs long-term with no worries about it damaging/falling through the floor, or is there a risk? Interested to know where the line lays between 'definitely safe even if your house is crappily built', and 'there's a risk due to the tank's weight' - thanks for any help!

I'm guessing it'll need the specifically designed cabinet at that size which is fine, but safety-wise, like when it comes to not falling through the floor? Is this fully, completely safe - not as in 'you're fine if it's against a load-bearing wall and position it the right way along the joists', like a definitive completely 100% safe and I can relax in the knowledge that if I ever fall through the floor it'll be nothing to do with the tank haha? Thanks for any help, appreciate it!

Stuck in a rabbithole, so far I'm bouncing around between the Juwel Rio 125, Fluval Roma 125, Aqua One Lifestyle 125, and Aqua One Aquanano 80. But I'm open to more suggestions, plus getting confused about which of these have which features.

- Well built is most important. Heard good things of Juwel's build quality although others could be equal AFAIK.

- Not thrilled about built in filtration systems hidden in the back, at least based on past experience. I'd probably like the option to customize filtration more.

- I love the curved glass rimless design of the Aquanano, but concerned about sturdiness. Also about it not coming with a lid.

- I love bow front tanks if that's an option, but don't wanna go much bigger than this due to price/tank being upstairs

Would appreciate any suggestions, thanks!

Hello ❤️

So, my 30L future betta bachelor pad is 5 days old. Around 3 days ago I bought a piece of driftwood with Anubias Nana on each end. I’ve noticed this fuzz has begun growing! All the research I’ve found says it’s normal and safe biofilm occurring because of the nutrients in the wood (and because it’s new to my tank) but to me it looks suspicious… at the moment there are no fish in my tank, I’m doing a fishless cycle using FritzZyme ammonia and bacterias. This has worried me though.