Search found 107 matches

by Ardillakilla
Fri Feb 26, 2016 6:45 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: My Loaches need a new home :(
Replies: 6
Views: 6152

Re: My Loaches need a new home :(

I can drive down there and pick them up. I've moved my loaches across several states so I have a fairly refined process. I also use the same technique to take them to the vet (everything is the same except the drive is much shorter and I don't take any bio media with me). A friend of mine in LA has ...
by Ardillakilla
Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:37 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: dying big clown
Replies: 2
Views: 3907

Re: dying big clown

http://www.thefishvet.com.au/ If they can't help you they might know someone who can. I had a couple Oscars succumb to some kind of intestinal blockage over the years. Usually after an episode of exuberant pellet consumption. I never figured out what the cause was but I suspect intestinal parasites.
by Ardillakilla
Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:34 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: My Loaches need a new home :(
Replies: 6
Views: 6152

Re: My Loaches need a new home :(

How big is the tank they're in now? I'm in the Sacramento area so not local but within driving distance. I have a dozen in a 125 SeaClear System II. The oldest are about 13 yr old. I wonder if I'd be overstocked though. I have around 4 big ones and the rest are small/med. Consider this plan B if you...
by Ardillakilla
Tue Feb 02, 2016 5:00 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Clown loach with HUGE blisters
Replies: 4
Views: 5264

Re: Clown loach with HUGE blisters

Pictures would be helpful. Upload them somewhere. Share the URL here. It doesn't matter if the forum won't host your picture. You can host them elsewhere, likely without the ridiculous restrictions on size that forums have, and share the link here. I used RO for years and some of my loaches got pret...
by Ardillakilla
Mon Aug 31, 2015 3:36 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Clean up filter more important than change water?
Replies: 6
Views: 7532

Re: Clean up filter more important than change water?

Cleaning your mechanical filtration regularly is a good idea. This allows you to remove detritus before it enters the nitrogen cycle. Dissolved organic carbon can also inhibit nitrification (along with low alkalinity, low dissolved O2 levels, etc.). I once had low levels of ammonia I couldn't get ri...
by Ardillakilla
Mon Aug 31, 2015 3:25 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Sad day for my loaches
Replies: 4
Views: 6277

Re: Sad day for my loaches

I've moved several times with my loaches (and birds and reptiles). I've hauled my loaches all over the country but the last move was just across town. It's really not that much trouble if you have a plan.
by Ardillakilla
Tue Jul 08, 2014 7:41 am
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Ceramic Bio Beads Fail?
Replies: 45
Views: 41558

Re: Ceramic Bio Beads Fail?

Nitrogen content is directly proportional to the protein content of food. In aquaculture, there are actually formulas they use which take the % protein in food, the amount of food, and calculate how much oxygen and bio media surface area is required as well as water changes, ammonia levels, etc.
by Ardillakilla
Mon Jul 07, 2014 11:10 am
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Ceramic Bio Beads Fail?
Replies: 45
Views: 41558

Re: Ceramic Bio Beads Fail?

One thing that can help is to clean your mechanical filters frequently. That removes detritus before it decomposes and enters the nitrogen cycle. Little benefit is derived from mechanical filtration if you allow fish waste to remain in contact with the water. Lastly, I want to reiterate that without...
by Ardillakilla
Thu Jul 03, 2014 6:49 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Ceramic Bio Beads Fail?
Replies: 45
Views: 41558

Re: Ceramic Bio Beads Fail?

An aquarium is basically a closed system as far as the nitrogen cycle is concerned (not much being absorbed from or by the atmosphere). All the nitrogen in the tank was put in there by you. There's really no other way it can get in there. Bio media can't produce nitrate out of thin air. It has to co...
by Ardillakilla
Thu Jul 03, 2014 6:29 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Ceramic Bio Beads Fail?
Replies: 45
Views: 41558

Re: Ceramic Bio Beads Fail?

I have a 75 gal tank, feed 2.2 grams (dry mass) of food daily, and have to do 50% water changes weekly to keep under 25 ppm. The last time I had issues, it was because a substantial amount of gunk had built up on the insides of the overflow as well as in the wet/dry. Sometimes you just need to clean...
by Ardillakilla
Sun Mar 16, 2014 3:54 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Thinking about Switching away from R/O need help.
Replies: 11
Views: 11559

Re: Thinking about Switching away from R/O need help.

The cheapest and easiest thing to do is to find a used RO system from a nearby seller and replace what cartridges are needed.
by Ardillakilla
Tue Mar 11, 2014 1:12 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Thinking about Switching away from R/O need help.
Replies: 11
Views: 11559

Re: Thinking about Switching away from R/O need help.

As you probably already know, that's the most uneconomical way to obtain RO water and will cost a lot more in the long run than getting your own filter.
by Ardillakilla
Tue Mar 04, 2014 11:50 am
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Thinking about Switching away from R/O need help.
Replies: 11
Views: 11559

Re: Thinking about Switching away from R/O need help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_still

But it's a long shot...

What is it you find expensive about RO assuming you already own the filter? Maybe you're changing filter cartridges too often? Or generating too much "waste" water?
by Ardillakilla
Mon Mar 03, 2014 3:07 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Thinking about Switching away from R/O need help.
Replies: 11
Views: 11559

Re: Thinking about Switching away from R/O need help.

If you already own a RO filter, the cost is just more water usage and replacement filter cartridges? I suppose you could try solar distillation...
by Ardillakilla
Sun Jan 19, 2014 10:39 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Looking for Levamisole
Replies: 17
Views: 22293

Re: Looking for Levamisole

If you live near a veterinary hospital their exotics departments will often see fish. These are the same veterinarians that take care of the fish at public aquariums, etc.