Hi all, first I'm new to the fish game so please help me out here. I decided to go for an african cichlids tank setup. The tank is fully set up ready to go without any fish atm because of my nitrate level being way to high. I have been cycling for over 3 weeks now plus i have been doing...

so i'm doing a 2.5 gallon nano reef (kinda) its actually larger because it has a 4 gallon refugium. -not much in the refugium yet... -tank set up is ugly right now too... the tank ran for a week, then I built the refugium tonight, and added more live rock, and got a snail and a mushroom coral...

First off, hi everyone! I've been lurking for a while now and have already gained so much knowledge off of all of you. I think after years of sitting on the idea, I'm ready to take the plunge into the wonderful world of a SW tank. Fear has held me back more than anything, but I figure if I...

Ok last night all 3 of my brittle stars were just fine and ate small peice of shrimp. I did notice that one of the stars had lost part of it's leg. Today when I came home I found the same one with no legs and just his body with a couple of stubs. I thought he was dead, so when I tried to get him...

Alright I have watched the poll and it was very close between the 13th and the 19th but, the 13th did have more votes so that will be the date of the meeting. I'll have some munchies and some beverages (Pepsi, Mt. Dew, Sunkist Orange, Miller Lite, and Bud Light). As far as munchies go I'll...

Bascially my mate is starting a fresh water tank and I remember all the algae hassles I had with my freshwater tanks when I used to have them, now I have a RO/DI system for my reef tank and was wondering whether it would be suitable to use RO/DI water for his fresh water tank or do the fish need...

OK as some of you know we have been talking about an up grade from our 55 gallon. we are going to make sure everything is in place before we start the big move. we have been talking to many of you all abbout the tanks and we were leaning for the bigger the better, but last night I took my wife...

Ok my brother has a 55 gal. 4 feet across tank. Yes its a FW tank, but trying to help him out with a real quick answer. He has two of the 24 inch flourescent fixtures one of them went bad shorted out. What could he get as a full 48 inch fixture sort of like what us reefers have? He was looking...

I used ChemiClean this weekend to rid my tank of Red Slime. It worked great and I'm doing a 25g WC tonnight and will fire up the skimmer also. I was really impressed with this product. Red slime gone overnight!!! No ill affects and the tank is crystal clear!!! I started looking at some other...

I have some dried out tufa and lava rocks that used to be in my saltwater tank. Id like to use them in my freshwater but im afraid of all that salt. How can i make these rocks safe for freshwater?

ok well i have been with FW tanks for a while now about 6 years. I am starting to get bored of it and have been very sucessful. So i am thinking of settig up a SMALL SW tank...around 2-3g just to start. I know that they are harder to maintain and everything but i am very passionate when it comes...

Well, I'm back from a very long time away from you guys. I moved about over a year ago to a bigger and better house that accomodates all the family, not just the kids. Still in NYS and no plans to defect. I wanted to update you on the move with regards the the reef tank I HAD. I gave the fish to...

Ok...so some people have suggested that I go with freshwater for this tank...I am liking the idea a little better...hate to leave the void behind the bar. Can some of you give me some ideas for a nice freshwater set up that would be low maintenance (I don't think I want plants - don't want...

Hello everyone! This is my first post here! I have been keeping fish, mainly cichlids, for a few years, and I set up my 29 gal a year ago for saltwater. I started slowly with about 15 lbs of live rock. I developed a hair algae problem. After plucking, I got a mixture of turbo and zebra...

Okay, so heres the deal. A few years ago I started a 10 gallon saltwater tank...bad idea I got frustrated lost alot of coral and fish, got frustrated and broke down the tank and got rid of it. Well now I am ready to start again, except this time I am starting a 55 gallon tank that I currently...

Okay, so heres the deal. A few years ago I started a 10 gallon saltwater tank...bad idea I got frustrated lost alot of coral and fish, got frustrated and broke down the tank and got rid of it. Well now I am ready to start again, except this time I am starting a 55 gallon tank that I currently...

1. I was cleaning the tank just now and I saw the firefish and he started shaking his upper body violently like he was chocking on something! Is this normal? he stopped and than retreated into his hole. 2. I have a pm. bullet 1 skimmer for the 75. I took some measurements and did some testing...

I have always been curious--how many people start out keeping freshwater tanks, then move to salt? Or start with salt? Do both? Only have one?

I was sitting infront of my tank last night a noticed that my Clarkii (hosting a green carpet) was going NUTS!! When I turned around I saw my 2 year old with a laser pointer. The Clarkii was attacking it protecting it's host. It's really kind of cool to watch. I did not do it too much, I did not...

I have always owned fish, but mostly basic community fish and the occasional oscar or interesting catfish (i love weird and unique catfish) But i know very little about cichlids, (i know not to call them CHICK-lids:rolleyes:) and what i think i know is shaky in confidence... what are some...