Like Gerald said, SC rules are different and Enneacanthus spp. are not considered game fish here. There are even a few Lepomis not on the specific game fish list. If you find yourself with a day's worth of free time, let me know and I can give you some spots to try just south of Rockingham in SC.

Like Gerald said, SC rules are different and Enneacanthus spp. are not considered game fish here. There are even a few Lepomis not on the specific game fish list. If you find yourself with a day's worth of free time, let me know and I can give you some spots to try just south of Rockingham in SC.

Anyone know what the rules are for SC?

Anyone know of any good spots within an 1hrs drive where I can find aquatic plants (native or introduced) to collect? I have a couple spots I know about and I got a few plants from them but lake water level management and cold weather has killed most plants back. So far I have hairgrass, a type of ludwigia (I think), and a type of rush.

Google is telling me that you live only an hour and a half from me. I am on winter break right now and wouldn't mind catching you some fish. In fact I love fishing, and usually the only things stopping me from going out are either snow or a lack of free tank space. But I don't see any snow in the forecast, and I have some free time now...
Do you want me to catch you some fish? Would you come pick them up if I did? I live in Winston-Salem, near the hospital.

Anyone know what the rules are for SC?

In SC with a fishing license, you may keep non-game, non-protected species.

Game species are listed specifically here: http://www.dnr.sc.go...rregs.html#game

Protected species are listed specifically here: http://www.dnr.sc.go..._state_wide.pdf

Additional information regarding sampling techniques, accessible areas, etc. found here: http://www.dnr.sc.go...ngamefresh.html

Based on your link, SC has only three protected fish species: Shortnose sturgeon, Bluebarred pygmy, and Carolina darter.

Ennecanthus, Dollar, and Mud sunfish are Non-Game in SC (they are GAME in NC). Blue catfish is GAME in SC, but Non-Game in NC.

And what's up with THIS rule:
"It is illegal to possess, import or sell any fish species that is not native to SC waters without a SCDNR permit."

Taken literally, every tropical fish keeper and koi pond keeper would need a SCDNR permit.

Based on your link, SC has only three protected fish species: Shortnose sturgeon, Bluebarred pygmy, and Carolina darter.

Ennecanthus, Dollar, and Mud sunfish are Non-Game in SC (they are GAME in NC). Blue catfish is GAME in SC, but Non-Game in NC.

And what's up with THIS rule:
"It is illegal to possess, import or sell any fish species that is not native to SC waters without a SCDNR permit."

Taken literally, every tropical fish keeper and koi pond keeper would need a SCDNR permit.

Not surprised I work in planning and zoning and some of the rules I see in various local governments don't make much sense, aren't enforceable and just plain stupid.

Edited by kamikazi, 04 January 2012 - 08:49 PM.

I got the tank pretty much setup now.

1" to 1 1/2" miracle gro organic choice potting mix base
1" to 1 1/2 " very small pea gravel cap

Tetra 10 HOB filter to provide filtration and flow (considering changing this out to a TopFin 30)

Heater running to maintain consistent temp. (shooting for 72-75) right now I'm running about 75

Lighting is 2 wally world clip desk lamps with Sylvania 13 watt 6500K CLFs, so 1.73 watts per gallon (low enough to not have to inject CO2, but bright enough to grow the plants)

Plants collected included: hairgrass upfront, several bunches of unidentified rush along the back, and 4-5 unidentified other plants
Plants not collected included: Alternanthera (very cool plant that I had some extra of from home)

No fish as of yet. Notice this morning I have at least one snail (most likely a pond snail that hitched hiked on the alternanthera)

I got the tank pretty much setup now.

1" to 1 1/2" miracle gro organic choice potting mix base

Does it look like this stuff? http://gallery.nanfa...Potting Mix.jpg

If so, you might want to read about my experience with it. Start at post #564: http://forum.nanfa.o...i/page__st__560

Does it look like this stuff? http://gallery.nanfa...Potting Mix.jpg

If so, you might want to read about my experience with it. Start at post #564: http://forum.nanfa.o...i/page__st__560

Name is the same but the bag looks different.
This is what I use in my dirt tanks. http://www.homedepot...catalogId=10053

Many, many others from plantedtank.net use it as well.

I have a 40 setup using this stuff, same method 1-1.5 inches of dirt with 1-1.5 inches of pea gravel cap. Haven't had any issues, been running for almost a year now.

Looks like you had a pretty bad experience, definitely needs a cap and you have to be extremely careful when filling the tank and doing water changes. But its worth it IMO if you are doing a planted tank.

> Miracle-Gro Organic Choice 32 qt. Potting Mix
- Blend of sphagnum peat moss, composted bark fines and natural fertilizer for an organic mix.
- Natural fertilizer with both quick and slow release nitrogen ... provides continuous feeding for up to 2 months
- Note: Product may vary by store. (No doubt Erica will agree!)

You can soak it in a bucket of a water for a couple days to lessen the "quick release" fertilizer effect and also to remove particles that wont sink. Erica's batch may have been less thoroughly composted, and "natural fertilizer" is no doubt a tricky thing to control. I'm guessing Miracle Gro probably has several places around the USA where they make it, using different local materials.

Here is a link to my photobucket page with some quick cell phone pictures.
PICTURES HERE

> Miracle-Gro Organic Choice 32 qt. Potting Mix
- Blend of sphagnum peat moss, composted bark fines and natural fertilizer for an organic mix.
- Natural fertilizer with both quick and slow release nitrogen ... provides continuous feeding for up to 2 months
- Note: Product may vary by store. (No doubt Erica will agree!)

You can soak it in a bucket of a water for a couple days to lessen the "quick release" fertilizer effect and also to remove particles that wont sink. Erica's batch may have been less thoroughly composted, and "natural fertilizer" is no doubt a tricky thing to control. I'm guessing Miracle Gro probably has several places around the USA where they make it, using different local materials.

Interesting thing on the Hickory Home Depot page they show both the bag of what I have and a separate item with an image of what she had. I dunno if its just older stock or a different product altogether.
Erica's
http://www.homedepot...catalogId=10053
Mine
http://www.homedepot...catalogId=10053

Interesting thing on the Hickory Home Depot page they show both the bag of what I have and a separate item with an image of what she had. I dunno if its just older stock or a different product altogether.
Erica's
http://www.homedepot...catalogId=10053
Mine
http://www.homedepot...catalogId=10053

Oh, it's the same product. My experience would be your experience too, if you hadn't used a capping layer. That composted wood floats, you know. And if the capping layer isn't heavy enough, it volcanoes.

I still think kitty litter is my favorite substrate because it doesn't need a capping layer. Just put in however many inches you want (even a single inch), press it down with your hands, fill slowly to avoid initial dustiness, and you're done.

Compare the thickness of the substrates in your photos and mine.
http://s2.photobucke...0-19-18_497.jpg
http://img.photobuck...imiru/014-5.jpg (mine could be thinner; in the past I've had it level with the black line)
That's why I don't like capping layers; they're taking up a good chunk of your fish tank that could be used for fish.

Edited by EricaWieser, 13 January 2012 - 03:19 PM.