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Hello From Big Bear Lake on top of Southern California


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#1 Guest_Forest Grump_*

Guest_Forest Grump_*
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Posted 13 June 2007 - 05:16 PM

I've been lurking for some time and finally joined both NANFA and the forum. Have been wanting to set up a darter tank since I was involved in research of the small fishes of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in the '60s. The time has come. I had a 62 gallon glass aquarium built 30" x 24" by 20"H. Got 40 pounds of Arkansas pebbles and 40 of Complete for a base, it's planted. Four guppies to cycle the tank and then serve as food. The complete seems really to be great never had an ammonia buildup let alone nitrite or nitrates. Lighting is Current compact fluorescent with lunar lights and a fan. Air is a Rio, filter Emperor 400, HOT Magnum. I will be adding a cannister filter Filstar FX3. I've added large igneous rocks which are a black greenish color from the Wright Mine, non reactive. I also have Ironwood (Mountain Mahogany) wood which I soaked for a month, lignins. It's been standing dead for 6 years and does not float.

Fish so far 3 Enneacanthus gloriosus, Bluespotted Sunfish and 5 Fundulus chrysotus, Golden Topminnows all from Jonah.

Fish to arrive soon are Orange Throat Darters, Rainbow Darters and Greensides. The tank has both high flow and slower flow areas with lots of hiding spots. For food I pretty much have to stick with flake and freeze dried. For freeze dried I have made a blend of just about everything including earthworms and red worms using the blender to reduce size. No complaints yet. All feed immediately.

Our altitude here is 7,000' so for winter I will use a heater to stabilize the temperature. Big Bear Lake has rainbow trout and silver salmon but they are dirty and require a lot of filtration. There are other panfish and small and largemouth bass but they do not grow big, water is too cold. The trout get into double digits in weight.

Anyone know where I can get some orangespotted sunfish? I think they would go well in the tank.

#2 Guest_hmt321_*

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Posted 13 June 2007 - 08:18 PM

ksi aquatics is where mine came from

check the vendor section



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