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#1 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 27 August 2011 - 09:27 AM

Hello to all.

I have been a biology nut all my life and got a BS in Zoology and minor in Botany back in 1970. Never thought about what I would actually do with the degree, I just wanted to take a major that would give me as much biology classes as possible. Anyway, the good science background served me well in my career and I recently retired in 2010.

I have had several bouts of setting up aquaria over the years and mostly liked Cichlids. I thought I would give it a try again and just bought a 55 gallon used from Craigslist (love getting the setup for a fraction of the cost) and want to try raising some Lepomis sps.

When I used to fish I remember the northern longears being very spectacular in their breeding colors and certainly rivaled in color most of the fish I used to raise. Then I found this forum and see that others are doing the same. Glad to have found this place.

So, the aquarium is being delivered this morning and I will round up the bits and pieces to set it up and establish the hidy holes and plants in the next week or so. In the mean time I will glean what I can from the forum and will undoubtedly have a few questions.

The first of which - are most of the Lepomis Sp. coming available for orders this month or are they already come and gone?

Who provides Lepomis Sp. for sale?

Usil

#2 Guest_Yeahson421_*

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Posted 27 August 2011 - 11:34 AM

I would strongly reccomend Brian Zimmerman. I just got 5 Northern Longears from him a week or so ago, and they are doing great. One word of warning: the fish are currently VERY small, like 3/4 of an inch! However, raising them from this size is MUCH more enjoyable in the long run, and they grow very fast. The only changes I would reccomend are sponges over filter intakes and small food.

#3 Guest_CATfishTONY_*

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Posted 27 August 2011 - 12:13 PM

Hello to all.

I have been a biology nut all my life and got a BS in Zoology and minor in Botany back in 1970. Never thought about what I would actually do with the degree, I just wanted to take a major that would give me as much biology classes as possible. Anyway, the good science background served me well in my career and I recently retired in 2010.

I have had several bouts of setting up aquaria over the years and mostly liked Cichlids. I thought I would give it a try again and just bought a 55 gallon used from Craigslist (love getting the setup for a fraction of the cost) and want to try raising some Lepomis sps.

When I used to fish I remember the northern longears being very spectacular in their breeding colors and certainly rivaled in color most of the fish I used to raise. Then I found this forum and see that others are doing the same. Glad to have found this place.

So, the aquarium is being delivered this morning and I will round up the bits and pieces to set it up and establish the hidy holes and plants in the next week or so. In the mean time I will glean what I can from the forum and will undoubtedly have a few questions.

The first of which - are most of the Lepomis Sp. coming available for orders this month or are they already come and gone?

Who provides Lepomis Sp. for sale?

Usil

if you like chichlids then Lepomis cyanellus the green sunfish would rank # 1 in the lepomis family for sure. they eat allmost anything you feed then,hold there own in a battle for this is my area.they grow fast live for years in a tank.
here is a link for a few ideas
http://gallery.nanfa...chidae/Lepomis/
http://forum.nanfa.o...ercial-vendors/



#4 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 27 August 2011 - 06:29 PM

Have you heard of what's called 'fishless cycling'? Here's an article on it. http://www.fishkeepi...ing-article.htm You can start the process with anything that rots (I once did it with a piece of turkey lunch meat, but you didn't hear that from me :D ); you don't have to use drops of pure ammonia. Basically the idea is that you don't put fish in the tank until after you've gotten both an ammonia and nitrite spike that have then returned to 0 ppm. It saves your first few fish from what's loosely referred to as 'new tank syndrome'.

As far as sunfish go, I've always wanted orange spotted or pumpkinseed, myself. If it were me, I'd go out with a size 10 or 12 hook (that's what people have recommended) and catch one myself. Here's the link to buying a Texas fishing license. http://www.tpwd.stat...s/online_sales/ There are some rules and regulations that you might want to read first. Here's a link: http://www.tpwd.stat...h/general.phtml Double check to make sure it's legal to catch sunfish on a hook there; I don't live in Texas and can't claim to be knowledgeable in its laws. It looks okay, though.

#5 Guest_frogwhacker_*

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Posted 27 August 2011 - 07:42 PM

Welcome to the forum. I'm also a fan of longear sunfish(northerns and centrals). They're simple to keep and beautiful in the aquarium. There's some really good discussions under the 'bass and sunfish' section of the forums on them here that I've learned a lot from. Enjoy. And congratulations on your retirement.

Steve.

#6 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 27 August 2011 - 08:36 PM

I have thought about a small hook and trying the local water near my home for some long ears. There is a meandering creek in a city park that has been dredged to have some deep areas and vegetation near the shallows abounds. This sounds like an area that might have some sunfish and hopefully some long ear. While I would raise some young it would be nice to have one or two in color.

I have the aquarium in the cleaning stages right now. The glass is in excellent condition but I have noticed that the black plastic top edging has a few cracks and needs some epoxy. It has water in it on the porch to test if it is water proof which seems to be ok. The stand has been nicely refinished so it will look good in my office against the window.

I go to the pet store tomorrow and look at some gravel, under-gravel filters, tubing, water test kit and an air pump. It has a nice top lights and side filter but it might be missing a piece. I have a decorator rock company a half mile away so I thought i would go look at getting a few distinctive pieces to make some builds in the corners and will check out the river for some drift wood. I hope to have it set up in my office this week sometime and see what the water chemistry does till the weekend.

Not sure what kind of plants to use but would like it lush and complicated for the fish. Any suggestions are welcome. I have seen Riccia in the wild and quite like that but have not seen it lately and don't know if they sell it at the fish store. Anyone used Riccia?

Usil

#7 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 27 August 2011 - 08:57 PM

You can get Riccia commercially, but it's not a common thing to see at your general pet store. It shouldn't be hard to order online (try aquabid.com for example) if that's what you want.

Undergravel filters probably aren't the best setup, especially if you're trying to grow plants. Roots will tend to grow into and clog them, and they are impossible to clean without a major disturbance to the tank. Also the air pump bubbles the surface, which over time will leave calcium deposits on your light fixture and upper rim of the tank that are difficult to remove even with chemicals. I recommend a sponge filter powered by a pump instead of an airstone. Your setup will work, but I think you'll be happier with an alternative.

#8 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 27 August 2011 - 09:01 PM

Not sure what kind of plants to use but would like it lush and complicated for the fish. Any suggestions are welcome. I have seen Riccia in the wild and quite like that but have not seen it lately and don't know if they sell it at the fish store. Anyone used Riccia?

Two responses.

First, aquabid.com has lots of plants for sale. If you buy plants from all the same seller, you can combine shipping. That's how I planted my 55 gallon tank for less than $35. I paid $7 for shipping and got snippets of like a dozen plant species for two dollars each (sweetaquatics.com). Anyway, aquabid is great for plants. Don't accidentally buy anything illegal to ship to your state, though.

Second, riccia is okay. I like Hemianthus callitrichoides better.
My favorite riccia, if it was riccia, was in the Risturin garden in Takamatsu, Shikoku, Japan. Picture: http://img.photobuck...ru/DSC00729.jpg Maybe that was riccia, maybe some other liverwort. It was pretty, though. In the aquarium, I've had some problems putting riccia fluitans into a mesh square. It did not want to grow between them. I considered it an expensive failure, seeing as how a golfball or two of riccia cost me $14. Maybe it's for the best that it did not grow, because I've heard people complain about needing to constantly trim and re-mesh it when it does. There are better ground cover plants.

Here, I'll quote myself from a previous post on ratemyfishtank.com:

I'll just list ground cover plants and let you google them. Glossostigma elatinoides, Hemianthus callitrichoides, Eleocharis parvula, Elatrine triandra, Riccia fluitans (put it between two mesh squares), Vesicularia dubyana (again, between two sheets of mesh), Fissidens fontanus, Marsilea hirsuta, Marsilea quadrifolia, Lilaeopsis mauritania, Hydrocotyle verticillata.There are a lot of different plants you can use as a foreground plant. Measure your pH and DH and see which ones would like your water.

Personally, I have Heminathus callitrichoides. I love its tiny little leaves. My fish are really shy and stick to the bottom, so having a ground cover plant helps them feel more secure and emerge out into the open more often.

I also really like the Hydrocotyle genus that I mentioned above. Its leaves look neat. I had Brazilian pennywort a while ago before I moved. It didn't like 17 DH, 7.5 pH water at all, but now I have 0 DH, 6.5 water, so it might be time to try it again.


Edit: I see now that gzeiger posted just before I did. I agree with their comment that undergravel filters + plant roots = headache. Don't know if I'd use a sponge filter, though. They're loud. Instead I use silent hang on back waterfall filters to inspire water movement in planted tanks. If it's not a planted tank, a fluidized bed filter is best. Link: http://www.bioconlabs.com/abtqs.html They're usually $40-$70 ish and I've yet to find one rated anything less than 150 gallons. They're usually rated for about 300 gallons.

Edited by EricaWieser, 27 August 2011 - 09:07 PM.


#9 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 03:17 AM

Plants and filters - lots to think about. Had not thought of buying plants on line before. Does anyone use under-gravel filters anymore? Seems like keeping a small flow to the bottom to settle food and detritus into the gravel still seems like a good idea even with a side hanging flow filter. Is this a common debate today?

Usil

Edited by Usil, 28 August 2011 - 03:19 AM.


#10 Guest_MichiJim_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 06:48 AM

Congratulations on your retirement. I retired a year ago, and its nice to have the additional time for hobbies.

Yes, there is lots of debate on filters. I made the switch from undergravel to canisters and sponges a while ago. Seamed best to get all of the crud out of the tank. Over the long run, it will be less grief. Search the forums for much discussion on the subject.

I am a proponent of keeping it simple. If you don't over crowd or over feed, sponges are reliable and easy to match to your system. Add fish slowly, do regular water changes, keep it simple and you will get a lot of enjoyment for a long time.

Welcome to the club.

#11 Michael Wolfe

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 07:02 AM

Welcome Usil,

I see y'all have fallen in to the plant and filter discussions, but I want to encourage you to follow up on your idea of getting out there and collecting your own fish. Getting into the native habitat is one of the best ways to learn about the natives that you bring home. I have kept pumpkin seeds before that were caught hook and line and they were really no worse for wear (true, it took them a couple of days to decide to eat again, but really it was only a couple days, and healthy sunfish can easily go that long).

There are probably NANFA members near you (we are everywhere) that would also be more than willing to participate with you and help you find the fish that you are looking for.

An oh, but the way, as a retiree you are my hero... congratulations and good fish keeping.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#12 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 10:28 AM

Thanks for all the support I am getting. Lots to think about.

Yes, I am quite thinking about doing some local collecting. I have done this in the distant past when I was a lot younger in creeks and occasionally had some natural tanks. Actually, I have had Longears on my mind to do this for at least 40 years and now, at last, am finally going to do it. As I start to consider a program of general aquarium management I am wondering what to do for general bottom cleaning and algae maintenance in terms of fish. I am not new to aquariums and know there will be regular clean-up needed but what fish are being used in these natural tanks to help out? Or - do you just get a plecostomus?

Usil

#13 Guest_frogwhacker_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 11:28 AM

Or - do you just get a plecostomus?


My experience is that a pleco. creates more waste in bioload than they can ever help in cleaning algae. I run a UV filter for my 150 gallon with a smallmouth bass in it. The UV is supplied by a canister filter. The only time I have an algae problem is when flow from the canister filter pump is reduced due to plugging. This happens a little too often only because I feed a lot of crickets and the undigested exoskeletons tend to plug up the filter. I just have to keep an eye on it. Anyway, I think the UV does a good job at keeping the algae down even with the tank being exposed to a lot of sunlight.

Steve.

#14 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 11:41 AM

UV - never thought of that for algae control. Is this the only reason to consider using UV?

Usil

#15 Guest_frogwhacker_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 12:00 PM

UV - never thought of that for algae control. Is this the only reason to consider using UV?

Usil

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html

Here is a link to some information on them. With your background in biology, you'll be able to understand this much quicker than I did. I had to read though it several times to be able to comprehend it, so it's probably not a good idea for me to try to explain it. I'd like to eventually put one on each of my tanks, but I need to look at more immediate projects first.

Steve.

#16 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 12:31 PM

Did a search on filters with reviews and comparisons and found that this seems to be a good choice.

http://www.petmounta...ter-filter.html

Price seems lower than most sites with free shipping so ordered it.

Still not sure that this tank should also have an under-gravel filter too.

Usil

Edited by Usil, 28 August 2011 - 12:52 PM.


#17 Guest_frogwhacker_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 01:01 PM

Did a search on filters with reviews and comparisons and found that this seems to be a good choice.

http://www.petmounta...ter-filter.html

Price seems lower than most sites with free shipping so ordered it.

Still not sure that this tank should also have an under-gravel filter too. What say all?

Usil


That's the exact filter that I've got pushing the water through my UV. I use the XP4. It does a fantastic job of filtering. It's got several stages of mechanical filtering and a couple more compartments for biological filtering. The final filter is the finest of the sponges. That's the one that I have to clean almost twice a week and replace every couple of weeks. Sadly though, just last night after replacing the finest sponge, cleaning the others and putting it back into operation I noticed that it was leaking water around the power chord outlet. It stopped after about 10 minutes, but it still makes me a bit nervous. I was all set to order a smaller version of this filter for a 75 gallon I'm getting ready to set up until I saw the leak. Now I think I might just go with a couple of HOB's (aqua-clear 70's) and a sponge filter run by an air pump for my new 75 gallon. I've got 3 aqua-clear 50,s and haven't had any problems with them. I do love the job my canister does, but I think I'll wait and see what happens before I invest in another one.

This is just my experience. I'm sure others have different experiences. Sorry for being so wordy. Hope this helps some.

Steve.

#18 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 04:20 PM

I have read that there can be leaks but I have seen this in several different makers so not sure how to make a choice on that. I think I will go with it and see. Maybe put a small leak container under it for safety.

I have decided to go ahead and add, also, an under-gravel filter using a power head instead of water bubbles for power. I have never done that before so this will be an experiment. I wonder if the under-gravel filters could be hooked in line with the Filstar XP3 power filter instead of using a separate power head? Anyone tried that?

Usil

#19 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 29 August 2011 - 08:46 AM

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html

Here is a link to some information on them. With your background in biology, you'll be able to understand this much quicker than I did. I had to read though it several times to be able to comprehend it, so it's probably not a good idea for me to try to explain it. I'd like to eventually put one on each of my tanks, but I need to look at more immediate projects first.

Steve.

That's way more expensive than a fluidized bed filter. Use google and click on the shopping tab and you'll find them for $60, rated to filter a tank sized up to 300 gallons: http://www.aquariumg...7276_a_7cRL0077

#20 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 02 September 2011 - 07:02 PM

Well, I have been slowly collecting the bits and pieces I needed to set up my tank and almost have all I need. I am washing all the parts today along with rocks, natural gravel, filters, etc... and have placed the stand and the tank along the window location. I even set a long level on the table to see if it needed any shimming but it was spot on so that was good.

I think I will start taking pictures, tomorrow, of each step along the way I am performing and post them in a separate thread along with explanations of why I chose a particular path or choice in setting up the tank I as do it. I know from reading in the forum that many have had good success with a myriad of different approaches. I have borrowed from my past experiences, albeit it has been 30 years, and added some from what I have read.

Advanced Captive Care Forum: Nearly every question I was tempted to prematurely ask in the forum was already asked and answered there. It was a tremendous resource for starting up this project.

I got some of the parts from Amazon.com for the convenience of it. The washed small pea gravel I got from a local pet store for about $5.00/25 pounds. I know I could have done it myself but I have a weakness condition that sets my boundaries and limits so this was easiest. It is setting out in bags on my front porch and I will wash it tomorrow and put it into the tank. The rocks (slate and river pebbles) I got at the local landscape place about a mile a way and they gave it all to me for free. I did splurge (actually not that expensive) and bought two pieces of Fell Malaysian drift wood which I have heard is ok for aquariums and hopefully that will come in a day or two.

I will continue with more information later. Wife is calling for dinner.

AquariumGuy

Edited by Usil, 02 September 2011 - 07:41 PM.




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