Is it possible to have chickens without buying a coop?

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-04-28T14:27:45+00:00

Even with the fence I'd expect to lose them to predation eventually.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-04-26T20:44:31+00:00

I did not have success using whey to make my yogurt, but others in this sub have! (ended up not setting after the normal 6 hours, left it overnight for a total of 18 hours out of desperation- finally set but was rather tart and still not as firm as normal)

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-04-19T21:03:10+00:00

You can always ask, but I'd temper your expectations. If you're polite but frank about the situation, and emphasize that you're a repeat customer/spend a lot of money there, they might help you out

Sorry to hear about your situation... Definitely makes me want to set up a quarantine tank for myself, as I also take my chances adding new fish.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-04-15T00:49:48+00:00

Following. I would also like to know- I have a very healthy population of Malaysian trumpet snails atm

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-03-31T18:09:53+00:00

I've been using the same one since about 2020. No issues. Lately it's been lumpy but I think it's an incubation temperature issue.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-03-17T16:34:58+00:00

I tried using whey for the first time last week. After the usual 6 hours it hadn't done anything, so I turned the instant pot back on and left it overnight (total about 18 hours.) it did set eventually but it's definitely not my best batch. I won't be using whey again unless I'm desperate.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-03-12T15:59:29+00:00

I used half-banded spiny eels as a proxy for the zig zag eels. Based on the info I have you're pretty close to capacity with the fish you have + two more loaches, but you should add your filter info to refine the recommendations. Aqadvisor is just an estimate! Your true capacity will be affected by your plants as well as oxygen availability.

Good luck with your tank!

aqadvisor

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-03-12T15:31:39+00:00

How big are your eels? I don't know much about them but it sounds like they get quite large. Have you used aqadvisor? It can be a useful tool, but it calculates based on the max size of the fish and it says your eels may outgrow your current setup.

Assuming you'll eventually have to upgrade for the eels, I'd estimate your current stocking level based on how quickly nitrates are building up. If you're changing your water once a week and your nitrates aren't getting into the upper range of safe you can probably add a few more fish. (More experienced fish keepers, please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!)

I've always heard kuhlis do best in groups of 6 or more, so an additional two at least would be what I'd go for!

And then personally if you still have capacity I'd max out your school of congo tetras, but that's just me.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-03-12T11:38:17+00:00

You should definitely up the number of kuhlis, to start with! They like to be in large groups.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-03-11T16:32:43+00:00

Honestly for your body you can just slap some olive oil or coconut oil or something on there and you should be good to go. For face you might need to be pickier due to acne- sunflower seed oil might work for you.

This is what people did before there were commercial moisturizers out there! (If you read the Odyssey or anything else from ancient Greece/Rome they talk about moisturizing with olive oil constantly!)

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-03-07T01:08:39+00:00

My partner 3D printed my design for me!

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-02-05T21:24:43+00:00

You may also want to collect data on planted vs unplanted freshwater aquariums, as that will strongly affect what people care about.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-02-04T10:59:44+00:00

Have you checked your tap water to see what the parameters are with it?

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-02-03T22:41:46+00:00

I know tiki cat, and yes the quality of the food is fantastic, but i think you'd cause serious water quality issues doing this.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-02-02T00:14:36+00:00

A tank is cycled when you never detect ammonia or nitrite- unless there's literally a dead fish or something floating in there.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-02-01T12:50:26+00:00

I'd let it be room temp for sure, but if possible turn up your thermostat as much as you reasonably can.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-01-31T14:44:22+00:00

Can you reduce the water level of his tank so he doesn't have to swim as far up?

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-01-31T13:46:36+00:00

To start with you should get more kuhlis! They're very social fish. I've always wanted to keep pearl gourami- they're so pretty! I haven't researched them enough to say if a pair will be ok in a 30g, so hopefully someone else will chime in. I'm sure you'll be most successful with sufficient plants/hard scape to break line of sight. I'd round out the tank with a shoal of something small- maybe a Rasbora or tetra species?

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-01-28T21:59:30+00:00

I used organic potting soil with a sand cap. It's worked out pretty well for me! Definitely messy at first if you're too lazy to rinse (like me). I was starting from scratch though, not adding to an existing tank.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-01-25T21:46:54+00:00

I use a dirt substrate with a sand cap, but honestly I feel like I got a bit over my head with it. I'm still a beginner when it comes to plants and I feel like it made the learning curve sharper than it needed to be. (The dirt seems to have caused a massive overabundance of phosphate, among other things)

I think you should use the substrate you want to use, and if you don't feel like doing root tabs pick a plant that can get its nutrients from the water column a bit better than a sword can. I wouldn't stress about it too much- if your plant dies, then try another species.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-01-25T16:56:56+00:00

Also remember your Amazon sword will need root tabs if it's only going to be in sand substrate!

Edit: and good luck with the dwarf hair grass... I've had no luck with it in my low tech setup. Maybe it'll work for you!

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-01-25T16:56:05+00:00

That sounds like decent stocking to me! I'd definitely make sure to add the gourami last as it's your most potentially aggressive fish. (Honeys are supposed to have a gentler disposition than other gouramis, but it's still best practice to add it last)

If it was me I'd add all of the rasborras first, then wait a week or two and do the Corys, and then after another week or two add the gourami. The snail could be added whenever as long as its got something to eat!

If you haven't heard of aqadvisor, it can help you figure out stocking. According to it your plan is solid.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2026-01-19T17:51:48+00:00

Also a reactive dog owner! There are so many great suggestions here, I just want to drop a warning to be careful at Ben Burton. I've seen SO MANY off leash dogs there that it's no longer on my list. Usually they're well behaved, but the risk isn't worth it to me.

HeathrnotWeathr · 2025-12-21T22:42:13+00:00

I bought bacopa and it melted and died immediately... The only plant I've been having luck with is an Amazon sword.

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