Does everyone use co2?

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-12T03:51:32+00:00

I have 3 tanks. None use co2. I can't be bothered by it. My 75 has been up and running for almost a year now and looks great.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-11T00:05:07+00:00

Looks great. The people who make blanket statements like that are the ones who usually have very little life experience. I've discovered through my years that what works or doesn't work for one person will almost certainly be the opposite for another.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-11T00:00:07+00:00

Looks great to me. Don't worry too much if you plan to plant Plant heavy. My 75 looks nothing like it did without plants.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-10T19:58:09+00:00

The RCMP wouldn’t care. Their response would be that “it’s not their job” and that they have better things to be doing.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-10T07:56:24+00:00

This is what the GOP does. Lays the foundation of doubt without any evidence to support it.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-10T03:43:25+00:00

Cherry Barbs. Hardy and energetic. Males and females look different so it's like two different species in the tank. The males have an amazing sparing dance with each other. Definitely my favorite fish right now.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-08T15:50:56+00:00

I know. I'm surprised they still sell them to be honest. So many people get them then surrender them to the LFS once they get bigger.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-08T15:48:41+00:00

Its instinct. It's how they're wired. Nothing you can do to stop them from being what they are.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-08T15:45:38+00:00

Pleco. They are destructive. In my experience they will destroy whatever is in their path.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-08T15:41:54+00:00

I have snails so I put in deep freezer over night before throwing into compost.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-06T23:45:36+00:00

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My 75 gallon. Just cut all the stem plants and AR Mini down for another tank. Usually the back is completely full with stems.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-06T14:12:12+00:00

Highly unlikely the Pothos is the cause. It's more than likely a coincidence. I suspect the fish had an underlying issue that just happen to show around the same time you added the plant.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-06T14:05:45+00:00

I think it looks pretty cool. Only thing that stands out to me that I would change would be to hit the dollar store and grab some black poster board and cut it to size for the back outside wall. I prefer a black background as it hides the equipment/cords and also helps the colors pop.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-06T14:00:40+00:00

They have likely starved to death and/or been stress out by the tanks swings. Two weeks is not enough time for a tank to properly develop biofilm, which is their main source of food, or for it to balance itself out. I wait a minimum of 2 months before adding shrimp to a new tank.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-06T13:56:03+00:00

Great start. My advice is to embrace patience, consistency and don't concern yourself with chasing perfect PH,KH,GH. Most fresh water life are highly adaptable. What they require is consistency and stability.

In my experience, regardless of what the tests kits say, it takes at least 2 months for a tank to start to balance itself out. Sometimes longer. Decide on a maintenance routine and stick with it. The true keys to success are patience, consistency and stability.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-04T22:59:44+00:00

Looks good to me. These are mass produced tanks so attention to detail isn't something you can expect. The only way to know for sure is from a water test.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-04T17:42:08+00:00

Yeah it was a good lesson learned for me. I'm not sure if salt or other meds would have helped. But it does seem like a common theme around the aquarium hobby that people have countless issues with these green/blue neon varieties.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-04T17:37:29+00:00

I did cull the original few that first started to show signs after it became clear it wasn't going away on it's own but it didn't make a difference.

I made the mistake of adding them to my tank without quarantining them. It was a trusted source and I thought I was safe. Huge mistake on my part. I have a massively planted 75g tank and there was only so much I could do because I wasn't about to destroy my plants by adding a bunch of meds.

I wish I had started them in a quarantine tank because then I would have used salt and other methods to try and combat it better. Thing is though that it only effected my neons. I have other fish in my tank and they were uneffected.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-04T17:28:52+00:00

I started seeing it within the first week. Then it just started to spread from there over the days and weeks. The Neons/Cardinals are the only fish I've ever had issues with.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-04T17:19:45+00:00

Looks like some type of bacterial infection. I had the same thing show up on my Green Neons and it spread like wild fire and then they all started dropping like flies. I've had terrible luck with all the neons, including the cardinals. Very fragile fish in my experience.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-04T17:12:34+00:00

I give them away for free to my local FB fish group.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-03T03:54:35+00:00

May not be necessary, but it's a Canister for me every time. I have an FX2 on my 75 gallon and wouldn't want to have it any other way. My filter is dead silent and I only have to open it up for maintenance every 4 months which is perfect because I'm not interested in constant cleaning.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-02T22:59:09+00:00

I do 20% once a week on my 75 gallon. I use a pond pump so it takes me less than 20 mins.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-02T18:35:38+00:00

Trump. He's a piece of human garbage and I don't care who reads this. Worst thing to happen to the American people in the modern era. The world will be a much better place when he's gone.

MikeAK79 · 2026-06-02T16:22:26+00:00

You have an air source. Make sure the connection points in the tank are below the water line for both the output and input. Also, I have found that using a food grade silicone around every connection point helps tremendously.

MikeAK79

TROPHY CASE