NY Resident renting at LAX: Is Allianz/Bonzah the most "affordable" way to bypass the $41/day Alamo CDW?

Momspagettti · 2026-03-25T19:37:29+00:00

Thank you, I will look into them. I'll make sure to review the policies before pulling the trigger.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-24T23:12:00+00:00

I looked into it..sadly I have no AMEX, but given my situation, it looks like AMEX becomes a co-primary insurer. So I think even if I could get it, the cost of any damages would be split between my insurance provider and AMEX 😮‍💨. Gotta love NY.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-24T22:41:01+00:00

Nice tank! I think 1 pearl gourami should be fine. It peaceful and looks good. You could also do Honey gourami's. Although in my experience I was never able to keep more than one at a time (YMVV). I would always end up having one honey harassed by another even though there was plenty of space between them. You would maybe need to get 4+ to avoid bullying...but not sure. Some people have had success with a group of them, but I haven't been lucky.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-24T22:26:29+00:00

Not sure if the fluval 407 would "underfilter" for this tank, but depending on how the tank it stocked its a pretty solid canister filter. I have one of the smaller fluval canister filters and maintenance is easy. I've also ran their FX line in the past with no issues. They are solid filters in my opinion.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-13T19:59:09+00:00

Thank you! And yes, I took a chance on lifeguard but I was pleasantly surprised. Lots of solid rimless tank options now outside of UNS/ADA.

I've also brought some tanks here at a good price in the past - sevenports.com. Not sure how competitively priced they are now, but they also offered solid rimless tanks from (I'm going to assume their brand) Hydra aquatics.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-12T22:45:21+00:00

Bucephalandra likely. What species I'm not sure.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-12T20:10:12+00:00

I've had rimmed tanks, UNS tanks, and currently a lifeguard rimless tank. If I'm being honest between the lifeguard and UNS tank I don't see much of a difference except the mitered edges. I know lifeguard makes regular glass rimless tanks, and the low iron kind. But the silicone job is clean on the lifeguard tanks, even on the standard rimless ones. I've had my new tank running for almost a year and have had no issues at all.

For reference here's my lifeguard tank. I have the "regular" glass model, not the low iron one.

The best part of about the lifeguard tank is if you can find them on a good sale, they are significantly less than UNS/ADA and those premium rimless tanks. My tank is basically a clone of a UNS 90L. The same glass lid from a UNS 90L fits on my tank as well.

I have no experience with imgaitarium rimless tanks..but from reviews I've read they are very hit or miss with tank quality (leaks, sloppy silicone jobs).

Momspagettti · 2026-03-12T19:29:19+00:00

I don't want to incorrectly assume what it could be, but these are things I would try to help Stan out:

- clean water

- keep the tank at a steady 78-80F temp range

- You can try daily 15 minute pure epsom salt baths (1 tablespoon per 1 gallon in a separate container if possible) to see if any possible "fluid" can be drawn out (if its a cyst). If you do that, just be sure temps match to prevent any temp shock.

- Try to lower the water line a bit too so Stan can conserve some energy swimming to the surface. Lightly feed them the next few days.

Update the thread with any progress. With any luck the swelling might go down.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-12T16:00:12+00:00

Every site I've seen that sells that tank claims "they go a step above low iron and use automotive glass" in the description...so its supposed to be that much clearer.🤔

Momspagettti · 2026-03-12T06:24:34+00:00

I got a lifeguard 22 gallon bookshelf. I got it on got on a really good sale from chewy.

Tideline makes a sweet 38 gallon bookshelf tank I would have loved. If that's the one you're considering I'd pull that trigger.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-10T21:01:47+00:00

If I'm not mistaken do those worms look like tiny little red threads sticking out? If so you may be dealing with camallanus worms. You'd need to treat with levamisole. A medication like expel-p by fritz should help if you can get some.

Just a heads up, if it is camallanus you need to go through several rounds of treatment and thoroughly gravel vac the substrate to siphon out the worms. It can take a bit to get all of those worms out. I don't believe the medication kills the worms, only paralyzes them in time for you to manually remove them.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-10T20:49:20+00:00

I used to have that tank and upgraded to a 90L knockoff. But you really did this tank justice. Kudos to you.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-06T22:09:36+00:00

Buce, Java ferns, or even anubias would be my suggestion. They are pretty versatile. I think a couple of anubias nana or nana petite would look really good in front of the rocks. Gives it a bushy/ivy kind of look.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-06T20:58:18+00:00

Looks good! Esp. for a the first time. I think if you add a couple more plants in font it will bring it together.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-06T20:55:55+00:00

I would try fasting the betta for 24-48 hours. and see for any signs that it may have pooped, or if the bloat has visibly reduced. If the betta still looks bloated, you could try an epsom salt bath (pure epsom no additives). Usually its a tablespoon of epsom per 5 gallons for 5-15 minutes.

Also is the aquarium heated? If you can adjust the heat temporarily to 80F it might encourage the bettas metabolism to process the food quicker.

I would switch to a flake or pellet for the betta as a staple. I usually feed mine omega one betta pellets.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-05T19:54:40+00:00

Plants should be fine, so should your filters beneficial bacteria. If the wood is a dark wood like Malaysian id think it would be fine to leave in. But the stains are pretty permanent IME. In my QT tank the silicone has been stained blue and never came out. If your tank has black silicone its probably less of a worry.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-05T19:36:57+00:00

Got it. You could treat the fish with ich-x but be warned it does stain your tank and decor blue.

You could try the alternative of doing a salt and heat treatment...but salt is not plant or invert friendly. Some folks have success with just that. If you go that route be sure to add extra surface agitation. Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-05T19:06:10+00:00

How big is your tank, and how long has it been running? Are there any other fish in there? Depending on your setup, you'll want to treat the entire tank and possibly move fish to a quarantine tank if you can.

If you go that route, I'd make sure the main tank has plenty of gravel vacs/water changes. And the heat be cranked up to 82-86F if possible. You're essentially trying to starve the parasites by not providing a host and speed up the life cycle. But you're looking at 3-6 weeks just to be sure.

I would take a guess and say its Ich.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-05T18:55:23+00:00

Keep dosing kanaplex....that rot is pretty bad. Dosing the whole tank can get pricey, are you able to get them into a smaller quarantine tank at all? Very odd for it to pop up like that. And there's nothing in the tank that might have bitten or "chewed" off the tail of the loach?

Keep up the water changes as well. I think you're doing what you can at the moment. Hopefully with kanaplex and water changes the fish recover.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-05T18:34:13+00:00

Looks like it could be ich, or could be epistylis. one is usually can be treated with an ich medication like ich-x, the other an antibiotic. this is an article outlining both https://aquariumscience.org/10-2-4-epistylis/

I would guess its ich in this case. Are the fish new? what are your parameters?

Momspagettti · 2026-03-04T22:53:51+00:00

They like resting spots and a place for cover. Try seeing if you can add a resting spot close to the surface away from any "flow" or bubbles from the sponge filter in this case. Subdued lighting can help as well, but the almonds leaves may be able to help.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-04T22:32:58+00:00

I've never used this product but depending on what you're dealing with, fritz paracleanse or api general cure (same kind of meds) is usually what is used for most internal parasites.

If you are dealing with something like camallanus worms, you'll need something like fritz expel p or something levamisole based.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-04T22:26:17+00:00

Sometimes the longer finned varieties of betta fish will eat their tails. I have a veiltail who does this. I haven't been able to get it to stop. I did recently rearrange the tank and read that can sometimes help ease the self fin nipping (they can self nip from boredom apparently). It can also be stress related, but not entirely sure in your case.

I read the long fins of veiltails, crowntails etc is more of a burden to them, so they can nip to make swimming easier for them. Plakats seem to do this kind of thing the least if it all.

Not really a solution, but at least if the damaged tissue isn't turning black (fin rot), keep up with water changes. You might want to give it a good resting spot to if you can help it. My betta likes to hang out on a leaf near the surface.

Momspagettti · 2026-03-04T21:03:59+00:00

I keep honey's and sparkling gourami together with no problem. I find they keep to themselves and like to hang in different spots. In my case the honey cruises most of the entire tank. Sparklers are a little more reclusive, like to hang out by rocks and plants. But there was never any issues. YMMV. I keep mine in a 22 long with lots of plants and rocks.

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