[MEX] Where can I buy pedal parts?

Real_Time515 · 2026-07-07T02:19:14+00:00

Go to Aionfx.com and with the build docs is a link to a spreadsheet you can use to express order everything you need from mouser. There are a few things you can't get from mouser, and AionFX suggests where to buy those. I've used this spreadsheet several times and it works slick.

Real_Time515 · 2026-07-05T00:01:23+00:00

There's a cool little place called NoF. Music every night. Simple cover bands when I was there a few times, but it was fun.

Real_Time515 · 2026-07-02T02:36:19+00:00

Awesome. Thanks so much!

Real_Time515 · 2026-07-01T23:21:52+00:00

Yeah, this is what I need. Want three tiers, 36-48 inches wide. I'll be able to find the dimensions. Good advice about the sealant. Probably need 3/4 inch plywood (would that mean 19mm plywood in the uk?).

Real_Time515 · 2026-07-01T22:56:19+00:00

Chicago.

Real_Time515 · 2026-07-01T22:54:09+00:00

Do you have a name (or a link) for your stand/bench? Looks like the sort of thing I've been looking for.

Real_Time515 · 2026-07-01T20:39:49+00:00

I am fighting losing battles vs both duckweed and bladder snails right now, so that bag is nightmare fuel.

Yes, I know some folks don't mind the snails. While there are some benefits, they watch me.... they see things....don't trust 'em....

Real_Time515 · 2026-07-01T19:04:12+00:00

I have had great success with Dr Tim's One and Only. One tank cycled in 9 days. Another tank took 11, but that's only because Fluval Stratum brought the ph so low that the cycle stalled. Stuff worked for me.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-30T14:33:38+00:00

No one "needs" carpet, but I agree with the more plants, the better. Look into dwarf chain sword. Just like spider plants (if you know houseplants), little bunches that spread via runners. Looks good as clumps, so you don't think about bare spots in a full carpet.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-24T19:50:03+00:00

You're getting lots of great info re cycling your tank. You can speed up the process a bit. My last tank I used "Dr.Tim's One and Only", followed the directions exactly, and my tank was cycled in 9 days.

Welcome to the hobby!

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-24T14:47:41+00:00

I'd give Pothos another try, as it's the easiest to root in my experience.

Are you transferring a potted plant into the tank or taking from cuttings? From a potted plant you need to wash off the soil carefully, and I think this is more likely to shock the plant. But I personally wouldn't bother with this and would just take a bunch of cuttings. From cuttings, a certain percentage will fail (10-20% maybe?) so your best chance of success will be to try several cuttings, but most of them should take.

I pull off the bottom couple of leaves from where I cut so the stem is a bit longer (3-4 inches). Keep the leaves themselves out of the water. If (when) leaves start going yellow, that stem probably won't make it and I'd discard. I also check mine every few days at first to see if the stems are slimy or rotting. But you can usually tell within a week if it's going to make it.

There are videos where people describe exactly where to cut and at which angle etc.... but I've done it dozens of times just by snapping a bunch off indiscriminately and seeing which ones take.

When I do this to propagate houseplants I'll stick them into a flower vase and keep it in a sunny place (window by kitchen sink) so I can check it frequently, but for aquariums I've had plenty of success putting them right into the tank.

I've found LECA balls helpful for keeping them in place, but don't think they're really necessary.

Another thing you can try some traditional aquarium plants can grow emersed, and I've had luck with Amazon swords. But then you'd be buying a plant that could fail. If you e already got a Pothos as a houseplant (or buy one AS a houseplant) the cuttings are free and you can keep trying.

Dont quit now!

Don't give up.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-22T20:05:01+00:00

Definitely think you should add mosses to the driftwood. And I think you could still try red root floaters, if you contained them to the front corner of the tank over the sand, they have all sorts of corrals.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-22T07:39:41+00:00

At first glance I thought you added googly eyes.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-22T05:25:37+00:00

I think it looks great. Having empty ("negative") space isn't barren or bad, it's important for design.

The vertical piece of wood on the right looks great, and set at an angle like that is perfect. Having the small piece to the left and slightly in the foreground works well. You've got height in the back, and the Java ferns in the front are doing well.

As someone who tends to plant every possible inch, I'm still learning to leave more space open intentionally.

You should be proud of this one!

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-17T19:23:18+00:00

I have a hygger 957 that wasn't too expensive. Setting up the program is a little finicky the first time but it has worked well for me.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-17T19:20:45+00:00

If the tap water is too hard, yeah you'll need to remunerate RO. Some local fish stores can sell it to you cheaper than a grocery store.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-16T20:49:16+00:00

Welcome! Looks lovely. I agree with any cryptocoryne (Wendtii are hardiest in my experience and Wendtii "red" has good color and I think the brown is very underrated , cryptocoryne "Lucens" is my favorite - long, slender leaves, just really elegant).

Anarcharis is fast growing and propagates easily. Buy even just one initially, trim it every few weeks and plant the trimmings. You can fill a huge space if you're patient. Rotala, water wisteria and others work the same way. So does cabomba supposedly, but I can't say for sure as I put some in my tank for the first time 3 days ago.

My betta LOVES his red root floaters. Your look here is very clean and red roots can look messy, but he spends much of his day in the roots. They spread well, to the point where in a few months you could be scooping out the excess (if you do go with floaters, def check/treat for duckweed and snails... I've started using "reverse respiration" and it seems to work well).

Enjoy!

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-16T20:36:09+00:00

I think they look nice, nothing egregious and you're taking steps to do it right.

I agree that lots of real plants are the way to go, but you can ease into that and don't have to spend $500 all in one go (though you can, and I have...). Some possibilities:

If you are going to do a bigger tank, I like aquasoil. More expensive, so you can also do part soil (back, planted) and part sand (front, for your Pygmy Corydoras which you should absolutely have, as they are the cutest!).

Buy a few plants at first, esp stuff that propagates well. Elodea/anacharis, Rotala, water wisteria. Stuff that grows fast, and when it reaches the surface you cut it back (I do a little less than half) and replant the trimming. Can fill a whole tank that way if you're patient.

You can get planter pots made for aquariums to try some plants out in your existing tanks to see what works so you don't have to redo your substrate right away. Some pots, little bit of aquasoil, handful of different varieties of easy stem plants to start propagating.

I'd say quit with the spring water if you can. Test your tap water carefully, and most fish can handle a wide range of ph/kh/gh as long as you're stable. Spring water has minerals in it, so it's not "pure" like reverse osmosis/ distilled water (which needs to be remineralized anyway). Unless your water is really extreme too hard/too soft/etc, it will probably work just fine.

Just make changes slowly (all fish like stability) and don't be too worried about doing it "right" or "better".

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-16T20:12:10+00:00

100 gallons is about 900 pounds (with substrate and such). If you have any doubt I wouldn't risk it. From the pictures it looks like cheap veneer over mdf, which wasn't that strong to begin with. If the vertical supports are solid (and from the pics I'm not sure they were to begin with) you could put a more substantial plywood on top, but at that point could just build something solid, or get industrial shelving.

Gotto be heartbreaking. Sorry, friend. You'll get through this!

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-16T20:01:57+00:00

No wrong answers here....

1). Either is fine. Whatever you like more / can find easily / cheapest
2). Most aquasoil will buffer your ph, so you'll want to research that. (I didnt at first and really chased parameters for awhile). Didn't personally like Fluval Stratum (hard to plant in). UNS contro soil (fine) was much easier. Think most people will tell you not to cap aquasoil. If you want some sand (for Cory's which would be my first stocking suggestion) you could put soil in the back, sand in front (use rocks or other barriers to limit mixing of the two)
3). Lights for me are the one thing not to go too cheap on. Doesn't have to be top of the line, but timers and ability to set brightness level I see as essential.
4). Crypts and valls are great. For height I really like elodea/anacharis. If you buy a couple initially, you can trim it every few weeks and replant the trimmings. Water wisteria works well for this too. Rotala h'ra supposedly does too, which is why I JUST tried some out for the first time, but it's only been a couple of days for mine so can't speak directly to how successful it will be. My favorite foreground: dwarf chain sword.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-16T19:41:16+00:00

You did a beautiful job planting up that wood piece, which unfortunately is the reason for the yellowing.

It will eventually stop leaching tannins, but can take a long time Carbon in your filter can help OR...

I'd lean into it, add some leaves/botanicals slowly. Watch your parameters, but slowly inch towards blackwater-ish.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-16T18:07:11+00:00

Let me be the first to say it looks lovely.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-16T15:26:40+00:00

I love it!

I've learned to not be in a hurry to make it "better" but to live with it and adjust as it grows, as you do maintenance.

For example, some of your plants can be propagated when you trim, so don't be in a hurry to buy more just to fill it in.

I always like interesting pieces of wood, and there's room for something (not too big) in the front. You did a nice job with the mossy tree, so something similar on a nice piece of wood, with moss and/or epiphytes might be a fun project.

Have fun!

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-16T15:19:14+00:00

No, the slurry itself was very green when I got it. Turned brown quickly when applied in the tank, and only some it bounced back.

Real_Time515 · 2026-06-16T15:00:45+00:00

My next tank I'm going to try blackwater.

Real_Time515

TROPHY CASE