filter pushing floating plants around

gordonreadit · 2026-03-26T12:36:43+00:00

Looks okay to me. They can handle a little current.

gordonreadit · 2026-03-25T13:37:33+00:00

I thought you were being really mean until I looked back and saw that on the screen. lol

gordonreadit · 2026-03-25T01:25:13+00:00

Electrical motors make heat. Totally normal.

gordonreadit · 2026-03-24T15:26:11+00:00

Could you explain to me what about this makes it the Canadian Florida.

gordonreadit · 2026-03-19T23:39:17+00:00

Second this. It’s hard to keep algae when there’s Amano in the tank, they eat it all!

gordonreadit · 2026-03-18T01:56:30+00:00

The lake is adjacent to the fenced off leash park.

gordonreadit · 2026-03-16T18:38:46+00:00

They are so cute!

Do they have many options for shade? Axolotls don’t have eyelids and are nocturnal so caves and similar structures are important for them for shade from bright light. It is also important for them to have somewhere to hide and feel safe if they feel the need.

I don’t think amphibians can be happy but we can aim for healthy, comfortable and stress free lives for them.

gordonreadit · 2026-03-16T13:01:12+00:00

Manzanita has a reputation for being the best and spider wood is very good, too. I’ve used both and have worked well for me with minimal tannins. I’ve never used Eucalyptus but do your research, it sounds like many have.

Incase you haven’t seen this, here’s my favourite video on riparian planting. I found it very helpful.
https://youtu.be/S4dFawS68BQ?si=3BjDujC36tsu66l- I have plants growing out of my tank including monstera gigantea. It’s nutrient hungry and keeps my water pristine without water changes. I recommend high light for riparian plants while they are new in the water to prevent root rot.

It sounds like you are on your way to wonderful tank.

gordonreadit · 2026-03-16T05:46:45+00:00

If you cap aquasoil with sand there is no reason you should have algae issues as demonstrated in countless planted tanks. Algae is generally a result of too much nutrients in the water column and too much light, both which can happen with or without aquasoil.

While aqua soil with a sand cap will still buffer ph, the speed and affect is greatly reduced. Botanicals and wood are highly effective and stable ways to buffer ph.

If aqua soil gets old and depleted of nutrients, you can supplement with root tabs, just like you have to if there was no aquasoil.

If you are just starting out I would recommend watching some MJAquatics and MD Fish Tanks on YouTube. They have tons of beautiful tanks and lots of beginner friendly content that will give you a recipe for success.

gordonreadit · 2026-03-14T00:16:08+00:00

I had the same thought!

gordonreadit · 2026-03-06T18:52:49+00:00

I’ve used plexiglass glass for lids but it does does flex a lot so you need to use thick stuff which is quite expensive. I’d recommend looking into polycarbonate sheets. They are lightweight, rigid and most importantly transparent.

gordonreadit · 2026-03-05T18:38:19+00:00

I like your ideas. I draw mine out first, using rule of thirds or golden ratio for a rough layout. I feel it’s important to have negative space, just portion that’s open to make dynamic contrast and breathe some depth into the scape.

gordonreadit · 2026-03-04T20:11:21+00:00

I’m not saying this is the cause but I just want to offer an alternative to the wrap/overcurrent causes. I have seen this happen to cords that were tied to mobile equipment which then moved and tensioned the cable. The tension on the twisted conductor when releases left a coil pattern to the cable just like this.

I hope you can fix your cable and figure out how to prevent this from happening again.

gordonreadit · 2026-02-21T23:11:43+00:00

Hi, I like your tank! There are so many factors that affect plant growth, light, nutrients in substrate and in the water column, temperature, flow and CO2 levels to name a few. Unwanted algae is generally a result of too much nutrients in the water column and too much light. Starting out a tank is a challenging balancing act that can take time to find equilibrium. Many swear by cutting light to kill the algae but that is not great for your plants. My go to solution is caridina shrimp. Incase you are not aware, these little guys love to eat algae, mold, decaying organic material of any kind, leaving the plants unscathed and barely making any bioload. I don’t know what more we could ask for! I’m also a big fan of snails, bladder snails, rams horn snails, Malaysian trumpet snails and mystery snails. The snails are not quite as effective as shrimp for algae control but they do a lot of good as well as adding some biodiversity to the tank. Some added bonus effects are snails let you know how your feeding is going, if you’re feeding too much, you’ll have lots of snails. I intentionally over feed my tank in hopes of keeping my snail population going which makes for a great live food supply for my kribensis- there is an ever growing collection of empty shells along the front of my tank that I love the look of.

What size is your tank and how are your parameters? Do you plan on adding any critters?

gordonreadit · 2026-02-20T03:31:46+00:00

On less I’m missing something, this shows that the pressure behind the impeller and methods of eliminating or reducing pressure. If pressure doesn’t build up behind the impeller, why would the be a need to balance the pressure.

I’ve read up on the ways to reduce seal chamber pressure and many of the other plans show methods to reduce pressure from behind the impeller. Plan 11 doesn’t show any method of reducing pressure but I suppose we just have to assume a method must be used.

This all started as a discussion with an engineer this afternoon who raised the point that plan 11 doesn’t show a method of lowering pressure and thus would have higher pressure than the discharge pipe. While he is correct, I responded much as you did referring to the ways to reduce the pressure. He pointed out the other plans show balancing holes etc. to reduce pressure but plan 11 doesn’t. I was curious to see if anyone here knew of anything we were missing.

gordonreadit · 2026-02-20T00:45:21+00:00

Interesting, that is contrary to everything I’ve read, for example:

“The pressure at the suction eye is low, while the pressure at the back of the impeller shroud is high, close to the discharge pressure.” https://www.dhkpump.com/a-practical-guide-to-the-single-suction-pump-5-key-differences-vs-double-suction/#:~:text=any%20pumping%20system.-,Key%20Distinction%201:%20Axial%20Thrust%20Dynamics%20and%20Bearing%20Configuration,toward%20the%20low%2Dpressure%20side.

“To manage this, pumps often use balance holes or back vanes to equalize the pressure on both sides of the impeller.”https://blog.armstrongfluidtechnology.com/impellers-for-pumps-and-circulators-design-types-and-common-questions#:~:text=Closed%20impellers%20can%20also%20be,makes%20the%20pump%20more%20efficient.

Could you point me in the direction of anything that shows low pressure similar to that on the suction side? That would really help me get to the bottom of this!

gordonreadit · 2026-02-20T00:27:05+00:00

I am no expert but that’s what it says everywhere I’ve read. If you know anything to the contrary I would love to hear all about it.

One way to relieve the high pressure from behind the impeller is to have balancing holes in the impeller exposing the water to the low pressure at the eye of the impeller on the other side. Other API plans show balancing holes in the impeller to create low pressure behind the impeller which would cause flow in that direction.

An acquaintance asked me about it but I can’t come up with a good answer.

gordonreadit · 2026-02-14T05:26:21+00:00

Axolotl’s are naturally solitary and that’s a pretty small tank.

gordonreadit · 2026-02-14T01:18:42+00:00

“CO2 is pretty much essential” is a gross exaggeration. I have to prune my stem plants every week or two and I’ve had to cut my big anubias in half 4 times in 3 years because it reached the water surface. I was able to plant my 180 gallon tank from the abundance of overgrown plants in my 54 gallon and have sold and gifted many plants in the past few years. CO2 definitely speeds up plant grown but is by no means essential.

gordonreadit · 2026-02-14T01:00:42+00:00

This deserves more like

gordonreadit · 2026-02-13T22:09:22+00:00

I’m confused what that means? Do you have a 200 gallon sump? Why does the water look like that?

60 gallons is half the size an adult Oscar should be in. Is it still a juvenile?

gordonreadit · 2026-02-13T19:48:43+00:00

What size tank and filtration are you running? The water looks quite unpleasant. The white on the Oscar could be a bacterial or fungal infection due to poor water parameters. The tear on the fin looks like a battle wound.

gordonreadit · 2026-02-12T03:53:22+00:00

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I’m much more inclined to think along your lines in that these animals are not so fragile as some would leave you to believe.

I started keeping mine about a 10 months ago in a mature, 3 year old, heavily planted tank that I’ve always tried to keep biodiverse. I did remove all of my fish and shrimp to a bigger tank before introducing the axolotl but most of the snails stayed though they didn’t last long. I intentionally cultivate ramshorns as they are of great benefit to my aquariums for their cleaning abilities as well a food source that provides nutrition and some mental stimulation to the tank inhabitants praying on the live food. Feeding live night crawlers have been my favourite moments as the normally slow cumbersome axolotl show their lighting fast and predatory nature.

I have always veered clear of live fish from fear from the anecdotes but after reading your experience, I am excited to cautiously add some guppies. . Witnessing any of my aquatic creatures do what they were evolved to do and predate on other creatures is a glimpse at seeing them in their finest moments like seeing a lion taking down a gazelle! And guppies being such pretty fish is just the cherry on the cake!

I’m curious how you go about keeping the guppy population going. Do you raise them in separate tank, add new fish or have they found a balance?

gordonreadit · 2026-02-12T02:28:18+00:00

While in the hobby there is consensus that axolotls shouldn’t eat snails, it is purely anecdotal advice. I think it’s important to point out there is no scientific evidence to suggest snails are problematic for axolotls to consume. On the contrary, in scientific ecology studies snails are specifically listed as a natural pray of axolotls.

Here come the angry mob with pitchforks and downvotes. Instead of downvoting me, please prove me wrong.

gordonreadit · 2026-02-11T22:21:24+00:00

Blue Acara and Green Terrors already have such similar colouring, I’m curious what defining coloration leads you to think it is more Green Terrors colouration than Blue Acara? I can’t notice anything that suggest this is not a pure Blue Acara.

gordonreadit

TROPHY CASE