HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: damon.bowman@u2u.lonestar.org (Damon Bowman) 
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: CLOUDY WATER
Date: 22 Dec 92 05:15:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: USER-TO-USER PCBoard (214)492-6565 (USR DS v32bis)
Reply-To: damon.bowman@u2u.lonestar.org (Damon Bowman) 

I have a 55 gallon freshwater tropical tank that I have never had
running right.  I had it running about 6 months at my old apartment, and
when I moved I hired a local aquarium service company to handle the move
for me.

When the guy showed up, he said that the tank was really in bad shape.
The water smelled pretty bad, and the nitrite level was way too high due
to overfeeding.  The filter (a small canister) had not been changed in
the preceding 6 months.  The UGF had been operated by means of an
airpump and bubble stones in the vertical tubes. (this setup was given
to my by a friend who was moving, and all these problems were due to
apparently faulty advice he gave me before he left.

We decided to risk the fish, since there was only one that I was really
attached to, and clean out the whole works.  Rinsed gravel, scrubbed
tank, etc.  We swapped the canister filter for two Aqua Clear 150
filters that sit on the back of the tank.  I figured that if they were
easier to get to, I would be more likely to change the media more often.
Also, I acquired 4 powerheads to pull water through the UGF a little
better.

After setting this up and allowing it to run for about 4 days empty, we
put the fish that made it back into the tank.  3 or 4 medium to large
gouramis, a bala shark, and a medium plec (fed him cabbage for a couple
of weeks since all algae was cleaned out.)

My problem now is that after running fine for about two months, the
water started getting cloudy.  It has been VERY cloudy for over a month
now.  I was concerned at first, but was told that it would clear up in a
few days and was due to the cycling of the bacteria.  I am concerned
again because the cloudiness does not seem to be going away.

I have changed the filter media on a rotating basis so as to allow
bacteria migration.  I recently read that I should be changing 30
percent of the water every month using a vacuum siphon to try to clean
loose waste from the bottom of the tank.  I have not done this, but will
do so if the majority here agree with this method.

All I ever get from pet stores is conflicting advice. Please E-mail me
with any ideas on what could be causing this.

damon.bowman@u2u.lonestar.org (Damon Bowman)
From: neilw@informix.com (Neil Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Companion fish for red-tail shark?
Date: 17 Dec 92 01:46:16 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.


My wife recently got a small everything-in-one type of tank
for work.  It's maybe two gallons large.

Being ignorant prior to discovering this group, we just filled
it up with water from her tank at work (Calistoga, I think :-))
and then got a black red-tailed shark.

The shark has been fine for a few weeks now, and she'd like
to get another one - she's eyeing a white red-tailed shark.

Any suggestions for a 2nd or 3rd fish, or advice against 
getting any more?  How about using bottled drinking water for
the tank - is that ok?  We also got the standard fish flakes,
and some dried bloodworms, but the shark seems to prefer poking
around in the gravel to coming up for food - is this normal?

I've been perusing the FAQ and am pretty amazed that the
fish is still alive after hearing about all the
things we didn't do that we should have.

I've convinced my wife to do water changes, and we'll get
some ph and ammonia/nitrate testing kits this weekend, so
hopefully all will continue to be well.

Thanks,

--Neil
-- 
Neil Williams: neilw@informix.com

Seen on my last trip on United: "If you are seated in an exit row 
and can not (sic) read this card... please notify a crew member."
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: mattk@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (matthew.kaufman)
Subject: Re: Care for Red Devils?
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 15:28:27 GMT

In article <23DEC199211400998@mars.lerc.nasa.gov> seove@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (ERIC OVERTON) writes:
>
>How do you care for Red Devils?  Is the Red Devil and
>the Frontosa Cichlid the same fish?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Eric

Wait a minute here. Is this a joke posting? I've seen the poster`s by-line
many times before... I believe he's pulling our collective leg with these
questions...

If not, before considering buying either, get the following
	Loiselle's "The Cichlid Aquarium"
	Barron's (publisher)"Cichlids: A complete pet owner's manual"
	Tetra's 'Fishkeeper guides' to African and Central American cichlids

And answer these questions yourself (hint: They're NOT the same fish and
require different husbandry)
-- 
"I am the chosen one."  | Copyright 1992 mattk@usl.com. Permission for
                        | reproduction in printed media or by pay-for-read
"And I Choose to be     | services explicitly disallowed. Permission granted to
shopping!"              | USENET and like free facilities.
From: howardr@col.hp.com (Howard Rebel)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Dead Pleco!!!
Date: 29 Dec 92 18:06:58 GMT
Article-I.D.: hp-col.1hq442INNoe1
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division
NNTP-Posting-Host: hplsdum.col.hp.com

bmoss@ejv.com (Brian Moss) writes:
> To all experienced fishkeepers. 
> I have a dead Pleco and i am deeply saddened and concerned.  
> Why did he die?
> I have 20 gal FW tank with 6 neon tetras and 2 blue danios.  
> The Ammonia levels were near zero and the PH was 6.8. 
> I have had the tank for about 4 mo and the Pleco for about 2 mo.  
> The tank has cycled, and i perform 20 % water changes every other week. 
> I have never had a Pleco die i thought that they were the heartiest fish around.  Whats wrong??
> Was the PH to low??? > Help,
> 
> Brian "bmoss@ejv.com"

Were you specifically feeding the pleco?  It takes one about one to two
months to die from starvation.  I find that buying a small zucchini
(at outrageous $$$), cutting a slice about the size of a half dollar &
1/2 to 1 inch thick (boil in a cup of water in the microwave for about
3-5 minutes then let cool--this way it'll sink) & feeding the pleco 
about twice a week keeps him/her/it healthy.  It also prevents them
from deciding that such things as the slimecoat on your prize fish is a
much tastier item than algae.

Even in a 10 gal with about half a dozen platies, with green water
conditions, my 4" pleco doesn't get enough to eat unless it's fed as
just described.  The pleco has doubled in size in about 5 months, so
I'm not sure if he's thriving or surviving--?

The platies also like the zucchini, so I throw 2-3 pieces in different
parts of the tank; I've found that most herbivore fish (mollies, guppies
and some cichlids) like it as a treat as well.

If you have a snail population explosion, it's easy to collect them
by throwing a chunk of 'zuke in tied to a thread.  Come back a little
while later, retrieve the piece by the thread, dispose of the little
buggers by your personal preference.

The general conditions you described should support a pleco otherwise.

[Howard's Wife Deb]
-- 
Howard Rebel hpcsos.col.hp.com
From: gdrew@cs.umd.edu (Greg Drew)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Advice about adding a Black Ghost
Date: 2 Jan 93 05:11:23 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742

In article <C07E8t.3En@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> kline@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Charley Kline) writes:
>We have a fairly new and small (4") black ghost in a 10 gallon tank with a
Well, having never owned a black ghost, I will leave comment on your feeding
methods to someone with more experience.  I would like to point out on thing
that your pet shop may not have told you.  According to my reference book, 
Black Ghosts reach a length of up to 1.5 feet.  I would start making plans for
that larger tank now :)
						-- GDD
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Drew                 | N3MXX 
gdrew@trellis.cs.umd.edu  |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: garyp@tekig5.pen.tek.com (Gary R Pimm)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Pleco food
Date: 22 Dec 92 05:11:06 GMT
Reply-To: garyp@tekig5.pen.tek.com
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.

In article <65@jptcs.COM> Steve.Kilbey%bbs@jptcs.com (Steve Kilbey) writes:
>I have heard (from here) that people feed their pleco's frozen spinach. When
>I tried this, it hust floats. I believe mt pleco did eat some, however. I
>saw him nibbling on it. The other fish tried it too. I am looking for other
>methods of feeding him, or her. I have heard that cucumber and zuchinni can
>be fed to pleco's. Any other help would be appreciated.

The thing that I use to feed my plec*'s (dont wan't to spell the whole name and
invoke the wrath of the net.curse) is french cut green beans. I use the french
cut beans because they are pre split. The plec*'s love them. All my various 
barbs and cichlids go nuts for the beans also. 

The best part of using green beans is they sink right out of the can. 
It's a cheep way of providing greens for your fish.

Gary Pimm
From: ghart@ems.cdc.com (Geoffrey Hart)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Pleco food
Date: 21 Dec 92 15:48:32 GMT
Reply-To: ghart@ems.cdc.com
Organization: Empros Systems International, a division of CDC

I've fed mine cooked zuchini, frozen peas and tabimin, and the plecos like
the zuchini the best (I'd slice it up, freeze it, then nuke about three
slices twice a week).  Currently, I'm trying canned spinach (Popeye brand
:-).  My whiptails seem to like it, but I haven't seen my other plecos
really go after it (my bristle nose is mostly active at night, and my
chinese butterflies seem to stay on the glass exclusively).  Also, my
chinese algae eaters like it, and my bronze corys *love* it (that
surprised me :-). I'm going to try the daily spinach, with a tabimin,
and maybe a weekly zuchini supplement (the spinach is much easier to deal
with, just open a can, put it in a resealable container in the frige, and
put in a good size pinch daily.  It sinks to where my corys and whiptails
can find it.  Snails like it too).

I also want to try some new "algae wafers" (something like that) I heard
about at the pet shop the other day.

-- 
    geoff hart ghart@ems news@ems library@ems   x4273   s/ems/ems.cdc.com/
From: patbob@sequent.com (Patrick White)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: FRESH: want info on freshwater fiddler crabs
Date: 28 Dec 92 17:34:11 GMT
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.


Hi all,

	I'm setting up another freshwater tank and I'm thinking of putting
some fiddler crabs in it.  Since I can't find any information about them in
any of the books I have, I'm interested in any information anybody has.
	I'm interested in stuff like what water conditions they like (eg. temp,
hardness, salinity), what they eat (and won't eat), if more than one can get
along in a 10Gal (US) tank without fighting, if they get along with fish and
the malyasian (sp?) snails (the kind that burrow through the gravel), if they
will uproot my plants (Water Sprite & A. Rigidfolius (sp?)), if the crabs need
someplace they can crawl out of the water occasionaally, etc.

	I've already got the snails and plants, so I'll simply find new homes
for them if they won't go with the crabs (or nix the crabs idea).
	I haven't decided what kind of fish, but was thinking of cardinal
tetras.. although I doubt they are compatible with the fiddler crabs given they
want soft acid water and the crabs have exoskeletons.  So, suggestions of
compatible fish are also welcome.

	Lastly, if anyone knows of a good reference to freshwater invertebrates
I'd like to hear of it.


	Thanks.  I'll summarize whatever info I get to the net.

-- 
Pat White (patbob@sequent.com, work: (503) 578-3463)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: russell@sun.soe.clarkson.edu (David Russell)
Subject: Re: (F) Ramirez Dwarf Cichlid Questions
Organization: Clarkson University
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 15:08:46 GMT

From article <1992Dec29.165935.12758@ttsi.lonestar.org>, by hbishop@ttsi.lonestar.org (Huett Bishop):
> I have recently become interested in Cichlidae, specifically the Ramirez Dwarf
> Apistogramma ramirezi as listed in my Simon & Schuster's Guide to Freshwater and 
> Marine Aquarium Fishes. In Barron's it lists this fish as
> Ramirez's cichlid, Ram or butterfly cichlid, Papiliochromis ramirezi.
> 
> In the Barron's it states that "the most peaceable of cichlids" and very suitable 
> for community tanks. Thus my querey.
> 
> Will this cichlid (a pair) fit in?
  They should be OK, although they do want temps >78F.

> Will they tear up my plants?
  As I understand it, they like lots of plants (hiding places).

> Will they terroize the others?
  They become teritorial at breeding time, otherwise I have heard it
said that they are ideal for the tank you describe.

> Which is true name? Or are there several varities of this type of cichlid?

According to Dr. Loiselle's _The_Cichlid_Aquarium_ (1985) the nam is,
Papliochromis ramirezi.

Good Luck, and enjoy.

Have a Good and Safe New Year Everyone.
David

--
  David M. Russell              \    /--------\   ><>    ><>         ><>
  Clarkson University, MAE Dept,  \-/(((((((((o\        ><>    ><>      
  Potsdam, NY 13699               /-\(((((((((--<   ><>         ><>    ><>
  russell@sun.soe.clarkson.edu  /    \ --------/   ><>    ><>      ><>
Xref: sparky rec.aquaria:9706 alt.aquaria:6327
From: cpbuehrer@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria,alt.aquaria
Subject: Need info on Monterrey Bay Aquarium
Date: 27 Dec 92 19:00:30 GMT
Organization: Miami University Academic Computer Service"

My brother and his wife (in Baltimore) are planning a trip out to Cali soon. 
They'd like to go to Monterrey Bay Aquarium...but they don't know what it's
hours are...what days of the week it's open...or how much it costs to get in.

Can anyone out there fill me in, and I'll pass the info along???


advTHANKSance,
--Dennis

PS: *PLEASE* respond via email!
From: hemstree@mddchh.fc.hp.com (Charles H. Hemstreet IV)
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 14:15:09 GMT
Subject: [F] Good food for Kribensis?
Organization: Hewlett Packard - Mechanical Design Division
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria


Hello All!  Happy New Year!

I am in the process of raising close to 400 baby Kribensis about 9
weeks old.  I have been feeding them brine shrimp (It's great to watch
them do a tug-a-war with one of the large shrimp) but I would like to
switch to a less expensive food.  I have them seperated into three
tanks, one that is lighted, the other two are not.  The Krib's in the
lighted tank seem to take flake food pretty easily but the Krib's in
my 18 gallon rubbermaid vats do not.  Any suggestions?


Thanks,

Charles
--
---------------  
|       /|    | Charles H. Hemstreet IV
|   \'o.O'    | hemstree@mddchh.fc.hp.com
|   =(___)=   | Hewlett Packard - Ft. Collins Division
|      U      | 'my opinions are expressly my own'
---------------
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: sheehan@pagosa.scd.ucar.edu (Tim Sheehan)
Subject: Pleco recomendations
Organization: NCAR/UCAR
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 20:41:15 GMT

I am planning on buying a pleco (hope using half the name is not enough
to invoke the curse). I am looking for a hearty species that will get
fairly large. I would appreciate any pro and con recommendations. I will
summarize the info I get if there is sufficient interest.

Thanks.

-- 
-Tim-

sheehan@ncar.ucar.edu

Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: jimh@ultra.com (Jim Hurley)
Subject: Re: Dead Pl*co!!!
Organization: Ultra Network Technologies
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 92 01:56:16 GMT

In <31362@nntp_server.ems.cdc.com> ghart@ems.cdc.com (Geoffrey Hart) writes:

[...]
-->One other note, my corys (bronze) really liked the canned spinach, so'd I
-->suggest that and the canned beans.  I'll buy a small zucchini about once a
-->month for a treat, but it's relatively expensive.  Does any know what
-->effect the salt in the canned beans has on fish?  I've never added salt to
-->the water, but I've heard that it's ok to do (good for some disease
-->prevention).  What about the salt in these canned vegetables?

-->-- 
-->    geoff hart ghart@ems news@ems library@ems   x4273   s/ems/ems.cdc.com/


Just about any freshwater fish can tolerate a teaspoon of salt per gallon,
I really doubt that the amount of salt you're adding equates to that 
(assuming you drain the water from the beans).

If you're worried, I guess letting them soak a little in a bowl of tap
water will dilute the salt content of the beans.
-- 
Jim Hurley --> jimh@ultra.com  ...!ames!ultra!jimh  (408) 922-0100
Ultra Network Technologies / 101 Daggett Drive / San Jose CA 95134
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
From: oleg@netcom.com (Oleg Kiselev)
Subject: Re: Recommendation on cold water fish
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 08:31:32 GMT

In article <1992Dec28.221418.11067@rdg.dec.com> jessop@ljohub.enet.dec.com (Class Dinosauria) writes:
>First of all, I don't particularly appreciate your tone of voice. (or fingers).

Don't over-react.  The over-80 char long lines were not yours but the came
froim the text you included.  Still, there is no need to get overly annoyed.
Everyone makes mistakes.

>I wouldn't because I am under the impression that white clouds are relatively
>sensitive fish that require a good deal of oxygen and very clean water.  The

They are a rather tough cold water fish, so they will do well in a small,
unheated tank.

>I choose labyrinth fish over non-lab fish because they have an additional
>breathing mechanism, and are also more capable of handling (in general) poor
>water conditions because they hail from mucky, acidic, stagnant waters, for the
>most part.

The only cold-tolerant labyrinth fish that I can think of are the Paradise
fish, which get rather large (4") and are very pugnatious.  Croaking 
gouramis (Trichopsis vittata) had naturalized in South Florida, while the
water temperatures in S. Florida rarely drop below 68F, the fish *may* do OK
in an unheated indoor tank.  These fish get to be 2.5" long, so a pair of
them may be too much for a 2.5 gal tank.

A pair of white clouds or a pair of smallish killies are probably the best
choice for a 2.5 gal tank.
-- 
Oleg Kiselev at home			...use the header to find the path
From: scott@psy.uwa.oz.au (Scott Fisher)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: I missed the pH meter info.
Date: 22 Dec 1992 07:37:52 GMT
Organization: The University of Western Australia
NNTP-Posting-Host: wapsy.psy.uwa.oz.au

jimh@ultra.com (Jim Hurley) writes:

>In <1gtlkpINNhp3@hp-col.col.hp.com> howardr@col.hp.com (Howard Rebel) writes:

>-->The news on our site now expired at two days of age.  I missed
>-->the info on pH pens/meters.  Would someone email me a sumary?

>-->-- 
>-->Howard Rebel hpcsos.col.hp.com 

>I never saw this either, Howard would you mind re-posting?

Me too.

Thanks Scott.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Scott Fisher [scott@psy.uwa.oz.au]  PH: Aus [61] Perth (09) Local (380 3272).                
                                                             _--_|\       N
Department of Psychology                                    /      \    W + E
University of Western Australia.      Perth [32S, 116E]-->  *_.--._/      S
Nedlands, 6009.  PERTH, W.A.                                      v       

Joy is a Jaguar XJ6 with a flat battery, a blown oil seal and an unsympathetic 
wife, 9km outside of a small remote town, 3:15am on a cold wet winters morning.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: steveb@tivoli.UUCP (Steve Benz)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Goldfish
Date: 22 Dec 92 00:21:40 GMT
Reply-To: steveb@tivoli.UUCP (Steve Benz)
Organization: Tivoli Systems Inc., Austin, TX

In article <92351.234548APARKER@MAINE.MAINE.EDU> APARKER@MAINE.MAINE.EDU writes:
>  The only
>fish that _really thoroughly_ keep tanks algae-free are Lorcarid cat-
>fishes (plecos).

I managed to develop a strain of algae that my Pleco wouldn't touch.
A very low-growing sort of thing that made green snowflakes all over
the glass.  I still haven't figured out how to handle that stuff with
anything other than a razor blade.  [[ I don't hate it enough to use
chemicals on it yet... ]]

My current hopes are pinned on my new lighting system causing my plants
to grow well enough to choke it out, and/or finding a Borneo Sucker,
which, I'm told, just love to lick stuff off of glass.  Also tempting
is to buy a snail or two, but I have an orange-finned loach that would
probably get it.

 [[ Actually, I only think I have an orange-finned loach.  The critter
    goes into seclusion during the day.  I see him about once a week.
    I have no idea what that fish feeds on. ]]

					- Steve
Xref: sparky rec.aquaria:9729 alt.aquaria:6342
From: kilpat@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Andrew Kilpatrick)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria,alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: [F] How to get rid of snails?
Date: 29 Dec 92 13:28:44 GMT
Reply-To: kilpat@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Andrew Kilpatrick)
Followup-To: rec.aquaria
Distribution: usa
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD


!!!!!!  T I M E O U T   !!!!!!!!!!!

Do you hear what you people are so vehemently arguing
about?

Snail removal.

For God's sake will all those involved please back off,
take three deep breaths and get on with something more
productive.  Please.
Xref: sparky rec.aquaria:9673 alt.aquaria:6309 sci.aquaria:1807
From: jessop@ljohub.enet.dec.com (Class Dinosauria)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria,alt.aquaria,sci.aquaria
Subject: Re: Nervous Festivums (F)
Date: 22 Dec 92 22:28:46 GMT
Reply-To: jessop@ljohub.enet.dec.com (Class Dinosauria)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


>BTW, Baensch says that Festivums should not be kept with Neons, "which are
>are favorite food, and will be eaten."  Is this the Neons with the wooden 
>or what?  Catching four or five small feeder guppies keeps my four Festivums
>busy and amused for hours; mine, at least, are hopeless predators.  Anyone
>else had experience here?  I've seen a reference somewhere to Festivums eating
>mainly plant material - does this ring true?

While I like his book, I have found a few blatant errors in it.  For instance,
he claims that the Bluegill sunfish is a very rare fish...  riiiiiiiiigghhttt!

They dominate the river fauna in new england...  I can't through my line in
w/ out one snagging my worm right off the hook...

Anyway, what I'm trying to get at is that I wouldn't take his word for gospel,
yet, at the same rate, Festivums are cichlids, and they may surprise you...

Not much help, am I...

mike