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The white goo looks like some sort of mold/bacterial growth. I'd call it harmless - algae-eating types of fish will eat it.

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Mats

MatsP wrote:The white goo looks like some sort of mold/bacterial growth. I'd call it harmless - algae-eating types of fish will eat it.

--
Mats

Thanks Mats ma...
...*the use of "ma" after a persons name when addressing them in my native tongue means something like "all"...

Since no one else has commented I can assume everyone agrees with you and will transfer Nui this early evening while still warm. The little opaque tulips seemed a bit diminished as of last night. Boy is he going to be happy, both of them even if I do keep Li'i back as the water changes moreover the ammonia and nitrite fluxuations are bad, I know. The guilt for subjecting them to this coupled with the fear of making a terminal mistake by the move will be a great relief to lift from my shoulders. I did the two main (lg) water changes yesterday and a mid-day small change to keep them free of the ammonia problem. I've also stopped feeding even more. But I have a concern regarding Jools instructions...

The first post on page 12 of this thread by Jools states:

7) Don't feed new tank for 24 - 48 hours.

Should I give Nui a good feeding before I transfer him? My nature says let him go for it and eat as much as he can... I figure he'd be producing a good amount of ammonia to help "jump start" the new tank. Plus help keep him over that period of time. I know not feeding him for two days is nothing compared to what he's been through but now that he's used to having a regular daily meal he can depend upon, well... it just won't make sense to him. He'll be wondering why he's no longer being fed. I know my furry cats would raise hell with me if I were to do something like this. Can you tell I'm having trouble committing to step #7. If I could understand the reason for this step it would probably help. Can anyone elucidate a little on it? I'm wondering if I could just give him a little bit of food each day. A couple doromins? A wafer? A pinch of his frozen bloodworms? He doesn't like Tubifex's.

Speaking of feeding... I'd like to know if fish experience blockages? I've been worried over the last week if Nui was constipated. I just wasn't seeing the amount of waste from him I usually did. Finally after about a week, a couple days ago I saw one very large chunk, he must have felt it! It was extraordinarily large and short like blob. Tho' it wasn't hard but soft as is normal for him and came apart easily. After a couple mo re abnormal days he finally returned to his norm last night. Anyone had problems in this area? If like people it could be stress that brought it on I suppose. He now hates the vac tube most of the time; vs. being curious and liking to watch it. He's even attacked it as though it did him personal harm. And maybe it does invading his space daily. I Know he's going to be relieved not to have to allow this daily invasion any longer. At least I hope not.

That's it for now... Good Monday to Everyone,
& Googols to our beloved Euptera/Catfish Gurus,
GF

I wouldn't feed before the move. Rather NOT feed before the move, as it's likely the fish will just produce more waste that way.

Good luck with the move.

--
Mats

MatsP wrote:I wouldn't feed before the move. Rather NOT feed before the move, as it's likely the fish will just produce more waste that way.

Good luck with the move.

--
Mats

Okay, just so I'm clear, do not feed before the move and do not feed after the move for 24 - 48 hours?

GP's,
GF

If it were me, the next morning, I would offer him a little bit of food and see if he is interested... If after a few minutes he's not, then remove it and try again later in the afternoon. You just dont want rotting food to cause an ammonia spike.

And TEST TEST TEST the water!!!

(remembering what I told you about Nitrate test bottle #2)

Gina

An Evening Hello from Nui and Li'i...

We were on track! Moving forward brave faces all and then ... a little wrinkle in our plan came up.

We've run into a water issue... I decided I should test the water parameters of the 55 before our move just to see what things said. The pH is 8.0+ and we have no idea why? The only thing we could come up with is that the rocks we returned to the tank last week caused it? Unless water just does that... though I thought it went the opposite direction.

Scott's removed all the rocks for us... now we have an empty tank bottom. The catappa leaves won't settle to the bottom right away. I put two in earlier and they're floating midway and surface. I do have their other gravel in the 10G and the rest of it in the fridge. Except for an ammount I put in a bucket just before my fall. I was getting it ready to go in the 55. These might be okay, except the one that's been sitting in the bucket. Because at the time of my injury I had gotten a plant. They seemed to love it except that it also seemed to overwhelm everything, it was too much. So I pulled it and put it in the same bucket with the gravel from the 10 meaning to take care of it later.

After being injured I forgot all about that bucket with the gravel and plant in it. It got a little green and then a little over a week ago, still hurting much, I just removed the plant from it... put it in another container by itself, ran out the water in the bucket and rinsed the gravel with new tank water during a water change. I've refreshed it now and then with our water changes – just trying to I don't know what.??? I've read that the beneficial bacteria will die if left in the air for over 6 hours. So we have that bit of substrate, along with a couple bags in the fridge and what's in the tank. All of it has remained wet, chilled but not frozen and not boiled over 140°ƒ. Theoretically they should all be alive.

Also, I have that bag of blue gravel (I'd mentioned earlier) from an old waterfall project and never used. I was rinsing it in different bucket at the same time as I had been preparing the other. It didn't have any issues... but that may have changed. A few days ago when I found the goo on the tank glass and on the wood airstone – I threw the airstone in the bucket with the blue stone after cleaning the white stuff off. I just checked out that bucket thinking I might need to use it tonight after all by adding it to their old gravel... and found the airstone thriving! I was able to get a photo of it to show you this time. Maybe someone else has experience of it. I'd sure like to know if you have. BTW, when I went back to check the blue stone there is no white stuff as far as I can see with my eyes. Likely there are uncountable spores or what ever this type of fungus looking stuff uses to multiply.

This is the "white goo" that made the little floating tulips floating attached to the glass in the 55G by a stem/thread/umbilical cord: Taken with a Cannon digital/reg lens/no flash-incandescent

Have you seen this before? If not, do you still think its harmless stuff? I'll believe you if you do... if you would not worry about your own fish with it, I can be okay with mine. I have zero experience of my own to base things on so I have to rely on you. Nui and Li'i do too.

Well.... My next step is to get Scott to help me do a 50% water change on the 55 tonight. This is only based on what I've been doing with the 10. Changing the water to get it under control. I want to get the pH down naturally. I'll have to see where that leaves us with after the change and maybe have to do another 25%. And I guess I can add some more catappa leaves too. I have pH Down but if I use it and transfer them when I get the two tanks testing out equal, it may not remain that way...(?), or will it? I've used it a couple times, only four drops adjusting two gallons by the dosage. They seemed to respond well to it. Still, I'm very very hesitant to put chemicals in their water.

Thanks Googols All....
Nui, Li'i and GF

PS: If in the next couple hours there's some conclusive response here and all is positive, perhaps we should move forward with the Transfer tonight? I don't want to let this stop us if it doesn't have to, we're ready for the change! Really we are...

Tho' the air is cooling off now and tends chill more rapidly as the night goes on. We don't have indoor heaters here either so I can't warm the space for him. Just their water.

So what is the pH of your tap-water?

The stuff on the wood is definitely a form of mould. I doubt very much that it's harmful. If you have an algae-eater in the tank, it will disappear.

If you have no fish in the tank, you can take all the water out and replace it with fresh, dechlorinated tap-water. There is nothing "magical" in the water.

There are/were some white stones in the tank picture earlier, which would possible be calciferous, which will raise the pH.

Having said that, pH isn't terribly important. Clean, good water is!

--
Mats

MatsP wrote:So what is the pH of your tap-water?

Or indeed the pH of your smaller tank. I thought they'd be similar? If they're not, we've got to find out why... If they're closish (e.g. with 1.0), and given the species involved, the slow mix of water will allow them to move without trouble IMHO.

Jools

Jools wrote:

MatsP wrote:So what is the pH of your tap-water?

Or indeed the pH of your smaller tank. I thought they'd be similar? If they're not, we've got to find out why... If they're closish (e.g. with 1.0), and given the species involved, the slow mix of water will allow them to move without trouble IMHO.

Jools

Morning Everyone,

Ah... as usual the voices of wisdom and ease radiates calm across the digital universe to affect positive change in middle of the Pacific ocean. Googolplex • Googolplex Gurus...

First, the pH of the 10G, after dropping runs at about 7.2. But I'm sure that number remains the constant only because of the water changes. I believe, if we were not doing multiple daily water changes, the pH would drop to where it used to run at about 6.4 (in the 10G).

The water in the 55G has been in there for over two weeks now I think right? I got it filled the week I was injured (01/22 or so). I'm baffled as to why it has gone up. The Only possible problem we could see had to do with the rocks we'd added last week. I'd done the parameters in the 55G later in the first week of it being filled. Well wait, now that I think about it I'd added something different to the Aquaclear filter – those little blue bio balls. They're like little bad art/abstract sculpture. They're in the filter well. ?? Could they affect the pH?

Now the pH of the tap is a strong 7.6 but will have dropped to about 7.2 or less, by the afternoon once in the 10G. And the now half filled 55 is a strong 8.0. Given what you say Jools, all we need do now is freshen/refill it with conditioned tap and then drip merge the waters in the bucket, with Nui inside it – and go on with the transfer as Jools laid out for us. I'll need to wait the day, maybe around 4:30 p.m. we can begin... as the room has two walls w/windows and two sky lights = too bright the day.

We'll be ready...
Nui, Li'i & GF

GoldenFeather wrote:

Jools wrote:

....without trouble IMHO.

Jools

Jools, what is IMHO? I think of my health insurance policy when I see it....

GF

Sorry, IMHO = in my humble opinion.

Jools

Hi Again Jools,

While I have you... I've a question regarding the "My Species" to the side of the dialogue with my name? I think I did something wrong when registering Nui as it says I have two. I didn't register Li'i... she isn't a catfish right? I did have trouble figuring out how to register him so think I may have done it twice?

Thank You, GF

Hello Again,

This morning I found something new in the tank with Nui and Li'i. I think it was feces and am very worried about it. At first I thought my hair was in the tank. It's very long, I try to keep it up and back but do find them sometimes. It was a string of feces. But it was very very long and clear.. inches long. There was another piece over an inch long with very little solid waste in it... more clear mucus like substance. I don't have a lens to capture a photo of it sorry. Is this a symptom of a health problem? I'm worried there's something very very wrong.

GF

What it says is, "My cats species list: 1 (i:1, k:1)". So, that means you have one cat in your specie slist. i:1 means you have one image, K:1 means you are currently keeping one species.

By contrast, mine reads, "My cats species list: 47 (i:3, k:29)". So I have kept 47 species, 3 with images and I am currently keeping 29 species.

Hope that makes sense?

Jools

While I'm waiting to hear on that... I just wanted to post a question regarding the past a couple days ago regarding sand and the filters I use. Is there a way to put something over the intake of the filters that would prevent sand from getting in the tank with the impeller? I'm seeing something like fiber and fine mesh over the intake???

Thanks, GF

I'm going to change their water and come back to see if someones addressed the feces issue.

For the sand - when I used playsand even prefilters over the intake didn't keep it out of the filters. Of couse I had a large pleco who loved to dig around in it and kept it stirred up most of the time. You may have different results. However, it was only playsand I had a problem with - it is very fine. Heavier pool filter sand has never caused me any problems, and I have it with a lot of eartheaters who constantly spit it out near the intakes. I just wanted to warn you about the playsand because I had to replace multiple impellers after that experiment! I know many others here use it without a problem, and if you had cannister filters I belive it would work fine. The aquaclear sucks it right into the impeller and it starts to grind. You can also get a heavier grade of sand at home depot type stores but its very dirty - takes a lot of rinsing.
As far as the stringy clear feces - I'm not sure, but if you have cut back or stopped feeding might it be just a natural result? Just a thought and maybe way off base. Hopefully someone else can answer that for you! Good luck!

I like the carib sea sand for that reason, heavier. Least the black is. I ve used white black orange etc, I miss them to get what colour i want.

I have had to replace impellers every few years but those filters really work up a storm so no biggie. plus some of my fish are very active lol

Evening Everyone,

We're running a little late here. Ammonia problem this afternoon again. I decided to use a Tank Buddy instead of a water change. I've only used it once before to check it out. It works great but I prefer water changes. Here earlier I said I don't want to put chemicals in their water and I've gone and done it in the same breath almost. Decided it best though wanting to keep Nui calm for the afternoon. He gets excited (good? bad?) with the tube vac in the tank. So he's a happy fish right now. I've tried to give him a heads up... as much as possible??? He definitely understands the large green net that came with him. I think he has bad memories of it because he really responded to seeing it and not happy about it. He sank down behind the tree peeping out at me and it. Well, at least he knows its being used today. That's something like a heads up.

I can't say something like: "anyone here had experience with...." because this collective has likely seen absolutely everything there is possibly to see. So I'll just ask the question when I have one or two... so, What is the extra long piece of feces about? Clear with an algae green and yellowish tint to it, looked like a long skinny clear mucus worm. It must be a symptom of something? Nui didn't have an appetite at all yesterday which is UNusual. And as I mentioned earlier, I think he was constipated. I know one thing this all is a symptom of... I've fed him wrong. I actually don't know what it means to feed him right. I only have what's on the back of packages. If there are tips regarding Euptera eating I'd love to learn of them.

Today Nui's appetite had returned normal. I fed him only a few (maybe 6-8) frozen bloodworms earlier today for some protein/strength and energy. I'd also put a partial algae wafer in this morning for Li'i mainly. I don't think Nui had much of it tho'.

Okay...It's 6:30 p.m. now so here goes.. . I'm lagging a little, scared a little still, such a big thing for us to do here. I'm going to go review Jools instructions then follow it through...

Googols & Googols & Googols for PlanetCatfish Super Heros!

GF

kalija wrote:For the sand - when I used playsand even prefilters over the intake didn't keep it out of the filters. Of couse I had a large pleco who loved to dig around in it and kept it stirred up most of the time. You may have different results. However, it was only playsand I had a problem with - it is very fine. Heavier pool filter sand has never caused me any problems, and I have it with a lot of eartheaters who constantly spit it out near the intakes. I just wanted to warn you about the playsand because I had to replace multiple impellers after that experiment! I know many others here use it without a problem, and if you had cannister filters I belive it would work fine. The aquaclear sucks it right into the impeller and it starts to grind. You can also get a heavier grade of sand at home depot type stores but its very dirty - takes a lot of rinsing.
As far as the stringy clear feces - I'm not sure, but if you have cut back or stopped feeding might it be just a natural result? Just a thought and maybe way off base. Hopefully someone else can answer that for you! Good luck!

Hi Kalija... Love your name btw

Thank you for stepping in with this information regarding the filters. Sorry I didn't respond directly the other day... just been busy with all this. But I gave you a special thought for it just so you know. Gina has the same type of filter, the hanging box deal, but she has gravel beneath the filters (2 of them) and she hasn't had any issues. Though she has Cories and you have a Pleco (?)... Anyway, I think with everyone here we'll come up with a good plan. From what Andy says I'd like to try the sand, he has several Euptera, well you know as you've seen his photos in this thread. Aren't they just the fattest sassiest things! (((((smiles)))))

I need to go, but wanted to touch base with you. Thank you for sharing on the feces. I'm quite worried, it was over at least near to 4" long. Of course I've seen Li'i with over an inch coming off her bottom side and this was an empty piece. But it made me think of intestines. I don't want to be losing those? I don't know what the internal anatomy looks like, maybe I should try to find out.

Okay, nough of my chattering (I'm nervous)....
& welcome to Nui & Li'i's World...
Googols,

GF

Jools wrote:
1) Ensure the temperature is within 1 degree F of being the same in both tanks.
2) Get a large bucket or basin. Siphon out half of the old tank water into bucket.
3) Catch the Syno and place in bucket (be prepared that he will get caught in the net, if so just put net and fish in bucket, arrange the net to avoid futher tangling).
4) VERY slowly (I use airline tubing) siphon new tank water into the basin or bucket to double the water in there (e.g. 50% old tank water, 50% new). If you do this right it will take about 30-60 mins.
5) Depending on room temp, wait an hour or three. The point being don't let the water temp drop much. During this time I refill the old tank.
6) Catch the fish and put in new tank. Discard all water in the bucket.
7) Don't feed new tank for 24 - 48 hours.

Job done.

Jools

Hello the Gurus,

Jools may not be here, likely not... well, is it early morn there tho'???? no matter at the mo

RE: No. 5: I'm just wanting to know why I want to leave Nui in the bucket for 1 - 3 hours? Is this so that he better acclimates to the water change? I can keep the water temp up with the smaller heater or better probably a lamp I have. I'll just position it to hit the outer wall of the bucket and check constantly to keep it right at the temp in the tanks. The tanks are balanced right now. It's after 7 but its a warm nite.

Just for some info tomorrow. I hadn't thought of this but today was the hottest since we've had them and their water was a warm 84. I swished an ice deal in it to chill it down a little and Nui definitely appreciated it. I've seen the word "chiller" but didn't put 2 and 2 together. I need to know about them do you think?

Googols,
GF

PS> I'll check back in a few

The one-three hours is based on balancing the fish relaxing with dropping temperature. So, it depends on the difference in the water params, the hardiness of the fish and the room temp. I think it's learned from experience, there's no real rule. Certainly a lot of folks will go quicker than I've suggested.

Jools

I would just go ahead an move the fish, according to Jools' instructions. A bigger tank will also keep the temperature more stable, so I wouldn't worry that much about it. Chillers are mainly used for marine tanks that are much more sensitive to temperature changes.

84'F isn't ideal, but it's not ridiculous either, so you'd be OK with that, I'd say.

--
Mats

Jools wrote:The one-three hours is based on balancing the fish relaxing with dropping temperature. So, it depends on the difference in the water params, the hardiness of the fish and the room temp. I think it's learned from experience, there's no real rule. Certainly a lot of folks will go quicker than I've suggested.

Jools

Hi Jools...googols!

I'm into hour three and Nui is relaxing well. He actually only took about five minutes before he began swimming around and checking things out. True to his nature he had to figure out a way to undo the airstone suction cups II used two to try and keep it at the bottom. He finally got the top one off so he could swim around and under it. He's such a playful nature. After the first hour he did become more relaxed. It took that long before he began his upside down tricks and just lazing in the circle and down around the tube and all over again. Then I put the heater in... he had to have it away from the wall so he could do the same thing. He also got a little excited it seemed as the water level got towards the top, maybe at 4"/5"'s. He began coming out of the water even and I became concerned he'd fling himself over the top. So I stopped at 3"'s. Do you think that's okay?

I've had an idea to syphon out that amount of water in there and drip in the same if you think its necessary. The water parameters are almost perfect:

• pH - 7.2 & 7.6
  Am -0 & 0
  Ni -0 & 0
  Na -0 & 0
  
  Tank temp's: 79 & 79+
  
  Now: Bucket 79 & Tank (-)80 about[/i

[/list]]

I think your process is excellent. I'll always use it... thank you so very much for sharing it with me. Your a Fish's Angel...

Catching Nui was a breeze. He did exactly what Scott said he'd done when he went down and got him out of that cottage. He swam to the net, almost in it and all I had to do was pick him up. Oh he gave it a good wiggle but then went still and waited for his destination. Clear he's been there and done that. When I put the net in the bucket, he calmly swam out of it. What a good catfish! He's truly amazing... in every way.

I'm a little concerned about putting him into a near empty tank. I feel so bad about this but I plan to fix it soonest I can and he'll hopefully understand. I'm setting up the stage there as though its the 10G. Gina and I came up with the idea. That way they'll at least have the comfort of knowing exactly where things are... on that end of the tank. The other is just great swim space for now. He can speed all over the place.

Okay... I'm going to turn down the lights more now without anything on the 55 (light). Warm up the bucket just a little and by then it will be time to move into the big water. Keep Nui in your hearts and thoughts... and little Li'i too.

Thank you from the very bottom of my heart,
GF

If your pH is less than 1.0 difference, I wouldn't worry about to overly. [Although very technically, I don't think pH matters much at all to fish, what does matter is the conductivity of the water. But given that your water is all from the same source, pH is a decent way to determine that the water in both tanks is reasonably similar conductivity too, and in most other aspects similar enough].

Just follow Jools' instructions, and stop faffing about[1].

The fish will be perfectly fine going from pH 7.6 to 7.8 or 7.4 to 7.8, as long as you don't just dump them in there - in fact they would probably be OK with that too - I have on occassion moved fish from a tank with soft water to tap-water by simply netting them in one tank and putting them in the new tank. This isn't my most valuable and sensitive fish, but for example if I think I need a small to clean up some algae growing in a tank, I just net one and put it in the tank with the algae - so far I've not lost a single one...

And yes, LED lights are not very good for colour recognition, as they provide the light in narrow bands of distinct frequencies. You want as broad spread a spectrum white light as you can get for comparing colours.

[1] Faffing about is when you do other things than what you are supposed to (put another way: wasting time), e.g. instead of packing your suitcase to get to the airport in time, you are cutting dead leaves off the pot-plants to make sure they look nice for the "plant waterer", and then you get rushed packing your suitcase, forget to pack some essentials, and nearly miss your plane...

--
Mats

i am sure he is thrilled in there even if there aren't much decorations!!

some driftwood some pvc pipes, big enough so he won't get stuck should start him off well!m

maybe some floating plants, even if fake to cut the light alittle for him.

I am so excited for him!!

did the other fish go too?? I am excited for him also !

Hello Everyone...

Nui is in the big FiveFive and all is well. Li'i is soon to be traveling there as well or she's going to break the glass! They're watching each other but it's her that's wanting over. He's just fine where he is. But we did it!

Mats! Boy did you have me right. Faffing... ((((hahaheeheehooooo))))). Just call me Faf' that's me, I now know, I'm a "faffer". My name is GF and I'm a Faffer. I'm just a faffing dim virgin. Thank you Mats, I needed that, I really did. And before I start agin, I'm going to sign off and transfer Li'i... It's her time now.

Everyone... all of you, from the moment you decided in each of your hearts and minds to respond to our plight – we were benifited... moreover, Nui and Li'i's lives were saved. An eternal googolplex... and Heaven's blessings abound for you all around you... GF, Nui, Li'i and family

yay!!! If Nui is upside down under something you know he's a happy fishy...

I know Li'i will be happy to not be alone.. remember, they haven't been apart in a long time!

Cant wait for her response.

Gina

yeah!! Just watch the water readings for Ammonia and NItrite, keep them at 025 ppm or less while it cycles or mini cycles, since i think you jump started it?

Test the water for A and NI every day and do partial water changes accordingly. Till it tests at or below 0.25ppm for the A and NI. Remember to keep the water going in as close to same temp as water already in tank and remember your dechlorinator.

they have a heater right? I seem to remember you saying the heating of the water was a prob?

Once you test 0.00 for A and NI and just have NA you're there. Keep the NA low thru partial water changes weekly or bi weekly and you 'll be good.

Do you understand the nitrogen cycle in the fish tank? first you 'll get A then NI and A then finally no A and just NI and some NA then finally no NI and just NA. then you watch your NA only.

A liquid drop test kit will be your best friend, and a bucket. and a python if you can get one.