sarah

My RCS shells seem to have become much thicker and shinier since I switched to RO with SS GH/KH+. It's really remarkable how much they've changed in a few short weeks.

OK, mesh is in place! I think I amused the craft store ladies when they asked what I needed it for.
Nitrates are down to 10 after two 25% water changes and a new bag of purigen in the filter.
Hopefully no more escapees
Thanks everyone!

You can get the plastic stuff at a craft store. It is usually called plastic canvas.
http://www.michaels.com/darice-plastic-canvas-clear/10812479.html#start=1

Anyone know where I can get some of this stuff? 
 
I think it looks really nice and I bet it would be easier to clean from my tank since it grows in clumps.

I have read in the past about Amano shrimp climbing out of their tanks, but I really didn't think it would happen to me. Just found a dried up shrimp 20 feet away from my tank
 
I have a glass cover on the tank, but there is a small (~1"x10") open strip at the back for the HOB filter outflow, heater, and an automatic fish feeder.
 
Any ideas how I can cover that strip but still allow water and small food bits to fall through???

I have read in the past about Amano shrimp climbing out of their tanks, but I really didn't think it would happen to me. Just found a dried up shrimp 20 feet away from my tank
 
I have a glass cover on the tank, but there is a small (~1"x10") open strip at the back for the HOB filter outflow, heater, and an automatic fish feeder.
 
Any ideas how I can cover that strip but still allow water and small food bits to fall through???

1. Mayphly

2. Soothing Shrimp

3. Crazyfishlady
4. Sarah
 
I would LOVE to have the floaters, but I don't actually need any moss right now. Maybe Soothing and I can work something out if one of us wins!

Yep - definitely a few possible causes:
My cory catfish pair have been laying eggs every other day, swimming around like maniacs with the male chasing the female, disrupting everything in their way. Added 4 small black neons on Sunday (to my existing group of 3). Nitrates went up over 40 yesterday (!), so I did a 30% water change last night. Was planning to do another today. (There may actually be 2 Amanos missing - started with 4 in the tank, could only count 3 for the past week or so, and now since I found the dead one I can only find 2 in the tank. It is a heavily planted tank, though, so we may still have 3 in there. My guess is one died/disappeared about a week ago, and this new escapee is from last night after the water change.)

The stuff I have is 2mm. They probably make different sizes though.
 

Those holes are pretty tiny, babies could get through but not bigger shrimp, I don't think. 
I just used the silicone I got at the fish store

I used the plastic crafting mesh when I had HOBs
 


 
I used silicon to stick it to the tank cover but NOT to the tank itself

Sounds like their stressed.  Fish in the tank?
 
Water params?

Nitrates will definitely cause amanos to attempt a jail break. You can lower the water level or maybe use SS mesh to cover the holes. Depending on your food size, you can use the same stuff that moss usually comes on.

I have an idea.  I'll post when I get my package I ordered and know the results...

I have to credit this to hmoob thor on youtube. I remember watching his video on using magnet clips instead of the suction cups
 

 
That might be one option perhaps?
 
 
edit - I just searched for this product on amazon and at $9, it's more expensive than I thought. Hmmm. Back to the drawing board

Updated my profile picture, tell me what you think.
 

 
 
EDIT: Changed Eye Color

Just an FYI - I have been testing my pH using the API kit, and my water has consistently been 7.4 to 7.6.
 
I just calibrated my lab pH meter and tested my tank water, and it is 6.85. Not even close to the API test results.
 
Now, I have RCS shrimps who probably couldn't care less about this difference, but for those of you with more sensitive shrimps, this is probably worth noting, especially if you are investing in products to raise or lower your pH.

That works. You could also use (clean or new) pantyhose.

I've recently developed a whole crazy technique to prevent removing shrimplets during water changes:
I use a drinking cup to scoop out water from the surface, and I pour each cupful through a fine net into a larger waste bucket. Every minute or so, I swish the net back into the tank inside out to return any possible tiny shrimplets I may have inadvertently scooped up. I continue this process until I've removed all the water I want to change.

usually when plant grow flatter it means that the light in that tank is more intense then when they grow higher, meaning that they get enough light in furtehr distance that those in pictures online.

I've had this plant for over a year, but I can't remember where I got it or what it is! Can anyone help ID it for me?

I've had this plant for over a year, but I can't remember where I got it or what it is! Can anyone help ID it for me?

I thought you might like to see this picture of one of my orange rilis since she is both berried and saddled.  The eggs hatched a few days after this picture was taken.

Red rubin sword

Zebra loaches stay fairly small if you want to that route.
If you want to remove them you could make a snail trap. Take one of those el cheapo plastic storage containers and cut a hole in the side of it. Put a cobble in it to weight it down, then add some lettuce or other veggie to it. Then sink it in your tank. You should be able to harvest them the next day. The trick is not to feed your other critters in the tank for a day ahead of time and a day or two after you put the trap in. I have never tried it, because I enjoy my ramshorn snails. I even sent away for some fancy pink and red ones! I pluck the big ones out of my small tank and drop them into my 90 gallon. All my tanks have live plants in them, and frankly, I think my bristle nose plecos do more damage to the plants than any snail could.