[FishyFishy89]

I've been battling ammonia in Spike's tank ever since hubby decided to help me get rid of my brown algae and put in a tank sucker.(which BTW he has been told countless times why a tank sucker cannot live with Spike in his 5.5 gallon)
Being that husband felt horrible and watching me stress over my poor fishy he let me go get Spike a new plant. After some much debate over Wistiera or Anachrais, I finally went home with an Anachrais and a bottle of Flourish.
Spike had started to show some more improvement last night but today he really has improved...in leaps and bounds. He is swimming more on his own. Where as he would only swim when I came to check up on him. He isn't laying down as much. Where as before he would lay down all the time and only come up for air. He is very much his little piggy self. Where as before his appetite was slowly disappearing. His fins, oh I am so happy to see them open again. Before he kept them CLAMPED. When he would stop swimming they would weight him down. Now when he stops they stay open and he just "floats" there
When I 1st put the plant in he was flaring a tab bit at it, nipping it, making sure it knows its place. I was starting to worry he was going to tear it apart. But he has settled down about it/seems to swim around the plant more than his hidys/fake n huge Anachrais(that of which he LOVED)
Onto pictures

 

[FishyFishy89]

I am currently debating on moving the plant to where the fake moneywort is. Much more light. HOWEVER, the plant does get SOME sunlight from the window next to it. but it has been quite rainy lately. Not much sun.
Should I move it anyhow?
Here is a video of Spike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulN0Upb-lrg

 

[goldentryst]

What a handsome little boy! His name suits him well.
I also very much like your tank; it looks very clean and pretty in a simple and natural way.
I've been considering trying sand as opposed to gravel; do you find that sand is better? it sure looks better.

 

[FishyFishy89]

What a handsome little boy! His name suits him well.
I also very much like your tank; it looks very clean and pretty in a simple and natural way.
I've been considering trying sand as opposed to gravel; do you find that sand is better? it sure looks better.

TYVM
I love it!
Decorating is so much easier. You don't have to dig through the gravel or PUSH more gravel to the other side for a level look.
Cleaning: just give the vacuum nozzle a swirl and the poo or uneaten food comes up/gets sucked up.
And you really don't need to sand to be level. It looks so natural that having more on 1 side doesn't look that bad.

ONLY downside if you have to "agitate" the sand once a week to prevent gases building up, exploding and killing your fish along with leaving a nasty smell.
But thats no biggie for me. I stick the net's handle in and swirl around.

 

[ao]

YES definitely push that plant over, lol. The fake plants don't really need the extra light

 

[Pogthefish]

Can you use a normal siphon on it? does siphning agiate it enough?

 

[ao]

TYVM
I love it!
Decorating is so much easier. You don't have to dig through the gravel or PUSH more gravel to the other side for a level look.
Cleaning: just give the vacuum nozzle a swirl and the poo or uneaten food comes up/gets sucked up.
And you really don't need to sand to be level. It looks so natural that having more on 1 side doesn't look that bad.

ONLY downside if you have to "agitate" the sand once a week to prevent gases building up, exploding and killing your fish along with leaving a nasty smell.
But thats no biggie for me. I stick the net's handle in and swirl around.

you need some MTS

 

[FishyFishy89]

YES definitely push that plant over, lol. The fake plants don't really need the extra light

That what I thought
TY for confirming my thoughts

Can you use a normal siphon on it? does siphning agiate it enough?

The gravel vacuum will suck up the sand if you stick it into the sand.

you need some MTS

MTS?
OH!! Malaysian Trumpet Snails?! I saw some tiny ones lurking in the tank the plants were in. Maybe some will have snuck in I've asked PetsMart if they sell them "no we do not stock them" I see babies all over the plant tanks

 

[goldentryst]

TYVM
I love it!
Decorating is so much easier. You don't have to dig through the gravel or PUSH more gravel to the other side for a level look.
Cleaning: just give the vacuum nozzle a swirl and the poo or uneaten food comes up/gets sucked up.
And you really don't need to sand to be level. It looks so natural that having more on 1 side doesn't look that bad.

ONLY downside if you have to "agitate" the sand once a week to prevent gases building up, exploding and killing your fish along with leaving a nasty smell.
But thats no biggie for me. I stick the net's handle in and swirl around.

Sounds glorious, I will definitely have to pick some up next time.
(Also sounds super deadly! O_O)

 

[ao]

Usually if you ask them for it, they will give it to you for free =D

 

[FishyFishy89]

Alrighty, I moved it front/center. Now I'm displeased with everyone's places. Would moving the plant cause it too much stress. It has to have been moved/replanted atleast 3 times now.
Spike was resting on the plant. When I was moving it his reaction was "wth you doing with my bed?!"

 

[FishyFishy89]

Sounds glorious, I will definitely have to pick some up next time.
(Also sounds super deadly! O_O)

I know. So pretty. But yet so deadly. Then again so is your fish's water. It just doesn't explode.
Make sure you put it all in a bucket/rinse/rinse/rinse/rinse/rinse/rinse/rinse.......
The tank will be cloudy for a while. It took mine 48 hours to finally clear up.

 

[FishyFishy89]

Usually if you ask them for it, they will give it to you for free =D

They did that at the one I worked at. But then again, with how mean Spike was to the mystery snail I'd be scared he'd be mean to the MTSs and they'd never get to work.

 

[ao]

It's ok, they're great burrowers They'll just bury themselves and work the substrate =D

 

[FishyFishy89]

Spike was MUCH more active today. I managed to get just a few pictures of him not moving I instead decided to float the plant since it has little to no roots. Maybe once It grows some roots I'll plant it.
Some more pictures?

Right here was when he decided pictures were done xD