Please help, i tried posting a few days ago about my blackmoors finrot, i don't think it worked so i'm posting again, i have been treating the tank with anti fungus and finrot treatment every time i clean out, which is every 2-3 weeks, but the problem seems to be getting worse still, especially in the past week or so, i'm really stuck and don't know what to do, please help if you can, thanks!

I finally got the perfect piece of wood after months of searching and fiddling with a pile of smaller pieces. So chuffed :D

Its been a while so heres some updated photos of my tanks

I've finally got around to rescaping my main tank. It was a bit of a jungle style previously, so thought I'd attempt something with more hardscape. I decided to use CO2 injection and opted for fluval plant stratum and mini landscape rock. The lights were upgraded from the original twin T8s to Twin 54w T5s with reflectors.

After giving the tank a thorugh clean out using bicard of soda, I removed the 3D background. I've chisen not to replace this this time. I then used carboard to seperate two islands of substrate divded by a sand path:



I then placed the rockwork. The wood is sumatran bogwood:



I did a bit of minor tweaking of the rockwork and planted up:



Plants include
Bacopa monneri
Blyxa japonica
Cryptocorne parva
Cryptocorne wendtii 'green'
Cryptocorne wendtii 'tropica'
Hemianthus callichthoides
Hemianthus micranthemoides
Mayaca fluviatilis
Pogostemon helferi
Ludwidgia repens
Hygrophilia polysperma
Rotala rotundiflora

Until the plants grow in the lights are on for 6 hours. I'll extend this at a later date.

So, yesterday I did two 50% changes, one at 11.30am and the next at 3pm - I'll space these out a bit better today. Both sets of results showed the same outcome: Nitrates and nitrites still at 0, Ammonia at 0.25 and ph 6.6. The ammonia and ph remained the same from the previous day's test at 7.20pm. Odd.

I was advised that the tap water quality or the substrate could be partially responsible for the ph shift (I'm still getting the hang of all the terms, so if I guff this up, bear with me). Previously I had siphoned out the water when changing then added the 50% replacement and then added the aquasafe afterwards - not removing the filter whilst doing the change thinking leaving it in could be beneficial. However, after pondering on it for a while I thought maybe doing 50% changes with tapwater might possibly damage any trace of good bacteria in the filter before the aquasafe is added. So I took the filter out when changing the water yesterday and will continue to do this for a few days to see if that makes a change.

I also decided it'd be more beneficial to add the aquasafe to the new water before adding to the tank, again, to avoid any tap nasties affecting the good bacteria in the filter. Fingers crossed this helps.

I think I'm seeing growth on the plants in the tank too. I've been taking a lot of time to inspect and study what's going on, peacefully observing George and he's starting to get used to me now The plant has a little blob or two attached to it. First of all I was ready for ripping it out just in case it was snail eggs maturing - super worried about snails creeping in from shop bought plants. After poking and looking some more I think it is just plant growth, pretty cool!

I've been willing the marimo to reproduce, I'm pretty taken by this interesting little plant. It has a bit of a lump poking out at one side and looking around online suggests it might be splitting for reproduction. It could also just be my keen imagination, mind you. Either way I ordered two more 4-5cm marimo online which should be here by Tuesday.

Other things I ordered were Tetra 6 in 1 testing strips to assess the water hardness so I can take more action to help the tank cycle correctly as well as a bottle of seachem prime.

George looks a happy boy, I'm seeing colour in the top half of his tail where there was none before. Previously there was a large white patch brought on by ammonia burn and/or fin rot, but now the patch is split with a small flash of orange running down into a badly damaged spine. The bottom half of the tail seems to be gaining some colour too. By no means is it a 'need to put my sunglasses on it's so bright' affair, but any little sign that he's getting better is giving me more reason to smile.

Hello everyone.

Just posting an opening blog page to say hi, I'll use this blog to track the progress I'm making with George - my adopted ten year old single tail comet (well, that's what I think he is).

George lived in a bowl for ten years before I took him in last week. Now I'm learning from scratch about his needs and upkeep and now looking forward to providing him with a better life. As he was in a bowl for so long I think he's probably stunted growth wise although I think he's about six inches from nose to tail. Speaking of tail, he seems to have ammonia burn and little marks on his other fins which I worry may have been breaks which are now mended.


He's in good hands now.

See y'all around.

Joanne (and George)

Have now bought 2 x Juwel 600 x 650 3D backgrounds.(finally)
1 x Rock and root and 1 x Rock.
Came in a very big box.
Also have just purchased 2 x Juwel rock terraces and am waiting for these to be delivered.
Once I have these I will start posting pictures as I did not think an empty tank made for good viewing
The plan is to cut away some of the foam at the back to take the inlet and outlet from the external pump, so they are hidden.
I also plan to cut out further holes in the face of the background to allow me to insert live planting into the background.
I have been delayed by DYI projects and the adoption of a cube tank and 2 goldfish that a mates wife was edging towards the toilet!.
My wife is now keen I get the big tank finished, providing I promise to keep to 2 tanks

I have a black moor goldfish and his eyes got like 3x the usual size and then I think they fell out. The eyes do not go out anymore like a telescope and I think he can still see but only a little this first started around a month and a half ago. If any of you think you know what happend to my fish, Tinky Winky, and or you know how to fix it PLEASE reply! Thank you so much!

I originally put lots of java moss in the waterfall but it totally took over the back of the tank and made it very dark. The last straw was when it started growing string algae. Took it out and this is whats left.

I have been taking photos with my phone up till now but I actually have a real dedicated camera. Can't believe the difference in picture quality.



Bob loves to pose.



These guys are more challenging subjects! I got the Danios on Monday and so far no problems at all. Bob sulked for a day or so but the two ladies have been surprisingly chilled. I feel silly for spending so much time worrying about it now o0



The two ladies squaring off. Alice is the one who looks like shes winning, the one on the right is Eve. I tried to get a photo of Chris the bristlenose but he doesn't like the auto focus. When I learn how to use the manual settings I will get him :)



edit: I had to bribe him but he did eventually come out ^