GIANT gouramis

[Loulou]

He's still not eating and has started to go paler in colour, going to do a big water change

Emergency 50% change done, the power head was coughing and splutering, but I've got it going again, what is it with juwel powerheads, I should just setup a direct payment to them every six months

The water change should fix things up... I suggest you also starve him and his tankmates for a couple of days to allow:

1. Their systems to get rid of any toxins and rebuild their appetite...
   
2. The filter to catch up on the breaking down of any excess toxins in the water...

Don't forget to vacuum the gravel each time you do a water change... waste trapped in there might not be visible but they break down and fouls the water (the unfortunate downside of gravel but which is remedied beautifully by replacing it by sand though this would be a huge and relatively expensive task).

On my side, the big RTGG has been very active since yesterday until an hour ago where she went to sit under the power filter... she's still there as I type... maybe it's nothing but I will have to monitor... 4 big fish in the 5 footer makes it somewhat overstocked and I will have to increase the frequency of water changes and filter cleanings.

BTW, I'm also thinking of adding some carbon in one of the canisters...

As in regards to your Jewel powerhead, I've never had any experience with it (we get only the asian brands here... Jebao, etc) but I suggest you invest on a sturdier one like an Eheim... George is a big boy and will get bigger still - so he deserves the best equipment you could provide. Think of all the expenses you made on replacing the Jewel ones - you could buy the more expensive yet sturdier Eheim and save in the longer term...

 

[Yanbbrox]

Sorry that was meant to be an update, I think it was a false alarm after a 50% change the tank has come up great, Mr moody is flirting with Mrs Y again. I've never seen the tank so clear for ages and he's had a bit of lettuce so hopefully no further problems. Looks like I just have to up my water changes
I blame the substrate police, that stuff was dirty

Any my photo skills are getting worse and the right hand of Mrs Y makes the first appearance on MFK:

 

[Yanbbrox]

The water change should fix things up... I suggest you also starve him and his tankmates for a couple of days to allow:

1. Their systems to get rid of any toxins and rebuild their appetite...
   
2. The filter to catch up on the breaking down of any excess toxins in the water...

Don't forget to vacuum the gravel each time you do a water change... waste trapped in there might not be visible but they break down and fouls the water (the unfortunate downside of gravel but which is remedied beautifully by replacing it by sand though this would be a huge and relatively expensive task).
Thanks man, now you tell me, looks like the substrate build up was the problem, it's been a while since I had it and it's a pain to go back to from bare bottom although I didn't think it would be that bad as I've changed a few buckets with the gravel vac on for the new tank
On my side, the big RTGG has been very active since yesterday until an hour ago where she went to sit under the power filter... she's still there as I type... maybe it's nothing but I will have to monitor... 4 big fish in the 5 footer makes it somewhat overstocked and I will have to increase the frequency of water changes and filter cleanings.

BTW, I'm also thinking of adding some carbon in one of the canisters...
I'm not too far away from the chemi pure that master tequila swears by, unfortunately nasa believe that this stuff comes from the tiger stripes on Enceladus(going intergalatic now who needs a moon monkey?) but hopefully mother will return with some, I'm not a fan of shipping costs

As in regards to your Jewel powerhead, I've never had any experience with it (we get only the asian brands here... Jebao, etc) but I suggest you invest on a sturdier one like an Eheim... George is a big boy and will get bigger still - so he deserves the best equipment you could provide. Think of all the expenses you made on replacing the Jewel ones - you could buy the more expensive yet sturdier Eheim and save in the longer term...

Juwel are the aquariums I have, they are very good at being a good all round price, heater, filter, powerhead all included, they are crap when it comes to the 1000lph heads they go every 6-9months and are not cheap to replace, but you can't really get anything else that fits, that's the down side. George's tank has gone through 3 in about 18months can't remember how many others have gone on that tank, I can get them trade so it's more of an inconvenience than anything else. The discus tank has the same one but I've only replaced that one once in 3 years. The new baby has the smaller design version so who knows how long that one will last?

For the last time the international bank of Yanbbrox can't afford to go all ehiem

 

[Tequila]

Juwel are the aquariums I have, they are very good at being a good all round price, heater, filter, powerhead all included, they are crap when it comes to the 1000lph heads they go every 6-9months and are not cheap to replace, but you can't really get anything else that fits, that's the down side. George's tank has gone through 3 in about 18months can't remember how many others have gone on that tank, I can get them trade so it's more of an inconvenience than anything else. The discus tank has the same one but I've only replaced that one once in 3 years. The new baby has the smaller design version so who knows how long that one will last?

For the last time the international bank of Yanbbrox can't afford to go all ehiem

Dude this is your own fault, I told you how to look into importing your own tanks and filters. With the profits you'd had made you could afford a Ehiem for every tank.

 

[Yanbbrox]

Dude this is your own fault, I told you how to look into importing your own tanks and filters. With the profits you'd had made you could afford a Ehiem for every tank.

Yes whooo hoooo, shipping rates are sooooo good from your part of the world?

 

[Loulou]

I wish I had told you about sand before but I've only started to use it recently and learned about its wonderful properties... I'm really sorry about that - I'm sharing as I'm learning

I'm thinking about replacing the gravel in my big tank with sand too but I haven't made up my mind yet... the amount of waste that I've vacuumed from the gravel today is enormous and the last vacuuming I did was last Saturday... these fish crap so much - which makes me think that I might be feeding them too much... this convinces me again of the value of feeding them only every 2 days...

 

[Tequila]

I wish I had told you about sand before but I've only started to use it recently and learned about its wonderful properties... I'm really sorry about that - I'm sharing as I'm learning
Sand is just more densely packed, but harder to vacuum as you loose sand in the vacuuming process. When you get a substrate you should try for one that isn't larger than 1/4 inch pebbles, otherwise you end up with too much waste getting into the gravel. Which in my case I don't mind, I have a 5 inch deep gravel bed but I also run a U.G. Filter.

I'm thinking about replacing the gravel in my big tank with sand too but I haven't made up my mind yet... the amount of waste that I've vacuumed from the gravel today is enormous and the last vacuuming I did was last Saturday... these fish crap so much - which makes me think that I might be feeding them too much... this convinces me again of the value of feeding them only every 2 days... Just remember that when you feed them like horses they will Sh*t like horses too.

Though I believe that all of my fish are much smaller than some of yours, I do feed my fish every day sometimes 2~3 times per day. I find the hardest waste for my tank to deal with is from when I feed the RTGG's alot of veggies. Other than the veggy poop, my tanks UG handles everything else quite well. My tank thrives on poop!

 

[Loulou]

5 inches... that's a lot! Mine has a 2 inch bed, I think... and the gravel is not that big... ah well...

Anyway here's a recent (bad) picture of the tank (sorry about the reflected computer screen) and one shot of the RTGG...

 

[Tequila]

5 inches... that's a lot! Mine has a 2 inch bed, I think... and the gravel is not that big... ah well... Remember that I have an U.G. Filter which works best with a deep gravel bed.

Anyway here's a recent (bad) picture of the tank (sorry about the reflected computer screen) and one shot of the RTGG...

Nice Claris you have there. Is the albino also a Claris? Can't really tell from this angle. Could you possibly get a photo straight on the RTGG head. But I'm still sure that it's a female. Just curious.

 

[Loulou]

Nice Claris you have there. Is the albino also a Claris? Can't really tell from this angle. Could you possibly get a photo straight on the RTGG head. But I'm still sure that it's a female. Just curious.

Yes, the albino one is a clarias as well

Straight on the head... hmmm, you mean in front (as compared to in profile)? I'll try that...

In the meantime, more pictures...