Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Organic Aqua

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roealdo (j)
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11 Jul 2011 11:42 #1 by roealdo (j)

Organic Aqua was created by roealdo (j)

I see you stock organinc aqua.

I'm away on holidays for a couple of weeks and have some one to feed my fish but no one to do water changes.

I'd like to get some of this for maintenance purposes.

How much is required for 3-4 weeks for a 400l tank and 90l tank?

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stretnik (stretnik)
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11 Jul 2011 12:26 #2 by stretnik (stretnik)

Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Organic Aqua

It doesn't work like that unless you intend going over to it full time, it isn't a stop start thing, you have to keep it up if you are currently keeping a settled, fully stocked tank.

Kev.

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roealdo (j)
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11 Jul 2011 12:28 - 11 Jul 2011 12:29 #3 by roealdo (j)

Replied by roealdo (j) on topic Organic Aqua

Thanks is fully stocked and issue free for about 10 months.

My understanding of how it works is that you do a 25% water change then start adding organic aqua. My plan would be to do the water change and then get the person doing the feeding to add the organic aqua when required.

Once back from holidays it would be back to normal water changes.

Last edit: 11 Jul 2011 12:29 by roealdo (j).

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stretnik (stretnik)
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11 Jul 2011 12:42 #4 by stretnik (stretnik)

Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Organic Aqua

I think trying to return to how it was prior to the addition of the OA will result in huge spikes in the nasties because it is necessary to wash your Media out in Tap water to kill off the Bacteria, in essence you will be trying to run a fully stocked Aquarium with no Bacteria in it, to all intents and purpose you will have a fully stocked, uncycled Tank.

That's just my opinion.

Kev.

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tommyt (tommy tee)
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11 Jul 2011 14:21 - 11 Jul 2011 14:23 #5 by tommyt (tommy tee)

Replied by tommyt (tommy tee) on topic Organic Aqua

Stevnik is correct, OA is an instant fix so it works for you, for before/during holiday period, but swapping back to your current way will take time to populate with bacteria. When swapping over to OA you will rinse all media out under tap water - effectively killing all the good stuff you have cultured todate.
Never weaned off OA so I cant comment on how best to do that, i imagine slow and lots of tests would be the way to go.
Tom

Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.

Last edit: 11 Jul 2011 14:23 by tommyt (tommy tee).

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roealdo (j)
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11 Jul 2011 14:23 #6 by roealdo (j)

Replied by roealdo (j) on topic Organic Aqua

any alternatives then to keeping the tank up and running?

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JohnH (John)
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11 Jul 2011 15:00 #7 by JohnH (John)

Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re: Organic Aqua

I have moved this from Seahorse Aquariums' sponsor page to 'Water and Health' as it has veered away from the original question.
For what it's worth - if it's only two weeks you'll be away - I think the best plan would be to do nothing. The fish won't starve while you're away (but will certainly be pleased to see you on your return).

What you would be well advised to do, though, would be to do a pretty thorough water change, with substrate clean too, in the days leading up to your departure and make sure you remember to give them a feed just beforehand.

In the nicest possible way I will say that I am of the opinion that more harm is done by someone feeding fish whilst the owner's on holiday than by leaving them unfed for that time.
However, if you're happy your 'feeder' is capable of feeding only pre-determined amounts (individual portions - dated - is a good idea) then by all means do this, but honestly - as long as you do the water change beforehand - things will 'tick over' until your return.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.

ITFS member.

It's a long way to Tipperary.

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roealdo (j)
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11 Jul 2011 15:08 #8 by roealdo (j)

Replied by roealdo (j) on topic Re: Organic Aqua

Thanks john.

Its closer to 3 weeks i'll be away. I think the plan might be to get my assistant to feed them once a week and do maybe a 50% water change before hand.

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JohnH (John)
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11 Jul 2011 15:12 #9 by JohnH (John)

Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re: Organic Aqua

Good thinking - you might be better doing two 25% changes in the week prior to leaving, though - a single 50% change is quite a drastic one and might play havoc with the bacteria.
That's my opinion - can anyone else add more advice, please?
John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.

ITFS member.

It's a long way to Tipperary.

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11 Jul 2011 15:13 #10 by Acara (Dave Walters)

Replied by Acara (Dave Walters) on topic Re: Organic Aqua

Thanks John,I was reluctant to respond in a sponsors section.
I agree with John,best leave them unfed,the exception being fry,if you have them. I am currently away,and therefore mine havn't been fed in 10 days. They won't be happy,but they will still be alive,and healthy enough. I have done several trips away of 2wks duration,and they weren't fed,with no issues. I do now have someone who visits them regularly,but told him not to bother on this trip,as the wife was there,and I would get her to give them 2 small feeds. I didn't bother with actually getting to her to it though.
If you insist on having them fed,once a week will be enough,and then there's little chance of an over-feed.

always on the lookout for interesting corys.pm me if you know off any!

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stretnik (stretnik)
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11 Jul 2011 17:50 #11 by stretnik (stretnik)

Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re: Organic Aqua

I returned to a Cemetery of 35+ Fish after leaving my charges in the hands of a non fish person... Listen to the Guys, a few weeks of no feeds will be tolerated by your Fish,

Don't clean the Glass in your Tank as you'd be surprised by what they can glean from dirty Glass.
Don't give them a big meal to keep them from starving either, the resulting extra faeces will cause more problems.

What I used to do was buy enough Tablet containers with lids from my Chemist, the brown ones with the translucent lids, I then put in each one, HALF of what I would usually feed per day, one container for each Day, this way, the person didn't have to worry how much to feed, the empties went back in the Cabinet and everything worked out fine, I didn't have time this vacation and subsequently I/the Fish, paid the price.

An observation I have made is that, like an abandoned House that dies when no one lives in it, an Aquarium or any other Pet tends to go into decline when the owner isn't around.

Kev.

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john gannon (john gannon)
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11 Jul 2011 19:30 #12 by john gannon (john gannon)

Replied by john gannon (john gannon) on topic Re: Organic Aqua

if you hve to feed i do as all the others say and only feed once a week and a pre prepared amount .the fish will thank you for it.one other thing if the person feeding sees any dead fish make sure they know to take them out.
john
ps. enjoy your holiday :laugh:

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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Organic Aqua