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Sick fish! Help!!!
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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
Sick fish! Help!!!
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12 Jul 2010 22:50 - 12 Jul 2010 22:51 #31
by Aims (Aimee Croke)
do you mind if i ask what type of filter you have
It's an Aqua One ClearView 280 hang-on filter. (It came with the tank along with the heater) It has Biogrid (don't actually know what that is) but it stresses a couple of times to not clean that..
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wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
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12 Jul 2010 22:55 - 12 Jul 2010 23:12 #32
by wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
Aims wrote:
But wondering is this a bad idea as a beginner with bad luck 
?
This would be a good idea for you! Plants are very easy to grow when you take some simple precations. The plants look good, will keep the fish happy and will keep the water oxygenated. 4 bullet-proof (almost!) plants are anubias, java fern, java moss and amazon swords. There are many differnt types of plant so make sure you do some research and find the ones that are right for you, your size tank, and your fish.
All these plants are rated "easy"...
www.tropica.com/plants/difficulty/easy.aspx
NOTE: Beware of plants being sold as aquarium plants that are not true aquatic plants such as Acorus, Chlorophytum and Dracaena! They will look good for a few weeks before rotting away and polluing your water. All Tropica branded plants are fully aquatic so that is a good place to start, there is a place that might not be too far from you in Woodstown that sell Tropica.
Last edit: 12 Jul 2010 23:12 by wolfsburg (wolfsburg).
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12 Jul 2010 23:08 #33
by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Coola boola. Will do a bit of research tomorrow and see what fish will be put under the test of living with me and then research plants. There's a garden centre close enough to me that deals a lot in aquatics as well and has gotten very good reviews for their aquatics section so shall call out there as well and pester them with a few questions as well!
Definitely staying away from the other pet shop though. Probably shouldn't have take the betta when there was a dead one there. They told me that my one killed him but wondering now did he have a disease that my fella caught which was kicked off by the water re-cycling. Not to mention all the other bad advice they've given me!
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stretnik (stretnik)
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12 Jul 2010 23:10 - 12 Jul 2010 23:13 #34
by stretnik (stretnik)
Name the Garden Center, let's get more Good reviews to counter the bad uns Aims.
Kev.
Last edit: 12 Jul 2010 23:13 by stretnik (stretnik).
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David (David)
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12 Jul 2010 23:11 #35
by David (David)
Cheers i have to be honest i am not to sure what Biogrid is!
In relation to going with Natural plants i agree with wolfsberg
My own opion would be decide if you want real plants first and which ones
second if you do want them you will need to empty out your tank completly all water and stone leave the stone soaking in a bucket of the tank water and if possible leave your filter running with this,This will help maintain any existing bacteria
third you need to get a substrate found in you LFS
then i would lay out the substrate cover with your existing stones gently half fill your tank with water add plants fill the rest of the way
Hope this helps in you and best of Luck
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12 Jul 2010 23:12 #36
by Aims (Aimee Croke)
It's McGuires Garden Centre in Co. Waterford. Think I saw it mentioned somewhere on this forum before.
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stretnik (stretnik)
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12 Jul 2010 23:14 #37
by stretnik (stretnik)
Good on you Aims and apols for the typo re your name, I've corrected it:blush:
Kev.
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wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
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12 Jul 2010 23:21 #38
by wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
David wrote:
you will need to empty out your tank completly all water and stone leave the stone soaking in a bucket of the tank water and if possible leave your filter running with this,This will help maintain any existing bacteria
third you need to get a substrate found in you LFS
then i would lay out the substrate cover with your existing stones gently half fill your tank with water add plants fill the rest of the way
I don't really think this is necessary for someone like Aims, who is starting out, to do. I have often "retro-fitted" aquaria with low-demand plants into pea gravel or silver sand with very good results! There are people here who have seen these attempts in the flesh.
Probably better to learn how to walk before we learn how to run!
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12 Jul 2010 23:25 #39
by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Cheers Dave, just saved me a google search there! Will probably choose from the list wolfsberg mentioned as I only have a 10gallon tank with an 11W light (with reflectors) so say I'll need hardy ones.
I'd say I could manage to keep the filter running with water and substrate in a bucket (with the help of some sticky tape, it's amazing what you can do with sticky tape!
)
there is a place that might not be too far from you in Woodstown that sell Tropica.
That's the place I was talking about
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12 Jul 2010 23:26 #40
by Aims (Aimee Croke)
I don't really think this is necessary for someone like Aims, who is starting out, to do. I have often "retro-fitted" aquaria with low-demand plants into pea gravel or silver sand with very good results!
The gravel I have is big enough and there's only a thin layer of it...
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wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
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12 Jul 2010 23:30 - 12 Jul 2010 23:31 #41
by wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
Aims wrote:
there is a place that might not be too far from you in Woodstown that sell Tropica.
That's the place I was talking about
I know, you had posted that in the time it took me to write my post above it so I didn't see it. I am quite familiar with this shop but I didn't name it as I think there is a rule against naming shops that do not sponsor... but I'm sure that the admin will make an exception this time for a good review!
Noel or Frank in the aquatics section are very approachable and helpful!
Last edit: 12 Jul 2010 23:31 by wolfsburg (wolfsburg).
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David (David)
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12 Jul 2010 23:36 - 12 Jul 2010 23:42 #42
by David (David)
Again i agree with wolfsberg and yes certaian plants dont requier a substait and will grow well bedded in the stone
However again i stress this is my own opinion
if you are going to change an existing tank into a NPT why do it by half the messure and then having to do it again a later stage possible if you decide that an NPT tank is what you want
if there are no fish in the tank make the most of it
Nothing to do with running befor one walks
Please note my comments are of my own opinion and what i would do in a certain situation
Regards
Last edit: 12 Jul 2010 23:42 by David (David).
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12 Jul 2010 23:36 #43
by JohnH (John)
Sorry to disagree with all of you but I think the substrate should be thoroughly washed with a strong salt solution then properly flushed with clean running water until it flows clear - after emptying out the tank completely and washing that and any ornaments/plastic plants, changing the filter media (or at very least washing it thoroughly - yes, even the boigrid, but not with salt for that just plain clean water) then...start the whole cycle process from scratch. Remember Aims' earlier posts about the poor state of the water and the 'gel-like' scum which fell away from the heater - this is likely to be in the filter, substrate and on the ornaments/plastic plants. I don't think partial water changes will do the job, really I don't.
That would be my advice to a complete newcomer anyway.
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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wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
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12 Jul 2010 23:52 - 12 Jul 2010 23:58 #44
by wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
Fair enough David, I wasn't having a go at your experience or opinion. However I would have thought that talk about layered substrates etc might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back for a beginner who has also just taken a bit of a knock like Aims has. Especially when you could just add a couple of Crypts or some Bacopa to the current substrate, float some Salvinia natans and put some Microsorum on a bit of wood with minimum effort or expense and let the more complicated processes come a bit down the line when the beginner (whoever that may be) has developed more of an understanding and, most importantly, a grá for the subject.
No offense to Aims either!... You are doing very well so far and we are all still learning!
See my profile pic? That is a small section of one of my natural planted tanks that has flourished for the past 9 months planted in nothing other than 2/3 silver sand and 1/3 pea gravel. In theory, a disaster of a planting substrate but it hasn't failed me once yet!
Last edit: 12 Jul 2010 23:58 by wolfsburg (wolfsburg).
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13 Jul 2010 00:00 #45
by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Too be honest I will probably go the path that JohnH has suggested. I'd feel much safer doing that. There was a lot of stuff floating around in the tank which I didn't notice until I got the light so only god knows what's stuck in the substrate and in/on the ornaments. Seems I'll be restarting the tank I'll have plenty of time for doing some decent research and most likely will do a lot of research to keep my limited patience at bay for one thing!
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wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
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13 Jul 2010 00:14 - 13 Jul 2010 00:16 #46
by wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
Fair play Aims, if that's what you feel more comfortable doing then fire away! The only downside really is having to wait a bit longer to restock it.
Let us know how you get on!
Remember that the tank doesn't need to be cycled to add plants, it just needs to be up to the required temperature (usually 24-26 deg cent).
Also no chemical detergents when washing, just maybe some salt as directed by JohnH. Possibly flush the gravel with boiling water too!
Enjoy!
Last edit: 13 Jul 2010 00:16 by wolfsburg (wolfsburg).
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13 Jul 2010 00:17 #47
by Aims (Aimee Croke)
The only downside really is having to wait a bit longer to restock it.
Seems the main reason poor Pete died is me not waiting long enough to put him in it will do me no harm to practice a bit of patience (something I've never been good at I admit!)
Thank you everyone for all the advice, I've learned a lot today!
Aims
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stretnik (stretnik)
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13 Jul 2010 00:33 #48
by stretnik (stretnik)
And after all of that....
Sit down and have a nice Cup of Rosie Lee !!
Kev.
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wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
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13 Jul 2010 00:38 #49
by wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
I would have called that tea reference off-topic and unnecessary if I hadn't turned a sick fish thread into a plant thread that turned into a tea thread!
Done and dusted! I'm off to bed!
Night night one and all!
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13 Jul 2010 00:50 - 13 Jul 2010 00:52 #50
by JohnH (John)
"I've learned a lot today!"
Actually, you learned the hard way the foremost lesson of all today and that was that there are no ways to cut corners in Fishkeeping.
It was a painful lesson and - very sadly - the lesson which drives so many away before they ever get their hobby off the ground.
But it seems as though you will continue undaunted and that's good - I wish more had your resolve.
Fair play to you Aims.
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.
Last edit: 13 Jul 2010 00:52 by
JohnH (John). Reason: Added quote
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13 Jul 2010 10:01 #51
by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Stubbornness can have it's charm at times! Have actually just realised that my tank isn't actually a 10 gallon. Was looking at pictures of other tanks to get an idea for plants and noticed they looked bigger than mine. So did the measurements and worked out its only 29 litres! (and the pet shop strikes again!) So I think I'll save up a bit and get a bigger tank. I know my first attempt was a failure but am still determined to succeed!
If I start cycling the smaller tank now could I use this to kick-start the bigger one when I finally get it?
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13 Jul 2010 10:57 #52
by JohnH (John)
Of course you can, that's an excellent idea.
No need to have the heater plugged in as you should find Summer room temperatures to be getting on for 70f anyway, which will be fine to support the bacteria build-up (beneficial ones this time).
When you get your new tank you might either get a new filter with it or may otherwise find you will need to upgrade for the increased tank size but either way it isn't an insurmountable problem.
But that's a bridge to cross when the time comes so don't be worrying unduly for now.
So, get cycling!
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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