75G Planted For Beginners. Haha.

[Biulu]

I know you have had some disappointing set-backs but I think that all in all you have been doing very well. Just don't be too hard on yourself. Look at what you achieved: just compare the first and the last picture of your planted tank and see how far you've come! Regarding the stocking: work with what is locally available and work your way up in terms of difficulty.

I started 5 years ago with a 20 gallon and 2 small goldfish. Then I thought that plants were nice but I did not have access to fertiliser, nutrient based substrates and a big plant selection. I was growing swords and sagittaria with an UGF (as I couldn't get any other filter systems either apart from box filters). I made a big mistake when I decided to turn my 20 gallon into a collection of gouramis, not knowing that they are territorial with all the expected consequences, etc. etc.

Now after this time and many experiences I have the 30 gallon that you know. You where the one with the artistic eye as you proposed me my current hardscape, remember? So, you do have a feeling for this. As we say: count your blessings, not your failings. And I think you have a very valuable bag full of lessons learned!

 

[FishFanatic04]

Thanks. I am usually a very positive person. I'm sure if all my plants had died, but my fish were fine, I wouldn't have turned into such a miserable mess. I was frustrated over the apisto's deaths. Having no idea what was killing them and treatments weren't working. I have antibiotics coming this week that should do the trick. I will never again use store bought medications.

I planted the cabomba clippings and I am hoping that being more densely planted will slow it's growth a little. Everything is looking a little wild and crazy since I keep replanting all of my clippings but later I can clean it all up and I'll have some really good space filling plants.


Thanks for the support.

 

[Biulu]

Yes, see fish die is very frustrating. I think in this case you learned a very valuable lesson; don't order fish in with that lfs anymore... Another possibility when buying fish is, buying fish that has been in store for at least a week.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I'm only buying fish where there is a week minimum guarantee. Then my own qt to observe them. lol I'll be insanely cautious now.

Even petsmart is a good choice with the 2 week warranty.

 

[gregswimm]

Treat the sprite as a stem. Stop moving plants, I didn't realize how much you were moving plants around. I forget you do CO2 injection, stick with your Estimaive index then. Trim the sprite and stop fiddling with the tank, plats need patience, when you move them a ton they stress, grow slower and sometimes die.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I'm not moving plants around. I'm pruning and planting the cuttings only.

I'm currently creating a layout plan since the plants I have now were a big package and not my own choosing. But I won't be changing anything quickly. Just one or two plants at a time and not untill I have all of my fish in 100% health.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Thanks! I'll trim the water sprite this weekend, when I water change. It has a few places where it's rooting and I read somewhere it could fall off anyway so I'll cut them there.

 

[P&J]

I think bunching the stem plants, like you are doing with the cabomba clippings, will help the back. I don't think you necessarily need broad-leaf plants, just denser groupings of the existing plants.

Which one is the water sprite? I don't see any that look like "a hot mess."

I'd have to agree with most of the advice here--keep pruning, but otherwise stay the course for a while.

(For what it's worth, I struggled with my first two attempts with fish. Then, suddenly, everything seemed to fall into place and fishkeeping seems like no big deal now. Now that that's settled, I'm trying my hand at plants. You'll get the hang of it and be a pro in no time!)

-P

 

[FishFanatic04]

Thanks. The water sprite is the right back corner. It's more of a mess close up, then from afar.

I am feeling very cautious now about everything I do, so it is just pruning and letting things continue to grow out. My lily may suffer in color for lack of light, but I don't have anywhere to move it, and wouldn't want to anyway.

At least I'm not freaking out today. That's a good sign

 

[gregswimm]

Thanks. The water sprite is the right back corner. It's more of a mess close up, then from afar.

I am feeling very cautious now about everything I do, so it is just pruning and letting things continue to grow out. My lily may suffer in color for lack of light, but I don't have anywhere to move it, and wouldn't want to anyway.

At least I'm not freaking out today. That's a good sign

Have a smoke, kick back, relax and enjoy your tank. Its Friday!!

 

[FishFanatic04]

lol had to quit smoking when I decided to procreate. But we set up a swimming pool and are going to play in the sun all day!!!

All of my tanks have finally been medicated with proper antibiotics, and I am cool and calm and collected. really.... I am!

 

[gregswimm]

Give us an update!

 

[FishFanatic04]

The only good thing I could write is that the last apistogramma is eating the medicated food, which must be a good sign since he didn't eat for 4 days before the medication arrived.

One of the angelfish in the 75g has 4 small spots on its caudal fin. I cannot tell if it is ich or fungus as of right now, no other fish have any spots. The medication shouldn't be a stressor so what would the cause of the ich/fungus? The kuhlis are doing better then they have since I got them. There's nothing i can do for the angelfish right now in any case, unless just raising the temperature can help it. If its fungus instead of ich will that cause it to speed up? And will just a higher temp cure ich?

I didn't think it would and cannot treat ich while the prazuguantel is in the water. It's one #40## thing after another.

More bad news is that the cories in my 46g are not better. Two of them have lost so much weight. They look so tiny compared to the others, one of them for sure is not eating and still swims listlessly in the middle of the tank.

I no longer know what to do, so I'm doing nothing. Letting the medications sit in the water and I'm leaving it be for now.

We were the victims of identity theft over the weekend and someone took all of our money and topped it off by overdrawing our bank account. We were lucky I caught it before they did more damage. The dark cloud of bad luck is following me all over.

If I was a stranger reading this thread I would worry that the OP was bipolar or something I assure you that I am not, but I am dealing with so many disappointments and I am not handling the stress very well lately.

Sorry for the novel. I'm off to my only consistent source of joy...my kids. We are fingerpainting outside today

 

[Biulu]

Sorry to hear that! That was not a very nice Easter... But I am sure that the bank will give you your money back once it is established that it is identity theft? At least, that's what happens in Europe...

You are right doing what you're doing. Just follow the treatment and see how things go. I wouldn't up the temp without medication as at least fungi will grow faster that way.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Thanks. I didn't think I should up the temp. I'll finish the parasite treatment and then look into whether its fungus or ich affecting the angelfish. I wouldn't know what to treat for right now anyway, the spots are hard to see.

My Two year old ate M&M's for breakfast on Easter so he at least had a lot of fun. We will get the money back, it just takes some time for the disputes to finish.


Someday I'll have a tank full of healthy fish. Even if it means I can only keep mollies.