EMERGENCY! Dying fish. Bullied guppy. Need help

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

The only reason in this situation I was suggesting doing all the fish at once is 1. They are planning very low bioload fish, like the cories and tetras. 2. I thought I had seen them mention something before in another thread about the fish store being a bit far away or they were very limited aboutnhow often they should go or something. I would never recommend someone add 12 discus, schools of three different tetras, and all their bottom feeders at once (even if the tank size was accurate), or add 18 koi to a pond at the same time.

As always seems to be the case with certain members of this Group, you are missing the point and only seeing the literal info in front of you.
The point is quite simple...adding too many fish at one time to a system has the very real risk of breaking that system.

1. 'Cories and tetras' are NOT 'very low bioload fish'.
2. It is dangerous to repeat information given by others, when you don't actually understand it yourself, or fail to remember it correctly.

Whilst any store may be too far away for convenience, sticking too many fish in a tank for the sake of 'convenience' is just wrong...as is the incessant demand to make it all happen quicker than it should, because of impatience.

 

[OliveFish05]

As always seems to be the case with certain members of this Group, you are missing the point and only seeing the literal info in front of you.
The point is quite simple...adding too many fish at one time to a system has the very real risk of breaking that system.

1. 'Cories and tetras' are NOT 'very low bioload fish'.
2. It is dangerous to repeat information given by others, when you don't actually understand it yourself, or fail to remember it correctly.

Whilst any store may be too far away for convenience, sticking too many fish in a tank for the sake of 'convenience' is just wrong...as is the incessant demand to make it all happen quicker than it should, because of impatience.

As I understand it, it is about the bacteria being able to keep up with the ammonia produced by the fish, right?

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

As I understand it, it is about the bacteria being able to keep up with the ammonia produced by the fish, right?

Absolutely...not being overwhelmed.

A point always worth remembering is that our ecosystems are complex, with many contributing parts. Knock one off-balance and the whole lot can come tumbling down, if not immediately, then certainly at some time in the near future..

 

[Rocky998]

True, one time there was a brown snake living in my front garden. At first we didn't care. (whenever i walked through the garden i was worried) . The next day i woke up to a fully grown brown snake slithering through my room. I yelled out and my dad was shocked. We all jumped on the table so it could not bite us. My dad wanted to call pest control put his phone was in his room. When the snake was in the kitchen it was safe for him to grab his phone. The pest control caught it and released it back in the bush.

Thats kinda funny in a way

 

[Rocky998]

This might make you change your mind:

True, one time there was a brown snake living in my front garden. At first we didn't care. (whenever i walked through the garden i was worried) . The next day i woke up to a fully grown brown snake slithering through my room. I yelled out and my dad was shocked. We all jumped on the table so it could not bite us. My dad wanted to call pest control put his phone was in his room. When the snake was in the kitchen it was safe for him to grab his phone. The pest control caught it and released it back in the bush.

To me thats awesome... As long as its non-venomous... But even if it was, I have faith that I could catch it.

 

[Rocky998]

Be sure to put in some research, just as you would prior to going on a fish hunt.

NOTE that many shops push forward their most attractive looking plants and many of these are actually only semi-aquatic...but they look nice in a tank, so hey! (These will slowly rot as soon as they're in the tank).
Keep an eye out for Tropica products...these aren't the cheapest, but you certainly get what you pay for.
Keep an eye out for plants that you'll be able to split when you get home...you'll get more for your money.

When you do get home, don't forget to treat for 'passengers'.

How would you treat for "passengers"

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

How would you treat for "passengers"

1. Rinse the plants in a bucket. Remove the plants and empty the bucket.
2. Mix 1 part unscented bleach to 20 parts of water in the bucket. Wear rubber gloves and mix thoroughly.
3. Prepare a second bucket with fresh water and add Water Conditioner.
4. Dip plants in Bucket 1 and ensure that they're completely submerged.
5. After the prescribed time, place immediately under a running tap for about a minute.
6. Place in Bucket 2 and leave for at last a minute.

Delicates: Mosses, cryptocorynes, etc.. - 90 seconds.
Average plants: Echinodorus sp., most stem plants - 120 seconds.
'Hard' plants: Java fern, Anubias, etc.. - 150 seconds.

 

[Rocky998]

1. Rinse the plants in a bucket. Remove the plants and empty the bucket.
2. Mix 1 part unscented bleach to 20 parts of water in the bucket. Wear rubber gloves and mix thoroughly.
3. Prepare a second bucket with fresh water and add Water Conditioner.
4. Dip plants in Bucket 1 and ensure that they're completely submerged.
5. After the prescribed time, place immediately under a running tap for about a minute.
6. Place in Bucket 2 and leave for at last a minute.

Delicates: Mosses, cryptocorynes, etc.. - 90 seconds.
Average plants: Echinodorus sp., most stem plants - 120 seconds.
'Hard' plants: Java fern, Anubias, etc.. - 150 seconds.

Or you just add ich cure and it'll kill all the invertebrates... Right?

 

[Deleted member 149562]

Or you can soak the plants in lightly salted water for a week or two...changing said salted water weekly....before adding plants to the aquarium give them a seriously good rinse to get rid of any salt residue

It usually works well......unless the pesky pest snails are nuclear ones that have held their breath throughout the salting process and get their revenge within 48 hours of being planted into the aquarium smothering every inch of every pane of glass, substrate and hood......been there, had that...no more live plants for me

 

[Slaphppy7]

Or you can soak the plants in lightly salted water for a week or two...changing said salted water weekly....before adding plants to the aquarium give them a seriously good rinse to get rid of any salt residue

It usually works well......unless the pesky pest snails are nuclear ones that have held their breath throughout the salting process and get their revenge within 48 hours of being planted into the aquarium smothering every inch of every pane of glass, substrate and hood......been there, had that...no more live plants for me

Darn pest snails could probably live in a vat of petrol...

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Or you can soak the plants in lightly salted water for a week or two...changing said salted water weekly....before adding plants to the aquarium give them a seriously good rinse to get rid of any salt residue

It usually works well......unless the pesky pest snails are nuclear ones that have held their breath throughout the salting process and get their revenge within 48 hours of being planted into the aquarium smothering every inch of every pane of glass, substrate and hood......been there, had that...no more live plants for me

So no plants, because you can't find any bleach? 'Tis so sad.

 

[Rocky998]

Darn pest snails could probably live in a vat of petrol...

I dont think id mind the snails much... Even though I'd try to rid of them

 

[Slaphppy7]

I dont think id mind the snails much... Even though I'd try to rid of them

If you had hundreds in your tank, you may rethink that statement, lol....I abhor them

 

[Deleted member 149562]

So no plants, because you can't find any bleach? 'Tis so sad.

I am devoid of green thumbs....even weeds die in the garden for me.....plants are a definite no-go.....always have been and probably always will be

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

I am devoid of green thumbs....even weeds die in the garden for me.....plants are a definite no-go.....always have been and probably always will be

Not even floaters?