Getting a Bristlenose pleco from Maidenhead aquatics

[MattW]

Separate question does anyone have any good ways of changing water for a fish tank.

In what way? Taking water out / putting water in / transporting water to and from the tank? Gravel vac?

 

[Fishkeeper123]

Water to and from the tank and transferring fish

 

[MattW]

For me, I use water totes and buckets. Dirty water is siphoned into a 10L bucket and clean water is added to the tank from the tote, also 10L (bare in mind temperature differences, I try to achieve less than a 2 degree difference between the two waters). I do add dechlorinator in the tote then wait 5 mins just to be sure before adding into the tank. As for transferring fish for a quick switch of tank, I net them up and put them in a 3L measuring jug, around a 20-30min drip acclimation is done which is more than sufficient for the fish/shrimps I have. As for long-term transferring/quarantine, I've used a food-grade plastic container of around 25-30L or any spare tank I have, including matured filter media as well.

Going back to WCs I've heard other members mention and use the Python system which sounds like a more efficient way but I've never considered getting one. Also, houseplants and any garden plants can make use of the dirty water which is what I do with my peace lilies and ferns

 

[swbrenneis]

I got an albino bristlenose from PetCo (US big box store). He was about a half inch long and was in a tank by himself. It was obvious that they took good care of their tanks. They had a saltwater section, which is a bit unusual for a big box chain store. The saltwater tanks were crystal clear and the fish all looked healthy. No hair algae or diatoms. They even had some healthy-looking coral frags.

My bristlenose has tripled in size since I got him last month. He's a lot of fun to watch cruising around the tank, munching on algae and uneaten flake food. I guess the point is, if you're going to buy from a chain, you should observe their stock for a couple of weeks before you buy and always quarantine. Obviously, YMMV.

 

[Fishkeeper123]

I got an albino bristlenose from PetCo (US big box store). He was about a half inch long and was in a tank by himself. It was obvious that they took good care of their tanks. They had a saltwater section, which is a bit unusual for a big box chain store. The saltwater tanks were crystal clear and the fish all looked healthy. No hair algae or diatoms. They even had some healthy-looking coral frags.

My bristlenose has tripled in size since I got him last month. He's a lot of fun to watch cruising around the tank, munching on algae and uneaten flake food. I guess the point is, if you're going to buy from a chain, you should observe their stock for a couple of weeks before you buy and always quarantine. Obviously, YMMV.

Yeah I have. I’ve been to Maidenhead aquatics twice before. Once to buy my starting fish and second to buy some plants and driftwood. They have hundreds of fish and I have only ever seen one dead one and all the fish I have bought from them have survived so far( 2/3 months). I think I will quarantine the fish I get just need to find a tank and finally decide on my stocking and then will gradually quarantine and introduce the fish.

 

[CassCats]

I use a siphon hose (50 foot vinyl hose) to drain my tanks from tank into bath tub. And to refill I use a garden hose from my kitchen sink into the tank directly. Dose dechlorinator for entire tank volume before refilling with hose.

My arthritis doesn't like draining into buckets nowadays.