Hello. I am going to tell you the state of my tanks as they are now. Let's not bother with how I went from 25 fish to 7. We'll just say that it took about 3 years and working 60-80 hours a week.
What I am looking for are some friendly tips and suggestions for how to restart my hobby. I am pretending that I have never kept a fish before in my life. Suggestions for how to fill my tanks with happy healthy fish that allow me to keep the ones I still have are appreciated, but not necessary. I know I can send them to happy homes. I am open to all kinds of tank set ups. Tropical, Cichlid, CA, African, just not Salt... I don't deserve salt water yet. I am thinking it would be a great idea to have one of my tanks swapped to a tropical tank as a good restarter.
So -- let's get to the rundown... this should be fun for some really obsessed members!
Tank 1: 55 gallon
Gravel bottom
Texas Holy rock and Utah Lace rock
One Aquaclear brand filter for 55 gallon tanks (on it's last legs... looking into DIYs)
heater
No background, no paint (thinking about painting a solid color background)
1 yellow lab
2 white labs
1 Synodontis eupteris (Squeaker) Note -- this is my favorite fish... But he is responsible in part for many Missing Fish scenarios... He is so cute... but I expect to have to get rid of him. Especially since any new fish (as fry) would never survive his nocturnal adventures.
Tank 2: 75 gallon
Sand bottom (playsand)
Round River Rocks (from rock yard)
Clay pots
Black paint background
One Aquaclear brand filter for 75 gallon tanks (on it's last legs as well)
heater
2 Hypsophrys nicaraguensis (Not a breeding pair... had seven... then had a breeding pair... then, before I could separate -- had killings... 2 that are left in this tank are not from the pair)
I am very open to giving these fish away... because I failed them miserably and feel like a horrible person every time I look at them...
Tank 3: 10 gallon
Gravel bottom
Claypot
One filter for 20 gallon tank (not sure the brand)
Heater
1 Hypsophrys Nicaraguensis (This is the mother. She is in this tank because it was a sick bay. Then I couldn't dare to reintroduce her...)
Tank 4: 4 gallon
This tank is a BiOrb tank that has started to pop up in Pets Mart. It was a birthday gift. It is empty. I would like to take it to work and put fish in there that could be comfortable... I am looking into "tiny" fish, that don't get much bigger than an inch.
Tank 5: One of those Betta Death Bowls
I have one male betta sitting next to me right now in a little death tank. I received 3 bettas as party favors at a friends bridal shower. My three are the only to have survived. I took them to work and gave one to each of the other girls working with me. This one I kept for myself. I changed the water often, knowing it was in a death bowl. I would like to save him from this. But, he is comparatively happy at the moment.
Okay!
Understand that I am not looking to have anyone do all of my work for me. I just would really like some suggestions. I want to fix this catastrophe rather than retire from the hobby. Unfortunately, the ONLY LFS in my area is sort of notorious for bad behavior, so I can't really go to them for advice. They come up with some doozies... let me tell ya.
Thank you, and I love you in advance for your help and understanding.
What I am looking for are some friendly tips and suggestions for how to restart my hobby. I am pretending that I have never kept a fish before in my life. Suggestions for how to fill my tanks with happy healthy fish that allow me to keep the ones I still have are appreciated, but not necessary. I know I can send them to happy homes. I am open to all kinds of tank set ups. Tropical, Cichlid, CA, African, just not Salt... I don't deserve salt water yet. I am thinking it would be a great idea to have one of my tanks swapped to a tropical tank as a good restarter.
So -- let's get to the rundown... this should be fun for some really obsessed members!
Tank 1: 55 gallon
Gravel bottom
Texas Holy rock and Utah Lace rock
One Aquaclear brand filter for 55 gallon tanks (on it's last legs... looking into DIYs)
heater
No background, no paint (thinking about painting a solid color background)
1 yellow lab
2 white labs
1 Synodontis eupteris (Squeaker) Note -- this is my favorite fish... But he is responsible in part for many Missing Fish scenarios... He is so cute... but I expect to have to get rid of him. Especially since any new fish (as fry) would never survive his nocturnal adventures.
Tank 2: 75 gallon
Sand bottom (playsand)
Round River Rocks (from rock yard)
Clay pots
Black paint background
One Aquaclear brand filter for 75 gallon tanks (on it's last legs as well)
heater
2 Hypsophrys nicaraguensis (Not a breeding pair... had seven... then had a breeding pair... then, before I could separate -- had killings... 2 that are left in this tank are not from the pair)
I am very open to giving these fish away... because I failed them miserably and feel like a horrible person every time I look at them...
Tank 3: 10 gallon
Gravel bottom
Claypot
One filter for 20 gallon tank (not sure the brand)
Heater
1 Hypsophrys Nicaraguensis (This is the mother. She is in this tank because it was a sick bay. Then I couldn't dare to reintroduce her...)
Tank 4: 4 gallon
This tank is a BiOrb tank that has started to pop up in Pets Mart. It was a birthday gift. It is empty. I would like to take it to work and put fish in there that could be comfortable... I am looking into "tiny" fish, that don't get much bigger than an inch.
Tank 5: One of those Betta Death Bowls
I have one male betta sitting next to me right now in a little death tank. I received 3 bettas as party favors at a friends bridal shower. My three are the only to have survived. I took them to work and gave one to each of the other girls working with me. This one I kept for myself. I changed the water often, knowing it was in a death bowl. I would like to save him from this. But, he is comparatively happy at the moment.
Okay!
Understand that I am not looking to have anyone do all of my work for me. I just would really like some suggestions. I want to fix this catastrophe rather than retire from the hobby. Unfortunately, the ONLY LFS in my area is sort of notorious for bad behavior, so I can't really go to them for advice. They come up with some doozies... let me tell ya.
Thank you, and I love you in advance for your help and understanding.