Hoplo Catfish Meeting Swordtails.

[FishBlast]

Right... I think we need to step back a little...

Firstly, where are you? There might be a local forum member who could help out.

Secondly, could you describe exactly what you do when you change water/clean the tank etc.

Thirdly, what stuff do you have ie, filter, heater, etc.

Once you've told us those things we can advise you properly sound ok?

I live in Romania, that already says just how badly stuff is around here...

When I change the water, here's what I do:
1 - take out the fish: for the swordtails I use a net, but for the catfish I have to take him out by hand, as a net would get his fins tangled. He jumps in my hand by himself so that's easy.
2 - put the fish into some bowls covered with some plastic lid with holes (I put the hoplo separately, cause he will probably annoy the other fish in the bowl).
3 - I carry the aquarium to the bathroom, throw away ALL the old water and disinfect it with some detergent and then wash it all and wipe the tank so that it won't be wet underneath when I place it back on the stand.
4 - take tank back to stand, put the new water (which has been left outside for 2-3 days so that it won't hurt the fish, it is water from the sinks) in and then put the fish in it.

I have two filters, I use none of them anymore as I've observed no difference: the first one makes a lot of noise and blows bubbles, I don't even remember what that one looks like.
Second one has this sponge filter, but the sponge is INSIDE the tank and will just carry all the food over it. It sucks in the water and then throws it back in on the other end.
The water still needed to be changed once every 4 days back then (I fed the fish live food, but now I just buy frozen food and flakes, seems to work better).
No heating inside the aquarium, the house is heated instead, so temp is about 18-25C winter, 25-35C summer.

So I need a good filter, but what type should I get? What do you do when you need to keep your tank clean? How often do you change the water and how? I change it only when I see it start to get a bit foggy (which is either 4 days to a week depending on the food / fish mood).

 

[tribalbrit]

Over to you Caz.

 

[LucyB]

I feel so sorry for those fish

I really think you should read the beginner section: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

 

[FishBlast]

I think I have an idea on how to improve the tank. If I'll get my payment this month (would be my first ever official payment, as most of the time I just repair computers on my own for no company), I could buy a new tank just as big (any bigger than 80L won't fit in the room, as no furniture's that big to hold it) and a good filter.

But first , got to use my remaining money to buy some plants for this tank to keep the swordies happy. My old ones loved a certain type of grass that is like a vine with some leaves on it and it just floats around there. Don't know its English name.
Then dad and I will try to see if we can find out what's wrong with the old filter, maybe we can fix it so that I can increase tank water to 30L (any higher and I'll see swords going overboard...)
That should do until I get paid and get a better tank and system.

 

[coldcazzie]

*deep breath* ok. We need to go over some fishkeeping basics with you. How old are you, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[FishBlast]

*deep breath* ok. We need to go over some fishkeeping basics with you. How old are you, if you don't mind my asking?

I'm 21 years old.

When I was a kid (5-7 years old), I got the big tank as a present. It didn't have anything special in it, just a few plants that floated. And it was much more crowded than I had it in 2005 (first pic). Back in 1997 it had guppies, swordtails, betta fish (which I had no idea that they would kill my other fish until it happened, as the previous owner told me nothing about it), Hoplos (2 of them), zebra fish... it was a total chaos.
Everyone around here just kept fish in a simple aquarium, the sellers that I got the new fish from told me that as long as the tank allows the fish free movement, it's ok. So, with that advice, here's where I got.
Now I want to restart and get better, as I've basically had to give up on aquariums when high-school and the exams started...

 

[coldcazzie]

Yeah. Ok. In my signature, there's an orange link - click it and it will take you to our beginners resource centre. You need to read up on cycling particularly - this is to do with your filter and is VITAL for the health of your fis.

In the meantime, please stop using detergent - the chemicals are very harmful for your fish. also, instead of carrying the tank to the sink, use a bucket to carry the water to your tank to fill it, and a different bucket to empty the water into to empty it. Use these buckets only for the fish. It sounds like you don't have a lid for your tank? That would be my next purchase - then your fish cannot jump out and you can fill the tank fully.

It's really important that you read up on these things. I'm going to move this thread to the new tank section - you'll be able to get loads of help there from our members who will guide you towards better fishkeeping and healthy happy fish

 

[FishBlast]

Yeah. Ok. In my signature, there's an orange link - click it and it will take you to our beginners resource centre. You need to read up on cycling particularly - this is to do with your filter and is VITAL for the health of your fis.

In the meantime, please stop using detergent - the chemicals are very harmful for your fish. also, instead of carrying the tank to the sink, use a bucket to carry the water to your tank to fill it, and a different bucket to empty the water into to empty it. Use these buckets only for the fish. It sounds like you don't have a lid for your tank? That would be my next purchase - then your fish cannot jump out and you can fill the tank fully.

It's really important that you read up on these things. I'm going to move this thread to the new tank section - you'll be able to get loads of help there from our members who will guide you towards better fishkeeping and healthy happy fish

Thank you.

I was using dishes detergent, it hasn't harmed them before but ok.
I didn't fill it directly from the sink, as I said, the water from the sink is held in a 10L bottle outside the house till it's good enough to be put in the aquarium. Water that is taken directly from the sink always kills fish due to chlorine. I know, as once my mother put the fish in that water and I saw them die one by one turning white So I told her that something needs to be done about that.

The only reason I took it to the sink was because I had to wash / clean it.
Yeah I'll get a lid but I hope there's a way to feed them through it, I never had a lid.

 

[coldcazzie]

You just lift it off to feed them

You're right chlorine is bad - you buy something called dechlorinator which neutralizes the chlorine so it's fish safe. And if you invest in a siphon, you won't have to scrub, you can just suck the poop out.

 

[FishBlast]

Hmm, so that's how the filter works.
But it says as if the fish cannot survive more than 1 day without water changes. Mine survives even longer, that shouldn't be a problem.
So water changing will be done only partially when a filter is in the tank? That could fix my giant tank's problem. But first I need to get a good filter if the old one fails to do its job.
Sounds fun, I'll get a kit probably soon to test too. Just hope it doesn't cost a ton of money, cause I'm definitely not going to be allowed to spend that much (I wish I'd get away from restrictions...)

I don't know if they sell dechlorinators. But I prefer to leave the water outside, easier to keep track on how much water I have for the tank.
I had something like a siphon long ago, I wonder if it's still up in the attic...

 

[Whitey_144]

Yeah. Ok. In my signature, there's an orange link - click it and it will take you to our beginners resource centre. You need to read up on cycling particularly - this is to do with your filter and is VITAL for the health of your fis.

In the meantime, please stop using detergent - the chemicals are very harmful for your fish. also, instead of carrying the tank to the sink, use a bucket to carry the water to your tank to fill it, and a different bucket to empty the water into to empty it. Use these buckets only for the fish. It sounds like you don't have a lid for your tank? That would be my next purchase - then your fish cannot jump out and you can fill the tank fully.

It's really important that you read up on these things. I'm going to move this thread to the new tank section - you'll be able to get loads of help there from our members who will guide you towards better fishkeeping and healthy happy fish

Thank you.

I was using dishes detergent, it hasn't harmed them before but ok.
I didn't fill it directly from the sink, as I said, the water from the sink is held in a 10L bottle outside the house till it's good enough to be put in the aquarium. Water that is taken directly from the sink always kills fish due to chlorine. I know, as once my mother put the fish in that water and I saw them die one by one turning white So I told her that something needs to be done about that.

The only reason I took it to the sink was because I had to wash / clean it.
Yeah I'll get a lid but I hope there's a way to feed them through it, I never had a lid.

Hi mate,

welcome to the site, have you read the beginner section in Caz's thread now? this will help alot.

I'm sure the others will point the important issues to help you, but I wanted to note a few things from what i understand. Definitely don't use checmicals to clean anything.

Firstly, I believe keeping water outside doesn't kill everything thats bad in the tap water, im not sure in Romania but in the UK there is also chloramine in the water (this or Chlorine, cant remember which), doesn't disperse by ageing the water, therefore I treat the water with a decholiranator liquid before i put the water in the tank, a good one that people use is called 'prime'.

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEACHEM-PRIME-500ml-remove-chlorine-ammonia-/260770993994?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cb729974a#ht_1951wt_1398

The reason for this is because the chemicals added to tap water kills off the bacteria which are living in the filter media, without these bacteria the filter will be 'uncycled' i.e. not convert the toxic waste from the fish into cleaner water = death for fish.

This is also the reason, why you want to start running your filter again, it takes a long time to have a fully cycled (bacteria colony), but the sooner you start trying the better.

On my tank i take out about 20/30% of tank water and rinse my filter media in the old tank water (not tap water) once a week, because your tank is not cycled I would be doing water changes everyday of maybe 50% or more.

Although the fish might 'look' fine, the water in the tank will become more and more toxic to them and they will be suffering internally and die sooner then usual etc. Its like living in your own pee, yuk!

I would also recommend you get a water test kit for ammonia and nitrite (preferable also nitrate and PH). These are the main ones I use. Ammonia and nitrite are toxic, so we would want these levels to be at 0. You can get liquid test kits online, i got the below one, and a lot of people on here use it. It cost me about £10

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Liquid-Freshwater-Master-Test-Kit-/260932966310?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cc0d117a6#ht_500wt_1156

I hope this helps, make sure to read the beginner pages and understand the nitrogen cycle.

Fish Pee/Ammonia BAD---> (bacteria 1 converts to) ---> Nitrite BAD (bacteria 2 converts to) ----> Nitrate GOOD (lesson is we need bacteria in the filter)

~ Whitey ~

 

[Whitey_144]

Hmm, so that's how the filter works.
But it says as if the fish cannot survive more than 1 day without water changes. Mine survives even longer, that shouldn't be a problem.
So water changing will be done only partially when a filter is in the tank? That could fix my giant tank's problem. But first I need to get a good filter if the old one fails to do its job.
Sounds fun, I'll get a kit probably soon to test too. Just hope it doesn't cost a ton of money, cause I'm definitely not going to be allowed to spend that much (I wish I'd get away from restrictions...)

I don't know if they sell dechlorinators. But I prefer to leave the water outside, easier to keep track on how much water I have for the tank.
I had something like a siphon long ago, I wonder if it's still up in the attic...

Hye as you'll see from my other message, keeping it outdoors doesnt help with all the chemicals that some companys put in the tap water, of course if you want too in order to keep track of water volume, thats fine, but id suggest adding the dechlorinator too, they dont cost much and it lasts ages!! i use a small amount each time.

I have a hole in my hood for feeding, but if its light its easy just to lift up.

IF you have properly running filter on with bacteria living fine in it (cycled tank), you wont need to do a water change daily, probably weekly. The daily changes is to protect further damage to the fish while you are growing the bacteria and getting a settled tank.

Have you though about a substrate, maybe cheap play sand? I do find that my fish are less stressed with a darker substrate.

how big (how many litres and how wide,tall, deep) are all of your tanks?

 

[FishBlast]

Yeah. Ok. In my signature, there's an orange link - click it and it will take you to our beginners resource centre. You need to read up on cycling particularly - this is to do with your filter and is VITAL for the health of your fis.

In the meantime, please stop using detergent - the chemicals are very harmful for your fish. also, instead of carrying the tank to the sink, use a bucket to carry the water to your tank to fill it, and a different bucket to empty the water into to empty it. Use these buckets only for the fish. It sounds like you don't have a lid for your tank? That would be my next purchase - then your fish cannot jump out and you can fill the tank fully.

It's really important that you read up on these things. I'm going to move this thread to the new tank section - you'll be able to get loads of help there from our members who will guide you towards better fishkeeping and healthy happy fish

Thank you.

I was using dishes detergent, it hasn't harmed them before but ok.
I didn't fill it directly from the sink, as I said, the water from the sink is held in a 10L bottle outside the house till it's good enough to be put in the aquarium. Water that is taken directly from the sink always kills fish due to chlorine. I know, as once my mother put the fish in that water and I saw them die one by one turning white So I told her that something needs to be done about that.

The only reason I took it to the sink was because I had to wash / clean it.
Yeah I'll get a lid but I hope there's a way to feed them through it, I never had a lid.

Hi mate,

welcome to the site, have you read the beginner section in Caz's thread now? this will help alot.

I'm sure the others will point the important issues to help you, but I wanted to note a few things from what i understand. Definitely don't use checmicals to clean anything.

Firstly, I believe keeping water outside doesn't kill everything thats bad in the tap water, im not sure in Romania but in the UK there is also chloramine in the water (this or Chlorine, cant remember which), doesn't disperse by ageing the water, therefore I treat the water with a decholiranator liquid before i put the water in the tank, a good one that people use is called 'prime'.

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEACHEM-PRIME-500ml-remove-chlorine-ammonia-/260770993994?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cb729974a#ht_1951wt_1398

The reason for this is because the chemicals added to tap water kills off the bacteria which are living in the filter media, without these bacteria the filter will be 'uncycled' i.e. not convert the toxic waste from the fish into cleaner water = death for fish.

This is also the reason, why you want to start running your filter again, it takes a long time to have a fully cycled (bacteria colony), but the sooner you start trying the better.

On my tank i take out about 20/30% of tank water and rinse my filter media in the old tank water (not tap water) once a week, because your tank is not cycled I would be doing water changes everyday of maybe 50% or more.

Although the fish might 'look' fine, the water in the tank will become more and more toxic to them and they will be suffering internally and die sooner then usual etc. Its like living in your own pee, yuk!

I would also recommend you get a water test kit for ammonia and nitrite (preferable also nitrate and PH). These are the main ones I use. Ammonia and nitrite are toxic, so we would want these levels to be at 0. You can get liquid test kits online, i got the below one, and a lot of people on here use it. It cost me about £10

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Liquid-Freshwater-Master-Test-Kit-/260932966310?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cc0d117a6#ht_500wt_1156

I hope this helps, make sure to read the beginner pages and understand the nitrogen cycle.

Fish Pee/Ammonia BAD---> (bacteria 1 converts to) ---> Nitrite BAD (bacteria 2 converts to) ----> Nitrate GOOD (lesson is we need bacteria in the filter)

~ Whitey ~

Thank you.
First I have to get that filter though. If not, I'll have to buy a new one if the engine's damaged or whatever happened to it.
I think I can do 50% water changes, but don't know if I can get dechlorinator. Will see at the pet shop.

Or... I could do a fishless cycle on the bigger tank so the fish can hang on till then (well, Tzuppy I know he does cause he's alive for so many years). Just need to figure out where to place that giant hunk of glass. I could take the waste water and put it in that big tank so I'll put that water to use. But it will probably stink X_X
So the kit is 15 dollars... sounds cheap. Maybe I can find it here too. I don't really know much about online purchase.

 

[FishBlast]

Hye as you'll see from my other message, keeping it outdoors doesnt help with all the chemicals that some companys put in the tap water, of course if you want too in order to keep track of water volume, thats fine, but id suggest adding the dechlorinator too, they dont cost much and it lasts ages!! i use a small amount each time.

I have a hole in my hood for feeding, but if its light its easy just to lift up.

IF you have properly running filter on with bacteria living fine in it (cycled tank), you wont need to do a water change daily, probably weekly. The daily changes is to protect further damage to the fish while you are growing the bacteria and getting a settled tank.

Have you though about a substrate, maybe cheap play sand? I do find that my fish are less stressed with a darker substrate.

how big (how many litres and how wide,tall, deep) are all of your tanks?

Like I said, I had two types of substrates, proven hard to clean but the filter would probably fix that. Might get an interesting substrate though out of some kind of pebbles... but not sure if they're good. Saw them for ponds and stuff but didn't ask if they can be used in aquarium, also have some of them for my turtle's pond (I don't use them currently, as the turtle just carried food in there and lost it between those). They are just made out of plastic.
They are quite big so Tzuppy probably won't mess those and will sit over them. But most of his food will go through them... Got to find a way to not waste food...

I'll have to do measurements tomorrow to check for sure. I'd say the height of current tank is 50 cm, width 30 cm and length around 60 cm, but not sure.
Bigger tank should be about double in size.

By the way, where to put the dechlorinator? In the bottle or the tank?

Another question would be: If that filter was once used in an established aquarium and probably had a colony, would the bacteria still be alive there? Or has it died by now, as the sponge has been kept dry for so long?

 

[FishBlast]

I have measured the current tank, it's 18 cm wide, 31 cm tall and 40 cm long.
I'll try the filter on this one to see if I can at least establish this one for now until I get a better one, as the big old one may be too big for the table so I can put a new 50 cm long aquarium at best on it, but it can be 50 cm wide/tall too.
It's pretty hard convincing mom about it as she is skeptical (she has kept fish without filter for years so she won't believe me). She also says keeping fish/any pet is for kids, but what about all those people who keep fancy fish in aquariums that are even placed in their walls? And surely not everyone on this forum is a kid, right?

Well, so far my 3 swords have adapted to Tzuppy's jumping. They seem to like the bloodworms more.