Hoplo Catfish Meeting Swordtails.

[Whitey_144]

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.

everyones a kid at heart!

The dechlorinator comes in a bottle and you pour a tiny bit into the new tap water, before adding the tap water into the tank.

I'd worry more about the filter for now, rather than substrate. If your mum wants to learn more you could always show her the beginner pages here, they are very helpful and easy to understand.

~whitey~

 

[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.

everyones a kid at heart!

The dechlorinator comes in a bottle and you pour a tiny bit into the new tap water, before adding the tap water into the tank.

I'd worry more about the filter for now, rather than substrate. If your mum wants to learn more you could always show her the beginner pages here, they are very helpful and easy to understand.

~whitey~

Not my mom, she's so old her personality is old. And she doesn't understand English and even if I translate to her, she's like "Yeah right." "No way, that's enough space for four fish." "Until you can afford to buy a bigger table you can't put a bigger aquarium." blah blah, there WAS a bigger table, she took it up the attic.

Oh, that's perfect, as I store the bottles anyway. Just that I have to wait to get paid, because I doubt dad would lend me any money, barely convinced him to give back the money he borrowed from me. Then I can buy some chlorine remover and I'm not sure about the water testing equip (how long it lasts / cost and availability in stores and I cannot order over the internet). And I have yet to hear about a pet shop in this area that does free water testing. They just want to get their merchandise sold and with no return except for appliances.

And yes I am worried about that filter, I mean not just worried but SUPER worried: dad misplaced it in the attic! What am I going to do now?! Should I 100% change water tomorrow till he finds it or I get a new one or just do a 70%? I'm most worried about the swords as they are new here, they'd probably be the first to have trouble.
All I know is that the filter is an in-tank one, so it has this sponge and plastic case, it looks something like this:

Could that grow a colony in it?

And a friend suggested that I should use spring water that they sell in stores. I told him that I'm not sure that's a good idea, who knows what is put in that water (and we humans drink it ). Is that safe to use in the aquarium? Ingredients: Carbonated Hydrogen, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chlorine, Sulphates. I think it would be pretty much same as sink water AND expensive so rather just use sink water...

 

[riogal_11]

First thing I would do is take the swords back to the Pet shop until you get this all sorted out. Their health is one less thing you have to worry about while you get everything up to par.

As for the old filter, the bacteria would be dead if it has been sitting in an attic for years.

Goodluck!

 

[FishBlast]

First thing I would do is take the swords back to the Pet shop until you get this all sorted out. Their health is one less thing you have to worry about while you get everything up to par.

As for the old filter, the bacteria would be dead if it has been sitting in an attic for years.

Goodluck!

Yeah but that's normal in your country. Here I can't just go to the sellers and tell them to take it back, as there is no warranty. I can handle the swordtails' water change if 100% needs to be done, what I don't like is that it means it will take even longer if I don't start soon.

So bacteria is dead but can it grow back if I do a fish-in cycle with daily 70-50% water changes? Or do I need to buy new bacteria? I've read on this website that buying it is not needed as the tank has plenty of ammonia-eating bacteria, but since I've cleaned the tank weekly, I don't even know if they will form again. As for a no-fish tank, can't do that one, too much stuff to use, mom would just put the aquarium over my head X_X.

 

[Whitey_144]

First thing I would do is take the swords back to the Pet shop until you get this all sorted out. Their health is one less thing you have to worry about while you get everything up to par.

As for the old filter, the bacteria would be dead if it has been sitting in an attic for years.

Goodluck!

Yeah but that's normal in your country. Here I can't just go to the sellers and tell them to take it back, as there is no warranty. I can handle the swordtails' water change if 100% needs to be done, what I don't like is that it means it will take even longer if I don't start soon.

So bacteria is dead but can it grow back if I do a fish-in cycle with daily 70-50% water changes? Or do I need to buy new bacteria? I've read on this website that buying it is not needed as the tank has plenty of ammonia-eating bacteria, but since I've cleaned the tank weekly, I don't even know if they will form again. As for a no-fish tank, can't do that one, too much stuff to use, mom would just put the aquarium over my head X_X.

the bacteria on the old filter is dead, i think a few hours out of water and they'd be killed off (maybe someone can correct me),
they are living organisms, so need there normal evironment, i.e. water, flow, oxygen, fish waste to grow.

The good news is, that once you get your filter in the bacteria will start growing in the sponge part, starting slowly and multiplying quicker as there is more of them. I would do 80/90% water changes daily for now, to be more confident the fish are safe, (basically leave enough space for the fish at the bottom of the tank) i dont take my fish out, however you NEED the dechlorinator bottle otherwise the clean water you put in daily would kill off the baby bacteria again.

 

[FishBlast]

First thing I would do is take the swords back to the Pet shop until you get this all sorted out. Their health is one less thing you have to worry about while you get everything up to par.

As for the old filter, the bacteria would be dead if it has been sitting in an attic for years.

Goodluck!

Yeah but that's normal in your country. Here I can't just go to the sellers and tell them to take it back, as there is no warranty. I can handle the swordtails' water change if 100% needs to be done, what I don't like is that it means it will take even longer if I don't start soon.

So bacteria is dead but can it grow back if I do a fish-in cycle with daily 70-50% water changes? Or do I need to buy new bacteria? I've read on this website that buying it is not needed as the tank has plenty of ammonia-eating bacteria, but since I've cleaned the tank weekly, I don't even know if they will form again. As for a no-fish tank, can't do that one, too much stuff to use, mom would just put the aquarium over my head X_X.

the bacteria on the old filter is dead, i think a few hours out of water and they'd be killed off (maybe someone can correct me),
they are living organisms, so need there normal evironment, i.e. water, flow, oxygen, fish waste to grow.

The good news is, that once you get your filter in the bacteria will start growing in the sponge part, starting slowly and multiplying quicker as there is more of them. I would do 80/90% water changes daily for now, to be more confident the fish are safe, (basically leave enough space for the fish at the bottom of the tank) i dont take my fish out, however you NEED the dechlorinator bottle otherwise the clean water you put in daily would kill off the baby bacteria again.

That might also mean less stress for the swordies then, so ok I'll just do a 90% change for now. I hope dad can find that pump tomorrow. But that's still not going to solve it as the dechlorinator's still to be bought. Is there anything else that could remove chlorine from water in the meantime to at the very least give a low chance of the bacteria to start? There might be boiling the water, but that's probably just as useless as leaving the gas to go out of it.

Someone said about sodium thiosulphate, which can be bought from pharmacies cheap. Is that really of any use?

 

[Whitey_144]

First thing I would do is take the swords back to the Pet shop until you get this all sorted out. Their health is one less thing you have to worry about while you get everything up to par.

As for the old filter, the bacteria would be dead if it has been sitting in an attic for years.

Goodluck!

Yeah but that's normal in your country. Here I can't just go to the sellers and tell them to take it back, as there is no warranty. I can handle the swordtails' water change if 100% needs to be done, what I don't like is that it means it will take even longer if I don't start soon.

So bacteria is dead but can it grow back if I do a fish-in cycle with daily 70-50% water changes? Or do I need to buy new bacteria? I've read on this website that buying it is not needed as the tank has plenty of ammonia-eating bacteria, but since I've cleaned the tank weekly, I don't even know if they will form again. As for a no-fish tank, can't do that one, too much stuff to use, mom would just put the aquarium over my head X_X.

I don't think there is anyway around it, I don't think boiling helps. See if your local shops, seel Seachem Prime, its the best one and widely sold.

the bacteria on the old filter is dead, i think a few hours out of water and they'd be killed off (maybe someone can correct me),
they are living organisms, so need there normal evironment, i.e. water, flow, oxygen, fish waste to grow.

The good news is, that once you get your filter in the bacteria will start growing in the sponge part, starting slowly and multiplying quicker as there is more of them. I would do 80/90% water changes daily for now, to be more confident the fish are safe, (basically leave enough space for the fish at the bottom of the tank) i dont take my fish out, however you NEED the dechlorinator bottle otherwise the clean water you put in daily would kill off the baby bacteria again.

That might also mean less stress for the swordies then, so ok I'll just do a 90% change for now. I hope dad can find that pump tomorrow. But that's still not going to solve it as the dechlorinator's still to be bought. Is there anything else that could remove chlorine from water in the meantime to at the very least give a low chance of the bacteria to start? There might be boiling the water, but that's probably just as useless as leaving the gas to go out of it.

Someone said about thiosulphate, which can be bought from pharmacies cheap. Is that really of any use?

i dont think theres anyway around it, try and get 'seachem prime', its widely sold and the best one, but others will do too.

 

[FishBlast]

First thing I would do is take the swords back to the Pet shop until you get this all sorted out. Their health is one less thing you have to worry about while you get everything up to par.

As for the old filter, the bacteria would be dead if it has been sitting in an attic for years.

Goodluck!

Yeah but that's normal in your country. Here I can't just go to the sellers and tell them to take it back, as there is no warranty. I can handle the swordtails' water change if 100% needs to be done, what I don't like is that it means it will take even longer if I don't start soon.

So bacteria is dead but can it grow back if I do a fish-in cycle with daily 70-50% water changes? Or do I need to buy new bacteria? I've read on this website that buying it is not needed as the tank has plenty of ammonia-eating bacteria, but since I've cleaned the tank weekly, I don't even know if they will form again. As for a no-fish tank, can't do that one, too much stuff to use, mom would just put the aquarium over my head X_X.

I don't think there is anyway around it, I don't think boiling helps. See if your local shops, seel Seachem Prime, its the best one and widely sold.

the bacteria on the old filter is dead, i think a few hours out of water and they'd be killed off (maybe someone can correct me),
they are living organisms, so need there normal evironment, i.e. water, flow, oxygen, fish waste to grow.

The good news is, that once you get your filter in the bacteria will start growing in the sponge part, starting slowly and multiplying quicker as there is more of them. I would do 80/90% water changes daily for now, to be more confident the fish are safe, (basically leave enough space for the fish at the bottom of the tank) i dont take my fish out, however you NEED the dechlorinator bottle otherwise the clean water you put in daily would kill off the baby bacteria again.

That might also mean less stress for the swordies then, so ok I'll just do a 90% change for now. I hope dad can find that pump tomorrow. But that's still not going to solve it as the dechlorinator's still to be bought. Is there anything else that could remove chlorine from water in the meantime to at the very least give a low chance of the bacteria to start? There might be boiling the water, but that's probably just as useless as leaving the gas to go out of it.

Someone said about thiosulphate, which can be bought from pharmacies cheap. Is that really of any use?

i dont think theres anyway around it, try and get 'seachem prime', its widely sold and the best one, but others will do too.

Seachem Prime seems to cost a lot I've found that there are some sold here but so far online and not in stock... Got to check the pet shop, hope they have something that I can afford for now that will at the very least remove chlorine.

 

[Whitey_144]

First thing I would do is take the swords back to the Pet shop until you get this all sorted out. Their health is one less thing you have to worry about while you get everything up to par.

As for the old filter, the bacteria would be dead if it has been sitting in an attic for years.

Goodluck!

Yeah but that's normal in your country. Here I can't just go to the sellers and tell them to take it back, as there is no warranty. I can handle the swordtails' water change if 100% needs to be done, what I don't like is that it means it will take even longer if I don't start soon.

So bacteria is dead but can it grow back if I do a fish-in cycle with daily 70-50% water changes? Or do I need to buy new bacteria? I've read on this website that buying it is not needed as the tank has plenty of ammonia-eating bacteria, but since I've cleaned the tank weekly, I don't even know if they will form again. As for a no-fish tank, can't do that one, too much stuff to use, mom would just put the aquarium over my head X_X.

I don't think there is anyway around it, I don't think boiling helps. See if your local shops, seel Seachem Prime, its the best one and widely sold.

the bacteria on the old filter is dead, i think a few hours out of water and they'd be killed off (maybe someone can correct me),
they are living organisms, so need there normal evironment, i.e. water, flow, oxygen, fish waste to grow.

The good news is, that once you get your filter in the bacteria will start growing in the sponge part, starting slowly and multiplying quicker as there is more of them. I would do 80/90% water changes daily for now, to be more confident the fish are safe, (basically leave enough space for the fish at the bottom of the tank) i dont take my fish out, however you NEED the dechlorinator bottle otherwise the clean water you put in daily would kill off the baby bacteria again.

That might also mean less stress for the swordies then, so ok I'll just do a 90% change for now. I hope dad can find that pump tomorrow. But that's still not going to solve it as the dechlorinator's still to be bought. Is there anything else that could remove chlorine from water in the meantime to at the very least give a low chance of the bacteria to start? There might be boiling the water, but that's probably just as useless as leaving the gas to go out of it.

Someone said about thiosulphate, which can be bought from pharmacies cheap. Is that really of any use?

i dont think theres anyway around it, try and get 'seachem prime', its widely sold and the best one, but others will do too.

Seachem Prime seems to cost a lot I've found that there are some sold here but so far online and not in stock... Got to check the pet shop, hope they have something that I can afford for now that will at the very least remove chlorine.

chlorine And chloramine (if they put that in Romania tap water)

 

[FishBlast]

chlorine And chloramine (if they put that in Romania tap water)

Some people on a Romanian forum said that we only have chlorine. I'm still researching for products that they sell directly here, but so far no brand names found.

EDIT: Found something. Is JBL Biotopol any good?
The prospect says it has pretty much the same effects of seachem, but it's half the price so something probably isn't included. But it says it has vitamin B and aloe vera for the fish's body armor.

 

[Tizer]

this is ace, these threads just keep me coming back

 

[FishBlast]

this is ace, these threads just keep me coming back

Is... that a bad thing?

 

[FishFanatic04]

Your thread is very interesting actually. You are really trying hard to do good things for your fish, I'm impressed. Don't give up. I bet you will see a real difference in how your fish act when you are through all these changes for the better.

 

[FishFanatic04]

JBL Biotopol would be a good place to start. You need something quickly and something you can afford now. Someone may correct me, but you need a dechlorinater and that looks like it would do the job.

 

[FishBlast]

Your thread is very interesting actually. You are really trying hard to do good things for your fish, I'm impressed. Don't give up. I bet you will see a real difference in how your fish act when you are through all these changes for the better.

If only I could do more... And I feel like there is more that can be done, as I have a lot of stuff that I could use, the only one stopping me is my mother. Well, I want to try and prove that I can raise these fish so that she can allow me to increase aquarium size. I'm sure Tzuppy would love to roam that big aquarium he had before.

I need to make a plan on how to take things step by step but in order of importance.
* So far, water changes - we have that.
* I have a heater that could be used in case the house/aquarium temp ever goes too low (below 22 C), pretty sure my Xiphos will love it but there's a problem: It has collected calcareous formations that look similar to corals and... I don't quite trust it, it's too hard to set the temp.
* Feeding only a limited quantity of frozen food, good thing it doesn't spoil water too fast, but the flakes are needed too and those spoil. Xiphos are too small to eat the worms and barely get the time to find small worms. The catfish eats almost everything on the floor.
* Will do an incomplete water change tomorrow for the first time in like... ages since I last tried that. Back then, the algae were what made mom and me try a different method. We had no idea how to use the filter back then.
* Still need filter. When it is found, any tips on how to clean it before introducing it into the tank? Am I allowed to use sink water when it hasn't been introduced into the tank yet? Or should I use whatever water I'll take out of the tank on next water change?

Well it says that Biotopol does pretty much the same thing the other does and I can buy a 200 ml one, should last me for a good number of water changes.