Newbie Needs Help

[StingRay999]

Thank you for the replies. I just managed to find a nic big home for the Pleco. The guy will come pick him up tomorrow evening.

 

[StingRay999]

The readings this morning are:
PH:8.2
NH3/4: 0.01
NO2:0.15

I also confirmed, it is not a build up on the filter, the actual sponge is turning brown.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

looking good...

 

[waterdrop]

Thank you for the replies. I just managed to find a nic big home for the Pleco. The guy will come pick him up tomorrow evening.

had this sudden thought when reading that that one could set up a really big tank and perhaps just populate it by accepting fish from beginners who got fish that would grow too large, lol

 

[fluttermoth]

You could! In fact I do have a 48"x15"x18" that has nothing but rescue fish in it; an unknown species of Synodontis that was being bullied by some clown loach, a Spotted and a Striped Talking catfish that were about to be flushed down the toilet for eating someone's neons and an Oscar that came out of a three foot community
It's the second rescued Oscar I've had in there; I bought the tank intending it to be a Amazonian biotype
Had to buy another tank for that...

 

[StingRay999]

Readings before water change this morning:
PH:8.2
NH3/4: 0.018
NO2: 0.2

The idiot who said he will take the Pleco never showed up yesterday afternoon, so now I will have to start searching all over again.

 

[StingRay999]

Ok I finally managed to find a fish breeder who will DEFINITELY take the Pleco. Just out of curiosity, when my tank has finished its cycle, can I put some more fish in, considering it is a 7 gallon tank? I was thinking of adding 2 Betta females together with the 4 Rio Tetras and then also give the 2 Buble Mollies that is currently in there away. I saw some Neons as well, they looked quite nice, but the Betta's just look so vibrant and colourfull.

 

[waterdrop]

You could! In fact I do have a 48"x15"x18" that has nothing but rescue fish in it; an unknown species of Synodontis that was being bullied by some clown loach, a Spotted and a Striped Talking catfish that were about to be flushed down the toilet for eating someone's neons and an Oscar that came out of a three foot community
It's the second rescued Oscar I've had in there; I bought the tank intending it to be a Amazonian biotype
Had to buy another tank for that...

I'm going to get a London flat and hang out a little sign: "Waterdrops Fish Rescue Dropoff" (I'll have to have Wilder in a back room somewhere, Miss Wiggle managing the front desk and OM on conference call and a plaque with Tolak's phone number ) (you know us yanks, we're always dreaming of double-decker red busses and black cabs, lol)

[not ignoring you Sting, its just that there will be others with better suggestions than me for small tank stocking]

~~waterdrop~~

 

[fluttermoth]

To be completely honest with you, Sting, your tank would be overstocked with just the Tetras, bearing in mind they can grow to 2.5 inches...

I'm afraid you will have to re-home the mollies too; you just don't have the space for them

I have to say, I am starting to really loathe these tiny little tanks. They're really good for nothing except maybe a single Betta or some shrimp, but they're so affordable that shops can sell them, plus any fish they can, to poor people who don't know any better

I am so fed up of seeing people, like Sting, who want to do things right having all these problems and getting upset because their fish are dying when all they need is a decent sized tank and some advice on cycling.

Why on earth the shops can't, at the very least give people a bit of mature media to start them off, I will never know.

Sorry, rant over

 

[Lolly123]

Hello,

You've recieved a lot of replies on your topic, all of great benefit and advice, obviously!

I must say though, some LFS are just a great big waste of space full of staff who just want you to give them your money, for example..the person who wrote that pets at home are suggesting a 2 - 3 day settling period before adding fish!!

One of the most valuable things I have done for my fish and for my wallet is taking time to research this hobby by using forums/books etc etc Oh so many times i've seen people who dont have a great amount of knowledge about fish when starting out get conned into buying stuff which they really dont need...or cannot have. And we all know how expensive this can get!

If you go in having done your research and background info you'll start to realise when your being taken for a ride and it will make your fish keeping experience a more pleasurable experience.

Good luck.

 

[Lolly123]

To be completely honest with you, Sting, your tank would be overstocked with just the Tetras, bearing in mind they can grow to 2.5 inches...

I'm afraid you will have to re-home the mollies too; you just don't have the space for them

I have to say, I am starting to really loathe these tiny little tanks. They're really good for nothing except maybe a single Betta or some shrimp, but they're so affordable that shops can sell them, plus any fish they can, to poor people who don't know any better

I am so fed up of seeing people, like Sting, who want to do things right having all these problems and getting upset because their fish are dying when all they need is a decent sized tank and some advice on cycling.

Why on earth the shops can't, at the very least give people a bit of mature media to start them off, I will never know.

Sorry, rant over

Flutter mouth..I cant agree with you more, I find myself in a catch22 with this hobby at times, and all the poor fish that have gone through unneccessary suffering due to poor advice and ridiculous advertising. I give it to the people who want to try and make the effort to visit the forums in order to expand their knowledge and try and save their fish, after all it does come down to personal responsibility in order to be a good fish keeper and unfortunately some LFS and their staff slow that process down in order to gain a few bucks!

The amount of times i've gone in to a LFS and walked straight back out again...it makes you wonder!

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, *sighs*

If only they'd realise that starting people off right would be better for them in the end; they might end up being into reefs, or Discus and the shops would make more money in the long run...

I guess in the mean time, it'll just be left to people like us to pick up the pieces

P.S; it's 'moth' not 'mouth

 

[Lolly123]

Yes, *sighs*

If only they'd realise that starting people off right would be better for them in the end; they might end up being into reefs, or Discus and the shops would make more money in the long run...

I guess in the mean time, it'll just be left to people like us to pick up the pieces

P.S; it's 'moth' not 'mouth

ahh...lol...im sorry typo error, was funny though, maybe we found you a new name

 

[fluttermoth]

Thanks, Lolly, but I like the name I have already! I love moths, not all tarty and flashy like butterflies

 

[StingRay999]

Ok thank you for all the comments . I have just spoken to the breeder who is coming to collect the pleco this afternoon and he said that he will take the Molies as well (seems like quite a nice chap although he does not realy want to help me out with my setup and some advice).

In the mean time the readings this morning before a big water change were:

PH: 8.2
NO3/4: Trace amounts, to small to take a reading
NO2: 0.05

Seems that I might have a more peacefull weekend regarding water changes.