Newby help please!!!

[CaptainBarnicles]

No of course I totally understand what your saying. The main reason I bought the rummys to begin with was because my nan used to have a little 20 litre tank when I was younger. She had about 5 rummys 5 neons and a couple guppies in hers for years and they were always as I can remember completely content and happy she never had a single issue. It’s what made me get a tank. I loved hers and all the fish she had hence why they were the first fish I ever got. Of course the fishes well-being is at the for front of my concern I’m just torn between taking them back to pokey little pet shop tanks with loads of fish in one little space and keeping them in my tank which has a lot more space and obviously I love them more then the shop keepers do if you understand what I mean. Like I try my best to give them a better life then being cramped in the crappy overcrowded 10 litre tank at the store with no plants or substrate in the tanks. Course I don’t want them to die but surely they would be more likely to die sooner in those tanks for long periods of time in comparison to mine?

Totally understandable what you're saying...however, the fish are in a shop for people to buy and take home...they don't live there forever...take them back for someone else who have the space to cater for them

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

The main reason I bought the rummys to begin with was because my nan used to have a little 20 litre tank when I was younger. She had about 5 rummys 5 neons and a couple guppies in hers for years and they were always as I can remember completely content and happy she never had a single issue.

Often, we recall tanks our parents had and our memories are usually selective about what we recall, plus the adults of the day would've done any maintenance out of sight. Back then, repeated water changes were a common feature...to top up after water lost from evaporation.
I doubt very much that the Rummy-nosed Tetras reached their potential 5cm in length and lived for 5-6 years. More often than not, when fish died, it was assumed that that was just what they did and replacements were bought.
Neon Tetras should be 4cm and live for up to 10 years.

So imagine that tiny tank, full to busting with 45cm of fish...and that's before we look at the plants and inevitable ornaments and then there are the guppies, which would've been constantly breeding and feeding the tetras.

As a sprog, I was always fascinated by my Mum's large community tank and have fond memories of it. But if I really focus, I remember a lot of green and occasional thorough cleanings. I also remember many visits to local fish shops, which were always as good, if not better, than visiting a proper Aquarium. I also remember a large single Angel, that I learned later on my Mum kept to keep the population of guppies, platies and even swordtails down!

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

obviously I love them more then the shop keepers do if you understand what I mean.

I don't.
The fish were safe and actually cared for with appropriate water changes and company of their own kind. Dead fish don't sell and whilst there's a lot of poor fishkeeping in many shops, that truism stands.
You bought fish simply on the basis of their looks and we are now where we are.
As @CaptainBarnicles says, those display tanks are not the 'forever home' of the fish and are there to be seen and sold.
Most good fish shops will usually have a large community tank on display. Check that out and you'll have a good indication of the shop's fishkeeping abilities.
Plus...don't confine yourself to just the one shop. Often, especially today, you may have to travel to find a really good one, but more often than not, the extra travel is well worth it.

I'm relatively lucky in that I have a reasonable 'traditional' fish shop and a Pets at Home within a 20 min drive away, but I have to drive at least an hour, (on a good day), to get to some real quality..

 

[Fishnewb21]

Often, we recall tanks our parents had and our memories are usually selective about what we recall, plus the adults of the day would've done any maintenance out of sight. Back then, repeated water changes were a common feature...to top up after water lost from evaporation.
I doubt very much that the Rummy-nosed Tetras reached their potential 5cm in length and lived for 5-6 years. More often than not, when fish died, it was assumed that that was just what they did and replacements were bought.
Neon Tetras should be 4cm and live for up to 10 years.

So imagine that tiny tank, full to busting with 45cm of fish...and that's before we look at the plants and inevitable ornaments and then there are the guppies, which would've been constantly breeding and feeding the tetras.

As a sprog, I was always fascinated by my Mum's large community tank and have fond memories of it. But if I really focus, I remember a lot of green and occasional thorough cleanings. I also remember many visits to local fish shops, which were always as good, if not better, than visiting a proper Aquarium. I also remember a large single Angel, that I learned later on my Mum kept to keep the population of guppies, platies and even swordtails down!

I remember my nan used to clean her tank out all the time. She only had male guppies in there like 2 of them so there was no breeding. She didn’t have decorations either just real plants and substrate and the tank was a small little rectangular one I wasn’t really young so I remember it clearly. Yeah the fish were small she just never seemed to have any issues that’s what I’m saying. Hence why I didn’t think I would. I do regular water changes regardless that’s why I didn’t have any problems with my original tank before. I did a 50% water change of the first tank once a week without fail I just did a 70% this time because you told me to with the other one so I thought I would with both tanks yesterday and see how it goes. I am still learning after all. And along with advice from here I have been calling the pet shop during the day and getting advice from there aswell as that’s where I got the fish from and that’s who allowed me to buy the fish in the first place obviously. But I’ve been looking online at getting a much larger tank instead of the two 60 and 47 ones I have here now. What size would be ok to be able to keep all fish I currently have in the one tank? 200 Litre? 300? 400? Need to no what would be best really.. all fish have regained colour now and seem ok after yesterday’s traumatic hour but I’m going to get a bigger tank as soon as possible and get it cycled soon as so I can get the fish in and happier

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

My advice is always buy as big as you can afford 200l is ample

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

My advice is always buy as big as you can afford 200l is ample

Nah...you need a 400.




...At least.

 

[Fishnewb21]

I’ve messaged the seller of this 300L. Hopefully I can get my hands on it. Will that be big enough for them all to go in together and be happy? Would I need to keep one of the ones I have now up and running for certain fish? Like would I need to keep the loaches separate?

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Aaaaaand we've got her!
Another victim of the Curse Blessing of MTS.

 

[Fishnewb21]

Aaaaaand we've got her!
Another victim of the Curse Blessing of MTS.

Mts?

 

[Fishnewb21]

Aaaaaand we've got her!
Another victim of the Curse Blessing of MTS.

My advice is always buy as big as you can afford 200l is ample

Also, so you both are aware.. Yoyo Loach managed to escape the breeding box last night even tho I had it half way out of the water with the lid on top he somehow managed to smash his way up and out of it in the middle of the night. So as much as I need him out of the tank I can’t put my other fish threw all that stress of chasing him around the tank again at the moment after yesterday. I have realised tho he now has a new hiding place up in a space in the back of my pump. So if worst comes to worst I’m going to get hold of some of those bags from the pet shop that you buy fish in, get that up and around the pump from underneath and hope he doesn’t get out from in the little place in behind the pump quick enough so that I can pull the bag up and he swim down into it trying to escape

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Mts?

Multiple Tank Syndrome.
It's a sickness.

Will that be big enough for them all to go in together and be happy?

As I understand it, this is what you currently have, split between two tanks. If you were keeping them all;

9 male guppies
3 rummy nose tetras - Need at least 5 more.
7 neon tetras
1 oto cat - Need at least 6 more.
1 Yoyo loach - Need at least 6 more.
2 Amano shrimp
5 female guppies
4 cardinal tetras - Need at least 4 more.
3 rosy tetras - Need at least 4 more
2 kuhli loaches - Need at least 6 more.
1 molly - I believe that this is actually a Platy. If it's a Molly, then you have completely the wrong water.

Bear in mind that you'll still need to cycle your new, big tank before you can put anything in it, or you'll just repeat recent traumas.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Mts?

Multiple tank syndrome....it gets us all in the end

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Also, so you both are aware.. Yoyo Loach managed to escape the breeding box last night even tho I had it half way out of the water with the lid on top he somehow managed to smash his way up and out of it in the middle of the night. So as much as I need him out of the tank I can’t put my other fish threw all that stress of chasing him around the tank again at the moment after yesterday. I have realised tho he now has a new hiding place up in a space in the back of my pump. So if worst comes to worst I’m going to get hold of some of those bags from the pet shop that you buy fish in, get that up and around the pump from underneath and hope he doesn’t get out from in the little place in behind the pump quick enough so that I can pull the bag up and he swim down into it trying to escape

You could try a trap for him, using food you've learned that he likes.
Cut the top off a water bottle and invert the upper half, placing it in the lower half.
Put food in and see if the loach goes for it.
If it does, then you have a better chance of catching it than with a net.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

I’ve messaged the seller of this 300L. Hopefully I can get my hands on it. Will that be big enough for them all to go in together and be happy? Would I need to keep one of the ones I have now up and running for certain fish? Like would I need to keep the loaches separate?

That doesn't look like 300l to me

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Multiple tank syndrome....it gets us all in the end

I don't have it...I can stop whenever I want to.