Sick Molly

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I've ordered some plants and still looking out for floating plant option. I took the extra black box out. next month I'll remove the cartridge in the filter & replace with foam.

I changed 50% but didn't get to test yet as toddler duty took over. I'll do daily big water charges until levels are zero as per the fish in cycle instructions.

Let's hope I don't lose any more. I know I'll need to either return or get a bigger tank for some. Thanks everyone for all your help. It's been a tad stressful but you've all been great!!
 
I really wanna change the decor now I've seen how gorgeous driftwood and real plants are.
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I've ordered some plants and still looking out for floating plant option. I took the extra black box out. next month I'll remove the cartridge in the filter & replace with foam.

I changed 50% but didn't get to test yet as toddler duty took over. I'll do daily big water charges until levels are zero as per the fish in cycle instructions.

Let's hope I don't lose any more. I know I'll need to either return or get a bigger tank for some. Thanks everyone for all your help. It's been a tad stressful but you've all been great!!
Again, I'm sorry you had such a rough intro the hobby and had to deal with a nutty LFS owner (that line about an anubius being a dangerous change to a tank will stick with me as the most ludicrous fish thing I've heard so far!), but kudos to you for being able and willing to so quickly seek help and accept that you'd been misinformed, then started doing your own research. That shows that you're exactly the kind of person we need more of in the hobby, so I hope you stick around the forum and share your progress!
 
I really wanna change the decor now I've seen how gorgeous driftwood and real plants are.View attachment 111871View attachment 111870
Haha, you've definitely got the bug then! :yahoo:
Welcome to the world of planted tanks, you're gonna love it, and so will your fish. When you see them swimming about and among live plants, or otos resting on live plants like my little cuties do;
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Or you end up getting some red cherry shrimp.. you won't regret switching to live plants.
 
Haha, you've definitely got the bug then! :yahoo:
Welcome to the world of planted tanks, you're gonna love it, and so will your fish. When you see them swimming about and among live plants, or otos resting on live plants like my little cuties do;
View attachment 111872
Or you end up getting some red cherry shrimp.. you won't regret switching to live plants.

My Pleco was hanging out under the new plant leaves and the preggers Platy too.
 
I'll definitely stay using the forum. It's great to have so much learning in one spot. I ordered from the link you sent so thanks for that too :)
Awesome! I hopes yours arrive as well as mine did. I found petsathome and stuff so expensive for plants, and I knew I wanted a lot of plants, but had a tight budget! That was one of the cheapest sources I found, and had some bad reviews, but I figured for the price it was worth a shot, and was very happy with what I got.

The downside to the cheap plant package is that you don't know what type of plants you're getting... I didn't anyway! I got a couple of java fern, which have a rhizome that shouldn't be buried, like the anubius, and some fast growing stem plants that you can just float in the water, or stick straight in the substrate. Then there were a few that were more delicate and needed proper planting. At the time I stuck them straight in all bunched together in a plant weight, but that rotted the roots, and I had seek advice about what they were and how to plant them. They needed the bottom of the stem trimmed, then planting spaced out a few cm apart. I also stuck them wherever I wanted, then had to uproot and move everything round months later when the ones at the front turned out to be massive plants, and the ones at the back smaller and better for the front. Doh! A few didn't survive, but I think that was down to my lack of knowledge, since they were healthy when I first planted 'em, and most still made it :lol:

But there's a section of the forum specifically meant for IDing plants, and people will be happy to tell you what they are, and how/where best to plant them. Just be aware that they will probably come with pest snails, which aren't any harm to your tank, but some people don't want. If you don't want them, we can tell you how to do a safe bleach dip and rinsing to get rid of them or any eggs. Just float the plants in their bunches in either the front of the tank (if you don't mind snails) or a glass container of water, and snap some photos, and we can help :)
 
I actually like the Greek/Roman columns, I would consider keeping them as a center piece and surrounding them with plants and maybe some small rocks and driftwood.

I like them too. Just not into fake plant or fake log anymore. I'd say in a few months we'll get a bigger tank so I could more it in that with more driftwood. I saw this Doctor Who TARDIS so again while I'm loving the natural tanks I'm mighty tempted by that haha
 
Awesome! I hopes yours arrive as well as mine did. I found petsathome and stuff so expensive for plants, and I knew I wanted a lot of plants, but had a tight budget! That was one of the cheapest sources I found, and had some bad reviews, but I figured for the price it was worth a shot, and was very happy with what I got.

The downside to the cheap plant package is that you don't know what type of plants you're getting... I didn't anyway! I got a couple of java fern, which have a rhizome that shouldn't be buried, like the anubius, and some fast growing stem plants that you can just float in the water, or stick straight in the substrate. Then there were a few that were more delicate and needed proper planting. At the time I stuck them straight in all bunched together in a plant weight, but that rotted the roots, and I had seek advice about what they were and how to plant them. They needed the bottom of the stem trimmed, then planting spaced out a few cm apart. I also stuck them wherever I wanted, then had to uproot and move everything round months later when the ones at the front turned out to be massive plants, and the ones at the back smaller and better for the front. Doh! A few didn't survive, but I think that was down to my lack of knowledge, since they were healthy when I first planted 'em, and most still made it :lol:

But there's a section of the forum specifically meant for IDing plants, and people will be happy to tell you what they are, and how/where best to plant them. Just be aware that they will probably come with pest snails, which aren't any harm to your tank, but some people don't want. If you don't want them, we can tell you how to do a safe bleach dip and rinsing to get rid of them or any eggs. Just float the plants in their bunches in either the front of the tank (if you don't mind snails) or a glass container of water, and snap some photos, and we can help :)

Brilliant. Yeah the prices here for plants are costly enough so even if I like 2 I've saved money :)

Delighted today when my OH said he'd be up for a second bigger tank once I feel confident enough with this one. Like I'm actually obsessed but when it's going right it's so lovely to just watch them.
 
Oh yeah defo not going back there again. Will get what I can online and if we get other fish we'll try go to the other LFS.

My husband was just saying we could get a bigger tank in a few months and maybe use this tank for a Betta. He doesn't wanna give up the Plecos and also sees how obsessed I am haha

I'm just waiting for the NH3/NH4+ test
I love that your husband is supportive, and also wants to keep the plecos! They are super cute. Had a better look at the tank and it looks as though they have plenty of room for the moment, so you don't need to rush to return them or buy a bigger tank until you find a good one that works for you. I see (and bought) some bargains on gumtree that come with lights/filter/heater etc, that just need a good clean. Some overpriced junk too, but after a couple of months experience, you'll have a better idea of what's worth it and what isn't.

More urgent is getting some driftwood. Sorry to bombard you with info, but plecos actually need driftwood. They nibble on it, and it helps their digestion. Not an emergency so don't panic, but if you can get your hands on a small piece or two for now, that will do them! I bet the LFS guy didn't tell you that they need driftwood, and also food for themselves, like algae wafers and blanched veggies. They'll eat some fish food that reaches the bottom, but mollies and platies are greedy little guys and will eat from the bottom too, and plecos could go hungry. Lots of people will wait until the tank lights have been out for a while and the other fish are asleep, then drop in an algae wafer near the pleco cave to make sure they get a good meal.
 
I like them too. Just not into fake plant or fake log anymore. I'd say in a few months we'll get a bigger tank so I could more it in that with more driftwood. I saw this Doctor Who TARDIS so again while I'm loving the natural tanks I'm mighty tempted by that haha
My daughters are big Doctor Who fans, I talked one into having a fish tank in the future and I think she is also interested in having a TARDIS in her tank.
 
I saw an awesome planted tank with a tardis and some other space elements, and it worked so well. Elegant planted tanks are great, but there's nothing wrong with a nice themed tank or the odd fake element, they can be some of the most fun tanks, as long as the stuff used is aquarium safe. @Retired Viking has a cool LOTR tank, and I really want to scape a tank that has masses of live plants, but also a fairy garden or tiny pink flamingos :D

This isn't the one I saw and loved, but it's not bad, and it's an interesting tank, especially when you have kids, and still fine for the fish
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I saw an awesome planted tank with a tardis and some other space elements, and it worked so well. Elegant planted tanks are great, but there's nothing wrong with a nice themed tank or the odd fake element, they can be some of the most fun tanks, as long as the stuff used is aquarium safe. @Retired Viking has a cool LOTR tank, and I really want to scape a tank that has masses of live plants, but also a fairy garden or tiny pink flamingos :D

This isn't the one I saw and loved, but it's not bad, and it's an interesting tank, especially when you have kids, and still fine for the fish
View attachment 111878
That is what I am talking about, I know it goes against the orthodoxy of the majority of the forum members but we should be more open to themed tanks and enjoy their beauty to the same level we all enjoy all natural tanks.
 
That is what I am talking about, I know it goes against the orthodoxy of the majority of the forum members but we should be more open to themed tanks and enjoy their beauty to the same level we all enjoy all natural tanks.
People can get snobby about all natural tanks sometimes. There are real downsides to a completely fake tank, neon coloured gravel, or sharp fake plants, but that doesn't mean everything artificial is a crime against humanity ;) Having a theme or just a tardis underwater surrounded by plants lets people get really creative with their scapes and I love it. Shunning anything like that is a matter of personal taste, but when the fish are well cared for and not at risk, I say forget 'em and do what you like :D
 
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