A Big Hello!

[Neon Squid]

Hello everyone, good to have finally found what seems like the main fish forum for people in UK if not world wide. Already learning lots from all the previous posts and reviews.

My next door neighbors moved out in December and I was given 2 cursed fish tanks (everything they had in them died apparently) but I gave them a good scrub and clean as well as new filters and interiors like gravel etc. The main tank is a hexagon holding around 80litres, which I cycled for 2 weeks and successfully introduced Endlers into back in December. Which none of died I may add, so my neighbors must of been doing something majorly wrong!

The next tank I was given by the same couple seems about 30litres-ish. This has yet to be cleaned or cycled but I have intentions on turning it into a nursery (fry tank) as I bought some bumblebee cat fish and some rather large dalmation Mollys from someone online and since then all my small Endler fry have disappeared bom bom buuuuuur. I think it's the Dalmation Molly male but can't be sure! Here is the fry tank to be:

Thanks for all the help this forum has already provided! It's great to read now I've got the fish bug!

 

[electropunk06]

to the forum
This forum was a real help for me in my first year of fish keeping.
Have you finished stocking your tank or are you planning on getting more?
Lloyd

 

[Neon Squid]

to the forum
This forum was a real help for me in my first year of fish keeping.
Have you finished stocking your tank or are you planning on getting more?
Lloyd

Hi Lloyd, I like you electropunk user name

I am still looking to stock it up with more fish. It's a little empty at the moment. The person I bought my mollys and catfish off also sold me x2 vampire crabs and x1 red fighting fish (betta) but sadly these died. Being new to tropical fish keeping I was mis-advised by the man in the pet shop when buying some bog wood. He told me soaking 3-4 days would be fine, so I soaked it for 2 weeks just to be sure. Unfortunately this wasn't enough as after 2 weeks the water went dark and the more sensitive fish (betta and crabs) died.

I've now done a full water change and removed the bog wood which is still soaking in a bucket in the bathroom. The water no longer goes brown but after 1 week or so will still go a light yellow. I don't want to risk loosing anymore fish so I'm just going to keep soaking it until the water eventually goes clear...any idea how long a wait I could be in for?

Cheers Craig

 

[electropunk06]

Hi
thanks
I very much doubt that the bog wood killed your fish. Bog wood leaches tannins into the water which will lower your PH (not necessarily a bad thing). This wouldn't kill your fish. i don't know about crabs but they need salt in the water. Bettas are hardy so i could have come from the shop with an illness. But i wouldn't replace your betta as they aren't ideal community fish because they will fight with brightly colored fish and can be nipped by other fish.
I would put the bog wood in your tank now, it should be fine, but to make sure there is nothing else on the wood you could soak it in boiling water.
Hope this helps
Lloyd

 

[Skins]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Keith.

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

welcome to the forum m8

 

[Neon Squid]

Thanks everyone for the welcome.

The bog wood has now been put back in. I'd been putting it in buckets of boiling water for weeks trying to stew it until the water went clear so it's definitely free from diseases or any life

All the fish I got I bought off someone online. I think the betta may of died from the stress of the move as he never quite settled in after we got him. As for the vampire crabs I didn't know they needed salt. The same guy I bought them off said he'd kept them in his fresh water tank. Was I mis-informed?

I'll post some pictures of my tank soon in "My new freshwater tank"

Again many thanks for making me feel welcome.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Welcome to the forum, it looks like you have a nice little set up there.

Regarding the vampire crabs, I think they're fresh water. I'm not too sure.

 

[electropunk06]

Hi i've done a little research and cant find if they are fresh or brackish but they do need access to land as they are semi aquatic. So this is probably what killed them, but lots of people who sell fish are willing to lie to get a sale, sadly.
Looking forward to the pics
Lloyd

 

[Neon Squid]

Yeah I was told the vampire crabs were fresh water and would be fine but they were constantly climbing the plants and filter trying to surface so I used to get them out but had a lack of places to put them so probably not as much as they needed. The guy didn't advise me at all on the crabs even when questioning him so yeah he did seem to just re-assure me to get the sale.

Shame they were very nice little creatures

 

[Joshwainwright]

Ah well, life moves on and other fish catch your fancy...