Hello, I thought i'd introduce myself to the forum, and add my story to the archives on here. When my partner and children showed interest in getting a fish tank, i unusually, didn't instantly think of reasons why it was not a good idea. We have had the subject of pet keeping raised ocasionally, and i managed to convince them it wasn't good idea.
How difficult could keeping a few tropical fish be? I thought i had enough knowledge as we had a tank when i was a kid, and watched my Dad tend to the tank, and always went with him when it was time to buy the fish from the tropical fish shop at the weekend.
We had the usual favourites of the seventies, Neons, Guppies, Tiger Barbs, Angels, gouramis and a large brown Cichlid that would let you stroke it.
So what did i do? I agreed we could have a fish tank, and that day went and got all the gear, set it up and then started reading the book i bought.
I knew not just to fill the tank and plop the fish in. I knew the water need de-chlorinating first. I knew chlorinated water would be ok if left to stand overnight.
I soon found out it's not that simple any more. This new age chlorinated water has to be chemically made safe.
Then i read about how to just buy a couple of hardy fish to help establish the tank. So far so good....NO.
Then i come on here and find out that the correct way to start up a tank, is to make the kids watch me pouring Amonia into the empty tank for anything from 4 weeks to however long it takes. They already think i'm wierd, so this, i assume would leed them to think I was totally round the hatrack.
Sorry to say, i bought four Zebra Danio and a test kit, and started doing daily 30% water changes to keep the water survivable for them. That was 3 weeks ago, and while the filter is showing signs of statring a cycle, i think it's going to be a very long process.
I use Prime to deal with the water changes, remove fish waste and only feed lightly. The five plants i put in after a week are still alive and growing, even with basic T8 lighting and poor gravel substrate.
I'm the determined type, and i will make this work, even though, as usual i've made things hard for myself.
This is a superb forum, and i've learnt a lot already.
I've made mistakes through lack of knowledge, pressure, and stubborness. I was told by a marine fish dealer that Seachem stability was a good product, but having listened to the informed on here i think i should put it in the bin. Also information on "Fhink Tish" led me to believe that Zebra Danio were suitable in a 60cm 63L tank, which now i can see is not the case. Well, i'm off to change the water, Cheers.
How difficult could keeping a few tropical fish be? I thought i had enough knowledge as we had a tank when i was a kid, and watched my Dad tend to the tank, and always went with him when it was time to buy the fish from the tropical fish shop at the weekend.
We had the usual favourites of the seventies, Neons, Guppies, Tiger Barbs, Angels, gouramis and a large brown Cichlid that would let you stroke it.
So what did i do? I agreed we could have a fish tank, and that day went and got all the gear, set it up and then started reading the book i bought.
I knew not just to fill the tank and plop the fish in. I knew the water need de-chlorinating first. I knew chlorinated water would be ok if left to stand overnight.
I soon found out it's not that simple any more. This new age chlorinated water has to be chemically made safe.
Then i read about how to just buy a couple of hardy fish to help establish the tank. So far so good....NO.
Then i come on here and find out that the correct way to start up a tank, is to make the kids watch me pouring Amonia into the empty tank for anything from 4 weeks to however long it takes. They already think i'm wierd, so this, i assume would leed them to think I was totally round the hatrack.
Sorry to say, i bought four Zebra Danio and a test kit, and started doing daily 30% water changes to keep the water survivable for them. That was 3 weeks ago, and while the filter is showing signs of statring a cycle, i think it's going to be a very long process.
I use Prime to deal with the water changes, remove fish waste and only feed lightly. The five plants i put in after a week are still alive and growing, even with basic T8 lighting and poor gravel substrate.
I'm the determined type, and i will make this work, even though, as usual i've made things hard for myself.
This is a superb forum, and i've learnt a lot already.
I've made mistakes through lack of knowledge, pressure, and stubborness. I was told by a marine fish dealer that Seachem stability was a good product, but having listened to the informed on here i think i should put it in the bin. Also information on "Fhink Tish" led me to believe that Zebra Danio were suitable in a 60cm 63L tank, which now i can see is not the case. Well, i'm off to change the water, Cheers.
so...
to TFF.
