philrag11
New Member
Started my tank in July 2011.......used this forum and others to do a full fishless cycle.......after 18months of enjoyment I've just got a few queries for those who have been keeping fish for years! Not sure whether its best to split up the questions below so if anyone thinks thats better let me know - thanks!
I have a Juwel 125, gravel substrate with a few live plants (Java moss, Amazon sword, Cabomba) - parameters are usually Ammona: 0, Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 20-40. I do 30%-40% water changes every 7-10 days.
Fish - 5 Tiger barbs, 2 Pepper corys, 5 Neon swordtails (4 were fry that are now full grown), 2 Dwarf Gourami, 3 WC Minnows, 2 Amano shrimp
1) When changing the water I usually filter the gravel as well where I can around the bogwood, plants and rocks. Is this advisable each time or does it disturb the substrate and upset the 'balance'? Should I perhaps do it just once a month instead?
2) At the moment I've used the JBL root ball fertiliser but not sure if I should change to a liquid fertiliser? I've got some java moss which is slowly taking hold on my bogwood and would like to get the cabomba growing a bit better. Any fertiliser that you would particularly recommend?
3) I've had a few deaths (no surprises there I guess!) including 1 Tiger barb (seemingly fin rot?), 3 minnows (1 month, 4months and 18months - the latter seemingly just got old as he was 'crooked' for a few weeks before he died), 1 corydora (unknown cause!). 2 swordtails (both unknown causes although one could've been 'shock' after I didn't quite temperature match the water and allowed it to drop a few degrees - lesson learnt I guess?). I've now got a Dwarf gourami that I've had for a year that is now pale and hiding alot (I do have nephews staying so might be stress from them running in front of the tank??) although he comes out for his food ok. I was actually wondering whether this sounds normal for a fish tank i.e 7 deaths in the first 18months or am I doing something wrong? I've checked the water and its fine and the rest of the fish seem ok although one of the Tiger barbs has damaged fins like the one that died - seems to be being picked on at night!? I guess the question is - how long does the average fish last (how long is a piece of string!) and should I be worried or just accept that unexplained deaths are a part of fish keeping?
4) How do folks temperatue match their water? At the moment as its winter (I'm in Manchester, UK) I use a heater on one bucket and then top up the rest with boiled water to get the temperature to the same as the tank water. Is this ok? The heater is only a 50W so takes a while hence why I use the kettle. They've not seemed to react any differently. I was wondering about using my domestic hot water but I've heard there can be problems with metals in the tank? Just seems a bit expensive heating the kettle but then again its quicker than waiting hours for the water to heat up with a heater. Any suggestions?
Sorry for the bombardment but thanks in advance for any advice.......
Regards
Phil
I have a Juwel 125, gravel substrate with a few live plants (Java moss, Amazon sword, Cabomba) - parameters are usually Ammona: 0, Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 20-40. I do 30%-40% water changes every 7-10 days.
Fish - 5 Tiger barbs, 2 Pepper corys, 5 Neon swordtails (4 were fry that are now full grown), 2 Dwarf Gourami, 3 WC Minnows, 2 Amano shrimp
1) When changing the water I usually filter the gravel as well where I can around the bogwood, plants and rocks. Is this advisable each time or does it disturb the substrate and upset the 'balance'? Should I perhaps do it just once a month instead?
2) At the moment I've used the JBL root ball fertiliser but not sure if I should change to a liquid fertiliser? I've got some java moss which is slowly taking hold on my bogwood and would like to get the cabomba growing a bit better. Any fertiliser that you would particularly recommend?
3) I've had a few deaths (no surprises there I guess!) including 1 Tiger barb (seemingly fin rot?), 3 minnows (1 month, 4months and 18months - the latter seemingly just got old as he was 'crooked' for a few weeks before he died), 1 corydora (unknown cause!). 2 swordtails (both unknown causes although one could've been 'shock' after I didn't quite temperature match the water and allowed it to drop a few degrees - lesson learnt I guess?). I've now got a Dwarf gourami that I've had for a year that is now pale and hiding alot (I do have nephews staying so might be stress from them running in front of the tank??) although he comes out for his food ok. I was actually wondering whether this sounds normal for a fish tank i.e 7 deaths in the first 18months or am I doing something wrong? I've checked the water and its fine and the rest of the fish seem ok although one of the Tiger barbs has damaged fins like the one that died - seems to be being picked on at night!? I guess the question is - how long does the average fish last (how long is a piece of string!) and should I be worried or just accept that unexplained deaths are a part of fish keeping?
4) How do folks temperatue match their water? At the moment as its winter (I'm in Manchester, UK) I use a heater on one bucket and then top up the rest with boiled water to get the temperature to the same as the tank water. Is this ok? The heater is only a 50W so takes a while hence why I use the kettle. They've not seemed to react any differently. I was wondering about using my domestic hot water but I've heard there can be problems with metals in the tank? Just seems a bit expensive heating the kettle but then again its quicker than waiting hours for the water to heat up with a heater. Any suggestions?
Sorry for the bombardment but thanks in advance for any advice.......
Regards
Phil
