New Ideas After An Awful Week

[russellbrooke]

Well it's been an absolute awful week. About 10 days ago, i reaquscaped. I moved bogwood around, introduced new plants, added new lights, brill. Then everything started to go wrong. One of my rainbows (r.i.p) got stuck between the bogwood and the glass. After removing it, found he had more or less no fins left (must have been trying to escape), and started to get fungus. So i treated the tank with finrot and fungus treatment (all in one). Then after that, everything went down hill.

Lost 2 fish on Monday, did a water check, everything fine. Next day one of my veil plat angels died (about 2 years old) and all of my rainbows (gutted). So checked water again, no spikes, no probs. So i did water change. Wednesday morning, more casualties. So another water check, everything fine, did another water change. I then went away with work Wednesday morning until Thursday evening. The wife phoned on Thursday morning, my red wip tail gone, rosy tetra and my other angel (They were a pair who laid eggs just about every other month).

I have no idea what has gone tits up, but I’m gutted. Gutted gutted gutted! I've had fish for about 3 years and I’ve never had a problem like this before. So I’m going to turn this into a positive and change the layout of the tank.

The remains of my fish population are in a hospital tank until i get the main tank sorted out.

I'm thinking of changing over to a sand substrate (currently use gravel). I've been reading through the substrate threads, and it seems pretty straight forward. Can i just use sand from homebase? Should i buy from aquarium soil and then put sand on top?

Russ

 

[craynerd]

Sorry to hear it mate.

Personally, i would take fish out for a full re-aquascape.

Chris

 

[russellbrooke]

Thanks.

Already have done. They're in my old 127litre hospital tank until i get my big tank sorted.

Do you know if you can use sand bought from homebase (after washing it) in your aquarium?

 

[Fillet 'O' Fish]

Sorry to hear about your Loss Russ....gutting

Im no expert on substrate, but from what I have read on the Forum, childrens playsand appears to work fine.

 

[Ginge]

Yep i dont see why not. Just dont use builders sand.

 

[RadaR]

I use Argos playsand

 

[Neal]

I used Homebase playsand and it's been fine so far, how big is the tank (gallons) and i'll predict how many bags you need?

Neal

 

[russellbrooke]

It's a jewul 260, so 260 litres. About 70 gallons i think.

I'm off to get some now. How many inches deep do you think?

 

[Neal]

Well, one filled my 20 long tank (30"), and I have a very deep substrate and also still have a toy box full left. It's also very easy to clean, i'd recommend it but i'd personally like to get a nice plant substrate like eco-complete or some really nice tahaitan moon sand next.

Neal

 

[russellbrooke]

Well i spent most of yesterday putting in sand. Took ages!

Whilst i was removing the plants, the onion plant (not sure of the exact name) stuck! The botton was rotting away, and i think that's what casued my fish to croak it. I didn't even burry the bulb, just the roots. So a note to others if they buy an onion plant. Just keep an eye on it.