locust267
Fish Crazy
I'm not new to fish keeping I had my first tank (60l) October 2007 and bought my second tank (260l) in July 2008. With both tanks I used ammonia and patience to get started, made sure ammonia, and nitrite were at zero before adding any fish and that took about 7 weeks on the 260l.
I live in a hard water area (Bournemouth) and from memory the pH is about 6.8.
I have come back to the forum now, as in all honesty am on the verge of giving up. I've never had much luck with my fish, I've always aimed to get compatible species (the only fish I've ever seen bullying are gouramis vs gouramis). I once had a beautiful tank and although my intentions were to use the 60l as a Q tank I was impatient and I ended up with a disease ridden 260l - All my fav fish died and I had to follow procedures and not add any more fish for a very long time - This was winter 2008/09.
If fish aren't dying for what appears to be no reason, they die of contagious disease (understand this one was my fault and lesson learned there).
I do have a fair few plants in my tank but no co2 (one thing that confuses me), and to be quite frank have had so many other problems to deal with lately that the tank hasn't been cleaned since late Jan - However the 3 fish I've had in there since last summer seem to be thriving... As does the algae!
I really want to give it one last shot before giving up, I know all the basics (in theory, maybe not so much practice).
I would like to know:
How can I stop the algae growth (ideally without co2)? If algae eaters which ones wont eat my plants?
How should I clean up the algae on the glass?
Why do my fish seem to die after a water change? (I use tetrafish dechlor).
How often should I change the water (using vacc), TBH neglecting the tank seems to have done more good than anything...
The fish never seem to grow much, what food should I feed and how often? I dont like live food as it smells but frozen is OK.
I have followed all the "new to fish keeping" rules in the past (cleaning once week/fortnight, feeding once per day what is consumed within 3 secs, bristle nose for algae (eates the plants) etc etc but I really think I need specific help with isn't quite so straight forward and would really appreciate any advice given.
I'll try my best to answer any other questions, the 60l hasn't had any fish in for a while so I guess I need to start the cycling off again in that whilst aiming to clean up the 260l again.
Cheers
p.s just as an idea here are some of the fish I've kept although not ness together:
neons - without bigger fish but still died
guppies - just died but were put in after the 7 weeks so maybe died due to not est tank?
angel fish - done really well until the disease hit
Gouramis - seem to bully each other to death
rainbow fish - seem to do well
bristle nose - do OK for a while, eat plant and then just die one day randomly
red tail and silver sharks (singular rts, pair silvers) - Seem healthy then randomly die
If anyone can recc any hardy fish where water changes might not affect them so much please suggest (I have a feeling its the water changes that kill some off).
I live in a hard water area (Bournemouth) and from memory the pH is about 6.8.
I have come back to the forum now, as in all honesty am on the verge of giving up. I've never had much luck with my fish, I've always aimed to get compatible species (the only fish I've ever seen bullying are gouramis vs gouramis). I once had a beautiful tank and although my intentions were to use the 60l as a Q tank I was impatient and I ended up with a disease ridden 260l - All my fav fish died and I had to follow procedures and not add any more fish for a very long time - This was winter 2008/09.
If fish aren't dying for what appears to be no reason, they die of contagious disease (understand this one was my fault and lesson learned there).
I do have a fair few plants in my tank but no co2 (one thing that confuses me), and to be quite frank have had so many other problems to deal with lately that the tank hasn't been cleaned since late Jan - However the 3 fish I've had in there since last summer seem to be thriving... As does the algae!
I really want to give it one last shot before giving up, I know all the basics (in theory, maybe not so much practice).
I would like to know:
How can I stop the algae growth (ideally without co2)? If algae eaters which ones wont eat my plants?
How should I clean up the algae on the glass?
Why do my fish seem to die after a water change? (I use tetrafish dechlor).
How often should I change the water (using vacc), TBH neglecting the tank seems to have done more good than anything...
The fish never seem to grow much, what food should I feed and how often? I dont like live food as it smells but frozen is OK.
I have followed all the "new to fish keeping" rules in the past (cleaning once week/fortnight, feeding once per day what is consumed within 3 secs, bristle nose for algae (eates the plants) etc etc but I really think I need specific help with isn't quite so straight forward and would really appreciate any advice given.
I'll try my best to answer any other questions, the 60l hasn't had any fish in for a while so I guess I need to start the cycling off again in that whilst aiming to clean up the 260l again.
Cheers
p.s just as an idea here are some of the fish I've kept although not ness together:
neons - without bigger fish but still died
guppies - just died but were put in after the 7 weeks so maybe died due to not est tank?
angel fish - done really well until the disease hit
Gouramis - seem to bully each other to death
rainbow fish - seem to do well
bristle nose - do OK for a while, eat plant and then just die one day randomly
red tail and silver sharks (singular rts, pair silvers) - Seem healthy then randomly die
If anyone can recc any hardy fish where water changes might not affect them so much please suggest (I have a feeling its the water changes that kill some off).
