School and Plants!

[qwikimpss]

Well. I started college a months ago and I live in a dorm a half hour away from home. I told my mom to feed my fish and turn my lights on and off as I do not have a timer...still. Came home this weekend like every weekend and checked on my 29 gal and it was COVERED in algae! the stuff was everywhere except on my hygrophilia. Not to mention the 28 snails I fished out and all the snail poop I siphoned off of the bottom. Then my mom informs me she hasn't been feeding them. I notice my CO2 isn't working and I find it is leaking in about 4 different places! So, I scraped out and brushed off about 90% of the algae, even took out my cabomba that was way too covered to grow, am making a new 2 liter bottle for CO2 and searching high and low for snail eggs! Once I get a job (that one at PetCo didn't work out) and can start paying $2.80/gallon for gas I will be coming home 2-3 times a week! Just hit me, I havent posted any pics of this tank huh? I'll have to do that. Sorry for the long post and the b**ch session, but I feel a bit better!

 

[Misskiwi67]

Well. I started college a months ago and I live in a dorm a half hour away from home. I told my mom to feed my fish and turn my lights on and off as I do not have a timer...still. Came home this weekend like every weekend and checked on my 29 gal and it was COVERED in algae! the stuff was everywhere except on my hygrophilia. Not to mention the 28 snails I fished out and all the snail poop I siphoned off of the bottom. Then my mom informs me she hasn't been feeding them. I notice my CO2 isn't working and I find it is leaking in about 4 different places! So, I scraped out and brushed off about 90% of the algae, even took out my cabomba that was way too covered to grow, am making a new 2 liter bottle for CO2 and searching high and low for snail eggs! Once I get a job (that one at PetCo didn't work out) and can start paying $2.80/gallon for gas I will be coming home 2-3 times a week! Just hit me, I havent posted any pics of this tank huh? I'll have to do that. Sorry for the long post and the b**ch session, but I feel a bit better!

[snapback]925742[/snapback]​

Any chance you can drain her down and take it with you to school? I left my 55 with my mom (all the plants died and the fish were replaced with cichlids over the years) and its basically her tank now...

I took my 10 gallon with me, and after 5 years of moving home and back every 6 months, its still with me and doing fine... Plants travel much better than fish, and even the fish did well with all the moving...

 

[qwikimpss]

I could probably do that. BUT I don't know how the water is in my dorm, no way to do water changes and with my 2 roomies....I dunno how they'd feel about it. My room is kinda small and space is at a premium. The school does allow tanks in the dorms and I'd love to haul all 4 along but I dont think thats possible.

 

[Misskiwi67]

Ask your roomies, and make sure they know what they're agreeing to. I kept a 5 gallon kitty litter bucket in my closet and carried water from the showers. It was a pain, but it worked out.

 

[qwikimpss]

I'm really going to have to look into that because: A I want my tank and plants to look good and B School is stressful and my fish relax me

 

[Misskiwi67]

I'm really going to have to look into that because: A I want my tank and plants to look good and B School is stressful and my fish relax me

[snapback]925789[/snapback]​

My fish were my savior in school. They were the only pets I was allowed to have. I was considered geeky by my sorority sisters because I'd stay home and clean my 20 bettas and 2 fish tanks (10 gallon planted and 10 gallon fry growout) every friday night. Friday was my no homework allowed day, and I actually looked forward to cleaning days. They were my passion and my pride and joy!! Besides, there's always Saturday for going out with the girls.

 

[Misskiwi67]

Oh! and what are you studying???

 

[qwikimpss]

I am going for my Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. I want to be a special agent in the DEA.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

hi there have you considered getting a nano tank ? : )

or you could get a timer, will solve most of your problems since maintenance for a tank is one a week... aside from the dosing of ferts if you do the EI

 

[qwikimpss]

Well dragging it to school wouldnt be too bad because i've been intrested in EI for a while but cannot test and dose everyday. Right now the tank gets a capful of Seachem Flourish every week. I've thought about a nano tank but, typical american, bigger is better! But i will probably end up getting a 5-8 gallon for my dorm room, stock it with 3 WCMMs, a java fern or two, maybe an Anubias nana and leave it unheated and unfiltered.