Should I Take My Platies Back?

[rich]

Last week I bought 2 platies - looking back, a bit of spur of the moment decision, not helped by my wife nattering in the shop. A previous thread has since told me that platies spend a lot of time going to the toilet, the evidence for which I can see in the tank, although it is not too bad.

But should I take them back before I get too attached because the waste will affect the water quality in the long term? My tank is quite full already, but it is a year old now. I wanted them to replace 3 neons which have died over the last few months, but they look like they will produce 20 times as much waste!

Is it also likely to affect the Cories, who snuffle around their waste on the floor? Before I got them there was basically no waste at all between cleans

 

[Wit]

I have got 4 platies in my tank and have not had any problems with the water since i've had them or built up my community. The guy in my local aqarium shop is very good and helps me build my community and the last fish I added as you can tell by my siggy is 2 corries and they were suggested to me my the aquarium guy and some of the people on these forums.

I am on weekly water change and aquarium shop guy still test my water every other week aswell as me doing test inbetween.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Last week I bought 2 platies - looking back, a bit of spur of the moment decision, not helped by my wife nattering in the shop. A previous thread has since told me that platies spend a lot of time going to the toilet, the evidence for which I can see in the tank, although it is not too bad.

But should I take them back before I get too attached because the waste will affect the water quality in the long term? My tank is quite full already, but it is a year old now. I wanted them to replace 3 neons which have died over the last few months, but they look like they will produce 20 times as much waste!

Is it also likely to affect the Cories, who snuffle around their waste on the floor? Before I got them there was basically no waste at all between cleans

If the tank substrate is not regualy kept clean via weekly cleaning sessions, it will effect the corys alot- ammonia is more concentrated at the bottom of the tank and gravel traps more rotting waste which produces ammonia than any other substrate. The corys become alot more prone to bacterial infections like eroded barbels in these conditions, they are filter feeders that feed by filtering through the substrate which is why they prefer very fine gravel or sand.
Your tank is overstocked though with the platys, so i would take them back- 60litres is only about 10gals which is a very small tank.
Your coldwater tank is far too small for any of your fish to live happily in, the minimum tank size for any coldwater fish is 10gals and many goldfish can grow up to a foot long and will live for decades.

 

[JDS]

Your tank is overstocked though with the platys, so i would take them back- 60litres is only about 10gals which is a very small tank.
Your coldwater tank is far too small for any of your fish to live happily in, the minimum tank size for any coldwater fish is 10gals and many goldfish can grow up to a foot long and will live for decades.

Platys also have a tendancy to breed, so you could end up with waaaaay too many You might want to check the sexes.
PS 60 litres is 15 US gallons either way, i'd agree with T-P

 

[rich]

Still undecided. The guy at the LFS said there is room for 25-30 fish (depending on size) with the set up I have. They have the same set up there with what seems like hundreds of fish in - but it looks too crowded for me.

I do keep the substrate clean (I change 20% of water every 10-11 days) and everything seems fine at the moment - except I have 1 male and 1 female, so will need another female. Getting a fry tank is not a problem.

I know my goldfish tank is too small, but I've had them in there a long time (nearly 4 years) and look after them well. I just don't want to take them back to be given to a kid who will shove them in a bowl and not clean them for weeks. I bet less than 5% of goldfish owners keep them at 10 gallons per fish, so the chances of them going somewhere better are slim.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Still undecided. The guy at the LFS said there is room for 25-30 fish (depending on size) with the set up I have. They have the same set up there with what seems like hundreds of fish in - but it looks too crowded for me.

Hopefully they have better filtration; fish shops usually do. Also, remember the fish in the shop are in transit; they can survive a few days like that, but you are aiming at their longtime happiness. Judging your stocking levels from a shop tank is a bit like seeing a trainful of commuters and thinking that's all the living space a human being needs.

25-30 fish is way too much for a 60 ltr tank on any long term basis; they just don't make fish that tiny. And never trust a man who says x no of FISH in that airy manner; he will not be a fishkeeper! I had 3 platies and 3 guppies in my 60 ltr and it was a very happy community. Until they bred. MTS strikes again.

 

[koalaluver]

my guppy poops alot i dont no if it affects the tank though. if u dont like cleaning and they poop that mutch to bother u maby u should but that is your choose.