manoverboard
New Member
apologies for the very long post with various questions... and sensitive fish lovers might want to skip this 
Our new housemate brought a few fish with her, in a bucket.
Supposedly they were going to be picked up by a knowledgeable friend, who never showed up. There was also a fishtank, which was left on the back patio. She's basically disappeared leaving half her stuff and obviously doesn't give a flying one about the fish. There was some Stress Zyme which I figured I should add a little of occasionaly, and food flakes which I used sparingly (on the days I noticed, with a sinking feeling, that they were still there.) There were seven fish. One died after about a week or so - I noticed the stink in the kitchen. I eventually decided I couldn't tolerate it any more when I phoned the 'housemate' about rent etc and she didn't even mention the fish. I wanted to try and save them rather than let them die miserably or kill them. This was Monday (8th Dec). They were in the bucket at least a month.
I have never kept fish before, never even considered it. I didn't have even half a clue. Nevertheless I thought it better to at least try, just do something to give them a chance. Considering this, please try to forgive my utter ineptitude in these early days. My housemate's outstandingly crap advice didn't help much "oh we've got a fishtank at my parents' place, I know roughly how this works" He washed out the tank and it's gravel, I repaired the lighting unit (got one of the two tubes going anyway - the wires had all been cut - duh?) put it in place and filled it with water - freezing cold tap water. Stuck the filter and heater in and turned them on. Then chased the fish round the bucket with one of those laundry detergent net bags or caught them by hand and plonked them in. The water was still bloody cold and chlorinated. The little 'catfish-type-thing' actually blacked out I think, floating sideways and motionless. I nudged it with my finger and it recovered somewhat. Realised these were probably not coldwater fish and started topping up with kettle water (had only filled halfway anyhow so far) and put the heater on it's lowest setting (20deg). Tuesday stabilised temp at 25 according to the sticker thermometer - can they be trusted by the way? Wednesday I got some chlorine treatment at last and did a partial water change. I used just enough for the volume - slightly less actually as I figured a lot of the chlorine will have naturally dissipated by then. Stupidly I put the last of the stress zyme in before sorting the chlorine out.
I obviously needed to get a clue so I have been learning as fast as I can on the web - including a lot of lurking on these forums - this place is a godsend.
I have:
approx 30x11x14" tank, about 16-18 uk gal. hood has daylight flouro tubes. Filter is Hagen Fluval 4 (not plus) with standard coarse sponge media only. (surely OTT for the tank size) Heater is Rena Cal Classic 300W (again seems over-specced). There is less than an inch of medium gravel, no plants. I put a couple of pots in there for hiding places.
The fish are:
2 common Pleco's (uh-oh!) one about 5", the other half as big.
4 various Gourami's - smallest is definately a 'blood red' Dwarf others not sure, largest is light blue with 2 dark spots on each side. The one that died was the same as this only larger, maybe 4".
All are definately looking a lot happier and healthier than they were Monday. The Gourami's were decidedly grey compared to the colour and pattern that is showing on them now. They are showing no signs of disease, nor wounds other than slight fin damage in some.
Later today I should have time to get some bacterial culture, test kits and a few plants. There's another Q: anyone recommend a quality lfs in Bristol? (one of the trickiest things to find out as a noob!)
I figure the Ammonia will be starting to rise sharply soon, though I've been feeding sparingly. I'm hoping generous doses of bacteria and some plants will minimise the danger. I know water changes are needed too - is 25% every other day ok? About feeding - are flakes enough at the moment, considering there's no algae yet for the Plecos? Should I turn my oversize filter down to minimum strength? It's midway now. The fish often hide beside it, is that a sign the current's too strong? Also I had the nozzle breaking the surface at first for max oxygenation but it was very noisy; I now have it about an inch below - is that okay?
They might not survive the cycling. Or they might fade away a few months down the line from some permanent damage caused by all the stress they've been through. I'm pretty optimistic - if they can survive the Bucket of Doom they must be hard as nails. I'm growing fond of them already, their personalities, their amusing quirks and their grace.
Our new housemate brought a few fish with her, in a bucket.
Supposedly they were going to be picked up by a knowledgeable friend, who never showed up. There was also a fishtank, which was left on the back patio. She's basically disappeared leaving half her stuff and obviously doesn't give a flying one about the fish. There was some Stress Zyme which I figured I should add a little of occasionaly, and food flakes which I used sparingly (on the days I noticed, with a sinking feeling, that they were still there.) There were seven fish. One died after about a week or so - I noticed the stink in the kitchen. I eventually decided I couldn't tolerate it any more when I phoned the 'housemate' about rent etc and she didn't even mention the fish. I wanted to try and save them rather than let them die miserably or kill them. This was Monday (8th Dec). They were in the bucket at least a month.
I have never kept fish before, never even considered it. I didn't have even half a clue. Nevertheless I thought it better to at least try, just do something to give them a chance. Considering this, please try to forgive my utter ineptitude in these early days. My housemate's outstandingly crap advice didn't help much "oh we've got a fishtank at my parents' place, I know roughly how this works" He washed out the tank and it's gravel, I repaired the lighting unit (got one of the two tubes going anyway - the wires had all been cut - duh?) put it in place and filled it with water - freezing cold tap water. Stuck the filter and heater in and turned them on. Then chased the fish round the bucket with one of those laundry detergent net bags or caught them by hand and plonked them in. The water was still bloody cold and chlorinated. The little 'catfish-type-thing' actually blacked out I think, floating sideways and motionless. I nudged it with my finger and it recovered somewhat. Realised these were probably not coldwater fish and started topping up with kettle water (had only filled halfway anyhow so far) and put the heater on it's lowest setting (20deg). Tuesday stabilised temp at 25 according to the sticker thermometer - can they be trusted by the way? Wednesday I got some chlorine treatment at last and did a partial water change. I used just enough for the volume - slightly less actually as I figured a lot of the chlorine will have naturally dissipated by then. Stupidly I put the last of the stress zyme in before sorting the chlorine out.
I obviously needed to get a clue so I have been learning as fast as I can on the web - including a lot of lurking on these forums - this place is a godsend.
I have:
approx 30x11x14" tank, about 16-18 uk gal. hood has daylight flouro tubes. Filter is Hagen Fluval 4 (not plus) with standard coarse sponge media only. (surely OTT for the tank size) Heater is Rena Cal Classic 300W (again seems over-specced). There is less than an inch of medium gravel, no plants. I put a couple of pots in there for hiding places.
The fish are:
2 common Pleco's (uh-oh!) one about 5", the other half as big.
4 various Gourami's - smallest is definately a 'blood red' Dwarf others not sure, largest is light blue with 2 dark spots on each side. The one that died was the same as this only larger, maybe 4".
All are definately looking a lot happier and healthier than they were Monday. The Gourami's were decidedly grey compared to the colour and pattern that is showing on them now. They are showing no signs of disease, nor wounds other than slight fin damage in some.
Later today I should have time to get some bacterial culture, test kits and a few plants. There's another Q: anyone recommend a quality lfs in Bristol? (one of the trickiest things to find out as a noob!)
I figure the Ammonia will be starting to rise sharply soon, though I've been feeding sparingly. I'm hoping generous doses of bacteria and some plants will minimise the danger. I know water changes are needed too - is 25% every other day ok? About feeding - are flakes enough at the moment, considering there's no algae yet for the Plecos? Should I turn my oversize filter down to minimum strength? It's midway now. The fish often hide beside it, is that a sign the current's too strong? Also I had the nozzle breaking the surface at first for max oxygenation but it was very noisy; I now have it about an inch below - is that okay?
They might not survive the cycling. Or they might fade away a few months down the line from some permanent damage caused by all the stress they've been through. I'm pretty optimistic - if they can survive the Bucket of Doom they must be hard as nails. I'm growing fond of them already, their personalities, their amusing quirks and their grace.
Did I say that 
) 
'Hero' eh? Maybe they'll build a little statue for me out of gravel and gunk 
The little buggers are getting expensive already!
