Show me your aquarium
Discussion
havoc said:
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Ours don't. I reckon their bloody vegetarian!
Hang on...dogs (multiple), cats (multiple) AND fish?Who do you think you are? Dr Doolittle? Oh s
t...you're not Noah, are you? Can I come stay at your place next time there's some heavy rain due???
The fish and chickens are the sole responsibility of my lovely wife. She wants sheep as well. I've ruled out goats!
Yes, next heavy rain, you're welcome.
Need some help please. My crowntail betta has lost nearly all of its beautiful tail fins within the last 48 hours.
Any reason why? It’s been in the tank for 6 weeks now, tank had been running for a week before fish went in, water tested before fish went in etc.
It’s a 60l tank, also have some tetras and some shrimp in there, live plants & moss ball aswell. I tend to do a 1/3 water change weekly and filters all changed on time.
Is it stress related? I haven’t got any strips to test the PH now but do have an Ammonia test that I’m going to do shortly.
Any reason why? It’s been in the tank for 6 weeks now, tank had been running for a week before fish went in, water tested before fish went in etc.
It’s a 60l tank, also have some tetras and some shrimp in there, live plants & moss ball aswell. I tend to do a 1/3 water change weekly and filters all changed on time.
Is it stress related? I haven’t got any strips to test the PH now but do have an Ammonia test that I’m going to do shortly.
I went to pets at home but forgot to take water sample sadly!
The fish went in, in waves. Beta and shrimps first, then half the tetras followed by the other half. The tank was stocked over a 3 week period after the initial settling in time with no fish. Maybe that was abit quick?
But all the fish are happy, the ghost shrimp are growing well and I also clean all the gravel out with one of those gravel cleaners aswell so no waste is left behind.
My poor fish
The fish went in, in waves. Beta and shrimps first, then half the tetras followed by the other half. The tank was stocked over a 3 week period after the initial settling in time with no fish. Maybe that was abit quick?
But all the fish are happy, the ghost shrimp are growing well and I also clean all the gravel out with one of those gravel cleaners aswell so no waste is left behind.
My poor fish
EmilA said:
I went to pets at home but forgot to take water sample sadly!
The fish went in, in waves. Beta and shrimps first, then half the tetras followed by the other half. The tank was stocked over a 3 week period after the initial settling in time with no fish. Maybe that was abit quick?
But all the fish are happy, the ghost shrimp are growing well and I also clean all the gravel out with one of those gravel cleaners aswell so no waste is left behind.
My poor fish
N00by myself but instead of test strips get a proper kit and test your water. From what I’ve read this is always the first step when there are problems. The API test kit is good but pricey, I bought NT Labs aquarium test kit for much less and works well.The fish went in, in waves. Beta and shrimps first, then half the tetras followed by the other half. The tank was stocked over a 3 week period after the initial settling in time with no fish. Maybe that was abit quick?
But all the fish are happy, the ghost shrimp are growing well and I also clean all the gravel out with one of those gravel cleaners aswell so no waste is left behind.
My poor fish
Once you get the results you can take steps to eliminate the problem, most likely water changes.
JFReturns said:
Lurker (but soon to be contributor) here and looking for some advice 
I have my heart set on a small, heavily planted tropical tank with a shoal of cardinal tetras and possibly a few danios. I’ve found what I think is a suitable aquarium (Fluval Flex 57 litres) and started research on general placement, cycling, plant requirements etc.
But this biggest snag so far is we’re in a very hard water area which isn’t ideal for Amazonian tetras (appreciate they’re bred here and maybe slightly accustomed to harder water).
I don’t want live bearers or cichlids that love hard water so any advice on how to proceed appreciated!
I live a few miles from a shop that does RO water so could go there once a week and lug over the water. Is it better to install an RO system?
Thank you
Just following up on my post in case anyone in a hard water area has similar concerns. I have my heart set on a small, heavily planted tropical tank with a shoal of cardinal tetras and possibly a few danios. I’ve found what I think is a suitable aquarium (Fluval Flex 57 litres) and started research on general placement, cycling, plant requirements etc.
But this biggest snag so far is we’re in a very hard water area which isn’t ideal for Amazonian tetras (appreciate they’re bred here and maybe slightly accustomed to harder water).
I don’t want live bearers or cichlids that love hard water so any advice on how to proceed appreciated!
I live a few miles from a shop that does RO water so could go there once a week and lug over the water. Is it better to install an RO system?
Thank you
Opinions are hugely varied on naturally soft acidic water fish going into hard water aquariums. Chances are the majority of fish are aquarium bred and kept in local tap water so would likely be okay but not thrive.
You can go with RO water but for a beginner it’s a lot of faff, especially with the water changes required during the cycling stage.
Instead I went with livestock that thrive in hard water, and there’s loads of choice! Livebearers like mollies and guppies, danios and more. I went with a shoal of x-Ray tetras and they seem to be thriving.
This is week 10 and the hard water seems to suit the plants well, they’re going mad! Just after this pic I did a huge trim back and set up a planted ‘jar’ for some snails
Sway said:
Hmm, can't see signs of a fungal finrot - is the damage more 'mechanical' than 'deterioration'?
I'm wondering if the tetras have discovered a penchant for fin...
Never see them that close together to be honest. But do agree there isn’t anything to show fungal infection or anything. I'm wondering if the tetras have discovered a penchant for fin...
These gaps are like as if they have fallen off.
Proper water test to be done at the shop asap. Person at pets at home said to not buy a kit and just take the water to them to test as it’s a free test. Will do this tomorrow if I can before I go London, otherwise Monday once back
I can do a 50% change tomorrow, considering doing that anyway before I leave
EmilA said:
Sway said:
Hmm, can't see signs of a fungal finrot - is the damage more 'mechanical' than 'deterioration'?
I'm wondering if the tetras have discovered a penchant for fin...
Never see them that close together to be honest. But do agree there isn’t anything to show fungal infection or anything. I'm wondering if the tetras have discovered a penchant for fin...
These gaps are like as if they have fallen off.
Proper water test to be done at the shop asap. Person at pets at home said to not buy a kit and just take the water to them to test as it’s a free test. Will do this tomorrow if I can before I go London, otherwise Monday once back
I can do a 50% change tomorrow, considering doing that anyway before I leave
Can't think of anything picked up in a normal water test that'd eat fins!
No wood in there, it’s a mix of artificial and real plants, and aquarium decorations. One decoration did have a small part break off before I installed, but as it was at the bottom I pushed it into the gravel so it’s not exposed to the fish
I’ll snap a pic tomorrow as don’t want to get the light on now.
It really don’t look like as if it’s been caught or bitten by anything.
When I noticed the fin looking smaller yesterday I assumed he was streamlining himself. There is no visibility of damage on either side of him.
I did get some API Melafix so will do the 7 day treatment I think to be on the safe side, and have water tested still
I’ll snap a pic tomorrow as don’t want to get the light on now.
It really don’t look like as if it’s been caught or bitten by anything.
When I noticed the fin looking smaller yesterday I assumed he was streamlining himself. There is no visibility of damage on either side of him.
I did get some API Melafix so will do the 7 day treatment I think to be on the safe side, and have water tested still
Got my new 240L tank on Friday and have the base built, got my eldest lad popping round to help lift the tank on, wife wasn’t up to it, amazing how heavy they are.
My existing tank is set up in the garage, had to move it to decorate and have the new floor fitted, dying to get it cycled so I can move the fish and get rid of the old 120L tank, it’s served me well but been dying to get a bigger one.
Got maybe 12/13 fish, two silver dollars that must be eight years old, couple of convict cichlids which was perhaps a mistake but they seem to have chilled out recently, few other bits and bats.
Going to take some guppies and plates of my mate who has a breeding frenzy going on.
Going to stick with a community tank, will go and get some more fish once it’s settled down.
My existing tank is set up in the garage, had to move it to decorate and have the new floor fitted, dying to get it cycled so I can move the fish and get rid of the old 120L tank, it’s served me well but been dying to get a bigger one.
Got maybe 12/13 fish, two silver dollars that must be eight years old, couple of convict cichlids which was perhaps a mistake but they seem to have chilled out recently, few other bits and bats.
Going to take some guppies and plates of my mate who has a breeding frenzy going on.
Going to stick with a community tank, will go and get some more fish once it’s settled down.
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