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Other half has given me permission to get a tank! I used to have cold water fish.
I would like to get some tropical fish this time. But don’t have a huge space for a large tank yet. Could properly get away with a 80L tank. Maybe 100L.
What fish would you say are good to pick for a first time tropical fish owner?
I would like to get some tropical fish this time. But don’t have a huge space for a large tank yet. Could properly get away with a 80L tank. Maybe 100L.
What fish would you say are good to pick for a first time tropical fish owner?
LosingGrip said:
Other half has given me permission to get a tank! I used to have cold water fish.
I would like to get some tropical fish this time. But don’t have a huge space for a large tank yet. Could properly get away with a 80L tank. Maybe 100L.
What fish would you say are good to pick for a first time tropical fish owner?
First get the biggest tank you can more is always better. Loads of hardy tropical fish cherry barbs/danios almost bullet proof swordtail,platys easy to look after Cory cats for clean up crew. Just be careful with livebears they breed rapidly. I would visit a few shops see what you like then build the set up for them.I would like to get some tropical fish this time. But don’t have a huge space for a large tank yet. Could properly get away with a 80L tank. Maybe 100L.
What fish would you say are good to pick for a first time tropical fish owner?
Good luck and upload plenty of pics.
Lots of choice of tropical fish to suit 80+L, agree with MGCHRIS, push the limits on the size as much as you can!
I’m going around for the second time at the moment and this time I’ve gone for a ‘dirted’ tank, wish I’d done it first time around. Definitely worth thinking about if you want live plants growing in there.
Choose which kind of look you’re going for and pick fish to suit that environment.
I’m going around for the second time at the moment and this time I’ve gone for a ‘dirted’ tank, wish I’d done it first time around. Definitely worth thinking about if you want live plants growing in there.
Choose which kind of look you’re going for and pick fish to suit that environment.
Edited by HustleRussell on Thursday 11th November 23:36
So, popped round my grandparents today and mentioned about getting a fish tank.
They currently have one but my Grandad is struggling to keep on top of the maintenance due to a hip injury.
They’ve said we can have it. Can’t remember the litre size but it’s 3ft long by 1ft wide. Decent quality as well (Grandad likes spending money on good things!). Few fish as well. Can’t remember what they are off the top of my head.
Don’t think I’ll be able to sort it out for a week or two due to work but looking forward to it.
Will sort out photos once we’ve got it and I’m sure I’ll be here for some advice!
They currently have one but my Grandad is struggling to keep on top of the maintenance due to a hip injury.
They’ve said we can have it. Can’t remember the litre size but it’s 3ft long by 1ft wide. Decent quality as well (Grandad likes spending money on good things!). Few fish as well. Can’t remember what they are off the top of my head.
Don’t think I’ll be able to sort it out for a week or two due to work but looking forward to it.
Will sort out photos once we’ve got it and I’m sure I’ll be here for some advice!
LosingGrip said:
So, popped round my grandparents today and mentioned about getting a fish tank.
They currently have one but my Grandad is struggling to keep on top of the maintenance due to a hip injury.
They’ve said we can have it. Can’t remember the litre size but it’s 3ft long by 1ft wide. Decent quality as well (Grandad likes spending money on good things!). Few fish as well. Can’t remember what they are off the top of my head.
Don’t think I’ll be able to sort it out for a week or two due to work but looking forward to it.
Will sort out photos once we’ve got it and I’m sure I’ll be here for some advice!
That's not a bad size, could be 150 litres or so (depending on how deep it is)They currently have one but my Grandad is struggling to keep on top of the maintenance due to a hip injury.
They’ve said we can have it. Can’t remember the litre size but it’s 3ft long by 1ft wide. Decent quality as well (Grandad likes spending money on good things!). Few fish as well. Can’t remember what they are off the top of my head.
Don’t think I’ll be able to sort it out for a week or two due to work but looking forward to it.
Will sort out photos once we’ve got it and I’m sure I’ll be here for some advice!
Can anyone shed any light on this or what I can do here?
About a month ago I suddenly lost some tetra’s and a gourami. Gourami was swimming on the spot rocking back and forth. Water change etc… then all seemed well. This morning I saw my last remaining Gourami rocking back-and-forth on the spot and all the mollies on the floor with their fins clamped.
I did an immediate 50% water change, and put two tablets of Bactopur wideband antibiotics in there.
It’s the second time I’ve had this happened… I took the same precautions then as well, but now it’s happened again, I fear something is desperately wrong…
Water is testing perfectly! Everything is on 0 and the ph is 7.
Any ideas? Or am I just a crap fish keeper?
About a month ago I suddenly lost some tetra’s and a gourami. Gourami was swimming on the spot rocking back and forth. Water change etc… then all seemed well. This morning I saw my last remaining Gourami rocking back-and-forth on the spot and all the mollies on the floor with their fins clamped.
I did an immediate 50% water change, and put two tablets of Bactopur wideband antibiotics in there.
It’s the second time I’ve had this happened… I took the same precautions then as well, but now it’s happened again, I fear something is desperately wrong…
Water is testing perfectly! Everything is on 0 and the ph is 7.
Any ideas? Or am I just a crap fish keeper?
otolith said:
Odd.
Water parameters OK, temperature OK, presumably no reason to think oxygenation is low - could anyone have used something toxic in the room?
No, nothing new, aquarium is covered as well. Water parameters OK, temperature OK, presumably no reason to think oxygenation is low - could anyone have used something toxic in the room?
Beginning to think I need to maybe sterilise the tank/ filter and get new cartridges… as a last resort.
That is puzzling.
It might just be me but I don't think I see anything unusual about that Gourami's appearance. Maybe the fins are a bit thready at the extremities but maybe they're normally like that?
What are you putting in when you do water changes- tap water + a water conditioner which binds heavy metals?
If it isn't bacterial then that leaves some kind of poisoning or a water chemistry problem other than Ammonia or Nitrite?
It might just be me but I don't think I see anything unusual about that Gourami's appearance. Maybe the fins are a bit thready at the extremities but maybe they're normally like that?
What are you putting in when you do water changes- tap water + a water conditioner which binds heavy metals?
If it isn't bacterial then that leaves some kind of poisoning or a water chemistry problem other than Ammonia or Nitrite?
HustleRussell said:
That is puzzling.
It might just be me but I don't think I see anything unusual about that Gourami's appearance. Maybe the fins are a bit thready at the extremities but maybe they're normally like that?
What are you putting in when you do water changes- tap water + a water conditioner which binds heavy metals?
If it isn't bacterial then that leaves some kind of poisoning or a water chemistry problem other than Ammonia or Nitrite?
I’m adding Tap water + water conditioner, throughly stirring it through.It might just be me but I don't think I see anything unusual about that Gourami's appearance. Maybe the fins are a bit thready at the extremities but maybe they're normally like that?
What are you putting in when you do water changes- tap water + a water conditioner which binds heavy metals?
If it isn't bacterial then that leaves some kind of poisoning or a water chemistry problem other than Ammonia or Nitrite?
I’m getting a bit worried now…
Well you're doing the right things.
So your remaining Gourami and your mollies look poorly. What else have you got in there? is everything else behaving normally and eating?
Are you dosing anything into the tank besides water conditioner and the antibiotics?
Anything else unusual going on in the house around the aquarium a month ago and this week?
So your remaining Gourami and your mollies look poorly. What else have you got in there? is everything else behaving normally and eating?
Are you dosing anything into the tank besides water conditioner and the antibiotics?
Anything else unusual going on in the house around the aquarium a month ago and this week?
HustleRussell said:
Well you're doing the right things.
So your remaining Gourami and your mollies look poorly. What else have you got in there? is everything else behaving normally and eating?
Are you dosing anything into the tank besides water conditioner and the antibiotics?
Anything else unusual going on in the house around the aquarium a month ago and this week?
Nothing strange, but I do live in Austria and in the last two days we’ve had very heavy snowfall…So your remaining Gourami and your mollies look poorly. What else have you got in there? is everything else behaving normally and eating?
Are you dosing anything into the tank besides water conditioner and the antibiotics?
Anything else unusual going on in the house around the aquarium a month ago and this week?
Nothing else going into the tank, but the rest of the tank mates are
5 x armoured catfish
6 x various mollies,
4 x snails
13 x mollie fry (not even 10mm big yet)
All we’re eating normally, not given any food yet today, but yesterday they are their food as normal.
Edited by extraT on Monday 29th November 15:22
Is there any 'pattern', being that this happened a month ago? Has it been immediately after a water change both times or anything like that?
I don't see an obvious sign of fungal infection on the Gourami, I am not sure how bacterial infections present but you have treated for that anyway... the Gourami looks fine.
Low O2 / High CO2 and the fish will gasp at the surface. The fact they're sitting at the bottom suggests it's something else to me.
If I had to guess, some kind of poisoning from an external contaminant. It's not unheard of for off-spec water to be distributed from water treatment centres which contains excessive levels of chemicals / heavy metals etc.
I know that people recommend aquarium salt as a general tonic to aid the treatment of sick fish but I have never used it myself- may be worth a go? It won't cause any harm to your tank's occupants in the kinds of concentrations recommended on the packaging for this purpose.
Finally I know you said your water is 26 degrees. Do you have another thermometer you can chuck in to check? Again, if too hot I'd expect gasping at the surface. If cold enough to kill fish you'd surely notice it with your hands.
Confirm Ammonia and Nitrite are zero?
I don't see an obvious sign of fungal infection on the Gourami, I am not sure how bacterial infections present but you have treated for that anyway... the Gourami looks fine.
Low O2 / High CO2 and the fish will gasp at the surface. The fact they're sitting at the bottom suggests it's something else to me.
If I had to guess, some kind of poisoning from an external contaminant. It's not unheard of for off-spec water to be distributed from water treatment centres which contains excessive levels of chemicals / heavy metals etc.
I know that people recommend aquarium salt as a general tonic to aid the treatment of sick fish but I have never used it myself- may be worth a go? It won't cause any harm to your tank's occupants in the kinds of concentrations recommended on the packaging for this purpose.
Finally I know you said your water is 26 degrees. Do you have another thermometer you can chuck in to check? Again, if too hot I'd expect gasping at the surface. If cold enough to kill fish you'd surely notice it with your hands.
Confirm Ammonia and Nitrite are zero?
extraT said:
HustleRussell said:
That is puzzling.
It might just be me but I don't think I see anything unusual about that Gourami's appearance. Maybe the fins are a bit thready at the extremities but maybe they're normally like that?
What are you putting in when you do water changes- tap water + a water conditioner which binds heavy metals?
If it isn't bacterial then that leaves some kind of poisoning or a water chemistry problem other than Ammonia or Nitrite?
I’m adding Tap water + water conditioner, throughly stirring it through.It might just be me but I don't think I see anything unusual about that Gourami's appearance. Maybe the fins are a bit thready at the extremities but maybe they're normally like that?
What are you putting in when you do water changes- tap water + a water conditioner which binds heavy metals?
If it isn't bacterial then that leaves some kind of poisoning or a water chemistry problem other than Ammonia or Nitrite?
I’m getting a bit worried now…
The Bactria treatment you put in can compound the problem as they often kill beneficial bacteria in the filter. They can also fool test kits. I would start by doing daily 10% water changes and test nitrate in the tank and tap water, also test nitrite and ammonia daily before the water changes. Get a dechlorinatior that also removes chloramine. Feed sparingly every other day for two weeks.
LosingGrip said:
So, popped round my grandparents today and mentioned about getting a fish tank.
They currently have one but my Grandad is struggling to keep on top of the maintenance due to a hip injury.
They’ve said we can have it. Can’t remember the litre size but it’s 3ft long by 1ft wide. Decent quality as well (Grandad likes spending money on good things!). Few fish as well. Can’t remember what they are off the top of my head.
Don’t think I’ll be able to sort it out for a week or two due to work but looking forward to it.
Will sort out photos once we’ve got it and I’m sure I’ll be here for some advice!
Read up on the nitrogen cycle. When you move the tank try and keep the filters dirty and not oxygen deprived for too long. Then don’t feed for about a week. Don’t go and buy a load of new fish for a few weeks and when you do just add a couple at a time. Buy a decent test kit…not dip strips and test regularly. Depending on what type of filter it is will depend on how to handle the move. If it’s a sponge filter only ever clean it in old tank water, not under the tap. They currently have one but my Grandad is struggling to keep on top of the maintenance due to a hip injury.
They’ve said we can have it. Can’t remember the litre size but it’s 3ft long by 1ft wide. Decent quality as well (Grandad likes spending money on good things!). Few fish as well. Can’t remember what they are off the top of my head.
Don’t think I’ll be able to sort it out for a week or two due to work but looking forward to it.
Will sort out photos once we’ve got it and I’m sure I’ll be here for some advice!
What do we think of this guy?
I bought 10 of these Celestial Pearl Danios two weeks ago and I noticed that this one had a hollow belly, a hogging back and a slightly downward tail. I wondered if he would improve but today I notice that he has clamped fins.
Temp 24
PH 7.5
Ammonia / Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~40
The other 9 are fine
There is a light patch on his right flank if you look closely, between dorsal and tail.
I have been feeding generously to ensure he gets food but he doesn’t have the verve of the others and expends a lot of his energy evading the others who appear to bully him a bit.
Genetic defect? Fungal infection? Worms?
P.S. they’re all in my quarantine tank with some Ramshorn snails for company
EDIT: Watched him closely at feeding time. I fed frozen cyclops. He was slow to start eating and then once he'd started, most of the time he was spitting the food back out again. He appeared to be getting some of it down.
I bought 10 of these Celestial Pearl Danios two weeks ago and I noticed that this one had a hollow belly, a hogging back and a slightly downward tail. I wondered if he would improve but today I notice that he has clamped fins.
Temp 24
PH 7.5
Ammonia / Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~40
The other 9 are fine
There is a light patch on his right flank if you look closely, between dorsal and tail.
I have been feeding generously to ensure he gets food but he doesn’t have the verve of the others and expends a lot of his energy evading the others who appear to bully him a bit.
Genetic defect? Fungal infection? Worms?
P.S. they’re all in my quarantine tank with some Ramshorn snails for company
EDIT: Watched him closely at feeding time. I fed frozen cyclops. He was slow to start eating and then once he'd started, most of the time he was spitting the food back out again. He appeared to be getting some of it down.
Edited by HustleRussell on Monday 29th November 21:18
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