On my way to getting my dream aquarium...

Bluewind

Princess Shimmer Blue and Mary Poppins?!? What names they got stuck with! XD

Speaking of poor fish, I have a family friend that I regret helping the other day. She said she had a tank and wanted me to pick up 5 of the little Goldfish they sell at PetSmart. I even brought her a jar of flakes I didn't need and some water conditioner. I did it all in good faith only to find out that her "tank" was in fact one of those mini 1.5 gallon corner ones! I explained to her the rules of fishkeeping, but she said she knew what she was doing as her mom had a large tank when she was growing up. Besides the small tank, she doesn't think they need pwc because they can just breath air and they can live off dry oatmeal! She obvously
doesn't know the first thing about taking care of fish and wouldn't listen to anything I tried to show her. The poor things don't stand a chance. I really am hoping someone can get through to her as I had no luck at all. Posted via Mobile Device

Canadian Fish

That is REALLY unfortunate. I wouldn't even keep a Betta in a 1.5 Gallon tank. Even the 5.5 seems small.

Those poor Goldfish will no doubt have short, miserable lives.

Bluewind

You must have posted while I was editing! My my, you are fast mister! XD

Yeah. I can't imagine what kind of hell they are in now. I kept my Betta Gus in a 1.8gal for about a month until I could get him a proper home, but I did pwc every day! I think hers is smaller than mine was, so it might just be a 1 gal. And to make matters worse, I also got her a few Ghost Shrimp. At least I saved the Black Tetra she was supposed to get! I know they are schooling fish, but he will just have to deal with being in a happy community. I don't know anyone locally who can adopt him so he can be with a school, but I think he will have a happy - if not ideal - life in my tank. Better than the alternitive I tell you that!
Posted via Mobile Device

Byron

This thread moves along so fast, I'm not sure if someone has already answered this, but doesn't matter. Yes, you use both, as they are supplying different nutrients, or in different quantities. You can use the Equilibrium right after the water change, as the nutrients it contains are not heavy metals (except the iron, but that doesn't matter). It takes a bit of fiddling over a few weeks to get the amount to where you want it. The day following the water change I add the Flourish Comp. Then two or three days later if a second dose is needed.

Byron

If there are fast-growing plants, such as stem or even better floating, you don't need to wait at all.

Byron

If you have an incandescent fixture [= one that takes screw-in bulbs rather than fluorescent tubes with prongs] the best and cheapest bulbs are the Daylight CFL with a 6500K rating. GE, Sylvania and Phillips all make them, I happen to use GE. Thney come in various wattages, so this depends upon the tank size. I have two 10w bulbs over my 10g and 20g tanks and the plants grow very well and interestingly I've had no algae issues in these tanks.

Any of the so-called aquarium or plant CFL bulbs may or may not work, or they may distort the colours.

yyankeeyankeefan

there are some stem * easily 20 stems left in that tank atm*, some crypts, some rooted pygmy swords, and some red melon swords. also some Java Moss and peacock moss. should i add more stem plants and take out the old filter? i mean there are a lot of plants in there.... but i do have a bare area that i am going to be filling in with crypts and stems when there is more growth in the tank. waiting for it to grow more, so i can do some trimings and replant them to spread it all out. but i have a couple i can snag from paco's tank.

yyankeeyankeefan

my betta paco is in a 10 gallon and i feel guilty sometimes that he shares it with ghost shrimp. lol. but he doesn't seem to mind and neither do they. i always feel bad for those fish who get bad owners who have NO idea about a fish's needs. i hate the "know it all type" who haven't the first clue how to take care of fish. i hope that someone talks some sense into her and she moves her fish to a larger tank asap. lets hope that this is a very bad qt tank......

Byron

That is "planted" and there should be no issues.

I was going to mention it last time, but didn't, so I will now. I never mess with "cycling" using old substrate, filters or filter media in new tanks. I plant it fairly well. I admit that the wood and plants from the existing tank will carry bacteria on their surfaces, so this is probably benefiting somewhat. But I have set up tank after tank with new substrate, new filter media, and in go the fish with never an issue. Just don't overdo it.

Jakiebabie

I agree. Poor Goldies.
What really disgusts me and disappoints me is Big Al's, Petsmarts etc and the local Mom/Pop fish stores still to this day promoting sales on the .5 gallon and 1 gallon double Betta tanks with the divider. I expect it from Walmart. I am flabbergasted that Big Al's promotes it. You know I love my Big Al's!!!.... but make a stand and quit selling that stuff. I even stopped by mine and was looking at replacing the Betta that went off to College in his 2.5gallon (max 3 gallon allowed in Dorm) with a new Betta in a 5 gallon... The Big Al's salesman tried to tell me they like the tiny cup sized tanks. Snaps fingers left, right, left.... talk to the hand.