Joined
·
42 Posts
What's up?
So when I posted my first thread, it was to get help for my 5g, which I now know is actually harder to take care of since water parameters can be easily affected. The fish I had are not around, unfortunately, because of my ignorance. I'd blame my mom for unexpectedly buying my siblings the tank so they can have fishes, but I added to the problem by buying some of my own thus over crowding the tank. Over time I did improve my knowledge, upgrading the internal filter to a hang-in-back filter, buying an aeration system(air pump, tubing, etc.), mini-heater. Yeah, I was learning about bacterial bloom while those fish were going through hell. Those poor fish were my guinea pigs and I hate myself for it. Lost all of them, replaced them since my mom wanted me to keep trying, so she started helping too and we got better. Shortly after we got the hang of it, we decided to upgrade. This 20g drwarfs the 5g, I was amazed as I look at both side by side. You don't realize an objects true size until you compare it to something bigger, wow.
With the 20g, I wanted to take a different approach. At first, with the 5g, we had multi-colored gravel, then with the 20g, different shades of blue gravel but I was butting heads with my mom about switching to sand. I did as much research as I can to prove to her that it'd keep the PH more balanced, and it'd help us see how dirty the tank really is to keep us determined to keep it clean. Finally, and only recently, got her to give in and I bought black aquarium sand which was a bit pricey but I am not adventurous enough to by pool filter sand or whatever it is. It looks sooo awesome, allowing the fish we have to stand out a bit better. Bought two moss balls, though I forgot what they're good for, and am thinking of getting live plants(java fern, java moss, anubias). The filter we have now, which was included with the tank, has a bio-wheel which I don't feel is doing its job so I added in the bio-sponge from the 5g's old filter. Lots of decorations, including live wood, some smooth stones, and quite a bit of artificial plants, AND two cave-like decorations. I've learned what to use in chems, but I'm really wanting to come up with a tank that is self sustaining. I'll admit, we still over-crowded this one. Lets see here; 1 Peppered cory, 1 panda cory, 1 emerald catfish, 1 dwarf gourami, 5 zebra danios, 1 albino bristlenose pleco, 5 ghost shrimp, and one amano shrimp. I calculated an inch to every gallon, so that comes up to 24.5. I don't know if I'm calculating right but I do know not to by anymore fish and work on keeping the aquarium balanced since even with proper care, it's still clouding up and I know it has to be the number of fish we have in there. By the way, I calculated with their full grown sized, they're all still smaller than their expected sizes.
Not sure if I've covered everything but my question was in there; Is it the number of fish I have, or could it be something else? And what would help; sponge filter? Live plants? More chems?
To help you answer my question, allow me to tell you what chems I am using, what I feed my fish, and what I do to care for the tank.
CHEMS:
API Stress Coat
API Stress Zyme+
Marineland Ph Regulator
SeaChem Prime
API Accu-Clear
API Ammo-Lock
FOOD:
Shrimp Pellets
Color-intensifying tropical flakes
Algae Wafers
CARE: Never using tap water.
Weekly 15% water change.
Changing filter cartridge weekly.
De-chlorinating water in 1 gallon jugs(have 4)
Plans for improving care:
Most of these ideas are DIY projects, like I'll be making a vacuum that will take out debris but not water so I can do mid-week clean ups, and making my own internal filters to see if it'll improve the tank. Buying live plants to see firsthand how it affects the tank.
More ideas will be very helpful, and if you feel like scolding me, go right ahead. I'm here to soak up tips, advice, anything as long as it improves my skill. Hope to hear from someone soon.
So when I posted my first thread, it was to get help for my 5g, which I now know is actually harder to take care of since water parameters can be easily affected. The fish I had are not around, unfortunately, because of my ignorance. I'd blame my mom for unexpectedly buying my siblings the tank so they can have fishes, but I added to the problem by buying some of my own thus over crowding the tank. Over time I did improve my knowledge, upgrading the internal filter to a hang-in-back filter, buying an aeration system(air pump, tubing, etc.), mini-heater. Yeah, I was learning about bacterial bloom while those fish were going through hell. Those poor fish were my guinea pigs and I hate myself for it. Lost all of them, replaced them since my mom wanted me to keep trying, so she started helping too and we got better. Shortly after we got the hang of it, we decided to upgrade. This 20g drwarfs the 5g, I was amazed as I look at both side by side. You don't realize an objects true size until you compare it to something bigger, wow.
With the 20g, I wanted to take a different approach. At first, with the 5g, we had multi-colored gravel, then with the 20g, different shades of blue gravel but I was butting heads with my mom about switching to sand. I did as much research as I can to prove to her that it'd keep the PH more balanced, and it'd help us see how dirty the tank really is to keep us determined to keep it clean. Finally, and only recently, got her to give in and I bought black aquarium sand which was a bit pricey but I am not adventurous enough to by pool filter sand or whatever it is. It looks sooo awesome, allowing the fish we have to stand out a bit better. Bought two moss balls, though I forgot what they're good for, and am thinking of getting live plants(java fern, java moss, anubias). The filter we have now, which was included with the tank, has a bio-wheel which I don't feel is doing its job so I added in the bio-sponge from the 5g's old filter. Lots of decorations, including live wood, some smooth stones, and quite a bit of artificial plants, AND two cave-like decorations. I've learned what to use in chems, but I'm really wanting to come up with a tank that is self sustaining. I'll admit, we still over-crowded this one. Lets see here; 1 Peppered cory, 1 panda cory, 1 emerald catfish, 1 dwarf gourami, 5 zebra danios, 1 albino bristlenose pleco, 5 ghost shrimp, and one amano shrimp. I calculated an inch to every gallon, so that comes up to 24.5. I don't know if I'm calculating right but I do know not to by anymore fish and work on keeping the aquarium balanced since even with proper care, it's still clouding up and I know it has to be the number of fish we have in there. By the way, I calculated with their full grown sized, they're all still smaller than their expected sizes.
Not sure if I've covered everything but my question was in there; Is it the number of fish I have, or could it be something else? And what would help; sponge filter? Live plants? More chems?
To help you answer my question, allow me to tell you what chems I am using, what I feed my fish, and what I do to care for the tank.
CHEMS:
API Stress Coat
API Stress Zyme+
Marineland Ph Regulator
SeaChem Prime
API Accu-Clear
API Ammo-Lock
FOOD:
Shrimp Pellets
Color-intensifying tropical flakes
Algae Wafers
CARE: Never using tap water.
Weekly 15% water change.
Changing filter cartridge weekly.
De-chlorinating water in 1 gallon jugs(have 4)
Plans for improving care:
Most of these ideas are DIY projects, like I'll be making a vacuum that will take out debris but not water so I can do mid-week clean ups, and making my own internal filters to see if it'll improve the tank. Buying live plants to see firsthand how it affects the tank.
More ideas will be very helpful, and if you feel like scolding me, go right ahead. I'm here to soak up tips, advice, anything as long as it improves my skill. Hope to hear from someone soon.