Common Newbie Pitfalls

[BrianNY]

Man, there's some good stuff in here already. Here's what I really think occurs:

The newbie picks up snippets of information. Even if the information is correct, he/she views the information as something which stands alone. For example, pH 6.5. Then they look for ways to reach pH 6.5. There is no way for the newbie to apply this information to their needs because they don't have the total picture. They ultimately become confused and frustrated as they begin to realize there is a cause and effect in everything they add to the tank.

If we could somehow get the newbie to understand that they are creating a completely enclosed ecosystem, which is perpetually changing, they would grasp the total picture much sooner.

[Jchillin]

You hit the nail on the head Brian. Everything we do in the tank has a cause and effect.

Originally Posted by bosk1

3. If you know there is absolutely no way you will ever want a pleco, do not, under any circumstances ever even think about broaching the subject with jchillin.

Everyone should have a pleco. We have literally thousands of species and we need...errr, they need to be in your tanks.

[7Enigma]

Taken from another thread, but I think its a good read for people starting out:

Fact: Bacteria can only consume a set amount of food (be it ammonia, or nitrIte). 1 bacterium can eat 1 bacterium's amount of food, and 10 can eat 10 bacteria's amount of food, and so on. 1 bacterium cannot eat 10 bacteria's amount of food in the same period of time.

Fact: A fully cycled tank shows no detectable levels of ammonia or nitrIte. (unless something traumatic has just occurred)

Fact: A higher concentration of acid (ammonia) or biologically damaging agents (nitrIte, nitrAte) in solution causes more severe damage than a lower concentration. (normal tank levels we are talking here i.e. under 100ppm as no fish will survive in this high level of ammonia or nitrIte)

Fact: The ONLY reason you can detect levels of ammonia and nitrIte in the tank are because the current population of bacteria/plants/algae are not great enough YET to use up this food source in a timely manner.

My logical opinion based on the above facts The BEST way to avoid further damage and future fish death where you have an uncycled tank AND fish alraedy in the tank is to keep all tank levels (ammonia/nitrIte, and nitrAte) at just ABOVE being undetectable. As long as you can detect a small amount of ammonia and nitrIte in the tank your bacteria have all the food they need to survive and multiply. As their numbers increase the amount of food they require will increase and thus less excess will need to be removed ([acronym:7ea9e4389f="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:7ea9e4389f]'s), until finally there will be no detectable ammonia or nitrIte levels in the tank.

And the best advice I can give to anyone, regardless of the topic, is to NEVER take anyone's advice as truth, not even mine. Take everything you have learned, mull it over, and look for holes in your argument. When you can't find any, post it here, and see if other's can find a fault. If not, your good to go... And HAVE FUN!

justin

[jmcbubbles]

Uummm as a newbie reading this thread, this is all fantastic help, and yes its a great idea to have a one-stop-shop for us novices to go and get the info we need. One thing I might point out though, some of you are throwing out terms and phrases without explaining them, you just might want to realise that we don't know what you're talking about half the time. (Is there some sort of "dictionary of terms"? That would be a great help)

Specifically for me - what is a python and what is a pleco??

[Jchillin]

Python

Bristlenose Pleco

Sailfin Gibbiceps Plecostomus

[7Enigma]

jmcbubbles,

Very good point. I'm still new to this forum, but have picked up a lot of the lingo, and apologize if my post was confusing. One of the great things I have found on this specific forum is that a lot of the terminology (especially acronyms) are hotlinked so that if you see them in different colors or underlined, place your mouse over the word and it will give you a short description. Like these:

[acronym:9ee0a697e9="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:9ee0a697e9]

[acronym:9ee0a697e9="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:9ee0a697e9]

[acronym:9ee0a697e9="Malaysian Trumpet Snails or Multiple Tank Syndrome, depending on context"]MTS[/acronym:9ee0a697e9]

[acronym:9ee0a697e9="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:9ee0a697e9]

[talloulou]

"No one wants advice - only corroboration." ~John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

Sometimes people are honestly looking for good advice, other times people really are just looking for someone to agree with what they have already decided. The best you can do is offer up your wisdom and then try to let go of what comes of it.

[BrianNY]

Well said Talloulou

[bosk1]

Originally Posted by talloulou

"No one wants advice - only corroboration." ~John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

*Raises hand* Guilty! (well, sometimes, anyway)

[aquanewbie72]

Everyone should have a pleco. We have literally thousands of species and we need...errr, they need to be in your tanks.

Well, as a newbie who has conquered the Cycle and Ich, I am feeling confident and want to add another fish or 2.... and was coming on here to ask some opinions on what to get. Ummm... I guess I'll get a Pleco.
Does jchillin give out Kudos to newbies who get Plecos?