brimac41
Aquarium Advice Activist
After reading some threads on here were people dismiss the advice given from those who know what they are talking about like the one about someone stating their cichlids keep dying yet ignored all the advice given , I thought I would relate me story .
My wife's best friends received a 10 Gal. Aquarium for her B-day last summer . So she set it up and in the same day dumped in her fish and watched them all die off in the next two or three days . So she comes to my house , she likes to look at my set-up and then the questions begin . She asks me how I keep my water crystal clear , how my fish look so healthy and vibrant and how they ACTUALLY swim , chase , eat and play . I always tell her it takes time , research , research and more research and experience . Do I know everything about fish keeping ? Well since I learn something new everyday on this site means I do not (but that is why I love this site) . But I do know how to keep my fish healthy with good water quality and proper feeding , and mixing appropriate fish that will dwell together in peace and would be a proper fish for my tank size .
She will ask me how to cycle her aquarium , I will tell her how and she then disregards what I have said and buys that crap that states that it will automatically cycle an aquarium . She will ask me if this or that fish will do well in her 10 gal. I tell her NO they will not , yet she turns around and buys the very same fish I told her not to purchase . She will ask me how to keep her water crystal clear like mine , I tell her to figure out the problem and fix it and she will run out and buy some product that supposedly clears up cloudy water . She will ask me how to get her ammonia/nitrite readings down , I tell her water changes and properly cycling her aquarium , she runs out and buys Ammo Lock . She asks me how to bring down her pH , I tell her to leave it alone , that a steady pH is better than one that fluctuates . And what does she do ? Yep , she runs out and buys pH down/up . I tell her not to cover up the problem with chemicals , but find the source of the problem and correct it .
I have a rather large collection of books on aquariums/fish keeping so I offer her a few to read , yet she turns me down . I have pointed her to this site but she would rather spend her time on Facebook .
I do not understand people , they want to ask questions but do not heed the advice given and/or does the opposite . So I ask her , why bother asking me questions if she is going to do the opposite and she tells me "well the employee at Wal Mart says differently" and does what they say to do . I have lost count of how many fish she has killed and when she asks me questions , the first thing that she says is don't tell me "you have to do water changes !" . The other night was the last straw , so I told her if she doesn't want to put in the work , then she does not need to keep fish . I understand making beginners mistakes , but to continue making the same mistakes that killed their fish before blows my mind , we are supposed to learn from them , not repeat them .
Sorry for the long post , but if people want to learn how to properly keep fish healthy and happy , then listen to those who have been at it for years . I do not see the point in looking for help and then completely ignoring it .
My wife's best friends received a 10 Gal. Aquarium for her B-day last summer . So she set it up and in the same day dumped in her fish and watched them all die off in the next two or three days . So she comes to my house , she likes to look at my set-up and then the questions begin . She asks me how I keep my water crystal clear , how my fish look so healthy and vibrant and how they ACTUALLY swim , chase , eat and play . I always tell her it takes time , research , research and more research and experience . Do I know everything about fish keeping ? Well since I learn something new everyday on this site means I do not (but that is why I love this site) . But I do know how to keep my fish healthy with good water quality and proper feeding , and mixing appropriate fish that will dwell together in peace and would be a proper fish for my tank size .
She will ask me how to cycle her aquarium , I will tell her how and she then disregards what I have said and buys that crap that states that it will automatically cycle an aquarium . She will ask me if this or that fish will do well in her 10 gal. I tell her NO they will not , yet she turns around and buys the very same fish I told her not to purchase . She will ask me how to keep her water crystal clear like mine , I tell her to figure out the problem and fix it and she will run out and buy some product that supposedly clears up cloudy water . She will ask me how to get her ammonia/nitrite readings down , I tell her water changes and properly cycling her aquarium , she runs out and buys Ammo Lock . She asks me how to bring down her pH , I tell her to leave it alone , that a steady pH is better than one that fluctuates . And what does she do ? Yep , she runs out and buys pH down/up . I tell her not to cover up the problem with chemicals , but find the source of the problem and correct it .
I have a rather large collection of books on aquariums/fish keeping so I offer her a few to read , yet she turns me down . I have pointed her to this site but she would rather spend her time on Facebook .
I do not understand people , they want to ask questions but do not heed the advice given and/or does the opposite . So I ask her , why bother asking me questions if she is going to do the opposite and she tells me "well the employee at Wal Mart says differently" and does what they say to do . I have lost count of how many fish she has killed and when she asks me questions , the first thing that she says is don't tell me "you have to do water changes !" . The other night was the last straw , so I told her if she doesn't want to put in the work , then she does not need to keep fish . I understand making beginners mistakes , but to continue making the same mistakes that killed their fish before blows my mind , we are supposed to learn from them , not repeat them .
Sorry for the long post , but if people want to learn how to properly keep fish healthy and happy , then listen to those who have been at it for years . I do not see the point in looking for help and then completely ignoring it .