Hi all. I set up an opening thread but figured it's time to place things here. For those who didn't read the other thread, I'll recap where I'm at.
My initial purchase took place at a local Wal-mart (the bad). Like a large number of customers, I bought my first items blind. They really should have giant signs in every store saying visit AA before purchasing any item first, but I digress.
So the initial setup went as follows:
Tetra 10 gallon starter kit - tank, HOB filter, lid with light.
Tetra Submersible Heater
1 bag each of red and black gravel
(3) black fin sharks
(2) dwarf pink gouramis
(2) CAE's (labeled by Wal-mart as SAE's)
So like most uneducated folk, it all came home and went into immediate set up mode. We have well water running through a system wide softener. Tank was opened, set up and filled. Fish were floated for temp adjustment once the heater stopped cycling to establish even temp, then added to the tank.
So this story starts with the really ugly. All three black fins died within 48 hours. One of the pink gouramis didn't survive. So I had one pink gourami and the two CAE's.
Did some reading, but unfortunately not here. Other sites popped up on Google first. And of course I didn't know the right questions to ask to get the right answers. So I turned around and added two GSPs along with aquarium salt (1 tbsp for the 10 gallon tank). I also boiled some rocks from the yard for decoration and bacteria purposes. I did a 50% PWC, added some Jungle Start Right and hoped I was doing things better. Yup, more ugly. Lost one of the GSPs within 48 hours.
Finally, I discovered AA. Way too late, and folks I'm truly sorry for that. I do care about the outcome of these critters, and have a strong connection to the aquatic world emotionally. So what does one do when they have a single uncycled tank, a spouse who thinks you're nuts for even starting this effort and putting any money into it, and four remaining live fish to try to deal with? He asks questions here, he listens, and he takes step by step efforts to make right what he made wrong. (the good)
So first, I bought an API Master Kit to monitor the water the right way (the good). I've found a home for the CAE's (who are already starting to show signs of aggressiveness) and they will be moving to a more appropriate place this afternoon (the good). This leaves me with the pink gourami and the GSP. For now, I'm going to try to help them through frequent PWCs, moving at least 25% each time. I'm going to stop the aquarium salt unless needed for injury or illness. And I'll let the tank run a fish in cycle, doing my best to keep the environment safe for the two remaining friends until the cycle completes.
Frequent water testing, frequent PWCs and let the bio filter build it's strength. Lather, rinse, repeat.
I'm going to try to make it until the holidays. At that point, I should be able to get at least a 30g tank for the GSP and run it through a fishless cycle first. I can then move the GSP to a better long term environment, and flip the 10g into a true community tank with some suggestions already provided (neon tetras, african dwarf frogs and ottos to join the single gourami). By that point I will also have read a ton more here and learned my lessons.
Of course, if you wise folk here have additional suggestions I'm all ears! Again, thanks for your patience with me as I learn how to handle things the right way.
My initial purchase took place at a local Wal-mart (the bad). Like a large number of customers, I bought my first items blind. They really should have giant signs in every store saying visit AA before purchasing any item first, but I digress.
So the initial setup went as follows:
Tetra 10 gallon starter kit - tank, HOB filter, lid with light.
Tetra Submersible Heater
1 bag each of red and black gravel
(3) black fin sharks
(2) dwarf pink gouramis
(2) CAE's (labeled by Wal-mart as SAE's)
So like most uneducated folk, it all came home and went into immediate set up mode. We have well water running through a system wide softener. Tank was opened, set up and filled. Fish were floated for temp adjustment once the heater stopped cycling to establish even temp, then added to the tank.
So this story starts with the really ugly. All three black fins died within 48 hours. One of the pink gouramis didn't survive. So I had one pink gourami and the two CAE's.
Did some reading, but unfortunately not here. Other sites popped up on Google first. And of course I didn't know the right questions to ask to get the right answers. So I turned around and added two GSPs along with aquarium salt (1 tbsp for the 10 gallon tank). I also boiled some rocks from the yard for decoration and bacteria purposes. I did a 50% PWC, added some Jungle Start Right and hoped I was doing things better. Yup, more ugly. Lost one of the GSPs within 48 hours.
Finally, I discovered AA. Way too late, and folks I'm truly sorry for that. I do care about the outcome of these critters, and have a strong connection to the aquatic world emotionally. So what does one do when they have a single uncycled tank, a spouse who thinks you're nuts for even starting this effort and putting any money into it, and four remaining live fish to try to deal with? He asks questions here, he listens, and he takes step by step efforts to make right what he made wrong. (the good)
So first, I bought an API Master Kit to monitor the water the right way (the good). I've found a home for the CAE's (who are already starting to show signs of aggressiveness) and they will be moving to a more appropriate place this afternoon (the good). This leaves me with the pink gourami and the GSP. For now, I'm going to try to help them through frequent PWCs, moving at least 25% each time. I'm going to stop the aquarium salt unless needed for injury or illness. And I'll let the tank run a fish in cycle, doing my best to keep the environment safe for the two remaining friends until the cycle completes.
Frequent water testing, frequent PWCs and let the bio filter build it's strength. Lather, rinse, repeat.
I'm going to try to make it until the holidays. At that point, I should be able to get at least a 30g tank for the GSP and run it through a fishless cycle first. I can then move the GSP to a better long term environment, and flip the 10g into a true community tank with some suggestions already provided (neon tetras, african dwarf frogs and ottos to join the single gourami). By that point I will also have read a ton more here and learned my lessons.
Of course, if you wise folk here have additional suggestions I'm all ears! Again, thanks for your patience with me as I learn how to handle things the right way.
