cubsfan85
Aquarium Advice Regular
Sounds alright so far. Are the fish still dying even though you're adding them one by one? If that's the case, I blame poor stock at the fish store.
Yep. Not right away, just randomly a few weeks/months later.
Sounds alright so far. Are the fish still dying even though you're adding them one by one? If that's the case, I blame poor stock at the fish store.
That sounds weird. It may be bad stock from the store. Are they still mollies and guppies dying?
I think it's time for a new store!!! At this point I'd even try Wal-Mart!
aquaponicpaw said:[QUOTE
Not sure what you mean either. The only chemical I add is Prime, to dechlorinate. I don't mess with the water chemistry otherwise except to do PWC's.
cubsfan85 said:Ok then... but I'm not seeing how this applies to my situation. You say I should just "leave it alone". The only thing I'm doing is PWC's about once a week. Are you suggesting that "chore" isn't necessary?
I don't see that as "messing with" the tank. Just routine maintenance.
The way you word things makes it sound like I should throw some fish in, and let them fend for themselves.
PWC are the life line for your tank. An absolute necessity. They remove the harmful buildup of waste and replace it with fresh clean water that contains vital minerals used by fish and plants. It's not overly complicated. All you need to do with a fish only beginners setup is a good water change routine to introduce fresh water, clean the gravel, clean the filter (in tank water) and to feed your fish. Keep you water parameters in check and your fish fed and you good. Nothing complicated about it once you have the basics down pat.
cubsfan85 said:Check, check, check and check.
Just trying to figure out what the other poster was getting at..
It seems in the threads I start there is one new poster who has very.. interesting ideas.. that are the opposite of all the information I have gleaned from this site!
Ok then... but I'm not seeing how this applies to my situation. You say I should just "leave it alone". The only thing I'm doing is PWC's about once a week. Are you suggesting that "chore" isn't necessary?
I don't see that as "messing with" the tank. Just routine maintenance.
The way you word things makes it sound like I should throw some fish in, and let them fend for themselves.
aquaponicpaw said:new water introduced to the tank, is just that. new water. the main benefit being that it is clean. there is no type of nutritonal or supplemental value to clean water. the value comes from aged dechlorinated bacteria laden water.
may be true for denitrifying bacteria. But this is not the case for other forms of bacteria. a healthy aquarium is filled with waterborne "phytoplankton like" bacteria that contributes greatly to the health of a fish. It's a very integral part of the food chain. especially in freshwater aquaria. Thats why we have water treatment facilities, to strip the water of all of these organisms.The percentage of bacteria in the water is minuscule. The majority of them live in the filter. Introducing new what to a tank will do nothing to compromise the cycle.
aquaponicpaw said:may be true for denitrifying bacteria. But this is not the case for other forms of bacteria. a healthy aquarium is filled with waterborne "phytoplankton like" bacteria that contributes greatly to the health of a fish. It's a very integral part of the food chain. especially in freshwater aquaria. Thats why we have water treatment facilities, to strip the water of all of these organisms.
the smaller the tank, the easier it is to have ammonia spikes. by going super slow and extending the time between your water changes it allows your tank the time to mature. It sounds to me like the tank is on a hamster wheel. and its never being allowed to develop a decent bacterial colony.