Seedy_r0m
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2005
- Messages
- 4,295
- Reaction score
- 621
OK...my first moan.
<RANT ON>
Just over 10 years ago, i decided to start a tropical aquarium.
Everything went well, I had a load of great looking fish, Cichlids, Neons, Glass Catfish, Plec, and a host of others.
I managed to keep them succesfully for a while, until unforseen circ's forced me to pass them, my tank & all my equipment on to my brother.
More recently (February actually), I decided to restart my old hobby, and spent an absolute fortune on a new tank, heater, air pump, gravel, plants etc etc etc.
I let the water cycle for a couple of weeks, then added 6 White Cloud Mountain Minnows.
As advised by Petsathome (Arrgghh), I also added Aquarium Salt, Stress Zyme, & Tap Water Conditioner etc just to make the water perfect for my new fish.
I had never added chemicals previously, and had no problems.
After roughly a couple of weeks between each new addition I added a Plec, Guppies, Dwarf Gouramis, Silver Dollars, Clown Loaches, Silver Sharks, Siamese Fighter.
To be perfectly honest, the only compatibility issues I had was between the Dollars & the Gouramis. Even though the Dollars were skittish, they were first to hoover up all the food. There were a few niggles, but all in all everything was OK.
I was performing regular water changes, cleaning the gravel etc, but my fish started keeling over one by one (usually one species at a time)
I took a water sample to Pets at home where they told me that the Ammonia level was too high and the only way to rectify this was through regular water changes.
Every time I took a sample in, the Ammonia was always too high, so a regular water change pattern ensued.
I did this religously, but each species shuffled off it's mortal coil, until there was nothing left in the tank. Everytime I was told "Ammonia too high, do a partial change"
Partial changes seemed to have no effect, and finally all my stock was residing in the grey bin at the bottom of the garden. The tank was then emptied completely, the gravel & the plants were binned, the silicon adhering the Jewel filter was gingerly sliced from the glass & a brand new Fluval 305 external filter was fitted along with new gravel, plants & ornaments.
I allowed the tank to cycle for a couple of weeks, the decided to go for coldwater fancies...within a week, they were all displaying symptons of whitespot (from Pets at Home).
I treated them, but it must've been too far into their gills to restore them back to full health...they are all ex-fish now.
Next step...I cleaned out all the tank/gravel & let it dry completely for a couple of weeks. When this was done, I started a fishless cycle again just to prepare the water for some new livestock.
Once the water had settled down, and was crystal clear, I took a sample to Pets at Home to test.
They said that it was high in Ammonia & I should do a water change.
My apologies to the young lass who gave me this advise, as I tore astrip off her. I had spent an absolute fortune on fish & equipment since I started this stress reducing fooking hobby.
Anyway, I took a tap water sample to another shop. They said that the tap water itself is Acidic & high in Ammonia, normally they would recommend a water change, but seeing as the source was at fault, this would be pointless.
I manged to get the Mother in laws tap water checked, this was perfect.
Scottish Water were contacted, they have deemed the water to be within perfectly acceptable limits, but perfect for who?
It turns out the the toxic soup I was forcing my fish to swim in was deemed perfectly normal by Scottish Water.
What worries me is the $h*te they are forcing us & our kids to drink is passing their tests, but none of my fish can swim in it.
I have now changed my water with the water from another area & mt fish are thriving.
If Scottish Water want a water sample...I am more than willing to give them one. It may be slightly salty & a little warm...feckers!!!!
</RANT OFF>
<RANT ON>
Just over 10 years ago, i decided to start a tropical aquarium.
Everything went well, I had a load of great looking fish, Cichlids, Neons, Glass Catfish, Plec, and a host of others.
I managed to keep them succesfully for a while, until unforseen circ's forced me to pass them, my tank & all my equipment on to my brother.
More recently (February actually), I decided to restart my old hobby, and spent an absolute fortune on a new tank, heater, air pump, gravel, plants etc etc etc.
I let the water cycle for a couple of weeks, then added 6 White Cloud Mountain Minnows.
As advised by Petsathome (Arrgghh), I also added Aquarium Salt, Stress Zyme, & Tap Water Conditioner etc just to make the water perfect for my new fish.
I had never added chemicals previously, and had no problems.
After roughly a couple of weeks between each new addition I added a Plec, Guppies, Dwarf Gouramis, Silver Dollars, Clown Loaches, Silver Sharks, Siamese Fighter.
To be perfectly honest, the only compatibility issues I had was between the Dollars & the Gouramis. Even though the Dollars were skittish, they were first to hoover up all the food. There were a few niggles, but all in all everything was OK.
I was performing regular water changes, cleaning the gravel etc, but my fish started keeling over one by one (usually one species at a time)
I took a water sample to Pets at home where they told me that the Ammonia level was too high and the only way to rectify this was through regular water changes.
Every time I took a sample in, the Ammonia was always too high, so a regular water change pattern ensued.
I did this religously, but each species shuffled off it's mortal coil, until there was nothing left in the tank. Everytime I was told "Ammonia too high, do a partial change"
Partial changes seemed to have no effect, and finally all my stock was residing in the grey bin at the bottom of the garden. The tank was then emptied completely, the gravel & the plants were binned, the silicon adhering the Jewel filter was gingerly sliced from the glass & a brand new Fluval 305 external filter was fitted along with new gravel, plants & ornaments.
I allowed the tank to cycle for a couple of weeks, the decided to go for coldwater fancies...within a week, they were all displaying symptons of whitespot (from Pets at Home).
I treated them, but it must've been too far into their gills to restore them back to full health...they are all ex-fish now.
Next step...I cleaned out all the tank/gravel & let it dry completely for a couple of weeks. When this was done, I started a fishless cycle again just to prepare the water for some new livestock.
Once the water had settled down, and was crystal clear, I took a sample to Pets at Home to test.
They said that it was high in Ammonia & I should do a water change.
My apologies to the young lass who gave me this advise, as I tore astrip off her. I had spent an absolute fortune on fish & equipment since I started this stress reducing fooking hobby.
Anyway, I took a tap water sample to another shop. They said that the tap water itself is Acidic & high in Ammonia, normally they would recommend a water change, but seeing as the source was at fault, this would be pointless.
I manged to get the Mother in laws tap water checked, this was perfect.
Scottish Water were contacted, they have deemed the water to be within perfectly acceptable limits, but perfect for who?
It turns out the the toxic soup I was forcing my fish to swim in was deemed perfectly normal by Scottish Water.
What worries me is the $h*te they are forcing us & our kids to drink is passing their tests, but none of my fish can swim in it.
I have now changed my water with the water from another area & mt fish are thriving.
If Scottish Water want a water sample...I am more than willing to give them one. It may be slightly salty & a little warm...feckers!!!!
</RANT OFF>