Please help the new guy

[NotResponsible]

I found a fifty gallon tank in the trash. Not that I go digging through the trash.. it was just there when I went to toss out our garbage. No leaks, matching stand, nice.

I am broke, so I don't have a lot of money to equip the system properly. I taped a heating pad to the bottom of the tank and it keeps the temperature at a steady 78 degrees. I rigged a 3 foot fluoresent shop light and custom made a canopy, and it looks rather nice. I brought a very cheap filter and teeny tiny pump.

I kept aquariums as a kid and knew/know a few things about the hobby. I brought some plants and 2 swordtails (a species I understand to be rather hardy) and for about a month they seemed happy. In fact the female became pregnant. After a tank cleaning the male got sick (respitory distress) then died. Next week the female gave birth, got sick, and died. From what I read it sounds like velvet, and if that's the case they must have brought it with them from the store right?

The other thing is there are billions of little white worms- barely visable crawling on the glass. What the hell are these?

I dosed the water with 5 tsp of dissolved table salt. I would like to
save the babies? I know the filter is inadequet but I clean it often.

Anyone got any ideas about the worms? Am I right about the velvet and will it eventually kill the fry no matter what I do?

Thanks in advance.

[Faramir]

If you do have velvet (and it has visible symptoms - a yellow dusting on the fish's skin) you need to medicate, not just throw in handfuls of salt. I don't doubt a salt cure for velvet is possible, but I've not seen any details.

The worms are probably planaria, and indicate over feeding.

Cleaning the filter frequently may actually be making it less effective.

Have you tested your water for ammonia and nitrite?

[Moreta]

Originally posted by NotResponsible
... I taped a heating pad to the bottom of the tank and it keeps the temperature at a steady 78 degrees. ..

:eek: Are you saying you put the pad under the tank between it and the stand??? That's a really good way to start a fire as a standard heating pad uses electric coils which would be compressed/damaged/prone to burst into flames under the weight of the tank!!! Not to mention the fact that if the tank does leak those things aren't exactly waterproof and you'd be in for a shocking experience at the very least!

I think you'd better at very least plan on spending $15.00 on a safe heater, unless you've got good homeowners insurance.

Good Luck
Tracy

[NotResponsible]

Actually it is not as stupid as it sounds. There is an opening at the top of the stand (the stand is basically a frame). And, I don't see how my set up is any more dangerous then a heater coil, plugged into wall, surrounded by a cheap thin glass tube and hung on inside of a container of water. But, I appreciate your concern.

[kevinn2003]

its way more dangerous... runnning a heating pad 24 hours a day is not very smart , in a closed area and near water, you can get a heater for a 50 gallon for 12.99 and there are about 100 times safer then a heating pad, and they dont break or start fires, ive never had i problem with the 10 ive had.

[beviking]

I fell asleep on a heating pad once and woke up with blisters! They're really bad...oh but your tank can't get blisters. Never mind.:o

[Forum221]

My friend donated me one of thoes stick heat mats that sticks on the bottom of a tank for reptiles. I was planning on testing it on my 75 gal tank to see how warm it makes the water. Is this the same thing you are talking about? On the stand that the tank is going on there is a large opening in the bottom so it wont get hot down there.

[Slappy*McFish]

I agree, but those "dangerous" coiled heaters surrounded by thin glass, are designed to go into an aquarium and are thermostat controlled. Unless your house temperature stays well into the 60's, I would just ditch the heater all together. I don't even use them on my tanks, as I keep my house in the 70's...usually around 75-76F year round...I'm always sitting around the house in shorts and a t-shirt...lol.

[famman]

If you pay for your electricity, an aquarium heater would pay for itself in a year from the electricity it would save. Other than that, I don't think you'll start any fires and some people with plants heat the bottom of their tank to avoid a cold substrate.
good luck
:)

[NotResponsible]

Yes it is one of those stands that has a hole on the bottom? And the heating pad is probably similiar to the reptile warmer you mentioned, though it is designed for bigger reptiles like me.

Thank you all for your concern of my safety. I have unplugged the device and will not use it again. It is warmer outside and the temperature of my studio is actually getting quite warm. I've got 3 mongo servers and a host of other electronic equipment pumping out heat. I should have turned it off earlier, and I appreciate the heads up.

Another question? Do you think the shop light I am using is detrimental to my swordtail fry. It is very bright and one of the 3 foot bulbs is a plant light.