Oh gosh that is a long time! I have a hard time believing most people do that. I may as well just set the 20g up right away and forget the 10g. 20+ years ago I started up with only one platy. It survived (I think) and it took about 6 days. But I don't want to have to look at bloody little gills.
But that will be nearly 2 months. I have to think about this.Oh gosh that is a long time! I have a hard time believing most people do that. I may as well just set the 20g up right away and forget the 10g. 20+ years ago I started up with only one platy. It survived (I think) and it took about 6 days. But I don't want to have to look at bloody little gills.
I did not add any ammonia. I just added a large clump of hornwort and a couple days of flake food as if there were fish in there.
I just got done reading the comments by TwoTankAmin about behavioral symptoms of ammonia poisoning. Boy you people really know your stuff. I am impressed. I am glad this website is here. So glad I stumbled upon it.
I already did that. That was the first thing I tended to. But thank you anyway. Once Easter music is behind me I will switch over to setting up the 20 gallon.
Please tell me what you think of the API Fresh Water Test Kit. I have used it to read the pH of my 10 gallon in an ammonia spike. I am disappointed in that this kit does not seem very precise at all. I thought it would provide readings easier to identify. I first used the "high pH" drops which were not distinguishable enough to take a reading. It was a non-descript color not near any of the chart colors. Then I have used the regular pH drops. All it shows is that the pH is 7.6 or above. That is not much help at all. I actually think the dipsticks are more informative. Geesh! What a disappointment.
I have changed my mind again about getting a 20g and not just the 10g. I have learned that the little beasty I have fallen in love with (dwarf gourami) is one pugnacious little fellow. Many knowledgeable on youtube say that sometimes even a 40 gallon tank is not big enough for two males DG to not fight each other. So I will take the 20g back to the store. I will stick with the 10g. My plan is what you suggested in the first place. I will get one male DG to admire and a handful of cardinal tetras or neons. That way I will be able to manage keeping water hardness tolerable to the fish by supplementing my well water with the bottled water. I will get java fern and water sprite to keep him happy. So there.
