A few beginner questions.

First let me say thanks to everyone for the great info. I bought a python tonight and did a water change and gravel vac (somewhere between 30 and 50%). Unfortunately the pleco died much earlier today(prolly before my first post because I was at work). As for taking the fish back, the goldfish were bought as feeders and considering they are now covered with Ich from the walmart fish I doubt the LFS (non walmart) is going to do much more than feed them to the toilet. And they were feeders to begin with, so if they didnt fall prey to our toxic water then they would be fish food anyway. The point of my original post was looking for a way to finish cycling the tank without killing the fish (which means taking them back to the LFS was really not an option anyway IMHO). But even if they do survive the cycle and we get rid of the ich they will end up feeders for a friends fish or back in the LFS feeder tank. So either way thats why I fail to see the inhumanity in it, but I dont really want to get in a fight about morality with anyone here. I think the info here is great, and I had a feeling from the beginning that this guy at the LFS was somewhat of a jackass. I do realize there is good info here and I can tell you that any fish I keep for myself I would want to go through minimal hardship and stress, and will do everything I can to prevent it. So, now that we have got that out of the way, lets get back to the subject at hand. With that in mind should I keep trying to do daily water changes and save these fish or do I "return them to the LFS" and switch over to a fishless cycle. I went to a different LFS tonight, where I am at we have 2 LFS and then the chains (i.e. petco, walmart, etc, etc). And they tried to sell me a product called cycle. I have read a few things here about this and most seemed derogatory. So after reading the product description that the company itself gives. I wonder if people here think that using this product will actually have a negative affect, or if it could at least potentially be beneficial?
 
Last edited:
BuZz said:
First let me say thanks to everyone for the great info. I bought a python tonight and did a water change and gravel vac (somewhere between 30 and 50%). Unfortunately the pleco died much earlier today(prolly before my first post because I was at work). As for taking the fish back, the goldfish were bought as feeders and considering they are now covered with Ich from the walmart fish I doubt the LFS (non walmart) is going to do much more than feed them to the toilet. And they were feeders to begin with, so if they didnt fall prey to our toxic water then they would be fish food anyway. The point of my original post was looking for a way to finish cycling the tank without killing the fish (which means taking them back to the LFS was really not an option anyway IMHO). But even if they do survive the cycle and we get rid of the ich they will end up feeders for a friends fish or back in the LFS feeder tank. So either way thats why I fail to see the inhumanity in it, but I dont really want to get in a fight about morality with anyone here. I think the info here is great, and I had a feeling from the beginning that this guy at the LFS was somewhat of a jackass. I do realize there is good info here and I can tell you that any fish I keep for myself I would want to go through minimal hardship and stress, and will do everything I can to prevent it. So, now that we have got that out of the way, lets get back to the subject at hand. With that in mind should I keep trying to do daily water changes and save these fish or do I "return them to the LFS" and switch over to a fishless cycle. I went to a different LFS tonight, where I am at we have 2 LFS and then the chains (i.e. petco, walmart, etc, etc). And they tried to sell me a product called cycle. I have read a few things here about this and most seemed derogatory. So after reading the product description that the company itself gives. I wonder if people here think that using this product will actually have a negative affect, or if it could at least potentially be beneficial?
Click to expand...
Cycle can actually set back your cycle. I am sure you agree that is not beneficial to you at this point. If you really want to speed up your cycle, the tried and true product that can do it is BIO-Spira. Nothing else works like BIO-Spira from everything I have read. It is expensive, but it has the right bacteria in it and can and does work for many folks. Some have had it cycle their tanks in a day or two, others a week or two. I would avoid any other product an LFS pushes my way because I know BIO-Spira has worked for lots of people. I would continue the fishy cycle myself. Do daily 50% water changes. Test the water afterward and see where ammonia and or nitrites are. If they are present, go ahead and do another 50% water change. It will keep the fish alive, and keep the tank cycling. Onec the Cycle is done and the Ich cured, feed those goldies if you want.
 
Weird question.

I'm going to take a guess that I'm probably one of the only people that has ever had to ask this question. While I was doing the gravel vac last night I noticed that one of my roommates unique "features" is a little slimy. I realize this is probably not too far out of the norm. But this is not something normally found in tanks, so I wanted to see if people here thought there might be any problems with having this in there. It's a hockey puck, they are made from vulcanized rubber if that helps at all.
 
Rubber will degrade in water. I'm a hockey nut too, but I've seen old pucks... Probably a good idea to take it out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom