Angel death and vacuuming and medicine (human and animal)
I am sorry, too!!! So, let me ask...it seems to me that a dozen feeders is a huge amount...is that true? (anyone can answr)...also, I am extremely interested in the vacuuming issue, since I have not done it yet, but was all ready to do it in the next few days...and I have been wondering about this whole issue of beneficial bacteria colonies, since when I was a kid and had tanks of fish (in the 50's) we just had these little corner filters with floss and carbon, and didn't know that there were natural critters that were helping the tank to be healthy and balanced. But it seems obvious that it is very tricky to maintain that chemical/biological/ecological balance...as someone said not too long ago in this forum, dogs and cats are easier in a way because we don't have to provide their air and gravity! And I, too, felt that vaccuming might create more problems than it solves. So have hesitated. So wd love to know more...I can probably handle the "technical" stuff, if you don't mind putting it out there. Furthermore, as a nurse taking care of humans, it is often the case that a vital piece of information gets left out, not intentionally at all, but because the person doesn't make the connection between what happened (symptoms) and what went before (that is my job to some extent, and the docs too), and that is why your doc asks you to come in to the ofc to be seen face-to-face (not because he wants to rip you off, or make a payment on his boat), and that is why sometimes it takes more than one visit, which is really annoying to busy people who think you should have been able to figure the whole thing out in just one visit. It is the difficulty of diagnosing from a distance, or diagnosing a problem for which the solution isn't immediately crystal-clear. Also, you yourself found out what was going on when you stirred up the gravel, and good for you! Now you have learned a valuable, costly, painful lesson, and that is worth more than any number of lectures...God bless you, and good luck with your beauties next time. I feel sure you will do an excellent job, as you are so conscientious and caring, and not neglectful or thoughtless.
Don't blame yourself too much (or your hubby for that matter! Just have him buy your new ones!!). Mistakes happen. Just make sure you learn from it. 
