Please help me. Any advice is welcome.

I don't know anything about it, but I'd go with Prime, especially if you have ammonia in the tap water. Prime will be a lifesaver.

You need to be very careful when doing water changes to make the replacement water the same as the tank water. A difference of 2 degrees one way or the other is a shock to them and causes stress which can weaken their immune system.

I don't know how serious the effect is when you add waterr that's too warm, but I know that colder water can shock and kill them.

WalMart or any pet store should have the little glass bulb thermometer that has a rubber suction cup holder. You can leave it in your tank all the time, get a reading of the temp in the tank right before each water change, then remove it to use while you are running tap water to get it to the same temperature. (I actually have two so I don't have to move it back and forth)

I run tap water into a tupperware container and adjust the flow for more or less hot water... as the water is flowing into and overflowing the bowl, I keep checking the temp in the container with the thermometer.... once it is stable and the water is flowing from the tap at a stable temperature then I fill up a bucket and put in some Prime. (the thermometer moves slowly so you want to give it time to make sure it has reached the accurate temperature)

Here's the thing, though. You're right that the tap water is warm right now. Mine is 82 degrees right out of the tap. I keep my tanks, normally, at 78 degrees, so I get ice cubes and put in the bucket with the Prime, not the tank, and stir and keep reading the temp. Go slow with adding ice, because of the time lag with the thermometer. (I plan to get a digital for instantaneous readings eventually)

Adding ice to the bucket I can get the temp exactly the same temp as the tank.
 
Melody Doucet said:
I don't know anything about it, but I'd go with Prime, especially if you have ammonia in the tap water. Prime will be a lifesaver.

You need to be very careful when doing water changes to make the replacement water the same as the tank water. A difference of 2 degrees one way or the other is a shock to them and causes stress which can weaken their immune system.

I don't know how serious the effect is when you add waterr that's too warm, but I know that colder water can shock and kill them.

WalMart or any pet store should have the little glass bulb thermometer that has a rubber suction cup holder. You can leave it in your tank all the time, get a reading of the temp in the tank right before each water change, then remove it to use while you are running tap water to get it to the same temperature. (I actually have two so I don't have to move it back and forth)

I run tap water into a tupperware container and adjust the flow for more or less hot water... as the water is flowing into and overflowing the bowl, I keep checking the temp in the container with the thermometer.... once it is stable and the water is flowing from the tap at a stable temperature then I fill up a bucket and put in some Prime. (the thermometer moves slowly so you want to give it time to make sure it has reached the accurate temperature)

Here's the thing, though. You're right that the tap water is warm right now. Mine is 82 degrees right out of the tap. I keep my tanks, normally, at 78 degrees, so I get ice cubes and put in the bucket with the Prime, not the tank, and stir and keep reading the temp. Go slow with adding ice, because of the time lag with the thermometer. (I plan to get a digital for instantaneous readings eventually)

Adding ice to the bucket I can get the temp exactly the same temp as the tank.
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Yeah, I won't be doing that again. He was very stressed afterward. He's better now though.

And thanks for the ice cube idea. I'll try that.

I'm going to return this water conditioner next week when I get my new testing kit. It says it "replaces slime coat; removes Chlorine, Ammonia and Chloramine; detoxifies Nitrite and heavy metals; adds essential electrolytes; boosts alkalinity." Sounds like it does a lot.
 
i've never heard of that brand of dechlorinator, but it sounds like it does the job. the one you bought probably cost more than Prime though, and the dosage is most likely a larger amount per gallon. If it's a good dechlorinator i would just use it (since you bought it already) and then when you run out and it's time to get more then get a bottle of Prime.
 
pretty much all dechlorinators will do the things listed on the one you bought. Prime performs the additional function of detoxifying ammonia. The bigger benefit, though, is the cost. When you compare that you would have to buy 5 bottles of any other brand to get the same amount of water treated, you can see where you spend a lot more. Once you're keeping your new 46, this will be more of a factor :-)
 
Listen Zzbal, when I started I was totally lacking in any skills, as was everyone else here.

I made just about every mistake one can make, and struggled, labored, lost fish, and my marbles:nilly: (nearly), lol, and then found this site. Even then I had a lot of learning to do, and experience to gain. I had so much help from the folks here on AC.

We really want to help and want you to know that you are just like the rest of us. We all had a beginning and we all made mistakes, and that's how we learn isn't?

When we make mistakes, and we do because we're human, we learn not to make the same mistakes, and we learn how to prevent them by reading about other people's mistakes and experiences.

We can learn by doing some research on our own, but also by reading the threads here and taking advantage of the vast experience of the fish gurus here. Many of these folks have been doing this for years and years, and have fabulous tanks and fish. They know so much more than most of the people at the pet chain stores and even the local fish stores, and they have no agenda, nothing to sell, just the desire to help you.

You've come to the right place. We all mean well, though sometimes we may not say things as tactfully as we intend. I don't think anyone here means to be unkind. I think we're all here because we love this hobby and want to help others enjoy it, too.

Hang in there. Keep asking questions. Keep up the good work. :thm:You'll be among the ranks of fish gurus, too, one day. That's what I'm trying to do myself, lol, though I know I have a long way to go. We'll get there.:)
 
Melody Doucet said:
Listen Zzbal, when I started I was totally lacking in any skills, as was everyone else here.

I made just about every mistake one can make, and struggled, labored, lost fish, and my marbles:nilly: (nearly), lol, and then found this site. Even then I had a lot of learning to do, and experience to gain. I had so much help from the folks here on AC.

We really want to help and want you to know that you are just like the rest of us. We all had a beginning and we all made mistakes, and that's how we learn isn't?

When we make mistakes, and we do because we're human, we learn not to make the same mistakes, and we learn how to prevent them by reading about other people's mistakes and experiences.

We can learn by doing some research on our own, but also by reading the threads here and taking advantage of the vast experience of the fish gurus here. Many of these folks have been doing this for years and years, and have fabulous tanks and fish. They know so much more than most of the people at the pet chain stores and even the local fish stores, and they have no agenda, nothing to sell, just the desire to help you.

You've come to the right place. We all mean well, though sometimes we may not say things as tactfully as we intend. I don't think anyone here means to be unkind. I think we're all here because we love this hobby and want to help others enjoy it, too.

Hang in there. Keep asking questions. Keep up the good work. :thm:You'll be among the ranks of fish gurus, too, one day. That's what I'm trying to do myself, lol, though I know I have a long way to go. We'll get there.:)
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Ah, thank you. You've been very kind.

And yes, this really is a learning experience.

Also, you were helping me with water changes. I just wanted to say that I think I got it. I got the temperature as close as possible on my last change by using crushed ice, and all seems well with the tank. Patootie seems a little stopped up, so I've been feeding him 1/8 of a pea a week. It hasn't seemed to do much, though. Maybe I bought the wrong type of peas? They are Sweet Peas, and the package says they have salt on them. I tried to get just straight up frozen peas, but I couldn't find them. Otherwise, I can't tell if something is wrong with him or not. Nothing physically seems wrong other than him being stopped up, my water is okay from what I can tell -still waiting for my LFS to get my new API Master Test Kit in-, and he's still eating fine -I'm feeding him only once a day because I'm afraid if I feed him more it might worsen whatever is making him stopped up.- What concerns me though, is that he hardly moves. He'll hover in one spot for hours, and only move if I get near the tank.

Once again, thank you. You've really encouraged me.
 
Always remember go step by step, don't run and take your time... that's the key. I used Prime for years without problems, now i use a carbon bottle and i love it ;).
 
Zbbal said:
Oh, thank you! I found a few in the phone book myself.
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wal-mart carries some important things.. but keep their selection in mind. You won't find SeaChem's products in there... I use Prime, Nourish, Stability.

wal-mart deals in quantity, and while there is nothing wrong with business, I like to see more quality. that being said a cheap air pump and dirt cheap thermometer in your WChange bucket do wonders when dechlorinating and conditioning water to go in your tank. If anytime youare changing out a large % of your tank you will be affecting that same % of the ENTIRE tank... toxins and even the temp are factors as you saw..

i think there are certainly some options in N. Charleston around Northwoods Mall.
 
mgarrido said:
Always remember go step by step, don't run and take your time... that's the key. I used Prime for years without problems, now i use a carbon bottle and i love it ;).
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I include a nylon stocking full of carbon with my WC bucket too..:thm:
 
You are so welcome! I'm glad to help.

Look in the frozen food section and find english peas. Usually there will be smallish packages, maybe 12 oz or so. The frozen ones are better and need to have the skin off and be slightly mushy from the microwave.

You could also get some garlic, either the whole cloves and chop them yourself or the jars of minced garlic (I get that) that they usually have sitting on an end cap in the produce section near the onions and potatoes.

If you nuke an english pea and rub garlic on it, or put some garlic juice from the jar on it, it will be very tempting to your Patootie. Fish love garlic and it is very appetizing to them.

Ask someone at the grocery store for the frozen english peas. I know sometimes I'm searching for something and look right past it until someone points it out. I don't think the canned sallted pea you have tried will hurt him, but I think it's better not to have salted peas for him.

Keep up the good water change schedule. I know you can't test it confidently without your test kit, yet, but assume that his water needs to be changed very frequently.

Until his tank is cycled and has all the beneficial bacteria needed to handle harmful byproducts, and you have the liquid test kit to keep a watchful eye on the parameters, I would do water changes every day, at least 50%, as Lupin suggested.

Pristine water is of utmost importance to his health, especially since he seems to be a little off in his behaviour and this may indicate he's not feeling his best right now.
 
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