Read The F*****G Manual:
The concept of RTFM is as old as the written language. For every topic in existence there has been some sort of "manual" to explain the ins and outs of it. Here, newbies and veterans alike, is the manual for the aquarium. There is one rule to keeping happy, healthy fish, and that is to RTFM. It may seem like every new owner's problem is a unique circumstance in their microcosm of existence. Unfortunately it is most often not. It is generally due to the same reason(s) as every other unique problem people have encountered. If you are going to post a question about a problem with a new tank, read this list first:
1. High Ammonia/Nitrites: You didn't listen when people told you to chill out, and this is the aftermath. Did you ever hear the workd "cycle" or even "test kit?" If you didn't, you didn't do the most basic research, and for this my friend, you fail.
2. Too many fish: You may have bought into the concept of "1 inch of fish per gallon," or perhaps you bought all those fish thinking "what's ammonia?(see item 1)" Again, you did not do even the most basic level of research, or possibly even common sense. This is the aftermath.
3. BIG fish, tiny tank: You really bought into the whole "that oscar will only get as big as the tank will allow" concept, eh? Unfortunately big fish do not stay small, because evolution has chosen them to be big. We may like to think we're god some days, unfortunately the man upstairs' word trumps ours. You didn't use your high school Bio class knowledge, or common sense. This is the aftermath.
Okay, so you realize you didn't do the research, you impulse bought, and now your fish (and hopefully you) are suffering a little for it (here is where I admit that even I was an impulse-buy aquarist for a spell, most of us are guilty methinks). Here's what you do to fix the problem (if you caught it early enough to fix).
1. Read every single post in the newbie forum, don't stop until you reach the end.
2. Read every post in the articles section, even if it doesn't seem applicable.
3. Search the internet for information about the problem, read the first 5 pages at the bare minimum.
4. If at this point you can still think, still type, and have not found your answer... post a new thread about your unique problem. If it truly is unique, the majority of us will get a kick out of hearing something we haven't before, and doing our best to help rectify the situation.
:devil: :huh: :devil:
The concept of RTFM is as old as the written language. For every topic in existence there has been some sort of "manual" to explain the ins and outs of it. Here, newbies and veterans alike, is the manual for the aquarium. There is one rule to keeping happy, healthy fish, and that is to RTFM. It may seem like every new owner's problem is a unique circumstance in their microcosm of existence. Unfortunately it is most often not. It is generally due to the same reason(s) as every other unique problem people have encountered. If you are going to post a question about a problem with a new tank, read this list first:
1. High Ammonia/Nitrites: You didn't listen when people told you to chill out, and this is the aftermath. Did you ever hear the workd "cycle" or even "test kit?" If you didn't, you didn't do the most basic research, and for this my friend, you fail.
2. Too many fish: You may have bought into the concept of "1 inch of fish per gallon," or perhaps you bought all those fish thinking "what's ammonia?(see item 1)" Again, you did not do even the most basic level of research, or possibly even common sense. This is the aftermath.
3. BIG fish, tiny tank: You really bought into the whole "that oscar will only get as big as the tank will allow" concept, eh? Unfortunately big fish do not stay small, because evolution has chosen them to be big. We may like to think we're god some days, unfortunately the man upstairs' word trumps ours. You didn't use your high school Bio class knowledge, or common sense. This is the aftermath.
Okay, so you realize you didn't do the research, you impulse bought, and now your fish (and hopefully you) are suffering a little for it (here is where I admit that even I was an impulse-buy aquarist for a spell, most of us are guilty methinks). Here's what you do to fix the problem (if you caught it early enough to fix).
1. Read every single post in the newbie forum, don't stop until you reach the end.
2. Read every post in the articles section, even if it doesn't seem applicable.
3. Search the internet for information about the problem, read the first 5 pages at the bare minimum.
4. If at this point you can still think, still type, and have not found your answer... post a new thread about your unique problem. If it truly is unique, the majority of us will get a kick out of hearing something we haven't before, and doing our best to help rectify the situation.
:devil: :huh: :devil:
