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The Loach Forum Archives (1)
Update/Re: New Fish Tank Considerations/Questions
Posted By: Wight <Wight@mindspring.com> In Response To: New Fish Tank Considerations/Questions (Wight)
Date: Saturday, 14 August 1999, at 1:52 p.m.
Thank all of you for timely and informative responses. It's not that each of you don't individually matter, but rather that I seek efficency, that causes me to lump my responses to *your* responses.
Incidentally, I now have a bare 50 gallon tank on my floor. It'll soon get moved to the counter I've planned for, etc -- damn these things are *heavy* tho!
***** Anne Webel:
Cutting notes: Who's "Martin"? Someone who posts here I assume, but likewise I'm new here and don't know everybuddy quite yet. Eitherhow, the "tops" for this tank (2) each consist of 2 glass panels and some plastic pieces. I dunno if this is exactly what Juli noted, but it seems simalar at least: The plastic (for the back) can be cut easily and as needed.
Lighting (Dimesions): 48"x13"x19" I guess isn't so explicit as I'd hoped. I used the standard convention of length x width x height, respectively however.
Filtration: UGF *BAD*. Very bad. I have a 2 gallon with a UGF, it's fine for that size tank, IFF the filter is not geysering bubbles at my poor fish. Sometimes it starts doing that, and I usually disassemble it 3-4 times before giving up and leaving it unplugged. Then I try it again and again (later) -- EVENTUALLY it works. As well as a UGF ever seems to. *sigh*. You also mention alternately cleaning filters -- It confuses me. Would this mean having 2x the filters, changing them half as often? This would be nice, but I don't think it sounds as "proper" (nothing "easy" ever is! GRRR!) -- perhaps you just meant that one filter will always be running, as I'm fiddling with the other one -- But this seems obvious.
Power: "Power splitter" -- what's a better term for this? A plug that goes into my wall, has a bit of cord, and (in the case of my present use) 3 plugs on it; 2 plugs on one side, a single plug on the opposing side. (Plugs=plug sockets, or plugs, when you consider how I'm using them.) I don't know any electricians, but I've been referred to Home Depot with such questions. I just find the idea of approaching a business with a question that relates to their business distasteful -- "*OF COURSE* you need to do that. It makes us money." -- This is why I'm asking *you* wonderful people about if I need 2 of this or that, in addition to my LFS's.
***** Cap:
Filters: Care to explain more about canister filters? All I understand is the "basic" UGF and external filters (and likely not even these very well!). Filters seem *very* perplexing to me, they all suggest they are great, they all are poorly documented (until you open the box anywho) in stores/websites selling them, and they are thusly a mystery to me. You don't seem to suggest 2 filters, most others seem very inclined to do just that.
Light: I have only 1 bulb-choice availible with the present light socket setup (1 48" socket - came with the tank). Likewise, while I enjoy the effect "weird" lighting produces on certain fish, I am also rather annoyed by it sometimes; I'd rather have my fish look how they *actually* look. I still have little idea what would accent a Clown, past plants -- a grow bulb is very likely to be purchased soon/as needed.
Heater: If my heater ever goes out, hell or high water, if the fish need it I *AM* getting one. Instantly. I remember in my childhood a 10 gallon tank or so of Asian puffers. Cold temps out (and in) -side. Daddy not paying the power bill for a few days, waiting for a paycheck... We kept adding closed jars of scalding water to the tank, to try and keep the critters alive. A constant watch, etc. -- Just one of those things to get one cynical and contemptuous about utility corporations, businesses in general, and our lots in life. I think all but one puffer made it, I can't say I remember that for certain. But having the problem at all is just one of those scars I got as a kid. Money is evil.
Bubbles: I had no idea that bubbles robbed so much CO2. Thanks for the warning. Mother just grabbed an airstone for her planted 29 gallon hex tank; I'll have to watch her plants for a week or so. As far as Loaches eating plants, "Plants and loaches (long list)" (Posted by Dr. Momfish on Friday, 6 August 1999, at 10:59 p.m.) gave a *wonderful* list of plants, most of it greek to me, but it gives me a hope of happy selections. I actually hope my fish will eat my plants -- just not all of them. Fat happy fishies *rock*.
Drip Loop: I have this on the 10 gallon, and will on the 50 gallon once I have equipment to even plug in. Likewise, thanks for assuming ignorance; if not me, you might have saved some quiet reader the annoyance of suffering death by electric shock.
***** Juli:
Hiyas yourself. Love the name (a LFS goddess springing to mind -- am I a sicko or what!). Why don't I sound like I sleep at night? But actually, I sleep whenever it suits me; daytime is often hot, boring, etc. Blame my Loaches that I try to be awake when they are, I guess.
Zip Strip: didn't hear that name/see it written, but I have plastic as a backing to the glass panels. Ya seem on to me...
Nurseries: good call. I'll investigate this (and likely a few others that seem admittedly *less* promising). As far as spectrums of grow bulbs, I've found little at my LFS of required spectrums for fish/plants, etc -- I wouldn't know exactly which to purchase. I have seen a display noting spectrums of some fishtank grow bulbs tho. Match 'em up, I guess...
Bubbles: the larger bubbler pump, etc, working as well as a few smaller ones was exactly my concern. I note you suggest this would be the case, in your own humble opinion. 2 thoughts: 1) is this opinion in any way based on experience? and 2) Why be humble? If you ever see me write "IMO," know what it means (why does this throw people?). :)
'Mechanics' stresses: I'm not (very) (dis-) stressed. You'll see me write much less, be less concerned, even unmotivated in such situations. I dodge (adding to) the work that stresses me. Like lifting a HUGE tank onto a counter... er, nevermind. I'm not procrastinating. I'm being "social" and exchanging information and stuff. Yup. But if anything, I'm pumped on eustress and notions of having happy lil' aquatic critters to love and hug and pet and squeeze. Hmm. After the tank is all set-up proper, I might have to go get me a Clown Loach and call him "George". Or I could just get around to naming the ones I have. I don't name many fish, particularly the school-ish ones. I can't tell them apart very well (or for very long -- the Clowns' "who's who" was somewhat based on fin color, until the evil critters decided to change colors -- now it is based *solely* off size -- somewhat length, and in particular how fat they are!)
Water Conditions: admittedly, as important as oxygen is to me. Not discussed here over being in another post (I forget which, just discuss whatever if ya want), where cycling was discussed including notions of direct ammonia addition, waiting too damned long (er, I mean "the natural way"), etc. -- I have my own take on this, wanting to swap gravel from the two tanks in containers (don't wanna actually mix the gravel colors), use the filter from my smaller tank on the larger one (and a big filter for the large tank to help start bacteria on the filter/keep the small (overcrowded) one clean for a change!), and siphon water from the 10 gallon at a rate of 3 gallons a day or so, adding 1 gallon of fresh. I may very likely add ammonia directly (without fish), and most certainly will throw in some bacteria builder solution I've not gone shoping (past for the tank) quite yet. Eitherhow, it's my hopes that this combination of proceedures will effect a much more rapid estabilishment of necessary bacteria -- if my present fish are likely not going to be near as much a burden in 5 times the amount of water anyway.
***** Fran:
Should I say less? This is a discussion forum; I try to discuss. I could grunt "new tank" but it's just not as informative nor as likely to get my questions answered. If folks bog down and don't wanna read me, *good*; it follows if I'm not worth their time I should not bother to trust their "quickie" advice. Plus, it's just plain more fun to come up with stuff like "what filter is your suggestion" by noting everyone talks in the equvalent of greek; if the "PowerMAX SuperPRO SCSI 513 Ultra-quiet Pine-Scented Diet Caffine-Free Steam-Cleaning/1 Hour Martinizing Filtration system -- you know, the one with the kung-fu grip!" didn't give ya a giggle, you didn't read that far... I'm *me*, sincere about my fish, but humanly good and bad, each subjective and defined by *you(s)* -- silly to quibble over. I like Loaches, thus I like Loach-likers by a default sense of team-ness. But in being a *me*, I express *me*. How dare me! -- But this is how I do it... Discussing on discussion forums. (btw, did I mention the money for this tank was obtained by working at Kinko's (motto: "express yourself")? Don't worry with such extraneous trivialities tho. They fired me after a week's training for expressing myself. So I'm me, I discuss, and dammit, vive la differance!
As far as heating, *I do not know* the amount of heating per gallon. I was hoping for guidance. Likewise, it's not cold -- yet. This is the LAST purchase I intend, likely in weeks and weeks -- after all, I sorta need to drop below 82 F or so before heating, or it's cooked fish for dinner... Mother liked the idea of submersibles, but avoided them for whatever reason. I dunno even how a submersable would work... Batteries? A power cord into the water? I'll have to look into them more.
And as far as *asterisks* -- why do folks ask this? Is it really not obvious? it's an _emphasis_ thing. Only those underscores others use look stupid to me. So do the spanish even, with 2 different directions of exclamation points (okee, slightly different usage, but it sounded good). Anywho, it's to offset certain words, make them more noticed, etc -- consider this post; as I answer 5 folks, it makes more sense to offset each name by several marks, so if you scroll down you can find your stuff and be done. Not everyone is so wise as to simply text search a page (sigh). I grant, I could use some dashed lines or whatever -- many asterisks for this just called out at me, after reading all the responses I was going to respond to -- I'm *not* *sure* *why.* :) Btw, consider yourself damn lucky WebBBS works how it does -- to show why I use asterisks (laziness in not wishing to write HTML code, and that they suffice) I pondered doing it the "other way" -- only WebBBS won't accept it. You almost had this whole explanation in large bright red font, strong and emphasised, italicized and bolded, and *flashing*. I figured I could use that for emphasis, but you'd let me avoid it, afterward. Alas, I can't. Btw, how do folks use links in posts? Do "A HREF" tags work? I'll test this, one day. Lazy Lazy Lazy...
***** Fish-Face Jr.
First, I read some other post of yours. Dunno why it didn't strike me to type it then, but (hoping I remember rightly now) I have to say it now. You're silly. Giving your fishtank to your sister, and going off to college? PAH! I went to college. I'd rather have fish. I'd *REALLY* rather have the fish. Even a plecostamus. But *hugs* tho. College isn't all-that, it's quite often less fun than siphoning water; That's the most important thing to learn in college I think -- but we each grok it in our own time...
Proprietary Tanks: Who cares? The best tank holds water and fits (and stays) on your countertop, table, or other intended support structure. I shall test this today. Actually, to better ask, "why is "All-Glass" or "Penn Plax" better?" (and my tank is all glass -- except for some border pieces 'n stuff).
Heaters: Have you had many burnouts/breakages with your other prior heaters? (And don't sell yourself short! -- I bet you could break it if you really tried...)
Filtration: You guys like "Fluvial" -- whatever that is. I must do research... Or, spoon feed me. I'm listenin'.
***************
Again, thanks to all for the help. Luck with your Loaches, and all that rot. If I'm doing wrong trying to be social, typing lots, blah, know I wish the rest of you would. I'd like to know some of *you*, not just the fact(s) of your Loaches rotting with ich. I miss the old BBS days, where folks would discuss stuff at length if needed. If my fish were "dying," be sure I'd type just as much as I felt you should know. But tell me to shuttit if ya wish; Who am I to tread upon established discussion forum discussion protocol(s)...
Oh yeah... *me*.
"As long as you don't keep a theme in view, nothing is extraneous."
-- Scott Brown
Btw, if anyone wishes to bother with more than 3 lines of text at a time, feel free to disturb me semi-directly: My e-mail is above, My ICQ UIN is 5123800 -- just warn me you're getting that stuff from here (I'm openly hostile to unknowns in particular)...
Anywho, *hugs*. (and hugs, without emphasis (because I care), to Fran. :) )
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