Caper

Welcome marie-na...and greetings from Cape Breton! Gummies here are a kind of candy...but since you said "gumboots"...I'm assuming they are boots....lol....I haven't hear the term gumboots in ages! Thought it was a term just used here....ah...like most people here used to call mens' work socks pit socks.

No offense...but I think both are scarey looking! I haven't read anything on algae eaters...didn't think I would need one yet. I'll have to do some reading on them. So...what should I know about algae eaters? - 10 gallon tank...only need one? - I've heard that if you don't have enough algae, they will die (heard this from a lady who was buying her third one, first 2 died) -do they go on everything in the tank & eat algae, ummm, the suction cups, plants...basically everything in the tank? -are there many different kinds? -different sizes? -compatible with all fishies? Oh...and having this "white stuff"...does it mean I need an eater?

Oh my...is that big brown thing...that looks like it has eyes...is that really the fish? REALLLYYYY!!!!!!!!!!

Hey...I noticed white "stuff" on the suction cup...first I thought it was just air bubbles until a closer look, yup "white stuff"...glad to hear that it is "normal"? I check my aquarium everyday and yesterday was the first time I noticed it. Nothing heavy duty...water change due tomorrow...will be interesting to see what happens. Does this mean I need an algae eater? Would like to hear opinions on algae eaters?

Eh, Caryl...I'm showing up everywhere... :roll: Thanks, Pegasus...you folks sure do make people feel welcome. Please do not take this to mean I am bragging but I must tell you Cape Bretoners are known for being friendly...the reason I'm telling you this is I see that New Zealanders are the same way. You all have been wonderful...and yah, it is like home

That's the first time I've hear of "The Ring of Fire". If this the same area that involved that horrible quake at Christmas time where so many people lost their lives? Apparently we've had small earthquakes here in the 1920's I think. Nothing serious though. Oh...and a couple of months ago...they did register a small one of off Cape Breton. I'm on the east coast of Canada...on the west coast...they are on the same fault line..."Andres" fault...that California sits on. Caryl...I'd like to do a bit of reading on New Zealand...can you recommend a good web site?

Oh Suphew...if you only knew how bad I am when it comes to plants...believe me...you wouldn't suggest having them...as a matter of fact...you'd probably think I shouldn't even keep the fish...or my cat...or my kids Gee Caryl...I don't know if I can get fluorescents that fit into ordinary light sockets here...but I will definetely check that out...from everything I'm reading...fluorescent is better...and like you said, cheaper & don't get as hot! I'm not sure if these 3 things are different items...but I think I know what you mean. Say if I wanted to keep something cold...like drinks & food to take to a beach...I'd put these things in my freezer then put them in with the food in an insultated container what we would call a cooler which I'm thinking is similar to what you have mentioned. I think I know what the pads are. They have different names and different kinds, some are a plastic filled with some kind of liquid, others are in heavy plastic filled with some kind of gel! Anyway, I think I'm on the right track?????? So perhaps before summer starts, I should see if I can get a small one of these. Did you say that you just put them right in the tank?

OHHHHHHH MY...I didn't know you folks had earthquakes until Caryl told me in another posting! Then I come across this...I'm glad to hear that everybody is ok. Do you folks have earthquakes often?

GREETINGS FROM CAPE BRETON...thus my name "Caper"! Sorry folks...I guess this is where I should have started postings...instead of just jumping in the beginners :oops: Little about me...hmmm -3 wonderful children 26, 22, 20 -divorced -I have one cat...named Puffball -and as a lot of you know I now have 1 aquarium with 1 goldfish (Sam), 1 red wag platy (The Little One), and 3 tetras (The Three Stooges)...the votes still out if they are black neons! -I have alot to learn about being an aquarium owner...but am learning...and LOVING it! Found this site while looking for info on owning an aquarium...WONDERFUL place with lots of great people with a tank full of knowledge

I wish I had the fluorescent. But locally I can't get another hood that I can use fluorescent in. So I have to put up what I have. When I saw how much the temp went up with the lights on, I was wondering what would happen in the summer. So, thanks for the heads up on what can be done if temp gets too high. Do you also turn the heater off???? The type you buy in the stores...and just make sure they don't leak and rinse them really well???? I've read somewhere that a temp change 2 degrees either way is okay. Does this sound reasonable?

You people are truly amazing...you are so nice and so willing to help! I really appreciate all this Oh Alan...if I could afford a plane ticket...you'd be on your way here to do this Tomorrow I will have to see where I can buy some. Between now and then I am going to read over what you all have sent so I can do this successfully! Gee, Caryl, do you get earthquakes often? I'm sorry to hear that do they cause much damage, of course any damage is too much.

Hey...I noticed that with just one of my tetras (only have 3..hehe). It seems to be the smaller of the three. He's like his doing a little jig on a 45 degree angle like you said, and he always does it in the same spot in the aquarium!

Allan's words again...I guess I'm getting the picture The more I read here...the more I realize I have no choice but to get the styrofoam. REALLY REALLY nervous about moving the tank. If I end up with a little sticking out from under the tank...can I just trim it off? I'll have to go looking for this tomorrow right after work.

Hi PomeReef, I have: 1 golfish 1 platy 3 tetras (still trying to verify if black neons). I sure wish I had known this from the beginning, if only I had found your site first:) So...how thick? Cut just enough so the entire tank sits right on it? What will changing 1/2 the water do to the fish? I've only had the tetras for...ummm....9 days. I don't have anything in there that would be considered heavy. Easy to take out anyway. Has anybody with a tank my size, (10 gal) not put foam under and escaped any problems? I'm really nervous that if I move the tank I may cause it to crack or something.

Hi all, Well, I still think that the my 3 tetras are black neons not glolight like the lady at the pet store said. I'll keep trying to get a better picture of them...if they would JUST cooperate! Okay I know that tetras school. But if I put in a different kind of tetra, say neon or cardinal, or some other tetra, will they school together? My daughter, lives out west , has an aquarium also (first one). The lady at the pet store told her that whenever you buy a schooling fish to buy them in odd numbers, any idea why the odd numbers? But the funny thing is, she has 3 neons and 3....oh dear forget what they are...and they all school together...so 3+3 is still 6 isn't it...LMAO. What is schoal?

I was going to ask that very question today about lights on/off. No, I do not have live plants...oh my...never never had luck with keeping plants alive can't imagine trying to keep them alive and the fish as well I will NEVER keep live plants in an aquarium unless I absolutely, no other choice, will be shot if I don't...have to Maybe someday...waaaaaay down the road...I might consider trying once I'm more experienced...oh dear shutter at the thought! I turn light on in morning now when I'm feeding them but I turn them off shortly after before I go to work. The lights don't get turned on again till the evening. Between 6:30 and 7 p.m is when they have their supper, and Iwas turning the lights on then, turning them off about midnight. So they were getting about 5-6 hours with lights on. I read somewhere on the net that anywhere between 4 & 12 hours would be fine. What is suggested by all you experienced folks? I don't like the incadescent lights, give off too much heat. Next aquarium will have fluorescent for sure! I live in an apartment, one on each side of me, and I have an upstairs. In the summer, this place can get really warm. But I noticed a few evenings when we had some really mild weather, (first I had my heater set for approximately 74), the temp was going up to 76-78. I now have my set at 72. With the lights on for awhile, it usually goes up to 74. Obviously incadescent lights do affect the temp. Anyway, that is why I'm scared to leave the lights on any longer. What do you suggest? Should I have posted this as a new topic?????

Thank you Caryl You folks are such a wealth of information! My filter sits on the back of my tank. It came with the aquarium. Inside is the bio filter and then behind that sits the carbon filter. I appreciate your suggestion (and money saving tips ) but for now I'll keep this until I'm more experienced. I was really confused on the testing and water changing :-? , couldn't understand why I would test the water then change it right after! What you have explained makes sense! But just to make sure I'm getting it, this is what I should do tomorrow (water change day!): -test the water (so far only have a pH kit & ammonia) -change the water -then test again....immediately after the change or wait a bit??? Sooooooo, do my readings every week...then I could leave the water changes to every second week???? I hope I can find test kits for the nitrite and nitrate. In your opinion, Caryl, is testing once a week enough?

Consider yourself hugged Shelley...I think you should be proud of yourself for all the work you are doing to help your fish. I'm guessing that keeping an aquarium is no different that many other things in life, sometimes no matter what we do, things just don't turn out the way we want them too!

Thanks Caryl:) No access to live food here. So you suggest once or twice a week as a "treat", but does the treat take the place of the feeding? I haven't noticed "spirulina" flakes but I'll look the next time I'm in the store. I think I might start with the dried shrimp. Ahhhh...silly question...but do I need to break them up

Hi Allan/PomeReef, Oh dear...all these measurements of tanks get me so :-? How thick do I need to get this stuff? I'm sorry guys...this is all new to me! I'll have to wait till Monday to try and find some no place that would sell this would be open tomorrow. So I'm just looking for styrofoam? Is there different kinds? Or just different thinkness? Do I have to take the water down 1/2 way? I can get people to help me lift and such. But if I try to lift the tank with anymore than half full, could I end up breaking the tank? Congratulations on making your own tanks Allan!

Hi Shelley, I am sorry to hear about all the trouble you are having...epecially loosing your fish... But if there is one thing we certainly agree with...people here are so willing to help. You should give yourself a pat on the back...for caring so much...and not giving up on your beloved pets

Oh my...this is so true...it's hard to turn away when the little fishies are shouting, "Take me...take me!" So, the conscenus on adding fish to a new tank is 2 weeks? How do you know that the tank is finished cycling? Think I need to read more on that!

Hmmmm....polystyrene...same as styrofoam, right :-? So, Alan, a 10 gallon tank needs 6mm thickness. Does this just have to be placed under the tank itself? How am I to do that now that my tank is full? A customer...do you actually make aquariums?

Pegasus...why?

Is it absolutely necessary to have this under your tank? I don't have any under mine. Didn't know about it till I read it here? Is my tank in trouble not having this under it?