Caper

hmmm...thought I posted this last night or I should say in the wee hours this morning! After the disaster with the Mollies, I didn't do another water change until 2 weeks...wanted to give Sam and The Little One some stress free time! I plan on doing my water changes on Mondays. What do you folks suggest...I've read many different opinions on this on the net? 25% every week? or should I do every second week? Do I need to vacuum everytime I do a water change? I'm trying to set up a routine here! Thinking...water change only 1 week, then 2nd week water change & vacuum, then once a month water change, vacuum, and remove decorations and clean. What's the opion on this???? Oh...and how do I get the emoticons in this section? I understand that I shouldn't use them too often. On a funny note, I also have a calico (male, which is rare here!) pussycat...who at first was SCARED of the aquarium...but now when I put him in front on a chair...always with him when I do this of course... he likes it, of course, trying to figure out how to get them...lol I also have to be careful not to stress him...he has cardiomyopathy! One more thing...NEW ZEALAND....WOW! Is there like a 24 hour time difference between us?

Hummingbird...so glad you saw my thank you:) Hey, I know an Eric Wilson! Did you swim to the other side of the world? LOL I've been reading soooooooo much and trying to take it all in..."system overload"...lol Do I need permission to send pics? I'll have to browse around here later, I know I saw somewhere how to do pics. Hi Shelley & jude! Thanks...I do love my new hobby...and I LOVE this place you all are soooo nice:)

Hi All! Pomereef, Unfortunatly, there is only 1 pet store (very small) and 1 department store that sell fish. As I stated on another post, realizing that they don't know an awful lot. With that said, I'm trying to take care of all my fish, including Sam (goldfish), not his fault I was misguided:) If there is one thing I have learned in this past month in reading on the net, there are many different opinions, many the same. It would also appear that sometimes opinions are based on experience and "not" the rule, so to speak. But if there is one thing I have learned here, on this site...people are very friendly and willing to help...believe me I do appreciate the input. Dawn, Thanks for the warning. So far, I still have my Three Stooges:) They are small, do you think once they get bigger, that threat of Sam eating them will be gone? Allan, I can't get a new tank just yet...have to watch the money, ex not paying his spousal support:( And I guess your right I have MTS (now that I know what it is hahaha)...only have tank a month and already can't wait to get a bigger one. What I was hoping to do, once I'm more experienced, if this tank works out, is get a bigger tank and ONLY have tropicals in it. I really don't want to use real plants if I don't have too.

Thanks for the welcom Billaney! I like this place...everyone is so nice and quick to respond:) I did read the forum guidelines...but not exactly sure I understand, if I am permitted, or if I know how...hahaha.

"Hi Graemi"??? Temp...between 72 & 74...I have the heater set for 72 (maybe a tad higher!)...had it set for 74 but found when apartment gets warm temp was going up...so leaving it set at approx. 72...does this sound good? Oh...and my water is clear now...this is a good sign, right? The aguariums I've come across here are from the US so it is in 10 gallons US...according to the box 38L

Thanks mismona! Gravel colors...funny, didn't realize till I put it in...my neighbors (country) colors! They look pretty. Goldfish with tropical...yah, from everything I've been reading...not a proper combination. But the lady at the pet store suggested, and I thought she new the right combo. I'm hoping it is going to work out with the goldfish in there...poor Sam has been through alot! But everything I have been reading so far...says you shouldn't mix the 2. Would like to hear opinions on this...I will NOT put him in a goldfish bowl...and if I don't have too, I don't want to purchase another tank until I am more experienced and can get a bigger one with all tropicals (no goldfish next time).

Thank you, thank you, thank you...and greetings from Cape Breton:)

Here goes...some history on my month as a first time aquarium owner. Promise all won't be this long:) Set up aquarium: -10 gallons -6 artificial plants (different sizes, larger ones in back) - 2 incadescent lights (came with aquarium) - 1 filter Aqua-tech 5-15 on outside of tank, contains 2 filters 1 bio, 1 carbon (came with aquarium) -1 50 watt heater purchased seperately - 1 air pump (had one that pet store said would be fine, but found it "strong", so purchased another that was for a 10 gallon) - gravel purchased in "pet" department of a department store, blue, red & white - 3 ornaments, 1 little fish & sign "no fishing", 1 a triangluar rock with 2 openings, 1 small rock ornament with 1 opening Soon as I am allowed (I think I need permission to post a picture???) I will post a picture. Set up aquarium, 2 days later was told at the pet store ok to put in fish and was told that the platy (Red Wag Platy) and goldfish (comet, if that is the proper term for the "ordinary" goldfish) were good to start my tank with. Three days later, went to "pet" department and was told that I could "safely" add 2 Mollies (1 white, 1 black). OMG...disaster! Almost instantly the white mollie began terroizing my goldfish, next day black! Store took them back because they said they were supposed to be compatible! Took mollies back...next day noticed a few white spots on goldfish (Sam, by the way). From what I had been reading on the net, I figured Ick. So out to by treatment. E-mailed the company that made the treatment, because the directions said treat once and once more if needed! "Caution" do not overdose! They responded right away and told me to treat 2-3 days after the spots were gone and that as long as I did a 25% water change before each treatment things should be fine. Luckily, in 5 days, things were fine. So, as I said earlier I know have 1 goldfish (Sam), 1 red wag platy (The Little One), and now 3 black neon tetras? (The Three Stooges). I was terrified when my son said to me on the way home, what if the goldfish eats them! So, I put them in the water, acclimating them like I read on the net, let them sit and gradually add water from tank to bag...and eventually netted each one and placed in tank. Heart sank when goldfish started to chase! That was on Friday, and so far everything seems to be fine. Oh, by the way...I thought it would be good to feed the goldfish and platy BEFORE I added the new fish, and I didn't turn on the light like I normally do when I feed them in the evening. Anyway, sorry for the long history... but I figured I'd get it out of the way. I am really excited about owning fish and finding a site that seems so helpful:) THANK YOU...for accepting me!

I don't know how to use forums...new to this too:) I hope you saw my "Thank You". What is the proper way to post on here? Do you post a "new topic" each time? Or just when you actually have a "new" topic? I guess it will take awhile to figure out how to use the forums correctly...sure hope people will have patience with me:)

Gee, it is 1:13 a.m. in the morning here! Please, forgive me I'm a little sleepy. I have a 10 gallon tank and already regretting not getting a bigger one to start with. Soooooo many questions, but will start with just a few:) I have 1 goldfish, 1 platy (since March 24th). Friday I purchased what I thought were 3 glolight tetras. The pet store said they were glolights but from everything I have seen here and on the net I think they are black neons...silver, irridescent green stripe and black stripe, what do you think? The problem here is that we only have one pet store and one department store that sell fish. Sadly, I am discovering there is alot they don't know! I'll tell of my first few weeks of being a newbie in next posting! Thank you so much for letting me know...I HAVE ARRIVED:)

Oh dear...sure hope I am doing this right! I have been reading your forums all day and hoping that I can join. If I am doing this right, would somebody please let me know. I am new to this hobby and have lots of questions. Thanks