Caper

whetu wrote: Thanks whetu :oops: I guess I am FINALLY learning a few things Mark1978, how much gravel do you have in your tank (approximately)? Inch/couple of inches??? When I do my regular water changes I do a "light" vacuum around the top of the gravel wherever I can reach with the vacuum. My tanks aren't that big (1, 10 gallon; 2, 29 gallons). Once a month I give a good cleaning. I then give a much "thorough" vacuuming. Especially in a new set up, as was already mentioned keep on eye on the water parameters (ammonia, nitrite, etc.). Once your tank is established and your readings are stable you can reduce the number of times you test (if you so choose, as some people do test on a regular basis). As you will read here, one major way to keep your tank "healthy" is to keep up with regular water changes. Now, with that said you will see where more experienced people don't test as often or even change the water as often. But like I said they are more experienced and sometimes they have lots of filtration and a low bioload (not overstocked tank). Watch your fish, feeding time is a good time to see how they are doing. Prime example, are they eating! Try to become familiar with their habits (example Susie the fish likes to swim out front all the time, but all of a sudden she is staying hidden in a corner, might be a time to source why this behaviour has changed). Watch for any physical changes in your fish, anything that appears to be out of the ordinary. May or may not indicate a disease or injury. Sometimes when a change happens could be a good time to check water parameters to see if they are good. Watch for water clarity (right word? :-? ). A new tank going through the cycling process will get cloudy but the cloudiness will go over time. If your water is always clear, then becomes cloudy, time for questions such as, anything changed in the tank (add anything new?), overfeeding? etc. Sometimes a tank will go through a bacterial bloom that will be taken care of by increase in water changes. Regular water changes (not just after adding new fish) is a good habit to get into. I don't use stress zyme so I don't know what it is for. But, if your water has chlorine in it, you will need to add conditioner (removes chlorine, chloloramine and other nasties). Some people don't use water conditioner and apparently their fish suffer no ill effects. The water supply here has chlorine in it so I don't take any chances and always use conditioner. I'm not familiar with your type of filter. Why are you cleaning it so often? What does cleaning entail? After all is said and done, the reality is that no matter how much TLC we give our fish, some will die. I'm not saying that to frustrate you, but just so that you know that death is a reality in our hobby. Caper

WOW...WOW...WOW amazing looking fishies! Caper

So so cute livingart!!! Caper

Sorry for your loss. It really sucks to loose a fish Caper

Glad to hear the goldfish is fine now. What about the one that got stuck to the filter outlet, did he/she make it? Caper

Looking good I have no talent at all when it comes to aquascaping, I could use some lessons :lol: Caper

Sorry for all your losses but don't give up! I had to check on the converter so 28L is approximately 7 gallons. As was already stated that is much too small for goldfish. Platties/guppies as suggested would be a good starter fish. Perhaps for all males so that you don't end up with lots of babies. More babies more tanks but maybe you are not ready for that just yet. Search for "cycling" which will explain what happens in a new tank set up to get to the point of having GOOD bacteria for your tank. Just a couple of things just in case you haven't read/know, but don't take offence please if you already know these things: 1) When setting up a new tank rinse, rinse, rinse, and then rinse some more everything that you are putting in the tank with just plain water. NEVER use soap on anything associated with your tank. 2) Leave the tank run for a period of time then slowly add fish. A tank this size probably only 1 or 2 at a time. 3) The fish will provide waste, which will start the cycling process (ammonia, nitrite...and so on, read in "cycling tank") 4) If you (which was suggested) live close to a LFS, you can have them test your water. Or, you can buy your own test kits (at least ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH). If you don't want to get into all that just yet, perhaps just the ammonia for now. 5) As your tank begings to cycle you will get a build up of ammonia. Ideally you want no ammonia when you test. But a new tank will get readings and once you get that you can start doing small water changes to reduce the ammonia and other nasties not wanted in tank. 6) Once your tank stablizes and your parameters (ammonia & such) are all where they should be you can add a couple of more fish. 7) Don't clean your filter until your tank is established. I don't know what kind of filter that you have but there will be a "bio" filter which will hold all the beneficial bacteria that you're aiming for in your tank. This bio filter must NEVER be cleaned. After your tank is established, when doing a water change you can take the bio filter and occassionally give it a "swish" around in the tank water you have removed. Okay, sorry for such a long post. Just trying to think of things to help. Keep us updated. Don't give up, we will help you, just ask away Caper

:oops: Sorry for the duplicate...my mistake! Caper

tank

paul_r any pics???? Caper

Post a picture would love to see Caper

Hi & welcome! I had to google biube as I didn't have a clue what it was :oops: :lol: How much does your tank hold? Post pics sometime. Take care & have fun, Caper

Hi & welcome! I had platies one time, mind you not THAT many 8) Take care & have fun, Caper

I like, very nice indeed Caper

I had a guppy with dropsy a couple of years ago. Once I knew that it was that, I euthanized him I can't say for sure if dropsy itself is contagious but I do not think it is a good thing for other fish to feed off one who has died as a result from the disease, I read that somewhere but it was quite sometime ago so anyone can feel free to correct me on that! So the best thing is to put the poor fishy out of its misery once you're sure that it is indeed dropsy. I know the above is too late for your wee fishy and you have my sympathy in losing your fish. Caper

Hi & welcome! Very nice pics Take care & have fun, Caper

Very, very nice Caper

Hi & welcome! Post pics sometime. Take care & have fun, Caper

Hi & welcome! Post pics sometime. Take care & have fun, Caper

Hi & welcome! Looking forward to seeing pics of your fishies! Take care & have fun, Caper

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: Caper

CONGRATULATIONS BAILEY :bounce: :bounce: Chocolate YUMMMMMMMMMMM! Caper

Zev wrote: Good one, good one :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Caper

BYE CARYL, GRANT CARYL'S MOM!!! I'm guessing they are on their way now. HAVE A GREAT TIME AND SAFE TIME!!! Caper

Can't see the pics :-? What kind of fish? One of my goldies had this problem sometime ago. I did nothing except water changes and everything turned out fine, red streaks disappeared. Caper