OFF TOPIC: Im a BIG fool!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I honestly can't remember how many aquariums I've had. I know it's been a bunch of them. bnsfkline, I think you'll like the bigger tank. Don't get carried away with too many fish just yet. Get it started first.

Just look at your experience with the five gal. as water under the bridge. I'm sorry all the other ones died. Sounds fishy to me.

m

[bnsfkline]

What do you guys think I should Get?

[dharmon]

A veterinarian and a username here:

http://www.petfo.com/dir/Fish/Informational/

[locomutt]

Growing up,my sis and I each had 2 five gallon aquariums in
our rooms. With the exception of one of the 'guppies' having babies,
I don't think we ever had that many fish in one of them.

Somebody asked what this had to do with 'Trains',well one of the
filter pumps,sounded like a steam engine.

[Anonymous]

Ref the title of the thread:
The first step on the railroad to wisdom is admitting you have absolutely no idea what the big red light is beside the main line.

Erik

[Anonymous]

OK, let me see if I can reel this thread back towards railroading. Fish are pets, sorta. Do any of you take your pet(s) with you to railfan? I have a little wired haired dog, and I would never go railfanning without her. My railfan buddy in Flatonia is Tommy, and all I have to say is "you want to go see Tommy?" and she knows where we're headed. A couple of blocks from the pavilion she gets all excited. She knows where we're going. And when we have our meetings, she's always acknowledged in the newsletter as "the rail dog."


m

[edbenton]

bnsf what you need to do is buy the biggest aquarium you can afford in order to havee the most success I myself would buy nothing smaller than a 55 gal aqaurium. For filtration get an Empomer 400 filter combines mechanical and biological filtration in one unit. To regulate the temp buy a good themometer and a fully submersible heater output of 250-300 watts. That will make keeping the tank at a constant temp easier. Use around 40-50 pounds of natrual gravel not the colored stuff fish look better in the natrual rock color. Now when you fill the tank for the first time it does cost a bit more but, it is worth it fill the tank at least 1/2 full with reverse osmoiss water can buy that at any grocerey store. any questions email me at [e-mail]

[espeefoamer]

When I was a kid we always had a bowl of goldfish. Never had more than two fish at a time though.I had a cat that liked to drink out of the fishbowl.He never hurt the fish,but did scare them,though.
You can mix fish and railroading! Build a loop of Lionel track around your tank,and run a unit train of aquarium cars[:)].

[coborn35]

WOW, i didn't know a non train related thread could be so interesting.

[kenneo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bnsfkline

Just by Curiosity, How many of us here HAVE Aquariums, and what size is your tank, and what kind of fish do you have?

2 Male Fancy Guppies
2 Female Fancy Guppies.
2 Silver Dollars
2 Lg Algea Eaters
1 Red Swordtail Male
1 Red Swordtail Females
2 Ghost Catfish
2 Long Finned Black Tetras
2 Black Mollies
2 Cherry Barbs
2 Silver Mollies
2 Hi-Fin Platties
2 Glass Fish

My new Set up, is everything I have going now correct?

Well, you asked for advice -------------

First, make sure your catfish do not have fur. Mookie advises that fur is hard to dry and these cats will be in the water all of the time. Probably hard on fur. Since cats need stuff on the bottom to eat, add them in the second batch (see below).

Second, Silver Dollars will not go well with your tank as you have envisioned it.

Third, only about 1/2 the fish you listed.

Fourth, set up the tank AT LEAST 3 days prior to putting any fish in it.

Fifth, prior to purchasing your fish, make sure that the pH and Temp have been stable and if possible, match your tank to what the shop has in pH and Temp.

Sixth, bring home your fish in an insulated container, one fish per bag, and the largest bags the store will let you have. (Oxygen)

Seventh, a heater (better is 2 heaters) of 200 or so watts (100 each if using 2). The reason for using 2 is when one breaks (quits heating - and it WILL) you don't have an absolute crises on your hands.

Eighth, an undergravel (more is better here) with the capacity to filter the entire tank at least once each hour, and again, more is better up to, oh, say 10 times per hour. The fewer the fi***he slower the required water turnover rate. Use activated charcoal in your filters.

Now, the part I know you won't like. It has to do with creating a natural environment for your fish. First, for the time being, keep only about a dozen fish in the tank. Start with 6 or so, and after your tank is properly prepared float each bag in the acquarium for at least 10 minutes (temperature) and then open each bag and do a small water swap (no more than 25% each time (pH) 2 ore 3 times.

The next TWO WEEKS are going to be critical since the fish need to eat and poop and pee into the water and this stuff has to be sucked down into the gravel and start the natural process of neutralizing itself. This takes time, and if you try to force the issue by doing it too fast, you will kill the fish. Take careful note of how the temperature is working to prevent the tank from getting too cold or hot and to also establish a operational baseline. Do the same for the pH. Do not ru***his process. Your filter system has to build up a supply of anerobic bacteria to properly clean your water and this takes time.

Once the tank has stabilized, you can add more fish. No more than 6 at a time. The tank needs time to balance itself to the fish load or the imbalance will kill your fish. Feed the fish enough, but if food starts to collect on the bottom, your're feeding too much and this over time will poison the tank.

Tank capacity in terms of fish per gallon is a relative thing. Swords and Platys can have a higher ratio than Ciclids. You have some swimers on your wish list that need a current to swim against to be happy, so you are going to need to use an undergravel filter with a power pump to create a current. The faster (or more) the fish swim, the more room they need. Regular Dannios(up to 5) would be happy in 25 gals. Giant Dannios and Aust. Rainbow Fish need at least 10 gals each for swimming room since they are vigorous swimmers, like to school and also like a current. Since most of your fish are going to be on the small side, after about a month, you could add about 6 fish a week until you reach the population you desire or the tank can handle.

DO NOT overload your tank. Your fish WILL NOT be happy. Unhappy fish GET SICK. Use your 5 gal as your hospital tank, keeping it watered from your 25. Put a fish or two in it from time to time to keep the filter going. AT THE FIRST SIGN of illness, remove the sickie to your hospital tank for treatement. If more than one fish is ill, you will need to treat the whole 25 and this likely will kill your anerobic bacteria, too. Not a good thing. It is a whole lot easier (not to mention cheaper) to treat a 5 than a 25.

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

Regular Dannios(up to 5) would be happy in 25 gals. Giant Dannios and Aust. Rainbow Fish need at least 10 gals each for swimming room since they are vigorous swimmers, like to school and also like a current.

Big Fat Onery Dannios like myself, require 30 -40 gallons but they don't swim much. They much prefer to watch ESPN while eating high cholesterol content snacks and drinking beer.

Dan

[morseman]

why, oh why did I ever start reading this topic.
It's like seeing a long unit train coming at a relatively slow speed
and I'll stand by the tracks and count the cars.

My son had a 100 gal tank and went away for a year
No fish in the tank but it was full of water and beautiful plants
Sitting in my rocking chair with the back to the tank,
I leaned too far back and it was like a dam busting.
Took the shell back to the manufacturer to see if the could repair it
They said it was impossible & gave me a brand new tank, slightly
smaller.

My son has the tank now in his new home but can't use it as he
is on well water which is no good.

[kenneo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

Regular Dannios(up to 5) would be happy in 25 gals. Giant Dannios and Aust. Rainbow Fish need at least 10 gals each for swimming room since they are vigorous swimmers, like to school and also like a current.

Big Fat Onery Dannios like myself, require 30 -40 gallons but they don't swim much. They much prefer to watch ESPN while eating high cholesterol content snacks and drinking beer.

Dan

Hello Dan ---------

30-40 gals of beer to swim in; drink first, swim later?[:D][:D][:D][bow]

[Anonymous]

I hate Wal-Mart! And yet I still shop there. Now how dumb is that?

[Mookie]

Ok - I read all this and think I have it now.

1) Dog's drink out of toilet bowls - cats out of fish bowls. Not sure which is better.

2) Fish are fussy and very hard to keep. Dogs and cats are not.

3) Fish require lots of water. Dogs some, cats very little (being desert animals)

4) Dan drinks beer and shouldn't swim at all.

Solution - open a can of tuna and enjoy it. Got to be a lot easier than an aquarium and cheaper, too. Just don't buy it at Wal-Mart!

[Anonymous]

While my fish are with me on duty and I run out of fish food, will a pine cone suffice? Also, when I'm too far away from a source for lunch, how many goldfish does it take to make a fillet'o'fish sandwich??

[spbed]

Where do we send our bill for the all the advice we offered you? [:D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Ok - I read all this and think I have it now.

1) Dog's drink out of toilet bowls - cats out of fish bowls. Not sure which is better.

2) Fish are fussy and very hard to keep. Dogs and cats are not.

3) Fish require lots of water. Dogs some, cats very little (being desert animals)

4) Dan drinks beer and shouldn't swim at all.

Solution - open a can of tuna and enjoy it. Got to be a lot easier than an aquarium and cheaper, too. Just don't buy it at Wal-Mart!

[bnsfkline]

Send the Bill to Bergie. Its his forum! Hehe

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Ok - I read all this and think I have it now.

1) Dog's drink out of toilet bowls - cats out of fish bowls. Not sure which is better.

2) Fish are fussy and very hard to keep. Dogs and cats are not.

3) Fish require lots of water. Dogs some, cats very little (being desert animals)

4) Dan drinks beer and shouldn't swim at all.

Solution - open a can of tuna and enjoy it. Got to be a lot easier than an aquarium and cheaper, too. Just don't buy it at Wal-Mart!

Yeah..cause when I go to the beach all of the kids coming running up, throw water on me and call the Sea World animal rescue number...or is that numb3r.....I forget.

[miniwyo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by amtrak-tom

While my fish are with me on duty and I run out of fish food, will a pine cone suffice? Also, when I'm too far away from a source for lunch, how many goldfish does it take to make a fillet'o'fish sandwich??

Ya konw, I'm not sure but If you call and ask McDonadls they might be able to tell ya!!

Also

Wal-Mart is falsly advertising themselves, They dont sell walls!!

Just kidding

[Anonymous]

Amazing...Start a thread about aquariums in a train forum, only one guy complains that it's off topic, and we're to the third page already. Who'd a thought...

[StillGrande]

I personally am amazed that you were able to kill the guppies. I had guppies when I was a kid and all they did was make more guppies. You could not make them die. Okay, my little sister managed to wipe out one batch when she turned the heater up to 95 because she said they looked cold. Fish soup in the morning. Other than that, nothing did them in. Disease, new water, old water, big fish, little fish, red fish, blue fish, one fish, two fish...

[bnsfkline]

I am surprised that this became a big topic. Lets keep it going? Anyone in the market to buy some Filet of Guppie? Or Platty Flambe? Hehe, I shouldnt taunt my dead fish. Should I put a damged N scale car in my tank for decoration? I have had BAD luck with Fancy guppies, they die within 12 hours! :( Anyone want to see a photo of my old tank? Thanks guys!

Jim

[Anonymous]

bnsfkline<

How about an n-scale that runs! Put it in a clear tube.


m

[Anonymous]

When my pet crab was alive I'd take it for rides on my hopper cars. I was still young &
dumb.

[bnsfkline]

UPDATE:

 I no longer have the 25 Gallon, and now have a 250 Gallon tank. I have used everyones advice, and the tank is thriving. I have at least 110 fish in the tank. I even have a African Ciclid in with my tropical community. I forget the name, but its the only species of Ciclid that will tolorate non-ciclid fish. I have about 30 White Clouds, 20 Platties of Various types, 10 Female Bettas, 20 Various Mollies/Swordtails, 10 Blind Cave Fish (Fish with No Eyes), 9 Gouromi's of Various types (Paradise, Blue, Opaline, Sunset Dwarf, Powder Blue Dwarf, and a couple others)

As you all can tell, White Cloud Minnows are my favorite.

[Kevin C. Smith]

Things that will kill fish. (from $100's worth of experience)
- Toxic chemicals such as chlorine or hairspray

OK, I don't know which is more amazing...that so many people here know about keeping tropical fish (I said amazing, not surprising), that I've read through the entire thread or that we've been at this for three pages and everyone is still getting along (as long as they aren't "Steamfish" and "Dieselfish", I guess).

But-I gotta ask...Hairspray?????? How, how, how did you get hairspray on your fish?

And did any of them survive getting a perm?

I turn my back for a day and this is what happens! LOL!

[Anonymous]

Im sorry I went fishing for interesting stuff to read on these forums.

I always thought some tanks were too small for one fat fish to hang listlessly in the water.

And never see anyone taking care of any fish in retail. From the scum on the tanks I dont think they clean em either.

Im glad this thread didnt tank and go belly up like some of the others! LOL.

[spbed]

Yep you should have allowed the tank to "dry" out for some days to insure all the old water did not contaminate the new. You also had far to many fish for 5 gallons. The rule of thumb is 1 fish per gallon. I have a 25 gallon tank with 27 fish

 

 

AS some of you know, I am starting a Fi***ank. I had a nice 5 gallon tank going with

5 White Clouds, 4 Zebra Danios, 2 Male Guppies, 2 Female Guppies, 2 Platties, 2 Long Finned Tetras, 2 Long Finned Blue Danios, and 1 algea Eater.

I did a 100% water change because a fish had come down with Turburcleouses.

Anyway, I put this fish back in the water after 2 days, and in an hour I lost the following

5 White Clouds, 4 Zebra Danios, 1 Female Guppy, 1 Male Guppy, 1 Long Finned Tetra, and the 1 algea eater.

If someone on here is into Fish, Can some one tell me what I did wrong???????

I am thinking I am a BIG FOOL!

[bnsfkline]

spbed, it looks like your tank is a bit overcrowded yourself.