Thank you
Struggling With My Aquarium: Has Anyone Else Felt This Way?
- Thread starter professorjimjam
- Start date
Having trouble getting this posted for some unknown reason, so I'll try breaking it into bits:
Definitely have a water change kit, Python has been around forever, there are others now as well, but I still have my decades old Python with just one or two replacement parts, so I can't speak to them. Link: Python
Definitely have a water change kit, Python has been around forever, there are others now as well, but I still have my decades old Python with just one or two replacement parts, so I can't speak to them. Link: Python
...Sand is low maintenance vs gravel, which I siphoned with each water change back when I had it. Sand can also be siphoned when needed (you may need to attenuate the suction pressure a bit) but frequency depends on things like setup, stock level, type of fish (having sand sifting fish helps keep it clean). Depending which tank, I'll do it from several months to a year or so.
...Some fish are dirtier than others. For example, some (though not all, contrary to what some think) plecos produce prodigious amounts of waste. That and I typically stock lightly to moderately, feed moderately (plenty of science studies to show that overfeeding, especially protein, ends up as extra waste with diminishing to negative benefits to the fish). Plants can help, filtration, including an efficient media setup... so there are several potential tweaks and refinements that can make a tank easier to live with.
Hey JimJam i feel you i actually made a post a few months ago about burning out i have a 125 with a 12in male Midas and a 10in female Festae.
i feed very lightly and do 3 80% WC a week i have a python it helps but still takes almost a hour to drain, vacuum, and refill.
Tank has a FX6 2 XL sponge filters and Sicce shark pro 900 for the last 2 months i have got stuck on trying to get perfect water it was stressing me out.
Now i kinda of not worry about it if i miss a WC i know the fish and water will be fine
I've always had a tank but i did sell a 10in male black nasty and i do still regret that
i feed very lightly and do 3 80% WC a week i have a python it helps but still takes almost a hour to drain, vacuum, and refill.
Tank has a FX6 2 XL sponge filters and Sicce shark pro 900 for the last 2 months i have got stuck on trying to get perfect water it was stressing me out.
Now i kinda of not worry about it if i miss a WC i know the fish and water will be fine
I've always had a tank but i did sell a 10in male black nasty and i do still regret that
Thank you guys!
What color of sand would be good? do you have any recommendation about sand?
Appreciate your help.
Like others have said, strip down the hobby to what makes it enjoyable to you, not what impresses anyone else. I went without a tank for about a year when we moved, sold off my old one a few months before the move and didn't get a new one until we were well settled, and the break from maintenance was nice, but I was glad to get the new tank up and going, I missed sitting in front of it in the evening just watching the fish and their simple little lives.
I've always been a 1 tank kind of keeper, currently its a 90 gallon with a few peaceful cichlids, and all I do is my weekly water change and quick wipe down of the inside glass. Still takes an hour plus to drain and refill but most of that time is spent doing other chores nearby after the 5 minute glass cleaning, and occasional sand sifting. But I got just as much enjoyment 20 years ago from a little 30 gallon loach tank with botiine style loaches, mostly yoyos. They were always playful and active, fairly forgiving of water conditions, it was my first tank. I tried saltwater, I tried peacocks and haps, I tried aggressive cichlids, and found all to be more work than fun for me. Beautiful tanks for those who enjoy them, but not my idea of fun.
I've always been a 1 tank kind of keeper, currently its a 90 gallon with a few peaceful cichlids, and all I do is my weekly water change and quick wipe down of the inside glass. Still takes an hour plus to drain and refill but most of that time is spent doing other chores nearby after the 5 minute glass cleaning, and occasional sand sifting. But I got just as much enjoyment 20 years ago from a little 30 gallon loach tank with botiine style loaches, mostly yoyos. They were always playful and active, fairly forgiving of water conditions, it was my first tank. I tried saltwater, I tried peacocks and haps, I tried aggressive cichlids, and found all to be more work than fun for me. Beautiful tanks for those who enjoy them, but not my idea of fun.
thank you very much