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Hi from Indianapolis (but originally from Swansboro, NC)!

Discussion in 'Introduce Yourself' started by Anonymous, Apr 9, 2009.

  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    Hi, All! Yeah, displaced DownEast boy here.

    GLAD I found ya! The folks here have offered some priceless insight on getting things started already-- and I've only visited a few times, yet!

    Thank you guys & gals so much!

    My 8 year old daughter is a pet lover, so I'm on the fast track to learning as much as I can as fast as I can, most recently about fish. I think I'm more excited about it than her, now that we've got started.

    We've got a tiny 4 gal tank with a heater, lighted lid & filter, 2 angel fish, 2 guppies, a superfast snail & 6 freshwater shrimp.

    I got way excited & bought 3 bloodfin tetras, 3 red-eye tetras, 2 other guppies, and a tiny chinese algae eater last night. Well it may have had something to do with the moon phase, but all those fish had to be returned same day because of lack of compatibility, save a guppy & the freshwater shrimp.

    What a lesson!! It was like an episode of Survivor gone bad!

    Things are looking up today-- everyone's very cordial in our tiny cubicle of the world. : )

    I used distilled water & Tetra AquaSafe to get things started... Our first Tetra heater failed to do it's job, and I'm pretty sure we lost a couple fish to that.

    Anyway... I understand it's gonna take a month to get things on track, for the smaller biomatters to get situated. One of my weak areas is understanding Ph, so I'll be sure to find info here on that.

    Do you think the shrimp will help kick things in the right direction, being scavangers? I'm hoping so.

    Anyway... I'm very glad to have found your site! I really like the atmosphere of this site-- everyone's helpful and laid-back.

    Anyone from back home in NC... eat a barbeque sandwich for me, will ya?!

    Dan
     
    Anonymous, Apr 9, 2009
    #1
  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Welcome to the forum Dan. I've been to Swansboro before, years ago.

    Assuming you don't know, those Angel fish will have to be moved to a larger tank ASAP. There's no way they can stay in a 4 gallon tank.

    Shrimp as with the snail and the fish will all get your tank cycled.

    As far as pH goes here's a thread on it. What is tank pH and how to adjust your water's pH
     
    Anthony, Apr 9, 2009
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  3. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    That tank is too small for those Angelfish... they need 30 gallons for the 2 of them

    Welcome to the forum... I hate being the bearer of bad news right away :confused:
     
    LemonDiscus, Apr 9, 2009
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  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    Prompt, too-- hey, I love this place!

    Yeah, I didn't know that about the Angelfish. We've got friends who just offered a 55 gal tank, so I'll get it up & going for them.

    Indianapolis' water is reported to have some very high levels of meds... what's the benefits of using distilled water & what's actually best?

    Dan
     
    Anonymous, Apr 9, 2009
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  5. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    High levels of meds ? Do you mean metals ?

    If your tap water is unusable bottled water, while expensive, would be an alternative. RO (Reverse Osmosis) water would be another option but would likely cost more.
     
    Anthony, Apr 9, 2009
    #5
  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    I can get RO water from Wal-Mart for pretty cheap.

    By meds, I meant 'medicines'. Most large cities downriver of other large cities have this issue, from my understanding. And we've got Eli Lilly pharmaceuticals world HQ downtown.

    Gotta run off to work but thought I'd ask real quick... aquarium start was this past Sunday. Guppies have been ok to now, but lately one is hanging out an inch or less from the surface. I make it a point not to overfeed them, but when I do feed them, this particular one seems to eat well. It doesn't seem to be distressed, but I'm concerned about him hanging out at the surface like that.

    Got any insight?
     
    Anonymous, Apr 9, 2009
    #6
  7. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    I've never heard of medications being in water before. That's something that would really concern me, not only because of the fish but in general. That's another story though. :)

    You will need to be testing your water daily while your tank cycles. You will need to keep your ammonia and nitrItes under control so they do not kill your fish. Frequent water changes are a good idea while your tank is cycling and the use of Seachem Prime to detoxify the ammonia and nitrIte.

    Fish hanging out around the surface of the water can be caused by lack of oxygen and/or ammonia problems.
     
    Anthony, Apr 9, 2009
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  8. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Welcome to The Exotic Fish Forum Dan!

    :D Please make yourself feel right at home sharing and learning with the rest of us, we're definitely a friendly bunch!

    :confused: If you’re having trouble finding something or need help you can contact myself (Dawn), Anthony or Jake through pm and we'll gladly help you ;)

    :D Also, if/when you get a chance be sure to post some photos/videos of your setup/setups.

    -> The following link will lead you directly to our photo/video section Aquarium Photos - Show off your Tank Forum

    For small tanks this may help ya!

    Small Planted Tank Setup Guide
     
    MOD_Dawn, Apr 9, 2009
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  9. drazzill

    drazzill New Member

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    welcome to the forum, i'm a displaced midwesterner(chi town to Albuquerque go figure), these folks know their fish poop, big tanks are easier to keep up with than small ones, less water easier to get fouled up. Good luck and have fish fun
     
    drazzill, Apr 10, 2009
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  10. Guidoman888

    Guidoman888 New Member

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    Welcome to the forum. I'd hurry with your angels since they can grow quiet big. Soon mine will even be to big for my 30 gal. But thats because it's already full with other fish. I cant wait to upgrade myself :)
     
    Guidoman888, Apr 10, 2009
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  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    Hey, thanks again for the warm welcome & support. Wow, hangin' out with u guys makes me think I shoulda got into aquariums alot sooner! ' )
     
    Anonymous, Apr 10, 2009
    #11
  12. Guidoman888

    Guidoman888 New Member

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    you should've! :)

    Nah, Like dawn said we're a friendly bunch that goof around alot. And help eachother as good as we can :)
     
    Guidoman888, Apr 10, 2009
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  13. Angus

    Angus New Member

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    Welcome to the forum Dan
     
    Angus, Apr 10, 2009
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  14. ira

    ira Member

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    Welcome
     
    ira, Apr 11, 2009
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  15. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Anonymous, Apr 19, 2009
    #15