A Sister's Impulse Buy

[guppygirl2000]

Petco is really having a sale like that?
I have to go there!

[Obsidian]

Originally Posted by guppygirl2000 Well, Depending where you live, there is a fish store called big al's where you can buy quality fish tanks cheap, plus a huge selection of fish, I got my new 29 gallon there about 2 weeks ago, and I only had to pay 100 dollars! I know right? anyway, try to convince your dad, you'll get it much cheaper at big al's.

You got a 20 gallon fish tank for 100 bucks and it was a deal? I do hope you mean including the rest of your set up, because 100 for just the tank is robbery.

[iheartfish:)]

I think that's what she meant...
Petco also has sales where they sell 10 and 20 gallon set-ups (without the stand, of course), for 20-30-ish and 50-ish dollars. That definitely beats buying a ten gallon for 10 bucks, but then spending 50 in filters, heaters, lights, etc. They even include the heater! On the ten gallon, not sure about the twenty...
Look for sales!!! Best advice ever.

[phlyergirl]

Originally Posted by iheartfish:) I think that's what she meant... Petco also has sales where they sell 10 and 20 gallon set-ups (without the stand, of course), for 20-30-ish and 50-ish dollars. That definitely beats buying a ten gallon for 10 bucks, but then spending 50 in filters, heaters, lights, etc. They even include the heater! On the ten gallon, not sure about the twenty... Look for sales!!! Best advice ever.

Yeah, I got my 10 gallon as a kit at Petco for like $30 when they had a sale. Tank, hood, light, heater and filter. Totally a steal.

[Fishpunk]

I don't like black plastic hoods, so I buy stuff on clearance all the time and store it until I need it. That way I can buy just the tank.

[Betta man]

I just bought a tank today! It's a 15 gallon. They aren't on dollar per gallon sale, but they're 40 dollars with a hood, light, heater, and filter.

[guppygirl2000]

No,
I paid $100 for a acrylic 29 gallon aquarium with full starter kit.

[Nameless]

Tested the water in the tank tonight and got either 0.2 or 1 or something of Ammonia and a lowish number of nitrite.

So I am doing a water change and have no idea if I should add the bacteria suppliment. If I do, would that back track on progress or help it?

[Fishpunk]

Your ammonia will soar before you see any nitrites, then the nitrite peak will take over. Once that happens,you are in the homestretch. Until then, just keep at the water changes.

[Discordia]

If you have any pet stores in the area that sell used items, I would definitely look into it before going to Petco. I got a used 55 gal in great shape that included the hoods, lights, and a nice wooden stand for $125.

Make sure your floor can support the weight of a bigger tank, especially if you are putting it on the second floor. Also, if you get a 40 gallon you will need a stand specifically designed for it. Placing it on anything else would be dangerous. 40 gallons of water weighs 332 lbs. There will be some displacement of water from gravel (this weight needs to be considered too) and other items you place in the tank.

Once you have it set up, don't plan on moving it unless you tear the whole tank down.

I hope you get your 40 gallon.

[Nameless]

Wow, haven't updated in like... forever? Sorry about that. Well first of all, the 40 gallon was a no go. My dad doesn't want anymore tanks in the house. But after a long LONG talk I have a bad feeling I guilted him into getting me a 40 gallon for my birthday (which, despite how happy I should be by getting a 40 gallon, I am very upset over. I hate guilt tripping and was hoping it wouldn't happen).

By the way, my wooden floor is directly over a concrete slab. Which is right over the ground. It used to be a garage or something. So weight will never be a problem. XD

But it wouldn't end up being a fish tank anyway. It was only going to be temporary. It would have ended up my new hermie tank.



SOOO!!!

The ten gallon is cycled. We tried to add the two other females but that all fell to pieces. One female (Aurora) flared up and tried to ram the container we were floating her in whenever Noel (the first fish) got even close to the container. The other one, Turtle, was fine at first. Noel and Turtle were let to hang out in the tank together because they would only watch each other with slight interest and then wander off. But by the next morning Turtle was flairing at Noel and Noel was attacking her. But only when Turtle flaired. Noel is clearly a safe choice to be around other fish unless they challenge her. She left the apple snail completely alone before he died, and now pays no attention at all to the two algae fish.

Which brings me to point two: The whole dang tank filled with algae after Aurther (apple snail) died. And the two small algae fish cannot seem to eat it all DX.

_______________________________

Turtle is back into the gallon bowl and with Katie. But Aurora (previously Babette) has been given to me. She was in the gallon bowl for a bit before I bought her a 3 gallon bowl from Michaels (Really, great place to check out for fish bowls sometimes) so Turtle was put back in the 1 gallon.

Next I got Aurora some black gravely stuff from Petsmart, though later I'd like to do a sand because I have read that they are better??? Anyway, and I have built a small DIY sponge filter for her. I love the simplicity of this filter. I have bought two sponges for it, one of which is hanging out in the ten gallon to collect good bacterium. Not sure how long I should leave it. Anyway, so every six months I will take off the sponge attached to the filter, wash the grime out, and put it back in the bowl. The sponge that was just sitting in the bowl will then become the new filter for the next six months. Does that sound good?

It is empty of everything else for now, but next comes an array of live plants that should help the ammonia and stuff to stay down, and in the next fall I will have to buy a heater.

--------------------

And there is my semi-giant update!

[MagPie]

What does the algae look like? Do you have lights on that tank? And if so how long are they on for?

Good luck with your girls. It can be tough to keep them together cause they can get quite nasty with each other unless there is a really large group of them and even then it still stressful. Silly girls haha.

[Nameless]

It looks green I guess. Just a green. I believe she leaves the light on all the time. Is she supposed to turn it off at night?

[MagPie]

hahaha yeaaah that's why she's getting a lot of algae. After all the sun isn't out all day. When you have live plants you'd leave the lights on 8 to 10 hours. Without probably less is better since you wouldn't have plants to help combat the algae growth.

To help with the algae she could do a few days of black out. But if it's blue green algae that's different and not really an algae. I've had that stuff. Not fun.

[Nameless]

She does have live plants in there, and two small algae fish as well. And it isn't blueish. I think? Looks pretty straight green to me ^_^

Eep, I hope it goes away soon. I put one of the sponges for my DIY filter into her tank to gather good bacterium and I don't want it to bring the algae along with it... Though my fish bowl doesn't have an overhead light, just the sunlight through two windows (neither of which shine directly onto the bowl) so hopefully none will grow.