mikeyman356
Member
some good stuff in here, keep it coming.
Fish tips to help beginners and maybe pros!!
- Thread starter mikeyman356
- Start date
saltn00b
Active Member
Perform Hyposalinization on ALL new fish. the process takes about a month (normal QT period anyway) wiping out even the thought that the fish may have some ich on it.) unless the fish does not have scales (mandarins), needs sand to sleep or feel comfortable (wrasse) or eat (gobies). these three types of fish have excellent immune systms anyway.
newtankman
Member
Originally Posted by FarRider
what do I do that I now have 80lbs of rock on top of my sand? I tried to dig it down in when I placed it but it didn't go all the way to the bottom.
I received this tip from someone on this site that worked very well. I use PVC pipe cut to the depth of my sand and placed my lr on top of them. So far this has secured the lr very well with an engineer goby moving all the sand around the rocks. I used WPVC pipe so it blends in with the sand.
what do I do that I now have 80lbs of rock on top of my sand? I tried to dig it down in when I placed it but it didn't go all the way to the bottom.
I received this tip from someone on this site that worked very well. I use PVC pipe cut to the depth of my sand and placed my lr on top of them. So far this has secured the lr very well with an engineer goby moving all the sand around the rocks. I used WPVC pipe so it blends in with the sand.
murph
Active Member
When installing a sump/fuge (and all new hobbyist eventually do) have it behind the tank not crammed under the stand.
This is especially true if hang on overflows are to be used. Then any drips/leaks in return line or drains from overflow will fall harmlessly back into sump and not on floor.
If sump and equipment is crammed under the stand the frustration of having to reach into this confined area for setup and maintenance will set in quickly, not to mention the size of the sump will be limited due to the center bracing in most stands making it impossible to slide a larger sump under the tank without disassembling the stand.
Of course the new hobbyist has to remember to leave room behind the main tank when setting up to accommodate this almost certain addition to the system.
This is especially true if hang on overflows are to be used. Then any drips/leaks in return line or drains from overflow will fall harmlessly back into sump and not on floor.
If sump and equipment is crammed under the stand the frustration of having to reach into this confined area for setup and maintenance will set in quickly, not to mention the size of the sump will be limited due to the center bracing in most stands making it impossible to slide a larger sump under the tank without disassembling the stand.
Of course the new hobbyist has to remember to leave room behind the main tank when setting up to accommodate this almost certain addition to the system.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Lots of stuff I personally disagree with on this thread:
-Not only will a QT save you a lot of money in the future, but it will prevent disease from entering your tank. Therefore, a quarantine tank is mandatory.
-I do not agree that you must put every fish through hyposalinity if you are dilligent enough to watch them and observe them everyday. However, I am sure it cannot hurt - just not neccessary.
-Working at public aquariums will not make you hate fish. I have worked for several LFS' and done many things with this hobby, and I love fish even more than when I first got into it.
-Asking questions is never a bad thing. The only stupid question is the one that is not asked. However, with that said, always be open-minded to advice given. If you ask for advice, be ready to possibly hear something you do not want to hear. We are not here to sell you something, so we are not partial in the advice we are giving.
-I have an engineer goby, and he is an amazing fish. I have had mine for close to 4 years now, and I have never had an issue. There are several others on here that love engineers as well.
With those things said, Journeyman1, TangLove, and Ophiura offered very important advice that everyone should follow.
My addition: always get as many opinions as you can. Check all of the books you have and ask tons of questions on here. Never stop learning in this hobby. There is a plethora of information and no one can know everything.
-Not only will a QT save you a lot of money in the future, but it will prevent disease from entering your tank. Therefore, a quarantine tank is mandatory.
-I do not agree that you must put every fish through hyposalinity if you are dilligent enough to watch them and observe them everyday. However, I am sure it cannot hurt - just not neccessary.
-Working at public aquariums will not make you hate fish. I have worked for several LFS' and done many things with this hobby, and I love fish even more than when I first got into it.
-Asking questions is never a bad thing. The only stupid question is the one that is not asked. However, with that said, always be open-minded to advice given. If you ask for advice, be ready to possibly hear something you do not want to hear. We are not here to sell you something, so we are not partial in the advice we are giving.
-I have an engineer goby, and he is an amazing fish. I have had mine for close to 4 years now, and I have never had an issue. There are several others on here that love engineers as well.
With those things said, Journeyman1, TangLove, and Ophiura offered very important advice that everyone should follow.
My addition: always get as many opinions as you can. Check all of the books you have and ask tons of questions on here. Never stop learning in this hobby. There is a plethora of information and no one can know everything.
saltn00b
Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Lots of stuff I personally disagree with on this thread:
-I do not agree that you must put every fish through hyposalinity if you are dilligent enough to watch them and observe them everyday. However, I am sure it cannot hurt - just not neccessary.
while you may think it is not necessary, Beth states in her FAQ that Hypo does not harm fish that do not require it, and that lower salinity is less stressful for fish (for short periods of time, extended periods of over 6 weeks + can lead to health problems and eventually death).
beyond that, i have had a fish sit in a QT tank for 6 weeks, watched every day. on the final day right as i was setting up acclimation buckets to transfer, Ick finally reared its ugly head! so thank goodness i had been using a QT tank, and followed the rules about QT periods (the proof is in the pudding), and that i saw it before the transfer. Unfortunately it was another month in the QT tank before that fish could be added. this could have been avoided if I Hypo'd from the beginning. Subsequent fish, i have just assumed that the fish from the LFS or from the mail shipment HAVE ick, and performed the process, being right 3 out of 4 times.
anyway, this is not a thread for steadfast rules, this was a section for tips, and i think it is a valuable one based on experiences. But lion is correct, you dont HAVE to do it, it's not a necessity.
Lots of stuff I personally disagree with on this thread:
-I do not agree that you must put every fish through hyposalinity if you are dilligent enough to watch them and observe them everyday. However, I am sure it cannot hurt - just not neccessary.
while you may think it is not necessary, Beth states in her FAQ that Hypo does not harm fish that do not require it, and that lower salinity is less stressful for fish (for short periods of time, extended periods of over 6 weeks + can lead to health problems and eventually death).
beyond that, i have had a fish sit in a QT tank for 6 weeks, watched every day. on the final day right as i was setting up acclimation buckets to transfer, Ick finally reared its ugly head! so thank goodness i had been using a QT tank, and followed the rules about QT periods (the proof is in the pudding), and that i saw it before the transfer. Unfortunately it was another month in the QT tank before that fish could be added. this could have been avoided if I Hypo'd from the beginning. Subsequent fish, i have just assumed that the fish from the LFS or from the mail shipment HAVE ick, and performed the process, being right 3 out of 4 times.
anyway, this is not a thread for steadfast rules, this was a section for tips, and i think it is a valuable one based on experiences. But lion is correct, you dont HAVE to do it, it's not a necessity.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Originally Posted by saltn00b
while you may think it is not necessary, Beth states in her FAQ that Hypo does not harm fish that do not require it, and that lower salinity is less stressful for fish (for short periods of time, extended periods of over 6 weeks + can lead to health problems and eventually death).
beyond that, i have had a fish sit in a QT tank for 6 weeks, watched every day. on the final day right as i was setting up acclimation buckets to transfer, Ick finally reared its ugly head! so thank goodness i had been using a QT tank, and followed the rules about QT periods (the proof is in the pudding), and that i saw it before the transfer. Unfortunately it was another month in the QT tank before that fish could be added. this could have been avoided if I Hypo'd from the beginning. Subsequent fish, i have just assumed that the fish from the LFS or from the mail shipment HAVE ick, and performed the process, being right 3 out of 4 times.
anyway, this is not a thread for steadfast rules, this was a section for tips, and i think it is a valuable one based on experiences. But lion is correct, you dont HAVE to do it, it's not a necessity.
I agree. Like I said, it cannot hurt, but I just wanted to point out that it is not absolutely 100% neccessary.
while you may think it is not necessary, Beth states in her FAQ that Hypo does not harm fish that do not require it, and that lower salinity is less stressful for fish (for short periods of time, extended periods of over 6 weeks + can lead to health problems and eventually death).
beyond that, i have had a fish sit in a QT tank for 6 weeks, watched every day. on the final day right as i was setting up acclimation buckets to transfer, Ick finally reared its ugly head! so thank goodness i had been using a QT tank, and followed the rules about QT periods (the proof is in the pudding), and that i saw it before the transfer. Unfortunately it was another month in the QT tank before that fish could be added. this could have been avoided if I Hypo'd from the beginning. Subsequent fish, i have just assumed that the fish from the LFS or from the mail shipment HAVE ick, and performed the process, being right 3 out of 4 times.
anyway, this is not a thread for steadfast rules, this was a section for tips, and i think it is a valuable one based on experiences. But lion is correct, you dont HAVE to do it, it's not a necessity.
I agree. Like I said, it cannot hurt, but I just wanted to point out that it is not absolutely 100% neccessary.
myrtle beach
Member
I've only heard Plethora used once, Three Amigos. Good word, +50pts.
The best advice I heard is "nothing good ever happens quickly in a saltwater tank" I have had to resist urges to buy fish and add things before reading and researching.
Don't trust the LFS guy with your money or fish unless you would trust him with your car, kid, cat, dog, etc. Just because they know a lot doesn't mean they tell you everything you need to know. It's not lying if you don't ask and I have heard more ignorant people asking about fish they have no business buying than anything.
Baby steps...
The best advice I heard is "nothing good ever happens quickly in a saltwater tank" I have had to resist urges to buy fish and add things before reading and researching.
Don't trust the LFS guy with your money or fish unless you would trust him with your car, kid, cat, dog, etc. Just because they know a lot doesn't mean they tell you everything you need to know. It's not lying if you don't ask and I have heard more ignorant people asking about fish they have no business buying than anything.
Baby steps...