"You need more freshwater knowledge"

btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
So I'm turning to you guys. The new job I was hired for was mainly for saltwater care, etc. I legally can't disclose where I'm working and what I'm doing. Anyways, we also have some freshwater, all be it much less, but it's there.
I kept feshwater tanks for a long time, but honestly, I didn't pay much mind to them, at least not the way I do with saltwater, and therefore my saltwater knowledge is far more extensive than my freshwater. My boss wants me to have more freshwater knowledge, general knowledge and a little beyond that. So I turn to you guys, want to give me a quick lesson in freshwater (tank and pond) care? Or point me to some good sites about it?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
What kind of secret SWF place could you work for.....I'm really curious now....You should have left that whole "secretive" sentence out
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
TL FW is like SW
FW Planted= Reef Tank
FW Fish Only = FOWLR
My Planted tank has been giving me a hell of a time lately, mainly because I haven't been taking care of it as much as my SW. Anyways I belong to a forum called The Planted Tank, haven't been going there much because I like this place too much.
In my experience - and take this lightly Planted tanks are a lot of work
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Yeah, Bang Guy is a very mysterious person... won't ever give me a straight answer either.

Anyways, There are several good forums to go to, none of which I will post because I want to follow the rules like a good boy. Just do a search for freshwater aquariums and you will come by a plethora of them.
Ponds are easy, but it depends on the size. The bigger they are, the more problems you will face. Bigger ponds require bigger filtration equipment... large sand filters. The largest I worked with was a 600 pound sand filter!!! Small ponds are pretty easy, and all freshwater rules apply.
The biggest thing about a pond is every few years you gotta get the muck off the bottom or else it starts to wreak havoc on plants and fish. Anaerobic bacteria will start to build up and then no one is happy. Snails are fun but multiply by the thousands in freshwater. Don't break the ice in winter!
Anyways, if you have any detailed questions about ponds, lemme know. I'm pretty good at em'. Planted tanks, not so much. I know that you have to start with a good solid substrate with lots of minerals. I also know on some pretty complex planted tanks you got to use CO2 if you don't have that much of a fish bioload.
In fact, speaking of CO2, A cheap way I added CO2 to one of my planted tanks was to put some purified water and sugar into a 2 liter bottle with a pack of champagne yeast and rigged it up into the tank. It seemed to do a pretty good job with a diffuser. lol!
Dunno how much I helped. But, like I said, I know a thing or two about ponds. :D
 
darthtang aw

darthtang aw

Active Member
Bang isnt so mysterious.
He told me he was my father once. Then cut off my hand.
Knew everything i needed to know about him after that.
Darth (skywalker) Tang
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Thanks guys. I haven't had to actually help anyone with freshwater, or give lectures on it, but my resume lacks that area, so he approached me and said "go learn more". LOL
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
Hey, if I can be the manager of a pet care department after having no prior experience anyone can do it. I was an associate for 6 months before I became the manager and I knew nothing about most of the pets that we carried, but I am a quick learner and I am able to think on my feet. The biggest thing is to learn about the products that you carry and you can learn a wealth of information from your customers. I have a following of customers that will only let me solve their tank dilemmas. A lot of the same rules of SW, apply to FW.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Luckily I don't have to sell anything. But lecturing, answering questions and just having overall knowledge.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator

Sounds like someone got a job at Atlantis.... 
I know not of what you speak...
Atlantis doesn't exist anymore, lol. It has a new name
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by DragonZim http:///t/388285/you-need-more-freshwater-knowledge#post_3423673
didnt realize they changed the name.. When did that happen? I was there over the summer and I got married there 4 1/2 years ago.
Yeah, they're now Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center. It's actually the name they originally wanted, but someone owned the rights to it and finally gave up on their failed attempts to open an aquarium in western Suffolk County. The name changed in the beginning of July.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Here is the Fw system I use for your consideration. It's called the beaslbob build on another board. LOL
substrate 1" peat moss, 1" play sand, 1" pc select. wet each layer, level and clean then add next layer.
add plants. lotsa anacharis and vals, a few small potted swords, crypts and a very few amazon swords. (before filling the tank)
the fill the tank with water poured over a dish.
wait one week.
add small bioload (1 platy in a 10g for instance).
wait one week with no food being added.
add more bioload (couple of females) and start feeding very lightly (1-2 flakes per day on the 10g).
no filter, no circulation, no water changes, no chemicals, straight untreated tap water, just top offs.
Lights 1.5-2 watts/gallon 6500k. (couple of spiral pig tails on a 10g.
Just my .02
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator

I tricked her into letting the fish out of the bag! 

 
Not necessarily, lol
Anyone that's been there since July, or is a member of LIRA knows/should know they changed names. Joe (the owner) has been really excited about the change/expansion. The July LIRA meeting was held there and members were given the first look at the new exhibition center (butterfly exhibit).
 
rainbow grouper

rainbow grouper

Active Member
Well FW really aren't a lot of work just do the water changes and the occasional clean there isn't really any general knowledge as i have found specific but here is all i can give follow the SW basics and the FW knowledge should be fine you know what Ph stuff like that.Now if you need specific fish information that i can help you with.
 
D

dragonzim

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///t/388285/you-need-more-freshwater-knowledge#post_3424007
Not necessarily, lol
Anyone that's been there since July, or is a member of LIRA knows/should know they changed names. Joe (the owner) has been really excited about the change/expansion. The July LIRA meeting was held there and members were given the first look at the new exhibition center (butterfly exhibit).
I was there in July with my wife and kids. Noticed that they had the LI Expo center open but didnt realize that they were no longer calling it Atlantis.. Th butterfly exhibit wasnt open yet when we were there.
 
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