Thanks ever so much for helping me!

hellocatfish · Post by **hellocatfish** » 17 Feb 2007, 11:38

Well, my tank is finally settled down again--for now. I think the bottom sponge of the 2 I have in my AquaClear HOB probably needs to have some debris knocked off it...but I don't dare even look at the thing, lest I start another mini-cycle.

My Danio passed away in his hospital tank. He had a very peaceful and restful time in there and went gently. He did eat a little bit and didn't get emaciated, but he was unnaturally thin for his type.

The survivors now are 2 Sterba, 3 Albino Cories, Pepper and Elegans, and Danios that still move too fast to be counted, but I think number at 10. And that's the way the population is going to stay, for a good long time.

The Rena XP3 finally made it in through the ice--UPS driver deserves a medal. I never even saw him--I was upstairs with my daughter, heard the bell, ran down, and there was the filter on my front stoop! I haven't had the opportunity to check it out, much less install it yet. Was busy cleaning out the hospital tank and keeping up with a house-bound 2 year old bursting with energy. Ughhhh.

I still don't have any live plants in the tank--not for lack of looking. I think I'll have a go at online ordering. I don't really want a "planted tank" per se. Just a specimen or 2 of the plant that I fell in love with in Arc200uk's tank and maybe some floating plants to decorate the top since my cories don't like the tank filled to the top. I've decided to keep my current light levels, and not get too into plants--I have about all I can deal with meeting the needs of the fish. If any plant so much as makes me frown, I'm chucking it.

The survivors are looking well and bustling about. I cut out a couple day's worth of feedings while the nitrites were spiking and that did help.

I wanted to thank all the wonderful people who gave me insight, input, advice, and support. I'm kind of sheepish about flaking out a little after losing the last Sterba and for going so far off topic in Tank Talk topics I started. I hope my rambling doesn't make it too difficult for anyone looking for particular information there. If it does, Mods, please feel free to delete my threads.

However, I don't feel TOO sheepish because a couple of newbie-oriented forums I visit have loads of people flaking out just like I was and making all the same mistakes I was. Man...I really felt for these folks, going through it all myself.

Believe it or not, I am planning out my next tank. I still can't have 2 tanks, so it will be the successor to the one I currently have. I'm hoping to avoid all the trauma of a full cycle by careful transference of as much bacteria from my existing tank as I can manage.

I'm only increasing by 11 gallons, but I'm getting a rather oddball dimensioned tank that has the same footprint as a 50 gallon tank by the same manufacturer, but is shallower. That's to make it more cory-oriented. Also the new stand I plan to get is also shorter than my existing stand. I'm only 5 feet 2-ish and it has been hard doing maintenance on my current setup. I'll be glad to get rid of depth the cories don't really appreciate anyway.

I hope the new tank will let me eventually have a modest increase in the cory population than what I can have with my 29 gallon tank.

Nothing is set in stone yet...still researching, still thinking, planning and most of all, enjoying the existing tank and praying this time it stays cycled while I LEAVE IT THE HECK ALONE!

bronzefry · Post by **bronzefry** » 17 Feb 2007, 16:01

Hey, I'm 5'2" also! Don't kick yourself over the Zebra Danios....or any of this. Your doing just fine. It's a fine idea to keep the stocking levels as they are. You'll find yourself learning a lot as you go. That's what this hobby is about. I try to learn something new everyday. If you don't ask questions, how will you learn?(why do you think I have so many posts?)

Amanda

hellocatfish · Post by **hellocatfish** » 18 Feb 2007, 09:58

Thanks Amanda. I feel better now. I had felt really bad realizing how "stupid newbie" my situation had deteriorated to and how patient and supportive and tolerant everyone was being. Also I was so preoccupied with trying to save my tank I hadn't realized how bad my netiquette had become until I woke up and looked at the post-counts on my threads and saw also how far they deviated from the original topic! Yikes!

I had made the mistake really early on thinking I wasn't a newbie, but I think anyone who has been out of the hobby as long as I have has so much to catch up on they might as well be new. I found some forums that are more focused on very basic newbie issues so I am getting my very basic newbie info over there and saving this wonderful resource for more advanced cat-care talk.

Yes, I'm most definitely keeping my current stock "as-is". I've put them through so much I just want to enjoy and savor them now that they're getting a chance to relax and be themselves. I am proud and grateful they're looking so beautiful. The cories have great color and the barbels somehow managed to never get damaged through any of the toxin spikes and are so long and impressive.

I've got a more natural-looking background that really goes well with the decor and makes the tank look more like a part of nature. However it will never be what the rest of you folks have managed to create. I've grown rather fond of the silk plants and will be keeping them, as the non-Sterba cories seem fond of making the leaves their little hammocks!

And I have decided to forgo the plans I had to make a slate decoration and go with resin instead, because it's lighter and easier to move when I have to fetch out the remains of an Algae cookie that the cories often drag into their "clubhouses". I did find a resin design that is EXACTLY the shape and size I wanted.

Of course the question remains of what to do with this gorgeous large panel of red slate I'd bought when I first got the tank. I was originally just going to lean it up against the back of the tank, like my dad had done with his slate. Then I learned that's a real no-no and Dad was just lucky his weighty rocks never busted his tanks. Or maybe he was just really skilled at setting them up. I think the fact that most of his tanks were metal and slate based might also have helped. I don't know.

Speaking of Dad, he still doesn't know I made all these changes. He and my mom have an exponentially increasing lot to deal with healthwise, and it won't be long before I will be a rare visitor here as I divide my time between home and hospital waiting rooms.

I had thought he would get a chance to see the tank before all the surgeries and biopsies started, but then my mom no longer could muster the energy to get to my house, and then the ice storms hit. The topic of the tank doesn't even come up anymore in phone conversations. I guess it's just as well. But I do think he will be pleased with most of the changes when he finally does get to see the new setup.

Meanwhile I am VERY excited planning out the next tank. I'll actually be purchasing it in the not-too-distant future, before shipping costs get reinstated. But it will be a good long while before it replaces what I have now, because it will likely take me ages to study it and plan out the plumbing. LOL!