The Vent and Rant Thread

[SneakySnake]

hmmmmmmmmmmm fish?

A light dusting in flour, then pan fried in a little butter. yum

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

hmmmmmmmmmmm fish?

A light dusting in flour, then pan fried in a little butter. yum

Guppies? Neon Tetras? It's gonna take a really small frying pan! Better as sashimi, but then again... these died from a mysterious cause. Are you SURE you want to eat them?


Stitchawl

[SneakySnake]

No thanks. Anyway now I have some toast with marmalade and tea.

[wyndslash]

one of the profs in a class for this term asks for opinions then slams them ~_~

[Nyssa]

I have been sick for about two weeks now. Upper respiratory annoyance that I seem to get in one form or another, every winter and/or fall . The worst part for me is the post nasal drip, especially when it leads to fits of coughing.

So after a week of this foolishness I decide to go to my Dr. He gives me antibiotics, a decongestant/expectorant combo, nasal spray AND an inhaler to open up my airways. Tomorrow will be day 5. I still feel like carp, and I'm still coughing my head off! Isn't this stuff supposed to make me feel more human, at least? *groan*

[SneakySnake]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

I have been sick for about two weeks now. Upper respiratory annoyance that I seem to get in one form or another, every winter and/or fall . The worst part for me is the post nasal drip, especially when it leads to fits of coughing.

So after a week of this foolishness I decide to go to my Dr. He gives me antibiotics, a decongestant/expectorant combo, nasal spray AND an inhaler to open up my airways. Tomorrow will be day 5. I still feel like carp, and I'm still coughing my head off! Isn't this stuff supposed to make me feel more human, at least? *groan*

I feel a little carp like myself lately. Sympathy from a fellow wheezer!

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

I feel a little carp like myself lately. Sympathy from a fellow wheezer!

There is carp and then there is carp...





Stitchawl

[Nyssa]

at both of you and thank you SS! I hope you feel better soon.
I figured it was safer to say "carp" than offend someone by switching the "a" and the "r".

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Grrrrrrr.... I am getting angry.
I put in a new aquarium and I can't get the water balanced. The fish keep dying and the water goes from clear to cloudy to clear again!
Any of you who keep fish got any ideas?

Here is what I've checked so far;
1. The water is well aged, so no CL
2. The pH is 7 Perfectly neutral
3. The tank is only set up for a couple of days so overfeeding isn't an issue. Besides, I used to breed several different species when I was a kid, so I know how much to feed.
4. I've tested for Nitrates and for Nitrites. All normal
5. The fish come from healthy tanks as do the plants.
6. No plastics inside the tank other than the intake tube for a large filter. I've changed the filter material several times.
7. Fish food is a mix of TetraMin flakes and freeze dried tubifex worms, a combination I've fed for years.

So why are the fish continuing to die?


Stitchawl

Stupid question, but are your fish acclimated to the temperature of the water before you put them in the tank?

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Stupid question, but are your fish acclimated to the temperature of the water before you put them in the tank?

Good thought and important point... But yes. They came in plastic bags with a some of their own water. I floated their containers in the tank for almost three hours to allow the temperatures to sync. Then I lowered the tops and allowed some of the tank water to merge with the container water. After another 30 minutes I let the new fish swim out into the tank on their own. No extra stress.

As a young teenager, I had a small business setting up tanks in doctor's and dentist's offices. My father was a oral surgeon and I had set up a tank in his waiting room. His professional friends saw it, liked the idea of the tranquilizing effect of a tank (it wasn't a common thing in those days) and my father arranged for me to set them up, teach them daily routine, and I'd come around once a week to clean, change the filters, trim plants, etc. I also had several tanks in my room, breeding Hanel Guppies, Vailtail and LyreTail guppies, and Siamese Fighting Fish. (Oh... and Sea Monkeys. I fed those to the fish.) I tried my hand at salt water, raising miniature seahorses but in those days there wasn't much available help for home marine tanks where I lived.

This is why I'm so perplexed at this current situation. It's not as if I don't have a clue to running a tank! But nothing seems to be working. I lost 5 neons last night!




Stitchawl

[Freeshadow]

I lost 5 neons last night!

Switch to LEDs... sry no idea how to help so wanted to produce at least a grin

[Witty Username]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

3. The tank is only set up for a couple of days ...

This is the first thing I noticed - every tank that I've ever set up I've waited at least 2 weeks before adding any fish. A couple of days doesn't allow the environment to stabilise the nitrogen cycle.


You also stated that you have changed the filter material several times. The filter relies on 'good' bacteria colonies to neutralise ammonia so the more often you change the filter media, the more likely you are to have raised ammonia levels. Ammonia will kill fish at levels too low to be detected by home kits so this is a possibility.

The third option is that one of the first fish to die was carrying a disease that is now lurking in the gravel and/or plants. Complete sterilisation of the tank and gravel and starting again would be worth doing if nothing else helps.

I hope you solve it soon, it is so frustrating (and expensive!) when this happens.

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by bornmusician

wish i could. my kitty that's in my albums ran away. so i am currently kitty-less as well

Oh noooo! You certainly HAVE had a rough time lately. {{{HUGGGSS}}}

Maybe visit the local pound, and cuddle some anonymous kitties for a bit?

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

Switch to LEDs... sry no idea how to help so wanted to produce at least a grin

!!

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

Switch to LEDs... sry no idea how to help so wanted to produce at least a grin

It worked.

Originally Posted by Witty Username

This is the first thing I noticed - every tank that I've ever set up I've waited at least 2 weeks before adding any fish.

Never did this, even back in the day. Worth a try though...

The filter relies on 'good' bacteria colonies to neutralise ammonia

The fish kill has been in a fresh tank. I'd think not enough time for ammonia to develop. That's a by-product of decomposition. Nothing in the tank yet to decompose.

The third option is that one of the first fish to die was carrying a disease that is now lurking in the gravel and/or plants.

THIS is a very good possibility. But it really must have been a fast action disease... Right now I have four fancy guppies and one small catfish still swimming. The guppies are in full color and swimming normally. Before dying the other fish lost color and lost control of swim bladders.

I hope you solve it soon, it is so frustrating (and expensive!) when this happens.

Thanks for the suggestions. This really IS a frustrating experience.


Stitchawl