Any other fishkeepers out there?

kitchpoo

We had a live plant in our tank, and we noticed a lot of algae on the glass of the tank. We added an algae eating fish (yellow ugly thing but quite fascinating...it sucks around the tank in search of it's food) and since then the plant has gone because it died completely.

Since then, I haven't noticed any algae at all......is this the fish doing his job or is it the lack of plant? I am just worried there is no longer enough food for Mr Suckerman (as I affectionately call him!!!)

What do you think?

Froglet

2 things you need to do.Get several plants,make sure you get plant food at the same time to keep them alive,and this will help balance the tank and keep it free from algae.Obviously your suckermouth catfish will now be needing to be fed,and there are several different kinds of algae tablet foods that will keep him happy,.I have a large suckermouth catfish aged 15 and he leaves all my plants alone,helping to keep down the algae on the glass but loves his tablets.

When you turn the lights off,that is when he will most likely come out to eat so drop them down for him then.Also has he got a cave to hide in as they are shy and need protecting from the tank lights?

kitchpoo

Thanks for that Froglet, very helpful. I do intend on getting another plant (with plant food this time) and I will get some tablets for Mr. Suckerman. He has got a car thing that he goes into mostly during the day...he seems to come out about 10pm ish. Thanks!!

betterbargains4u

Hi

.
I have a 6ft tall tower aquarium with heater, pump etc that we had some tropical fish in.
Just like this tank....CLICK
One by one, they all died and we were told by the local aquarium shop that they probably didn't have enough oxygen.
We have since changed to goldfish...only four of them and they are also dying.
Just looked today and out of the remaining two fish, one is obviously dying as well.
He is swimming on his side and when I looked closely, he has a lot of scales missing from both sides of his body.
Don't quite know what to do, as I am no expert.
Any help would be appreciated.

BURD959

hi hun this is my first post ....


it seems unforunately there is not much hope

Im not a complete expert but have pm u somewhere which will help

FriendlyJ

Hiya sorry to hear about your fish. When my fish was ill I took the advice that the good people on the pets forum told me - I separated the ill fish & added aquarium salt to the tank & also added Melafix. Even if it doesn't cure the fish it will make it feel better.
Good luck J

jessmist

Have a look at this forum http://www.thinkfish.co.uk/

dubgirl

hi, when you set up the tank did you cycle the tank to allow it to mature? An average tank will take between 4-6 weeks to mature sometimes longer and it is only then that you should add fish and slowly, also given the shape of the tank, you may of overstocked it. In order to cycle the tank, you add ammonia gradually and test the water regularly until the readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels are acceptable. If I was you, I would strip the tank down and start again and also get advice from a local reputable fish shop and also check out the practical fishkeeping forum as well.

Also were you doing regular water changes and testing? I have to be honest that the shape of the tank would not really be conducive to allowing the fish to have a great deal of oxygen, poor water quality is likely to result in infections which could be another cause.

BURD959

FriendlyJ wrote: »

Hiya sorry to hear about your fish. When my fish was ill I took the advice that the good people on the pets forum told me - I separated the ill fish & added aquarium salt to the tank & also added Melafix. Even if it doesn't cure the fish it will make it feel better.
Good luck J

You can add salt , but only if you have no scaleless fish in there . ( i thought all fish had scales lol , but they haven't )

harveybobbles

Well, we had 6 fish.The oldest was 12! But when we moved house we gave them to a friend to look after and they got attatched to them, so we let them keep them. they fed them and looked after them etc etc. But slowly, one by one they died... then they had none.

A week or so later, they got a new tank and some new fish. slowly one by one, they too started to die.

Then I realised that the friend in question smokes pot each nite after work. And i'm guessing that this was getting into the tanks filter and killing the fish...