Beginner Help

**fishmommie** · 11-19-2012, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by webs5361

Okay, that is cool. I am just trying to be a cautious as possible.... Also on a side-note my pleco just ate an algae wafer. Maybe he is going to make it after all.

yeah! that's great on the wafer.

And you can absolutely acclimate that way. I prefer the drip method but this should be fine. I would check to see what the PH level is in the LFS water. if there's a vast diff from your PH, I'd drip.

MY LFS's ph is 8.2. Mine is 6.8. I HAVE to drip or the shock will kill them but once they're acclimated, it's no problem.

have fun shopping

**webs5361** · 11-19-2012, 04:12 PM

Well, I am home. I purchased 3 red wag platy's. They are floating in the tank now. Hopefully, I will have better luck this time.

**webs5361** · 11-19-2012, 05:14 PM

How long after I introduce the platy's to the tank should I feed them? I have read conflicting stories across the internet. Some say they should be fed a few hours after introducing them to the tank and others say wait around 24 hours.

**Azurescriber** · 11-19-2012, 06:04 PM

24 hrs. It won't hurt them.

**webs5361** · 11-19-2012, 06:05 PM

Awesome. Thanks!

**imma24** · 11-19-2012, 07:15 PM

+1 not only wait to feed them but keep the lights off in the tank - makes for a less stressful environment.

**webs5361** · 11-19-2012, 10:16 PM

Well they have successfully been added to the aquarium. I am keeping the lights off and will wait the full 24 hours to feed them. They are slowly coming out and exploring a bit more since I added them to the tank. Hopefully, all will be well. Thanks again for all the help everyone. You guys are awesome.

**fishmommie** · 11-19-2012, 10:41 PM

excited for you. have fun and keep up with your morning water testing and water changes when Ammonia or Nitrites approach .5 and you should be just fine.
Hopefully it won't take you much longer than a month to cycle the tank since you already have a start on it but be prepared for a little longer.

**webs5361** · 11-19-2012, 10:50 PM

Okay, I may have a problem with one of the platy's. It may be nothing, but I have no idea being a new owner. There appears to be a string coming out of one of them. Here are some images.

Can anyone tell me what that is?? I saw it when I walked by and turned the light on, just long enough to get some pictures of it for you guys.

http://imageshack.us/g/1/9877915/

**fishmommie** · 11-19-2012, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by webs5361

Okay, I may have a problem with one of the platy's. It may be nothing, but I have no idea being a new owner. There appears to be a string coming out of one of them. Here are some images.

Can anyone tell me what that is?? I saw it when I walked by and turned the light on, just long enough to get some pictures of it for you guys.

http://imageshack.us/g/1/9877915/

It's always hard to tell from the angle of the photos but I'm fairly confident that's platy poo. Platies are very proud of their poo and will occasionally expel long, trailing strings of it before it falls off.

Relax new dad :o)