Kind of starting over...advice?

**themusician** · 04-26-2008, 09:41 PM

So, last weekend, in a fit of passion, I stripped my tank. I left the fish and one plant in there, and ripped out the rest. I'm not sure what got into me, but I quit my job too, so it must have been time for a change!

Before Christmas I was really into the fish hobby and took really good care of the tank, but then I went out of town, my fish-sitter let several of my fish die, and I never had time until now to put the tank back in reasonable shape.

Aaaaanyway....I now have a 20 gallon tank with several fish, a plant on a log, and gravel. And that's it. And I need ideas, because I want to do something different.

The first picture is the before. Forgive the nastiness and low water level...conditions at my job had pretty much blown up the week before and I had been a little distracted with all the drama.

The next picture is obviously an after. I took out one of the logs to clean it and have since decided to throw it away because it smells so bad.

So yes, please give me ideas. I want to do something different. I am not against adding or removing anything (except maybe the fish, but I'm keeping an open mind). I just want to give the whole thing a makeover.

**Incredulous_Ed** · 04-26-2008, 09:47 PM

Add some more wood and plants and add a pair of dwarf cichlids.

**themusician** · 04-26-2008, 10:37 PM

What kind of plants? And would the dwarf cichlids work with my current fish (see signature) or would I need to replace something?

**NickFish** · 04-26-2008, 10:58 PM

Amazon sword or corkscrew vals would look nice, some anacharis or wisteria maybe.

But first, I'd get at least 3 more cories, as they like to be in schools.

**LosC** · 04-26-2008, 11:03 PM

I agree with incredulous ed. So were your fish starved by your fish-sittier?

**themusician** · 04-26-2008, 11:04 PM

I've had such terrible luck with cories that I've been reluctant to buy more, since my guys seem relatively happy, but yeah, I should probably add to the school. I originally bought 3, and one died, so I bought 3 more. Two of those died shortly, and I think they introduced something weird into my tank that killed another. It was a frustrating few months while all the fish in my tank were acting weird and dying. I hope I don't have to go through that again.

**themusician** · 04-26-2008, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by RamGuy13

I agree with incredulous ed. So were your fish starved by your fish-sittier?

Kinda. Before I left, I showed her how my automatic feeder worked and how to add new water to the the tank when the water level got too low. I asked her to check on them every couple of days. I also mentioned that some of my fish had not been well lately (there's a huge back story on this that I'll save for another time) and to please watch out for sick fish. I left my quarantine tank running for her to remove any sick fish.

When I got back, the tank was only 2/3 full. The feeder had been moved and had dumped probably a week's worth of food on top of the glass lid. There were 6-10 uneaten algae wafers in the tank...I had asked her to throw in one every other day. I found the dorsal fin of a cory cat on the floor of the tank...the rest had been eaten. My fish were all pale, and one of my platies had an advanced case of dropsy. I'm sure there had been an ammonia spike while I was gone. Also, the water level in the quarantine tank had been allowed to drop so low that my heater half melted and I found evidence of splashed water at least a foot or two away from the tank.

I was very upset at the time, but I guess I'm over it now. She's a very good friend of mine, but I can't believe she let things get as bad as they did, when I trusted her to watch over things for me.

**Incredulous_Ed** · 04-27-2008, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by themusician

What kind of plants? And would the dwarf cichlids work with my current fish (see signature) or would I need to replace something?

When I buy plans, I just go to the store and see what they have there. Then if I like it and I know it will grow in my tank, I just get it.

They would work with your fish, Try an easy one, like bolivain rams.

**Nick_Pavlovski** · 04-27-2008, 12:43 PM

Try some long thin brown rocks, attach Java moss to them. Then lean them against the walls of the tank on the sides / back. The illusion of roots.

Or find some rocks that could be used to make a natural cave/house, and attach Java moss to it.

As for fish? That's up to you.

**LosC** · 04-27-2008, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by themusician

Kinda. Before I left, I showed her how my automatic feeder worked and how to add new water to the the tank when the water level got too low. I asked her to check on them every couple of days. I also mentioned that some of my fish had not been well lately (there's a huge back story on this that I'll save for another time) and to please watch out for sick fish. I left my quarantine tank running for her to remove any sick fish.

When I got back, the tank was only 2/3 full. The feeder had been moved and had dumped probably a week's worth of food on top of the glass lid. There were 6-10 uneaten algae wafers in the tank...I had asked her to throw in one every other day. I found the dorsal fin of a cory cat on the floor of the tank...the rest had been eaten. My fish were all pale, and one of my platies had an advanced case of dropsy. I'm sure there had been an ammonia spike while I was gone. Also, the water level in the quarantine tank had been allowed to drop so low that my heater half melted and I found evidence of splashed water at least a foot or two away from the tank.

I was very upset at the time, but I guess I'm over it now. She's a very good friend of mine, but I can't believe she let things get as bad as they did, when I trusted her to watch over things for me.

Sounds horrible