August 26, 2007
Back to the Fishes
I cleaned the entire tank and all the decor before we left on vacation. I also did a very large water change to get most of the medicine I had been using out of there. I had to wash all the wood and most of the plants, since they were so covered in algae. It was not amusing.
On one hand, I have confirmed that I like my red phantom tetras a lot. However, they are still suffering from mouth fungus of some sort. I am not at all happy with the medicines the fish store keeps giving me. I'm pretty sure the last one contained malachite green and it just about killed one of my plants. On the other hand, it was the first medicine that had any affect on the fungus.
There was also a heat problem in the tank while we were gone. The AC broke and the fish tank temperature kicked up to about 82. The fish seem none the worse for wear, but the person who was fish-sitting had to turn their light off most of the time to keep them from getting being cooked. I'd imagine this did not help with the plants' issues.
I am struggling with what to do about the mouth fungus. I have a medicine that seemed to have a small affect on the fungus, but it had a very bad affect on the tank and the plants. I think I may run one more course of that and see if it does them any good. I'm debating consulting a vet, since the folks at the fish store appear to be pretty useless.
I am very tired of the constant large water changes and manual tank cleaning that all of this is requiring. I want to be able to get some tank cleaners like a SAE and some bottom feeding cory cats. I think I've been very patient with my tank so far and I'm still waiting for the payout where I don't need to watch everything about it and spend two or three hours a week medicating and cleaning.
When I got a fish tank I knew I was signing up for some routine maintenance, but I was under the impression this was going to be more like an hour a week tops. I'm also really sick of not being able to put plants or more fish into my tank. I know what I want in there and it's been months since the tank finished cycling.
On the whole the disease issue is frustrating and it makes me really pissed off at the fish store, since they're the ones who condemned me to dealing with this crap when they didn't bother to quarantine their incoming fish. I can't afford to keep a hospital/quarantine tank and frankly, at the prices I'm paying the fish store I don't think I should need to.
Comments:Was it a REALLY BIG raccoon?Post a Comment
But seriously, I'm sorry you didn't have a better time at the Con of Cons. It sucks big time when you are so looking forward to something and health issues get in the way (ask me about limping through Europe).
It does sound like you played quite a variety of stuff, though! That's cool.
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