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Eeeeeeekkkk almost there!!!!



Monday vs Tuesday. I bet it'll be zero today. I'm so close nearly ready for fish but can't get em for another week! Do I add a touch of ammonia to keep the bacteria going while I'm gone

Tested again before leaving for work. Despite it not having been a whole day yet.

IT"S ZEEERROOO!!!

OMG my tank is CYCLED

and I just noticed the photos of my furbabes in the background.

Ugh, no fish till next Thursday crying I think what I will do is stop at the aquatic store first, even though it's out of my way. Just to check and see if they got more of that yellow platty I saw. Then head back to the pet store to look at the hawaii platties and then I will make my final decision. Hopefully a bit easier having seen most of my options in the same day. How many do I get? I was thinking 3-4 5 max would be good. I know you guys mention some don't make it from the stress but can't I just go buy more if that happens.

Congrats on the tank finally being cycled! biggrin Can't wait to see pics of the fish when you get them! The tank set up is really nice! I love it! biggrin

1) Never. I use AquaClear filter sponges in all my tanks, and I havent changed them in forever. Just rinse them out in syphoned tank water to get all the gunk out. Filters hold almost all of the good bacteria, and removing the media would most likely put your tank into a minicycle. If the flow is greatly reduced from the media (because AC's impellers have a tendency to gunk more then other filters), then put some new media in there with the old one, and let it run like that for a few weeks. You may have to do extra water changes if the flow is bad.

2) I forget, is this a 15 or a 20 long? If its a 15, with the Pleco being a big factor to the bioload, I would say no more then 4. If its a 20 long, you could do probly up to 6.

3) Platies will eat (pretty much) the same things Bettas do. I feed all my fish alittle bit of every thing. I have Omega One Betta Buffet Flakes, Omega One Freshwater Flakes, Aqueon Flakes, Hikari Fancy Guppy Pellets (all my fish LOVE these, and they are cheap, too), Hikari and Warldey Algae wafers (not for the Bettas lol), Hikari Micro Algae Wafers, Tetra Sundried Baby Shrimp, and a few differnt types of cheap Betta Pellets (because there are no high quality Betta Pellets here for some reason). Some of there food are mixed together, to save space lol I also feed frozen Brine Shrimp and some times frozen Bloodworms. Oviously, you dont have to have quite so much food, some of there were samples, or left overs from friends or the past sweatdrop

It's 24 long I think. As for the media. It has 3 kinds which I thought the point of that was u can change one without Loosing all ur bacteria.

uuugghhh, carbon, sponge aannnddd uuggghhh...charcoal?

The tank IISSSS 12 inches high, 24 inches long and 12 inches deep. I have all three in the filter now, I just kind of...assumed that's how it worked lol and bought one of each.

SO, here's the new drama lol. PLZ don't be mad. I added a touch of ammonia, the hardcore way. Cause I was totally paranoid my cycle would die while I was away. I added WAY too much. I did a water change and left. Tested when I got home, still way too much. I did a water change but...well I'm trying NOT to turn my filter off cause it sounds like it's dying when I turn it back on right, so, as long as it never gets turned off it's fine. SO I do like a 25% or less water change so the level never goes below the filter. Then I add back the same amount of fresh water. I did this about 4 times. Ammonia still too high stressed So tonight ima do a real thorough water change.

ALSO I forgot I have Zumba on Thursday nights, so...I PROBABLY won't get fish anytime soon. It will be Friday or Saturday if at all. I forgot to renew my license so I can't drive till I do. PLUS my car, which went to the garage to get fixed, needs a part replaced AGAIN, the part was BRAND SPAKING NEW I just replaced it stressed Anyway, so because of that, I just left my car there till he has time to fix it next week so I have no car right now. All this to say getting to the store to buy fish will be very difficult at best. I can't borrow anyone's car without a license. This Sat I MAY be going to a frisbee comp if my brother is willing to drive up with me.

For the platties I'd be happy with 3. For the car....The original piece lasted over ten years. This one actually broke in like 6 months, but when I asked my dad what the noise was he said it's just cold out and the car is running stronger or something. Never listen to family, had it been looked at, it was still on warranty. Now it's not. But, it should cost under 500. Gots me a new mechanic and he rocks so I find out tomorrow how much and when he's available.

Oh, and my filter. IS TRYING TO KILL MMEEE!!! It sounds like it's going to bloooowwww up. I will have to turn it off overnight. Then I'll turn it on in the am and pprrraaayyy it shuts the hell up again. Then never, ever, ever unplug it ever again.