long cool story about impulse loach buying.........

[kimura]

so i'm at a local mom and pop pet shop that really does beat all the chain stores in live stock selection and quality. i'm walking down the rows of fish and low and behold a tank of histironicas. these are my all time favorite botias and i've only seen them ONCE in my city in the last 3 years.

they all looked healthy but it was obviously not their ideal tank enviornment . then i looked at the pice. 3 for 12.00........ wow. i began trying to figure out how to move fish around in my tanks at home and where i would put them. i ended up buying 10 but i may go back for more. the other time i saw them they were 7.99.

i told the pet store guy that these were my signature fish and suprisingly he started netting them and let me hand select the biggest healthies fish in the tank. i always shop there so they know my face. i had to tell the owner what a great job he did.

when i got them home i quickly did a 10 gallon gravel vac and water change and hooked up an airstone by the filiter output. my 75 gallon is probably overstocked already but i've been planning yet another tank.

i aclimate them slowly right before i release them i add some blood worms to their bag. it makes me feel better that i know they received some food in such a stressful situation. they calmed down rather quickly and took to the tank right away.

the next morning everyone in the tank is excited because of the air stone. the entire tank is doing the loachy dance. i start to look over my new fish and notice a few dots on two. i am suddenly stricken with horror. i'm hoping its sand or a bubbles but my gut instinct tells me its ick.

i usually look loaches over reallly well because the are so prone but i guess i missed them in my moment of excitement. then i notice one is missing an eye . he is one of the fatter healthier ones so im sure hes ok but geez what a bummer.

so i look in the mailbox and TA-DUH state tax return. i was going to buy a used 60 gallon long off craigs list for 50 bucks for them but now i can get the 60 gallon i really want. its 4 ft long, 2ft wide and 1 ft tall. a super shallow and wide that i may turn into a river tank for the histironicas and maybe some yoyos from another tank.

i've never lost any fish to ick and only had it twice from new additions but i'll be watching them like a hawk for the next few weeks.

sorry for the long post but i had to get the story out to people i know would understand.

[helen nightingale]

dont worry about the fish with one eye. i have a rasbora with one ete and a loach that is blind in one eye, and they are both fine.

fingers crossed for you that it isnt ich

[Diana]

I began trying to figure out how to move fish around in my tanks at home and where I would put them

Very common reaction... There are a couple of stores around here where this part of MTS hits while I am still in the parking lot!

[newshound]

you've got to set up that tank!!!!
Ideal river for those histies

[kimura]

thanks for the encouraging words. i've been feeding the tank 3-4 times a day and everyone seems to be eating well and getting obviously full stomachs. im hoping if it is ick that it wont infect anyone else. as soon as i see a white spot on another loach i'll medicate the tank. i hate using meds unless absolutely needed.

i think what happens is i go to the pet store "just to look around" then see an amazing rare super alpha specimen that i have to get. then later on i realize....... oops i'm kinda overstocked.

when i got back into aquariums like 3-4 years ago i got a 75. then i set up a 20 gallon which i switched out later for a 29. then set up a 37 gallon at the same time. next i bought a 40 gallon breeder to replace the 29 which i set up for a friend. then i set up a 12 gallon eclipse for my desk. at that point i realized i had too many tanks going.SO i got a sweet deal on 240($500) and traded a laptop to a cabinet maker friend to make a furniture quality stand for me. so rearrange the fish so i only have the 240 and the 75. so time goes on and i start loading up my 75 with too many fish. so i set up the 40 again and now ill be setting up the 60 gallon too.

so a 240, 75, 60 and 40......... yikes how did it come to this...... im contemplating getting a gas generator incase the power ever goes out. i already have battery backups on 2 of the tank. when i get some extra cash i plan on buying a water tank and pump so i can pump water in and out for water changes. carrying twelve 5 gallon tubs when i change the 240's water can get old fast. thats why that tank is pretty lightly stocked.

i guess i love loaches too much and enjoy setting up new tanks...

[Diana]

I use a Rubbermaid Brute garbage can on wheels for water changes. 32 gallons (there is a larger one, I think) and the wheels are not the cheep built in ones, but a separate item. A pump of at least 200 gph is helpful, and I have a stronger one for emptying the larger tanks. Gravel vac down to a storage container, then the bigger pump takes out the dirty water via garden hose to the garden. I can also put the larger pump directly into the tank to drain. Once the water is running I can turn off this pump and it will siphon out of the tank.

[starsplitter7]

I use a Rubbermaid Brute garbage can on wheels for water changes. 32 gallons (there is a larger one, I think) and the wheels are not the cheep built in ones, but a separate item. A pump of at least 200 gph is helpful, and I have a stronger one for emptying the larger tanks. Gravel vac down to a storage container, then the bigger pump takes out the dirty water via garden hose to the garden. I can also put the larger pump directly into the tank to drain. Once the water is running I can turn off this pump and it will siphon out of the tank.

I would love to see your setup Diana. If at all possible, could you post pictures of your tank cleaning routine.

[Diana]

The camera is usually in the hands of the kids, or else the batteries are dead.
Not a big deal, though. Garbage can, garden hose, pump.