have to say thank you and goodbye

[cider]

hi all,
it is with a very heavy heart that I am leaving loach forum , as this past weekend i lost everything in my tank, my 2 clowns, 4 '' each , 1 common 9''plec, 5 longfin danios, only survivors- 2 platy.
This happened because a lfs sold my husband(not familiar wtih fish meds) a bloat med , i had asked him to pickup maracynll ,but the lfs guy told my husband NALA-GRAM was same thing so my husband used this ,thinking he was helping me. I don't blame him but I will be in contact wtih the manager of the lfs about why they did not inform my husband i would loose my good bacteria as well as the bad, and that this med was NOT the same as maracyn ll ,which would have been safe. Nala-gram was discontinued in 2007! This was discovered too late.
After I discovered what med was in my tank , i did everything possible to protect my fish , 3 wc's and added airstones and dropped my water level for more splash/oxygen. BY the next night, everything seemed ok , and my water readings were normal so I felt safe to go to bed ,and Sat am i woke to this devistating loss. I have cried for them , sad they depended on me to keep them safe and i have failed them horribly.

I have decided i will still keep fish, but as the clowns, who really earned their name , a joy to watch, really need to be in a large group ,which my 54g tank just can't hold ,I feel it is better I not keep clowns again.This was a very hard decission. I am sick with sadness loosing them yet I know others on this forum have had to face this also .
I want to thank you all for all your help with ''Hocus and Pocus'' they really were a delight , and with much sadness ., goodbye friends.

[Diana]

That is very sad.
When you should be able to trust someone who is giving advice, and they fail so badly. Yes, do talk to the owner or manager. That sort of wrong advise has just lost you as a customer. However, to keep on the shelp medicine that was discontinued so long ago is not good. Good luck talking to the owner.

But, Cider, you do not need to leave Loaches. You can get a smaller species of Loach and set up the tank again.

[cider]

I appreciate your understanding. And perhaps I will consider a smaller loach , where I can have a happy group that won't outgrow my tank. Thanks for the suggestion . For now, deal with the greif , and have a chat with the manager as to why this was being sold and why was my husband not informed of that med dangers.
It is very difficult to loose my buddies this way. Still numb and in shock.
Thanks for being there .

[Diana]

Hugs, and give your husband a hug. He was trying to help. Not his fault in any way that he was given the wrong meds and told "it is the same meds".

[JonasBygdemo]

Hugs, and give your husband a hug. He was trying to help. Not his fault in any way that he was given the wrong meds and told "it is the same meds".

+1

Really, he's not to blame. You don't feel like starting the tank over with new live stock?

[NDininno]

That's a sad story but you don't have to leave LOL because of it. This is an open community of like minded individuals and you're more than welcome to stay! Even if you never owned another loach you could still chill here.

Listen, sometimes life gives you lemons. You can wallow in sorrow OR, you can high five life for giving you free lemons. Cuz hey, free lemons.

What happened to you and your fishy friends is nothing short of a trajedy, but don't let it strip you of something you obviously love. Have at it again! At the very least you know this mistake will never happen again.

[Keith Wolcott]

So sorry to hear your sad news. Botia kubotai would be great in your tank.

[glenna]

I am so sorry for your loss. I can only image the painful feeling in your heart when you think about this whole situation.
....however,....don't you LOVE loaches???!!!
I understand you not getting any new ones right away. This is a hard, and big loss. MAybe with time, you will want to try again.
Right now I would guess that this is a time to recover and heal. Wait until you feel better about things. You MAY want to reconsider giving up this GREAT and wonderful hobby.
You have to realize NOTHING about this tragedy was in your control. Bad stuff JUST HAPPENS sometimes.
I really just hope you will want to try again.
These fish (loaches in general, clowns in particular) are such wonderful and happy-making (is that a word?!) fish.
I hope you are doing okay,
my thought are with you!!!

glenna

[cider]

thanks for your kind words ,they mean alot. I do plan to try again , you guys are who I will ask what is best for my tank when the time comes.. your encouragement is uplifting , that is for sure .

I have been beating myself up for thinking everything was ok and allowing myself to go to sleep Fri night, but I am going to get past that .

The tank has water again, but not cycled so working on that now. You guys are right, it takes awhile , but I do love them and I have a great tank/home for them and more and more knowledge to keep them than before.

[chefkeith]

Sorry to hear this. I know how devastating it is to lose a tank of fish.

Many antibiotics will become toxic after a few years. So if anyone here has old medications past their expiration date, it's best just to throw them out or else you risk intoxication if you use them.

[NDininno]

Sorry to hear this. I know how devastating it is to lose a tank of fish.

Many antibiotics will become toxic after a few years. So if anyone here has old medications past their expiration date, it's best just to throw them out or else you risk intoxication if you use them.

Does this mostly apply to meds in liquid form or also apply to meds in powdered or solid form?

[chefkeith]

Sorry to hear this. I know how devastating it is to lose a tank of fish.

Many antibiotics will become toxic after a few years. So if anyone here has old medications past their expiration date, it's best just to throw them out or else you risk intoxication if you use them.

Does this mostly apply to meds in liquid form or also apply to meds in powdered or solid form?

All meds. Liquid, powder, or tablet.