Help serious problem

[babybubbles]

Thanks FishFreak, my tank is in the process of being nuked (disinfected)
I don't think I want to buy another fish item until I know what I'm doing? I seen a 10-15 gal Aqua filter at the store today marked down for a super low price. I almost bought it but looked inside the box and someone had removed both filters so all it had was the unit so I put it back. I still don't know if they sell the Bio Fiber pad? I haven't seen them anywhere?

If the rain keeps falling as predicted I won't be able to put my tank in the sun for the chlorine to dissipate. Will drying it in the house work just as well?

[Bernie]

Q..“My concern about bleaching the bio fiber is that some bleach may remain in the bio regardless of several rinsings?”…

A..There is always that possibility, which is why I would replace it.

Q..“Can I buy just the bacteria sponge without having to buy a whole new housing unit?”…

A..As mentioned in my earlier post. You can keep the actual filter, but I would throw out the filter media/sponge and replace it with a new one.

Q..“Would boiling the sponge kill off the bacteria?”…

A...It would kill a lot of the disease, but possibly not all of it!


Q..“Will drying it in the house work just as well?”…

A..Should be OK as long as it is dried out completely.

“Yesterday I was doing some on line research and came across fishless
Anyone heard of this method?”...

Fishless cycling has been around for a very long time, it is the safest way, because no fish are involved. Many people get impatient, don't like having to look at an empty tank for a month or so, or buy the tank and fish together, before they know anything about cycling, so still use the cycling with fish method.

“I still don't know if they sell the Bio Fiber pad? I haven't seen them anywhere?”…

You could always order some on-line, or you can use any other filter sponge and cut it to size.

“There's something that makes me sad watching one lone fish in a big tank without a companion. Especially if it's a 20 gal tank, that seems big for one fish, but I do understand that a full grown goldfish may need it, but seldom do you seem them that big unless it's in a pond.? I've also read the bigger the tank, the bigger they grow?”

I do understand the rationale’ behind your thinking babybbbles, but may I point out that we often tend to look at the size of a tank from our perspective…NOT the fish’s’. It is there needs that have to be taken into consideration. They are in our care and we are responsible for them, they rely on us for everything

You seldom see them that big because their growth is being stunted. If they have the potential to grow to a fair size in nature, they should be allowed to do the same in captivity, but it usually isn't the case.

#I've read of people keeping goldfish in a bowl and had them live for 16-20 plus years. In my book if the fish can live that long in a bowl, the conditions must have been right and the fish wasn't suffering, or it would have died in the first few months.”…

Not necessarily! It may have lived, but it wasn’t thriving! I’m not doubting what you read, but I do doubt the validity of that case. Fish are exceptionally resilient given their size though and will hang in there as best they can, for as long as they can. I can assure you that the fish was suffering in one way or another from not having adequate space. A fish does suffer by having it’s growth stunted, it’s internal organs will be considerably compromised, the outward body may stop growing, but the internal organs do not and eventually the organs get compressed (causing pain), or never fully develop, that the fish will gradually die of organ failure, suffering in the meantime.

I’m not trying to criticise anyone here, sound like I'm preaching or be all doom and gloom, and of course people’s opinions will always differ. I’m just trying to help point out many of the misconceptions out there, eg: just because a fish is small, doesn’t mean that it only requires a small space and to help avoid some stress-related problems down the track.

[babybubbles]

Thanks Bernie. I do value your input.

I will put in a new blue Aqua -Tech charcoal filter, and will call around to see if I can buy a new bio pad somewhere. The manual says the bio pad should never be replaced and is not considered a replacement part. Maybe a Pet Shop can suggest something? There's really nothing much to the bio pad? It almost looks like the fibers in a pot scrubber? I have to wonder what those who are starting tanks from scratch use as bacterial pad? Surely I'm not the first person who had to disinfect theirs? I threw mine in bleach for 15 minutes and then boiled it for 3 minutes so the disease should be out of it, but if I can buy another one somewhere I will.

I also bleached and boiled the gravel, filter tubes and plastics, but I'm thinking to throw out the plastics and gravel just incase some resin/ coating was washed off or exposed?

I don't mind waiting a month to cycle. I bought some ammonia today but think I will return it and maybe cycle with the fish food instead. The month or more will give me time to figure out what I want to do, and since there will be no fish in the tank I can always change my mind down the road.

Thanks for all your help. When I start the fish food cycling I may be calling on your help again.

[babybubbles]

FishFreak I value your input as well.

[Bernie]

Good luck with it babybubbles...I'm sure you will do fine!