Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

[AydenLincoln]

It’s officially Christmas in the United States…so Merry Christmas or should I say Merry Fishmas and happy holidays! I hope you get everything you want or will be treating yourself and spending time with family/friends. I’m looking forward to getting a fleece roller for my tank and some other goodies. What did you get? Please post photos of fish related wishes or gifts. I’d love to see them!

 

[gabulldogg22]

Merry Christmas!!!

 

[pshootr]

It’s officially Christmas in the United States…so Merry Christmas or should I say Merry Fishmas and happy holidays! I hope you get everything you want or will be treating yourself and spending time with family/friends. I’m looking forward to getting a fleece roller for my tank and some other goodies. What did you get? Please post photos of fish related gifts. I’d love to see them!

Merry christmas, and I'm happy you are getting aquarium gifts. I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to scrape up enough to get rock, sand and salt. Actually I'm thinking about getting my sand from the beach, and possibly a small rock or two if I can to help establish some dry Rock. I'll get there one day

 

[AydenLincoln]

Merry christmas, and I'm happy you are getting aquarium gifts. I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to scrape up enough to get rock, sand and salt. Actually I'm thinking about getting my sand from the beach, and possibly a small rock or two if I can to help establish some dry Rock. I'll get there one day

Definitely and look at the marketplace on here and Facebook. This hobby is expensive but if you live near a beach you can use it to your advantage.

 

[pshootr]

Definitely and look at the marketplace on here and Facebook. This hobby is expensive but if you live near a beach you can use it to your advantage.

Thank you for the inspiration. My options are to either reseal a 30 gallon bow front which was a hand-me-down. Or buy a 40 gallon breeder which would give me more confidence as far as water leaks go. Of course then I would have to build a stand. Being close to the beach in Florida is a great asset I believe, and I am thinking of ways to put that to my benefit.

 

[pshootr]

My plan is to cycle Rock / tank for at least 3 months. This gives me plenty of time to allow it for ick, for example to end its cycle. And to hopefully create enough biofilm to minimize the ugly stage. That's why I don't worry about collecting sand or even water for that matter in the beginning stages.

 

[pshootr]

Sounds good on paper of course. But I actually believe it is a sound way to start. I believe that a slow cycle is a good cycle. And this gives you plenty of time for pests to die off before you add livestock. With any luck, this will actually come to fruition.

 

[pshootr]

In a perfect world, I would eliminate pests during this slow cycle. And do quarantine on fish at the same time. I don't plan on having a very large tank, I could start with only a couple of fish in quarantine. That means I would likely only need a 10 gallon tank, as a medicated tank. That is pretty easy to set up, although it will require routine water changes. I have also considered paying a higher price on fish to have them pretreated. If I were to set up the 30 gallon I could only have five or six fish. So it might actually be worth it just to pay a premium for those fish. So many things to consider when approaching this hobby, especially when you don't have a lot of money.

 

[pshootr]

With so much information available now, and even vendors who pretreat fish. I cannot see myself dropping fish in from the store..

 

[pshootr]

I am almost thinking that for only five or six fish, the cost of doing quarantine equipment medications etc, might not be worth it actually. I'm still in limbo on this idea because I've not actually done the pricing yet.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I am almost thinking that for only five or six fish, the cost of doing quarantine equipment medications etc, might not be worth it actually. I'm still in limbo on this idea because I've not actually done the pricing yet.

I’d look into a UV sterilizer too if you don’t have one already.

 

[pshootr]

I’d look into a UV sterilizer too if you don’t have one already.

That is way outside my budget. My tank will never have UV sterilizer. I agree it is a push for a good cause. However it is not a cure and it is very expensive.

 

[pshootr]

Perhaps if you have a large tank with a lot of money invested in livestock it could be worth it. I suppose that is why my cautious approach is so valuable in my opinion. Because without it you have to rely on all kinds of expensive procedures and equipment, if I don't do due diligence from the start.

 

[Miami Reef]

That is way outside my budget. My tank will never have UV sterilizer. I agree it is a push for a good cause. However it is not a cure and it is very expensive.

UV is mainly good for certain dinos. I don’t believe they help with parasites. The parasites are attracted to fish and come out at night while the fish are sleeping.

To assume most will go into the overflow to get to the UV is wishful thinking IMO.

 

[pshootr]

UV is mainly good for certain dinos. I don’t believe they help with parasites. The parasites are attracted to fish and come out at night while the fish are sleeping.

To assume most will go into the overflow to get to the UV is wishful thinking IMO.

Yes exactly. You will never get every parasite out. And they will attack your fish when they go to sleep it just lowers numbers potentially. And the other benefit is bacterial situations. It has its place but it's not going to keep you safe from parasites. Parasites such as ick will drop the larvae where the fish sleeps. So when they hatch they jump on the fish when he goes to sleep again.

 

[pshootr]

So basically he is constantly being reinfected until his immune system goes down and then they are able to finish him off.

 

[Miami Reef]

Yes exactly. You will never get every parasite out. And they will attack your fish when they go to sleep it just lowers numbers potentially. And the other benefit is bacterial situations. It has its place but it's not going to keep you safe from parasites. Parasites such as ick will drop the larvae where the fish sleeps. So when they hatch they jump on the fish when he goes to sleep again.

Luckily, most fish can live with ich fine. Their immune systems work well.

Velvet is different, but fortunately they are less prevalent.

 

[pshootr]

Yes but the problem is if you let it in your tank, you will never be able to keep those vulnerable fish.

 

[Miami Reef]

Yes but the problem is if you let it in your tank, you will never be able to keep those vulnerable fish.

That’s why people do the QT.

Be warned it’s much harder than you think. You can do everything “perfectly” but they can still make it through. Ich eradication is difficult.

 

[AydenLincoln]

That is way outside my budget. My tank will never have UV sterilizer. I agree it is a push for a good cause. However it is not a cure and it is very expensive.

They have some cheaper ones. I was also thinking if you plan to use ocean water then it would be a good idea to help sanitize the water and kill ant parasites or nuisances.