Hello!
I've been doing aquariums for 25 years, and I've been posting on web forums for about 10. Oddly, I've never joined an aquarist forum of any sort, so I figured it was about time!
A tragedy in my 75 gallon tank is what sparked this, actually. In recent years, I have not had as much time to devote to my aquariums (I have two at present, the 75 and a 45), so have gone with low loads and easy-to-maintain stuff. My 75 contains various rainbows, a pleco, a leftover Malawi something-or-other, three large-ish tinfoil barbs, and until last week, eight huge clown loaches which I have had for about 7 years.
Last week, I noticed the loaches had ich really bad. I hadn't even looked in the tank for about 3 days, just dump in food and turn lights on and off. Well, my first thought was the heater had crashed, so I put my hand in the water. Temp feels fine, so I scratch my head over it a bit, and go and buy some malachite green. I know it's not the ideal for loaches, but I've always had success as long as I used it carefully. After treating full-strength for one day and half-strength for two, the ich was still there. I put my hand in the water again. COLD. So I replace the heater and continue treatment. All of the loaches died over a two-day period. I should have been more thorough in my initial assessment of the heater. I suppose the deaths were a combination of ich that got a little out of hand, and the stress of the medication.
So anyway, I've wanted to do something new with the tank for a long time, but I loved the clowns too much to trade or sell them off. But now, alas, they are gone, and I might soon decide to redo the tank entirely.
So I'm here to cruise the forum, and maybe come across some suggestions, and get advice, etc. Just wanted to say Hey.
I've been doing aquariums for 25 years, and I've been posting on web forums for about 10. Oddly, I've never joined an aquarist forum of any sort, so I figured it was about time!
A tragedy in my 75 gallon tank is what sparked this, actually. In recent years, I have not had as much time to devote to my aquariums (I have two at present, the 75 and a 45), so have gone with low loads and easy-to-maintain stuff. My 75 contains various rainbows, a pleco, a leftover Malawi something-or-other, three large-ish tinfoil barbs, and until last week, eight huge clown loaches which I have had for about 7 years.
Last week, I noticed the loaches had ich really bad. I hadn't even looked in the tank for about 3 days, just dump in food and turn lights on and off. Well, my first thought was the heater had crashed, so I put my hand in the water. Temp feels fine, so I scratch my head over it a bit, and go and buy some malachite green. I know it's not the ideal for loaches, but I've always had success as long as I used it carefully. After treating full-strength for one day and half-strength for two, the ich was still there. I put my hand in the water again. COLD. So I replace the heater and continue treatment. All of the loaches died over a two-day period. I should have been more thorough in my initial assessment of the heater. I suppose the deaths were a combination of ich that got a little out of hand, and the stress of the medication.
So anyway, I've wanted to do something new with the tank for a long time, but I loved the clowns too much to trade or sell them off. But now, alas, they are gone, and I might soon decide to redo the tank entirely.
So I'm here to cruise the forum, and maybe come across some suggestions, and get advice, etc. Just wanted to say Hey.
