I saw an ad for a free 65 Gal hex tank, stand, lights, filters, and fish - so I responded. After a few rounds of emails I will get to see the tank on Friday. The owner asks that I drain and dismantle the tank - it is a 3rd floor apartment with no elevator. Not a problem - the price is definately right.
I have picked up a few tanks like this - that came with fish. The last one came with 6 silver dollars, 2 redtailed sharks, and assorted tetras.
It took me almost 12 hours to acclaimate them as the tanks were not properly maintained and the readings were off the charts. I had to slowly get them used to water parms by exchanging a few cups of water from their bucket with a few cups of regular tank water each hour until I had the parms close enough to put them in the tank. The readings were still higher than I would allow in one of my normal tanks, but it came in line after a few regular WCs.
Although it took all day it did work and everyone not only survived but they seemed to thrive and they all started fill out look much healthier in the coming weeks. The real problem was - I wanted the tank not the fish. I kept the Silver Dollars (renamed Silly Dollars) for almost a year before I found them a new home. Now I am going to do it all again.
The new tank currently has 2 goldfish, a pleco, a loach, 2 sharks, and 2 angels. The angels and loach are fine, but I will have to rehome the rest.
I am guessing that with goldfish and plecos in the tank that their would be a fair amount of 'waste' each week - and so this may very well be another tank with very high readings.
Does anyone have a better way - easier way - to acclaimate?
At least this time I will be able to keep some of the tank water. The last time the owner had the fish all packed up in a bucket - with just enough water to cover them. I did not give me much to work with.
Any suggestions are welcome.
I have picked up a few tanks like this - that came with fish. The last one came with 6 silver dollars, 2 redtailed sharks, and assorted tetras.
It took me almost 12 hours to acclaimate them as the tanks were not properly maintained and the readings were off the charts. I had to slowly get them used to water parms by exchanging a few cups of water from their bucket with a few cups of regular tank water each hour until I had the parms close enough to put them in the tank. The readings were still higher than I would allow in one of my normal tanks, but it came in line after a few regular WCs.
Although it took all day it did work and everyone not only survived but they seemed to thrive and they all started fill out look much healthier in the coming weeks. The real problem was - I wanted the tank not the fish. I kept the Silver Dollars (renamed Silly Dollars) for almost a year before I found them a new home. Now I am going to do it all again.
The new tank currently has 2 goldfish, a pleco, a loach, 2 sharks, and 2 angels. The angels and loach are fine, but I will have to rehome the rest.
I am guessing that with goldfish and plecos in the tank that their would be a fair amount of 'waste' each week - and so this may very well be another tank with very high readings.
Does anyone have a better way - easier way - to acclaimate?
At least this time I will be able to keep some of the tank water. The last time the owner had the fish all packed up in a bucket - with just enough water to cover them. I did not give me much to work with.
Any suggestions are welcome.
