HELP! MAKING MY TANK WIFE FRIENDLY

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SemperFish

Gambusia
MFK Member
Dec 25, 2007
743
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16
Hubert, NC
This is sort of a plea for help, ha ha. I'll be going to Iraq for a year and I have about 6 months to make my tanks as "wife friendly" as possible. Im teaching her to do the water changes and filter maintenance but I know that they are going to get the bare minimum attention as far as these things go. Im looking for ways I can extend the period of filter maintenance or anything else that will help. One idea I have is of making a large inline filter ahead of my canister filters. I'll try and get some pics and diagrams up but Im thinking that a five gallon bucket filled with filter media inline between the tank and the canister filter would signficantly reduce the amount of attention she has to give the canister. Am I right? Anyone already try this? Any Ideas? Im going to try some things and let you know how they are working out but Id really like to hear what you more experienced folks thinks. The tanks are two 60g and I dont have a sump and because of their situation in the living room and available space I have to go with options that will fit underneath in the cabinets.
:help2:
 
What kind of fish ? and Stocking level?

The bucket pre-filter can work, but needs to be a sealed system or it will overflow. Inline 4" PVC pipe about 6" long, place filter media in it and cap off the ends & drill the caps for a hose barb on each end. Again make several so she can just replace them.

Consider one of the resin materials (like purigen http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Purigen.html ) and just get enough for her to change them out and you can recharge them when you get back.

Test kit w/strips for ammonia & nitrate.

Write everything down with pix and label things so your always talking about the same thing.

Put this website in her favorites, and just tell us she Mrs SemperFish.

Dr Joe

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A simple sponge prefilters on the intakes will also work if she would be willing to rinse them during maintenance. She might only need to crack the canisters 2-3 times depending on how long your "year" really is.

If you don't already have a python, get one. My wife might lug buckets to put me out if I'm on fire, but not for the fish.

Add fish that she likes. If she looks at the tank frequently and enjoys it, she may attend to it more regularly.
 
My 2 cents...

1. Make sure your tanks are not overstocked by returning any cheap, common and easy to replace fish to your lfs. Just keep the cool, expensive or rare fish.
2. Have her feed them every other day.
3. Hire a buddy or a maintenance company to clean them every other week. Service on two 60s can't be that expensive.

I hope everything goes well for you in Iraq.
 
Become very good friends with someone else in the hobby and ask them to check on it from time to time. I understand the pains of leaving a tank behind. I lost 3 eels and a clown knife that way. Things I did to help with maintenance were:

-Go bare bottom
-Create a filter change and maintenance calender with instructions
-Show them multiple times how much food to feed
-Get on your hands an knees and beg
-Throw out your old junky maintenance tools and buy new ones that make the job any bit easier
-buy bulk supplies
-Pray every night and make sacrifices to the the Nitrate GODS!

Good Luck!
 
get a drip system!!! no water changes..lol :)
 
Your going away for a year and you want your wife to look after your fish???!?

I respectfully suggest you give the fish away to close fish keeping friends and drain your tanks till you get back. With some luck, you will get most of your fish back.

Of course if your wife is interested in fish keeping thats another story but it doesnt sound like it. Six months is plenty of time to teach her if she wants to learn.
 
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