The NFC B-Day Chat Thread

[DigMyChicks]

I do not want to go outside this morning....brrrr!!

 

[N F C]

I do not want to go outside this morning....brrrr!!
View attachment 1215344

Hey, we're warmer than you this morning DMC! We're way up there at 4*

 

[DigMyChicks]

Hey, we're warmer than you this morning DMC! We're way up there at 4*

Craig is firing up the wood stove today. I suppose you have snow for insulation , that’s why your so warm.

 

[N F C]

Craig is firing up the wood stove today. I suppose you have snow for insulation , that’s why your so warm.

We have some snow but most of it blew over to Nebraska.

There's an old joke around here about why we get the weather we do...it's because Utah blows and Nebraska sucks.

 

[bruceha2000]

I was trying to wash the white/hard minerals off it.

If you have a lot of dry salt you have not been changing the water (partial!) often enough and you get the residue as the water evaporates and/or hard water. If the latter, you really need to find out the hardness of the water at the fish store and yours. You can kill a new fish pretty quick putting it into water that is a lot harder than what it is used to. You can get a water softener pillow that goes in an external filter to soften the water. You might need to soften the water in a 5 gallon bucket before doing the water change rather than adding the water to the tank then softening it.

Different fish can tolerate (or need) different levels of hardness.

Craig is firing up the wood stove today.

Today??? Our has been running 24x7 for nearly 2 months

 

[CapricornFarm]

I loved the Chocolate gouramis! So tiny and cute! The bigger ones can be bullies!
Just got another seed catalogue!

 

[CapricornFarm]

I saw this and fell in love!

 

[JaeG]

Thanks for the article! So did I completely ruin the tank/cycle? I was trying to wash the white/hard minerals off it. I don't think I managed to get most of the slime part off it. Plus didn't touch the gravel, plants, or their hide or anything. Hopefully there's still bacteria in the tank? I added more though but yeah

And aww maybe you could compromise? Get two tanks? Or enough plants and hiding spaces for smaller ones to coexist with bigger ones?

And I'll definitely share pictures!!

And they're adorable but i dont think i could do that hah i don't know how you do it with all those babies and all the cockatiel babies plus human children and a husband. I'd be burnt out lol

There'd still be lots of bacteria on every surface of the tank to re populate the filter so don't worry about it - goldfish are tough.

My husband wants big Tiger Oscars that will eat anything they can fit in their mouth. So my choice of fishes couldn't co-exist with them!

 

[CapricornFarm]

Those Oscars get boring, you can't add much except feeder fish to the tank.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks! That makes sense. And yeah, I think I need to do water more changes way more often but it seems like it's the filter smelling rather than the water? And it gets this gross brown slime all over it. Probably need to change that more often too but it gets on the black part too. Btw I finally changed their water I think the other day. It needed it cause it was like half full or probably way less than half and of course the filter. I never changed it after that conversation.. i know i know. But they seem much happier as they should be. Except I rinsed the black part off and also cleaned the actual filter and wiped the slime off the inside and out. Probably wasn't supposed to do that? Is that slime the bacteria? But i added more bacteria too. Plus it's in the gravel and plants.

But yeah, the goldfish have definitely been pretty easy. I considered selling them recently because I don't like the water stuff and also i thought they gave me a rash (but i think it's just dry skin or maybe the soap?) but then i realized if they live as long as you say they do, I want to watch them grow. I love watching them grow. I think they have even grown more since my last update if that is possible. Soooo..... I think I will keep them. Because I don't want to regret selling them. And it might be more fun later on.



Thanks for the info! Goldfish are definitely VERY messy and the filter gets very gross VERY fast and that is the one thing I don't like about them but they are hardy and dont mind it. Although I should be on top of it anyway.

And thanks for the info on the compatible species!

I rinse my filter on a regular basis to make them last longer. I also rinse my biofilter as needed. As long as the whole tank isn't cleaned out at one time the bacteria will quickly recover.

My arm will itch after a water change too. I make sure to wash it right after having it in the tank. If it's making you itch than your fish are probably feeling it too, so water changes will help with all problems. It's the same as good ventilation for chickens. It's really important for a healthy place for your fish.