Newbie Advice

[Flex365]

Want to build up an emergency first aid kit for my fish, with so many items on the market, I’m not sure where to start.

This may have been posted before - apologies in advance if it has, please provide link.
If not, then what are the essentials required?

[Cheltgirl]

Plastic box for hospital tank. Spare filter with media that lives in your normal filter and a heater if required.

Melafix
The esha meds are good

Them’s the basics I have on standby. Anything more serious I’d dash out and get.

[Stephen]

My "Just in case" kit consists of:-

A plastic box (80L) with lid as an holding/emergency tank. (I have more than one due to the number of fish)
Spare heater(s) (50W)
Air pump, tubing & air stone.
Seachem Prime
Seachem Stability
Syringes
Melafix
Fish nets (2 sizes)
Buckets (several marked for fish use only)

Hope it helps

[Flex365]

Tanks been running for about 6 weeks now, water levels all good, however gravel and plant leaves seems to be getting coated in brown algae dust, tainting the water slightly brown.

I am doing weekly maintenance with a 25% water change.
What can be causing the brown algae and how can I sort this issue out?

[Gingerlove05]

It will likely be diatoms, they’re common in new setups until things settle down. They will go as quickly as they came, you can clean them off and remove them during water changes

[Flex365]

I was looking at fish tank backgrounds for my tank and found that a lot of people paint the back of their tanks instead.
Has anyone painted theirs - or can anyone advise on any alternatives to using paint on the back of the fish tank?
I like the look of a black background as it makes things look more vivid, but not to keen on using paint.
Any advice appreciated.

[wingnut55]

I was looking at fish tank backgrounds for my tank and found that  a lot of people paint the back of their tanks instead.
Has anyone painted theirs - or can anyone advise on any alternatives to using paint on the back of the fish tank?
I like the look of a black background as it makes things look more vivid, but not to keen on using  paint.
Any advice appreciated.

Acrylic paint is the way to go for the back of the tank, if you don't want to use paint, perhaps some black card or similar would do the same job. 


Ian.

[Flex365]

One of my platys has started to swim with a tilt to one side, since yesterday.
He does this occasionally and I’m not sure why?
Not sure how best to handle the situation, whether to medicate with Melafix or to see how he progresses?

Any help appreciated.

[Gingerlove05]

Give them a starve day and then try feeding a blanched pea, it might help if they’ve eaten too much and the stomach is pressing on the swim bladder.

[Flex365]

Do I boil the peas, take the skin off then mash and feed to the fish?
Also how many peas do I put in the tank, currently have
5 guppies
3 plates
3 Blood fin tetras.

Only the one platy seems to be affected.
I Haven’t fed the fish today.
Advice on the above appreciated.