Hey everyone, it's Jeremy (remember the 55g tank of pea soup?). I'm an independant, 29y/o man living in the Antioch/Cane Ridge area of Nashville. For work, I am a BlackBerry (the phone) and computer support expert for a local hospital management corporation (you get 2 guesses, and the second is usually right
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My hobbies not only include freshwater community aquariums, but also anything electronic and/or DIY, building and fixing anything (mainly my Jeep), and learning how various immobile and living things work. I consider myself a Jack of all trades, but a master of none.
I have returned here after deciding that this forum is my true home, and created a new user ID just for its sentimental value.
For those of you I haven't met, welcome to MCC! I'm a novice hobbyist with a knack for getting myself and tanks in trouble. My first tank was setup in September of last year - a 28g bowfront community with danios, corydoras, 1 of 3 ABN's I bought from plecoman after Thanksgiving, and a few otto's that didn't live very long. It seems that the ottocinclus is either very sensitive to nitrates above 10ppm (I don't let that level get so high anymore) or they're usually sold as adults near the end of their life... at least where I got mine from.
The 28 started out great for the first 5-6 months. I cycled it with several, young comet goldfish, which were donated to a pond owner after a month in the tank. Then started stocking, in order, with danios, ottos, cories, and the three 3/4" ABN plecos from plecoman's "factory".
This year didn't fare well for the 28. I had a couple business trips that kept me away for 2 weeks at the longest, but with opportunities to come home on the weekends to do water changes. I was also in the process of cycling a 55g planted tank that I bartered from an MCC forum member in December.
During my extended leave, I lost 2 of 6 diamond tetras in the 55, and 2 or 3 danios in the 28. The majority of $80 worth of plants in the 55 became covered in very long-haired green algae, so I removed those plants. BIG mistake!
The result was what I called "The Great Algae Bloom of 2010". Even a very experienced hobbyist called it the worst outbreak of free-floating algae he had ever seen. It was more than an eyesore to look at - it was disheartening. I tried various algaecides, water clarifiers, "magic" bacterial stones... almost everything short of a 100% water change or complete teardown. I avoided the latter because I really didn't have a place to put 4 tetras and 2 ABN's - the 28 was already at capacity.
After completely clogging 2 HOT Magnum micron filters, a few major water changes, and a box of Algone, the water went from pure pea soup to crystal-clear!
In the past couple of months, the danios and remaining ottos in the 28 started disappearing only to turn up stuck to the intake strainer of the filter. About 2 weeks ago, the only ABN in that tank was found decaying in the back of the tank, behind the driftwood. The remaining 2 danios weren't faring well, and I suspected that the corydoras would soon be next.
Although as much as it broke my heart, I decided that euthanizing the remaining fauna would be in their best interest and took down the 28. It is still on its stand with most of the gravel left and maybe 2-3 gallons of water left. I'm debating on either turning it into a small dwarf cichlid community, a nano reef, or some type of terrarium.
I cared for 6 hermit crabs before getting into the aquatic hobby, so I may go back to that since a 28 bowfront has an excellent height for adding a deep substrate and climbing decorations for hermits.
Soooo.... that's my short 9 months worth of experience in this wonderful experience in keeping and caring for fish as pets.
I'll fill in my signature soon with details on the 2 aquariums that I have up and running successfully, so far...
Oh, I'm not usually this long winded - I'm actually quite introverted in person - but I felt that my short history in the hobby would be of beneficial value to those who are just starting out. Let my mistakes be your guide and invitation to ask me any questions, whether or not they are related to aquariums.
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Aug 14, 2013 6:59:33 GMT -6