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Freshwater care???? (1 Viewer)

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Llama

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This may be strange, but I have no clue how to care for a freshwater tank. This has never bothered me before considering I'm not particularly interested in keeping anything non-reef. However today a friend came to me asking if I could take care of her two freshwater tanks. I made the mistake of saying that I would do it!!!!

So, what do I need to do other than 50% WC's each month w/ treated tap water and cleaning whatever type of filter they may be using?

Any water tests that I need to do?

What about the substrate?

HELP?!?!? :)
 
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gabe_j

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lmfao dude i had that exact same thing happen to me. a friend asked you have a salt water tank right, then this should be easy for you... and i stumbled my way through it lol good luck!
 
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Llama

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No live plants. Not even sure on the fish. I have yet to see the tanks. I jsut know that they are 2x 15 gallon FW tanks. :)
 
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If there is a gravel bottom, I use one of the Python gravel vacuums to clean out all the fish poo at least once a month. I should do it more often, but you know how it goes. I also do a 50% water change once a month when I'm vacuuming the gravel, and I clean out the filters, glass, lights, glass hoods, etc with tap water and dry them. I should do a 20% change twice a month. Depending on the type of filter, you should change them every 2-4 weeks, or at least clean them out. Our FW tank has an Aquaclear 110 filter, and I just rinse the sponge filter out very well twice a month, and rinse the carbon filter and ceramic bio pellets in clean declorinated water to keep the bacteria alive.

As long as you treat the water and clean up the fish poo, a FW tank is pretty easy. I usually take a water sample to Aquarium World every few months just for the heck of it. Never had any problems with the results in over 4 years.

Good luck with it!
 
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Haha. This is kind of funny. I started out with freshwater tanks and was scared to go to saltwater. You started out with saltwater and are scared to take care of a freshwater tank. lol Not laughing at you, I just think the order things work in this hobby is funny. :)

Just do what others are saying. I do a 30-40% WC on my 55g every month. I scrub the glass and clean the gravel with a gravel vac. My filtration is undergravel, so I don't really clean the powerheads.

If there are fish, feed them no more than they can eat in 1 minute, once each day. Or, if your friend already has a system, just follow that.

I'm sure your friend will tell you how to take care of everything when you go to check them out. :)
 
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Llama

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It's true. Funny to think that a reefer would be worried about FW. However I had never tried to keep a fish until I starteed reefing. :)

She will not have a system or have a clue about care. She just go these things and needs a bailout now. :)

Thanks for all the help gents!!!
 
trb

trb

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Llama said:
It's true. Funny to think that a reefer would be worried about FW. However I had never tried to keep a fish until I starteed reefing. :)

She will not have a system or have a clue about care. She just go these things and needs a bailout now. :)

Thanks for all the help gents!!!
Click to expand...

LOL! The things we do for women! :roll: :D
 
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Llama

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:) This one isn't even a potential victim! Just a friend in need. I'm a sucker...

Just got back from her place.

2 20 gallon longs side by side. T8 lights and HOB filters. I assume she needs an air stone in both of them because they are staying at the surface of the water. I have no clue what kind of fish she has in there. Some that look like cardinals, but are black and white. Two little catfish guys. Also some little guppish guys in red, white and orange.

I'll have to hit the LFS for ID.

She also said that one of the fish had babies!!!! Then I started to get scared. :) She took me to a little cylinder acrylic tank and showed me a TINY little gray spec under the gravel. I saw that it was indeed a baby fish, but had no clue to whom it had come from.

What should I do with the baby fish? :)
 
fishboyt

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I just leave my fry in the tank. I have so many rocks for them to hide in, and algae for them to eat that there is a 90% survival rate, if the other fish don't eat them. :)
 
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As far as the fry, you can also get food for them, most stores I have been in carry it. freash water is easy to care for. If ou car for it like a reef tank, it will do very well. The main diffrence is the filtration, cahnge out charcoal every 2-4 weeks, then I just clean things as needed. I do a water change of 25% to 50% every 2-4 weeks and vacuum the gravel at that time. If you every need help with something just give mw a call
 
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