So sad :(

Mar 13, 2013
106
0
0
Georgia
#1
After months of looking or a bushy nose pleco, I found one last night at petco. Brought him home, noticed he wasn't a very strong swimmer. This morning... DEAD! Now I have to bag a $3.00 fish drive about 30-45 mins to return him and they MIGHT give me another one, no guarantee.
 

Mar 13, 2013
106
0
0
Georgia
#5
I've always heard bushy nose was the best for small aquariums. Oh we'll. he MAY be an inch long... Maybe... Lol. I'm getting a bigger tank soon so no big deal. Was looking earlier on Craig's list and found a 55g with stand and everything for $100... :)
 

Mar 13, 2013
106
0
0
Georgia
#6
Also they tested my water and said everything looked great, except my ph was 6.4 but that wasn't a big deal. Idk, guess I just got a bad fish. He was acting drunk when I got him home so who knows!
 

Mar 13, 2013
106
0
0
Georgia
#8
Orangecones I don't know. They said everything Qaddafi fine so I didn't ask specifics. He did say ammonia was up slightly but with a dead fish in the tank all night.... That could be why. He wasn't concerned so I wasn't either. As far as the pleco, I was driving yesterday so I couldn't watch him. He was just laying in the bottom of the bag when I got him home. Since plecos aren't that active I wasn't concerned...
 

Mar 13, 2013
106
0
0
Georgia
#10
I welcome the inquiries, just wish I had the answers. :-/ hate that a fish died, but really don't think it was anything I did, otherwise I would have more dead fish... Just luck of the draw I guess.
 

FishDad

Superstar Fish
Mar 4, 2012
1,218
1
38
Cleveland
#11
They said everything Qaddafi fine so I didn't ask specifics.
I, um, I might be missing something. But what does the late colonel Qaddafi have to do with your fish tank?

BTW, you should invest in a test kit before you invest in a bigger tank. Its almost impossible to be successful in this hobby with out one. OC is absolutely right. The chain store employees are awful. They may as well hit the fish with a hammer, bag them up and sell them to you. I believe in not relying on others.
 

Mar 13, 2013
106
0
0
Georgia
#12
Lol fishdad that's what I get for typing to fast on my phone! And not checking what I put lol. I will get a test kit soon. I have one right now but don't like it. It's one where you put drops in the tubes. I would rather have the strips like they had today. It seemed easier. I don't have to count drops or anything.
 

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#13
liquid test kits are more accurate then the strips. i don't think a single person on this site would recomend test strips. most recomended test kit i have seen is the API master kit.
 

FishDad

Superstar Fish
Mar 4, 2012
1,218
1
38
Cleveland
#14
What! No you have the good one. The API liquid? Its far more accurate than the test strips. They are expensive and worthless. The liquid kit lasts a long time. Anyone here will tell you the same.

BTW what did you mean to say in place of Qaddafi? Thats really funny. I hope that doesn't Saddam Hussein happen to me.
 

Mar 13, 2013
106
0
0
Georgia
#15
I think it was supposed to say "seemed" lol. I can't remember exactly. As for the test kit, it may be better, but I still don't like it lol. To much room for error. "Put drops in till the water turns yellow" what kind of yellow? My yellow and your yellow may be two different things. Besides, I'm lazy... Lol.
 

FishDad

Superstar Fish
Mar 4, 2012
1,218
1
38
Cleveland
#18
Oh well thats for PH. For like 25-30 bucks you can get the master kit. All you do is add droplets and the tube turns a shade of a color. You then match the shade to the color chart that tells you your specific level of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph. Its a worthy Chairman Mao investment.
 

Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#19
As for the test kit, it may be better, but I still don't like it lol. To much room for error. "Put drops in till the water turns yellow" what kind of yellow? My yellow and your yellow may be two different things.
What you have is for measureing GH (general hardness) and KH (carbonate hardness). Neither test is really necessary unless you are keeping specific plants or breeding fish that need soft water.

The instructions are very clear and accurate for what they do.

You are looking for a color change, so the 'shade' of your new color (green for GH, yellow for KH) does mot matter. It is just the number of drops needed to cause the color change which gives you your value for GH or KH. But, GH and KH results are not really important to the majority of aquarium owners.

The same manufacturer makes tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate (along with low and high pH tests) that are more helpful for the fish keeper.

Besides, I'm lazy... Lol.
So if you had the testing ability for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, you would be too lazy to use them?
 

Thyra

Superstar Fish
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
0
0
Yelm, WA
#20
The strips are much more expensive PER test and to add to that their accuracy goes down should you forget to put the lid on (humidity), fumble around to get one out with damp fingers or drop some on a damp area round the aquarium.