PAINTING

[meanjean]

In about 6 hours my office (home of the tank) is being repainted. What do I need to do to protect fishers? The painters came in and said they didn't know but had planned to paint around it (about 9 inches from the wall).

Should they leave it plugged in while they work, or how long can it be unplugged?

20 gallon, with lid and light, but open spaces around the filter.

 

[Fish Friend]

if you have an air pump or anything that pumps air into it outside the tank then turn it off, leave everything else on and maybe put towels round the tank

 

[meanjean]

Only the filter, no separate air supply. I just leave the water low a bit below the outtake.

Heater is plugged in becuase my office is cold enough to hang meat on the walls (not really, but feels like it.)

 

[Leopardess]

It's probably too late, but in the future, I suggest unplugging your filters (HOBs/internals can be okay for a few hours like this, if its a canister, remove the media and keep it in a shallow pan in another room) and use trashbags to seal your tanks. Cover the tops particularly well and use duct tape to tack it down.

I did this when treating the appartment for fleas with a nasty, nasty chemical (I couldn't stay inside to spray more than a minute before I couldn't breathe) and none of the fish were worse for the wear.

If you are especially concerned about losing bacteria, you have the option of running your filters off a 5g bucket in another room, just add a drop or two of ammonia in.

 

[Fish Friend]

how do you add amonia leopardess ??

 

[Leopardess]

With a bottle of ammonia A drop or two would be more than enough. Same way you would to fishless cycle.

 

[discus4everGrl]

just make sure the ammonia is clear. Some put fragrences and dyes in them for selling. I have seen lemon scented ammonia for example. Obviously this would be bad to add to a tank or anything fish related.

 

[Leopardess]

Yah - ammonia - just that. Don't get anything that isn't pure...thought it was implied.

 

[meanjean]

UPDATE:

The painter idiots tried to move the fishtank by sliding it across the carpet. I found both water and my tank in the middle of the room when I came in this morning.

 

[Leopardess]

Wait - do you mean it broke? Or just that it was (foolishly) slid on the carpet but remained in one piece? Is everything okay with it?

 

[meanjean]

It was in one piece but the gravel was tilted to one end of the tank and there was water on the carpet. The water level is about two inches lower than it was on Friday. Best I can figgure, they tried to put it on a dolly or handtruck.

When I came in this morning I was LIVID! Since then, I've noticed that my pristella tetras tails (which are usually deep orange/red) have since faded to clear. I know that rummy nose often fade when stressed--is it the same for pristellas?

By the way, they didn't bother to plug back in the heater or the lights, thank god they did the filter!!!!

 

[discus4everGrl]

most fish can fade to a dingy or clear color when stressed.

 

[Leopardess]

Oh I'd be talking to them about that - especially if you made it clear they shouldn't try moving it without your consent. Luckily, your fish should be fine. And yes, fish will fade in color intensity if sick, stressed, etc. It's a good thing they plugged the filter back in, at least. Everything should be fine.

Really though, how can you not guess that a glass box can easily break if filled with water (at ~8 lbs a gallon) and sloshed around? Oi vey.

 

[meanjean]

Upon closer inspection, one of my female platys was found hiding deep in the foliage. Her tail is not flared out like normal, and she was unusually easy to net. I put her in a floating isolation tank, and she hovering close to the bottom.

Any ideas?

 

[f8fan]

Really though, how can you not guess that a glass box can easily break if filled with water (at ~8 lbs a gallon) and sloshed around? Oi vey.

????

*BOUNCINGS
j/k