After 3 Months Of Stalking. I Joined

Image

• Kayvon
• Mar 31, 2018
• 1

Hello Fish people

For months I have used your knowledge, posts, arguments, experience, shaming, mistakes, solutions, remedies, and warnings.

Like a creep, or peeping Tom, I voyeuristically got what I needed while you had no idea... well it’s my coming out party now!

My name is Kay, I am a newbie to the hobbie.
I started with a 1 gallon Betta Bowl from Petsmart 4 months ago. Immediately realized I had been sold on price not principal and upped to a 3 gallon.

Then I added a filter
Then a heater
Then a hammock
Then blood worms
Etc etc.

And got bored.

Bought a 10 Gal Marineland kit
Put Betta, mystery snails (2), bristle nose, and 10 ghost shrimp.

Learned a lot. Learned about the Nitro-cycle, feeding, over feeding, bacterial bloom. Learned not to introduce LFS water into a tank.
Learned about ich, learned about treating ich, learned about treating ich with invertebrates.

Upgraded to a 20 gal.
Learned about moving a small tank to a larger tank. Learned more about Nitro-cycle. Heaters, water testing drops vs strips.

Learned about proper acclimation, drip method, floating bag, PH, kh, learned about the velvet, about cotton mouth. Learned that LFS that are corporate chains... usually suck butts.

Learned that there’s no such thing as “totally safe tank mates”
Learned a swordtail could kill a Betta.

Learned a Mollie could Nip a Betta to the point it needs to be euthanized, learned the various ways to euthanize.

Learned about live bearers. Learned they eat their own fry. Learned what Fry are.

Learned that disappearing fish and rapidly growing snails... are correlated. (My mystery albino is crabapple size. No Bullshjt.
Learned that a cobra guppy can try mating with a sword tail, and get beat down.
Learned about “natural gravel”
Learned about tanins
Learned about low oxygen
Learned about bubblers not adding much oxygen.
Learned about accidental cycling (or recycling)
Learned what a flocculant is.
Learned when to use it.

Learned about Prime, Pristine, safestart, paragaurd, amozorb, neozorb zorbs in general.

Learned about how incredibly expense impatience is. Learned about how terribly expensive ignorance is. Learned about multing, and how your Corys particularly love to Eat soft shell shrimp.

I learned about zucchinI and peas and cucumber and blanching.

I have taken this knowledge and purchased a 55 gallon tank, stand, 110lbs of rock (lava, slate, etc) a API Filstar xp M canister filter, a Fluval/AquaClear 50 hang on filter. Enough filter media to suffocate a filter, and all the bubbles, lights, and glass canopy etc.

And yet... I am petrified that I still don’t know anything and am afraid to add fish and get going.

So... who would like to deal with my neurotic questions?

Nice to meet you all; I’m verbose for my first post, but won’t be a pain going forward. Because there’s one other thing I learned: don’t waste your time

 

Welcome.

You’ll do fine, and probably teach a few of us some things.

 

The best way to learn (in my opinion) is to jump with both feet in and get ready to get wet. (Seriously though, no feet in the aquarium please.)

Feel free to ask questions! I'll respond to what I can which isn't much; and someone else will come along to fill in the rest hopefully.

Welcome to FishLore Officially.

 

You’re a gentleman. Thank you, sir.

What I don’t know could fit in a 500gal tank.

Specifically, what I have purchased is used. What that has done, can do, will do, won’t do to this newly set up tank is what scares me.

I said I wouldn’t be long winded but I may as well get it all out.

Everything had been cleaned and sunsoaked and then wrapped in recycled, non-treated, organic paper. They guy said he went through painstaking measures to make sure I had a chance of having preserved bacteria in the filters, on the rocks, and fan and heater. He begged me not to do anything more than rinse with treated water, if that. I followed his instruction. In 5 days, I already have this brown film on my filter media, and decayed tiny tiny pieces of plant/leaves in the tank. He says “that’s good! It’s food for the cycle.” He gave me a bottle full Fluval Cycle and half bottles of Seachem Pristine and Stability. Followed instructions. Now I don’t know what to look for to tell me when to and not to put in fish because I have 0 ammo, 0nitri, and 10 nitra
But don’t know if I’m waiting for a massive ammonia spike or do I need to add Ammo?

It can’t possibly be cycled, right? I mean... how much bacteria could have survived hot water or sun soaking? And those products are great but... without ammo or nitrI numbers... I can’t say anything has happened. I have a couple danios I can throw in to poop it up?

The best way to learn (in my opinion) is to jump with both feet in and get ready to get wet. (Seriously though, no feet in the aquarium please.)

Feel free to ask questions! I'll respond to what I can which isn't much; and someone else will come along to fill in the rest hopefully.

Welcome to FishLore Officially.

I can tell, You and I are going to be friends.

 

You’re a gentleman. Thank you, sir.

What I don’t know could fit in a 500gal tank.

Specifically, what I have purchased is used. What that has done, can do, will do, won’t do to this newly set up tank is what scares me.

I said I wouldn’t be long winded but I may as well get it all out.

Everything had been cleaned and sunsoaked and then wrapped in recycled, non-treated, organic paper. They guy said he went through painstaking measures to make sure I had a chance of having preserved bacteria in the filters, on the rocks, and fan and heater. He begged me not to do anything more than rinse with treated water, if that. I followed his instruction. In 5 days, I already have this brown film on my filter media, and decayed tiny tiny pieces of plant/leaves in the tank. He says “that’s good! It’s food for the cycle.” He gave me a bottle full Fluval Cycle and half bottles of Seachem Pristine and Stability. Followed instructions. Now I don’t know what to look for to tell me when to and not to put in fish because I have 0 ammo, 0nitri, and 10 nitra
But don’t know if I’m waiting for a massive ammonia spike or do I need to add Ammo?

It can’t possibly be cycled, right? I mean... how much bacteria could have survived hot water or sun soaking? And those products are great but... without ammo or nitrI numbers... I can’t say anything has happened. I have a couple danios I can throw in to poop it up?

Do you have an ammonia source other than decaying plants? (Do forgive me if I missed that part) This could be fish poop yes, or fish flakes, or pure ammonia (no scents, dyes, etc). When you are able to convert 1-2ppm for ammonia to Nitrate within a 24 hour period you are consideres cycled. (Best to use Pure Ammonia for this. Ive been told if you are in the states Dollar Tree sells this kind of ammonia).

Ammonia spikes are usually in fish in cycles if I am not wrong. (Or mino cycles after adding to many fish) if you do have bacteria from the previous set up this tank had, doing the ammonia method above will not harm/hurt the bacteria. In fact it will give you proof that it is there.

 

Thank You! Will go to dollar tree tomorrow.

How do I upvote or like or thank or thumbs up or fist bump a post?

 

Thank You! Will go to dollar tree tomorrow.

How do I upvote or like or thank or thumbs up or fist bump a post?

The little emotes on the bottom of each post.

 

Thank You! Will go to dollar tree tomorrow.

How do I upvote or like or thank or thumbs up or fist bump a post?

There should be a bar underneath the comment with lots of grey stickers. Click on one to add your rating and it will load for a minute then appear saying what that rating means (you can remove the rating if you don't like what it means and try a different one)

Whilst I'm here, Hello and welcome to Fishlore!!!

I know those worries, but honestly you sound like you have most things in order (you sound scarily like me when I was 4 months into fish keeping. I'm only 7-8 months in now but comfortable with my knowledge )

Don't worry about posting too much either, we will all be more than happy to help!

Beautiful "poem" by the way! And we were all leaching off the forum for a while before we joined

Have fun!

 

Welcome, fellow ex-stalker I too stalked FL for about 2-3 months before joining & have learned so much through so so many mistakes & this lovely community.

To welcome you properly, here's a couple photos of one of our apple snails riding a fake jelly fish. it rode back & forth across the front of the tank for about 15 mins, steering the jelly as it crawled around it in a circle. #whyitsallworthit




(I'll post a video later for others to giggle at.)

 

Image

• Kayvon
• Mar 31, 2018
• 1

Hello Fish people

For months I have used your knowledge, posts, arguments, experience, shaming, mistakes, solutions, remedies, and warnings.

Like a creep, or peeping Tom, I voyeuristically got what I needed while you had no idea... well it’s my coming out party now!

My name is Kay, I am a newbie to the hobbie.
I started with a 1 gallon Betta Bowl from Petsmart 4 months ago. Immediately realized I had been sold on price not principal and upped to a 3 gallon.

Then I added a filter
Then a heater
Then a hammock
Then blood worms
Etc etc.

And got bored.

Bought a 10 Gal Marineland kit
Put Betta, mystery snails (2), bristle nose, and 10 ghost shrimp.

Learned a lot. Learned about the Nitro-cycle, feeding, over feeding, bacterial bloom. Learned not to introduce LFS water into a tank.
Learned about ich, learned about treating ich, learned about treating ich with invertebrates.

Upgraded to a 20 gal.
Learned about moving a small tank to a larger tank. Learned more about Nitro-cycle. Heaters, water testing drops vs strips.

Learned about proper acclimation, drip method, floating bag, PH, kh, learned about the velvet, about cotton mouth. Learned that LFS that are corporate chains... usually suck butts.

Learned that there’s no such thing as “totally safe tank mates”
Learned a swordtail could kill a Betta.

Learned a Mollie could Nip a Betta to the point it needs to be euthanized, learned the various ways to euthanize.

Learned about live bearers. Learned they eat their own fry. Learned what Fry are.

Learned that disappearing fish and rapidly growing snails... are correlated. (My mystery albino is crabapple size. No Bullshjt.
Learned that a cobra guppy can try mating with a sword tail, and get beat down.
Learned about “natural gravel”
Learned about tanins
Learned about low oxygen
Learned about bubblers not adding much oxygen.
Learned about accidental cycling (or recycling)
Learned what a flocculant is.
Learned when to use it.

Learned about Prime, Pristine, safestart, paragaurd, amozorb, neozorb zorbs in general.

Learned about how incredibly expense impatience is. Learned about how terribly expensive ignorance is. Learned about multing, and how your Corys particularly love to Eat soft shell shrimp.

I learned about zucchinI and peas and cucumber and blanching.

I have taken this knowledge and purchased a 55 gallon tank, stand, 110lbs of rock (lava, slate, etc) a API Filstar xp M canister filter, a Fluval/AquaClear 50 hang on filter. Enough filter media to suffocate a filter, and all the bubbles, lights, and glass canopy etc.

And yet... I am petrified that I still don’t know shjt and am afraid to add fish and get going.

So... who would like to deal with my neurotic questions?

Nice to meet you all; I’m verbose for my first post, but won’t be a pain in the going forward. Because there’s one other thing I learned: don’t waste your time

Firstly I would like to say welcome to this community,any question you have you will always be able to ask no matter how silly you may think that they are. Secondly I would like to say what a woduful aquascape you have made,and how wonderful it will be for the fish you choice to have. Thirdly you do not need to worry about adding fish it seems to me like you know exactly what you are talking about, just remember to cycle your tank for at least a month and test it with a form of aquarium water testing kit,remember to research the fish that you want to buy to see if they can live with other breeds of fish and what ones. I would also like to say that perhaps you could consider adding some plants to your aquarium they both look nice and are beneficial to your fish, they provide hiding spaces and help reduce nitrite,nitrate,ammonia e.g the nitrite cycle. Good luck with your aquarium any thurther question please feel free to ask you are obviously very knowledgable in fish keeping.

 

Greetings and welcome to the forum

Looks like you are off to a good start

 

Greetings and welcome to the forum

Looks like you are off to a good start

Thunder I must say I do love your profile picture what a butifull Betta,is it yours?

 

Thunder I must say I do love your profile picture what a butifull Betta,is it yours?

Thank you Fish-keeper

Yes He was in my care many years ago.

1.



2.

 

Thank you Fish-keeper

Yes He was in my care many years ago.

1.
View attachment 424411

2.
View attachment 424412

lovely photograph

 

lovely photograph

Thank you

 

Welcome Kay, wow you've had a long journey in such a short space of time & I see you're already addicted to the hobby . Don't freak out too much about making mistakes, we all do & this is definitely the right place to get advice on how to fix them, there's a huge amount of experience & knowledge in these pages.

 

Thank you, to all of you!

I got to say there are two things I’m having trouble finding on FL:

1- advice/experience with used tanks/equipment (not relocating of an established tank, but the use of a setup that has not been in use for a long time)

2- the cycle-shortcut products. Now, I know there is tons of mentions of such products, but not so much on the explanation of what they do, how they interact with one another, is there such thing as too much? Can they be mixed or combined? Do they actually cycle the tank or do they protect fish from the eventual cycle.

Is there equal possibility for bacterial bloom for “good bacteria” as “bad?”

I’ll keep searching for answers!

 

Thank you, to all of you!

I got to say there are two things I’m having trouble finding on FL:

1- advice/experience with used tanks/equipment (not relocating of an established tank, but the use of a setup that has not been in use for a long time)

2- the cycle-shortcut products. Now, I know there is tons of mentions of such products, but not so much on the explanation of what they do, how they interact with one another, is there such thing as too much? Can they be mixed or combined? Do they actually cycle the tank or do they protect fish from the eventual cycle.

Is there equal possibility for bacterial bloom for “good bacteria” as “bad?”

I’ll keep searching for answers!

1. Used equipment can be a very good deal....Or your worst nightmare. Check the sealant and see if it is pulling away from the glass or shows signs of cracking and shrinkage. To really be on the safe side set it up on the outside full of water and let it sit for several days watching for leaks. Any other equipment should be sterilized using a very strong salt solution at the least or bleach. But if bleach is used you need to be sure to neutralize it through heavy rinsing, decor and/or leaving it in bright sun for several days.

2. I only do fishless cycle. I generally now stay away from conversations on cycling. I have had too many run-ins with people that wish to cling to the old ways of taking weeks/months. But here is a thread I posted on the topic. You may find it useful. Fast Fishless Cycle.

3. I am not sure what you are asking here.

 

1. Used equipment can be a very good deal....Or your worst nightmare. Check the sealant and see if it is pulling away from the glass or shows signs of cracking and shrinkage. To really be on the safe side set it up on the outside full of water and let is for several days watching for leaks. Any other equipment should be sterilized using a very strong salt solution at the least or bleach. But if bleach is used you need to be sure to neutralize it through heaver rinsing, decor and/or leaving it in bright sun for several days.

2. I only do fishless cycle. I generally now stay away from conversations on cycling Have had too many run ins with people that wish to cling to the old ways of taking weeks/months. But here is a thread I posted on the topic. You may find it useful. Fast Fishless Cycle.

3. I am not sure what you are asking here.

Thank you so much Thunder,
I’m heading straight to your post, I just wanted to clarify:

I have seen bacterial bloom from overstocking, uncycled tanks, cleaning/replacing too much media, etc etc.
but, can a bacterial bloom exist, in a fishless tank, that has had “too much” (is there such a thing?) Stability, SafeStart, Startup or Cycle, or whatever other “Beneficial Bacteria Booster” or “Quick Cycle” product?

 

Thank you so much Thunder,
I’m heading straight to your post, I just wanted to clarify:

I have seen bacterial bloom from overstocking, uncycled tanks, cleaning/replacing too much media, etc etc.
but, can a bacterial bloom exist, in a fishless tank, that has had “too much” (is there such a thing?) Stability, SafeStart, Startup or Cycle, or whatever other “Beneficial Bacteria Booster” or “Quick Cycle” product?

I have had a "bloom" in fishless cycles but it was gone by the end of the cycle.

 

Re. your questions above; 1. The only thing I wouldn't reuse from an old set up would be the substrate it just harbours too much gunk & you can never really get it fully clean, all the rest, tank (as long as it's sound of course), filters (with new media) pumps, heaters all is good as long as you thoroughly clean them & if you use bleach etc. make sure it's really well rinsed off.
2. The short cut products you mean I assume are bacterial starter cultures & water treatments, I use JBL products because I have always found them to be reliable so I used Denitrol aquarium starter (a liquid containing live beneficial bacteria) & Biotopol tap water conditioner which neutralises the heavy metals, chlorine & chloramine found in tap water but it doesn't neutralise ammonia which the BB in your filter media needs to feed off (just not too much of it) last November to start a new 400 litre tank, I did a fish in cycle with a group of Glowlight Danios, my cycle was up & running within two weeks & I never lost a fish but there are loads of different products out there just make sure you do your homework to make sure they're compatible & with the starter, no you really can't overdose it.
As for bacterial blooms they're fairly harmless & you usually get one when starting a new tank, it's like white cloudy water which looks unsightly that's all, it doesn't really help with establishing the tank or getting the cycle in place & when you've got your filter running properly it usually clears within a couple of days. Hope this helps.

 

For your 3rd question: there is no such thing as too much bacteria (that I am aware of, the access will just die off which is harmless). And, there isn't such a thing as bad bacteria when it comes to fish keeping. Somehow the bacteria we want always shows up and knows where to go, regardless of which products you use.

 

Son of a Squalidae.
You are a peach, mate. Thank you!

 

Both of our tanks are 2nd hand. We simply cannot afford new in NZ ... & we don't do things by halves so we'd end up getting one built that would replace a wall (saltwater dream tank... some day. ..).

Our acryllic 160L "original gangsta" we resurrected late last year has been totally cleaned twice. first time with water & elbow grease, this time with both plus vinegar. the substrate was completely rinsed.

our 72g Bowfront is glass. I wish we had thought to check the seals before buying. .. there are some areas of discoloration that stress us out. but no leaks. I also wish I had told them to keep their ugly disgusting gravel.... instead we spent 7 hours cleaning the cesspool & found 2-3 dead bodies (fish... we think).

if you can get a used tank with cycled media you're golden. be sure to tell the sellers not to clean the filter or media.

 

Lovely tank! Are you planting it or is it for larger fish?

 

I want to climb in it and drown.

My API FILSTAR XP M unbeknownst to me, Uber flowed 10-15 gallons of water into my living room tonight.

Wood floors are cupping.

I’m devastated.

Want to quit and give away my whole setup right now.

 

I want to climb in it and drown.

My API FILSTAR XP M unbeknownst to me, Uber flowed 10-15 gallons of water into my living room tonight.

Wood floors are cupping.

I’m devastated.

Want to quit and give away my whole setup right now.

OH NO! that suuuucks mate!

I've never had a filter do that to me!

I have nothing but sympathy rn... and will just say that's not something I read about often so maybe just take a break & replace the filter after you've dealt with your poor floor?

 

Loved your post! So much of it is soooooo familiar.

Welcome to the forum! Nice to see you come out of hiding.

 

Bonjour Kayvon.

Welcome to Fishlore.

Don’t be a stalker.

 

I want to climb in it and drown.

My API FILSTAR XP M unbeknownst to me, Uber flowed 10-15 gallons of water into my living room tonight.

Wood floors are cupping.

I’m devastated.

Want to quit and give away my whole setup right now.

That is tragic

I hope you stick with us. If you change canisters look in to the Marineland Magniflow 360. I have been using Marineland canisters for many, many years (starting when they came out with the Magnum 350) and never once had an issue with them. Right now we are running 3 mag 350's and 3 Magniflow's along with Penguins and Emperors.

I understand the heartache of water on floors though...Big dogs.....

 

Thanks Thunder, Scarface JAMarlow!

I am quitting right now and never looking back if I don’t find a dry, safe, solution that my wife won’t ice me out for.

Which brings me to my question...
can I successfully/efficiently/safely have a S.A. cichlid or 1-Oscar and 1-Placo tank with AquaClear 50 and an Emperor 400 HOB filters? Total 130gal filtration 600GPH

 

600 GPH is half what I would have on a 130. Oscars and plec are messy fish. But if it is short term you could make it work.

I run 3 canisters and 1 HOB on the 150 for 1,420 GPH filter flow.

 

Welcome to Fishlore Kay!!!

 

Thanks Thunder, Scarface JAMarlow!

I am quitting right now and never looking back if I don’t find a dry, safe, solution that my wife won’t ice me out for.

Which brings me to my question...
can I successfully/efficiently/safely have a S.A. cichlid or 1-Oscar and 1-Placo tank with AquaClear 50 and an Emperor 400 HOB filters? Total 130gal filtration 600GPH

so. .. how's it going mate? have you found a filter, how is your poor floor & have you decided to keep going?

 

I completely started over.

thanks For thinking of me, pal.

Super cloudy. Hope my Pearl Gurami survives it.

That air breathing should help her out

 

I completely started over.

thanks For thinking of me, pal.

Super cloudy. Hope my Pearl Gurami survives it.

That air breathing should help her out

glad to hear you haven't given up! most people don't come on here knowing as much as you did so it would be a complete shame to see you give up even after the disaster you had...

I must say, somewhere in the aquarium builds section is a poor FL member who built his whole tank from scratch, set it up and had fully stocked it for just a month when one night he was sitting watching TV and heard a spash and water running next to him....his tank seal had given out! his carpet was ruined but he and his wife managed to save the fish in buckets.... I felt horrid. #TankHorrorStories

 

glad to hear you haven't given up! most people don't come on here knowing as much as you did so it would be a complete shame to see you give up even after the disaster you had...

I must say, somewhere in the aquarium builds section is a poor FL member who built his whole tank from scratch, set it up and had fully stocked it for just a month when one night he was sitting watching TV and heard a spash and water running next to him....his tank seal had given out! his carpet was ruined but he and his wife managed to save the fish in buckets.... I felt horrid. #TankHorrorStories

I’m not even kidding... that makes me want to pack this up and forget about fish.

I’m a first time home owner. At 32yrs old, I saved my money since college to buy this house. The fact that my floors feel like shingles right now, already makes me queezy... the tank bursting would kill me.

Speaking of: why don’t people Apple sealant and silicone outside the tank to reinforce. Obviously it wouldn’t hold a tank together but it would relieve any pressure or potential weak points that would otherwise give or spread.

I could Water seal this bad boy and put a beautiful tarp around it as well as dehumidifiers and a couple bags of mulch.

It will look perfect in my living room.

I just learned that the guy at the fish store was ABSOLUTELY wrong about Pearl gouramis and I know better than to take anyone’s word for it but I let myself get trusting of what is my states most prestigious FS.

They do Not like light substrate, they do Not like lace rock and lava rock. And they DO require a planted tank.

Mother Puffer! I’m irritated.

Just crammed some fakes in. Will that suffice?

 

I’m not even kidding... that makes me want to pack this up and forget about fish.

I’m a first time home owner. At 32yrs old, I saved my money since college to buy this house. The fact that my floors feel like shingles right now, already makes me queezy... the tank bursting would kill me.

Speaking of: why don’t people Apple sealant and silicone outside the tank to reinforce. Obviously it wouldn’t hold a tank together but it would relieve any pressure or potential weak points that would otherwise give or spread.

I could Water seal this bad boy and put a beautiful tarp around it as well as dehumidifiers and a couple bags of mulch.

It will look perfect in my living room.

It's all about the sealant. You can re-seal your tank every 10 years or so and most give you signs before they fail. there are threads about it on here somewhere...

I read that thread and also felt this weight of doom. i'm 39 and in my first home, too. it's now 97 years old and there are weathered wood floors underneath our carpet. so... we're basically thinking we'll do what we can to prevent a failure but if it happens, we'll use it as an excuse to re-do the floor and get rid of the carpet. not that we have the money, but "bright side" and all... sorry, shouldn't have said that. had the opposite effect of what I intended.

I just learned that the guy at the fish store was ABSOLUTELY wrong about Pearl gouramis and I know better than to take anyone’s word for it but I let myself get trusting of what is my states most prestigious FS.

They do Not like light substrate, they do Not like lace rock and lava rock. And they DO require a planted tank.

Mother Puffer! I’m irritated.

Just crammed some fakes in. Will that suffice?

i've never known many fish to care about the colour of their substrate tbh. and the only concern about the rocks/decorations has to do with whether or not the fish will scrape themselves. ours did. we build a fake coral insert that does indeed have sharp edges and bits. one of our odessas wiggled herself where she couldn't fit to get at some bloodworms and scrapped off a decent amount of scales on 3 sides. she healed completely in 3 weeks and seems to have warned all the other fish not to do that. also, we now put the food where it won't jam in tight spaces.

sigh...planted tanks. look, others will disagree with me. get silk plants! that's what we do. we don't want to deal with another thing to worry about at this stage in our hobby. so we have lots of beautiful silk plants. or, there are these sucker cup underwater "planter" thingys you can buy that you put soil in and plants...the leaves float around and the soil is contained. we got one. haven't used it yet.

having said all of the above, I have read only that pearl gourami like plants for hiding (again, silk could work?) and the only reason they seem to prefer dark substrate is because they don't like much bright lighting. so all is not lost...

 

Welcome to Fish Lore.
I too stalked Fish Lore and a few others then choose Fish Lore because of all the good and helpful people.

 

It's all about the sealant. You can re-seal your tank every 10 years or so and most give you signs before they fail. there are threads about it on here somewhere...

I read that thread and also felt this weight of doom. i'm 39 and in my first home, too. it's now 97 years old and there are weathered wood floors underneath our carpet. so... we're basically thinking we'll do what we can to prevent a failure but if it happens, we'll use it as an excuse to re-do the floor and get rid of the carpet. not that we have the money, but "bright side" and all... sorry, shouldn't have said that. had the opposite effect of what I intended.



i've never known many fish to care about the colour of their substrate tbh. and the only concern about the rocks/decorations has to do with whether or not the fish will scrape themselves. ours did. we build a fake coral insert that does indeed have sharp edges and bits. one of our odessas wiggled herself where she couldn't fit to get at some bloodworms and scrapped off a decent amount of scales on 3 sides. she healed completely in 3 weeks and seems to have warned all the other fish not to do that. also, we now put the food where it won't jam in tight spaces.

sigh...planted tanks. look, others will disagree with me. get silk plants! that's what we do. we don't want to deal with another thing to worry about at this stage in our hobby. so we have lots of beautiful silk plants. or, there are these sucker cup underwater "planter" thingys you can buy that you put soil in and plants...the leaves float around and the soil is contained. we got one. haven't used it yet.

having said all of the above, I have read only that pearl gourami like plants for hiding (again, silk could work?) and the only reason they seem to prefer dark substrate is because they don't like much bright lighting. so all is not lost...

Despite my general preference for animals over people, you are one of the good ones my friend. I’m gonna get some silk ASAP!