55 Gallon Tank I'm Fed Up With Fishkeeping

I've given this hobby every ounce of patience I have, and I've reached the decision it isn't worth it anymore. I've been trying to keep fish for the better part of three years now, spending tons of time researching and plenty of money buying everything I ever needed to make my tanks a success. But no matter what I do, no matter who I buy from, I get screwed over in the end. I've had on and off issues with what should be a simple, planted 55g community with easy fish. I had just made a post about them randomly dying off, but now that issue has multiplied. Every time I start over this tank due to getting sold sick fish, they sell me sick fish again, and it's not the same place every time.

I have 5 LFS's, and each one of them now has sold me sick fish. I'm then expected to go out and spend even more money on treatments. And when that inevitably doesn't work and most of my tank (or the entire tank) dies off anyway, I'm supposed to go back and buy more to replace them. And then what happens? These "peaceful" fish end up being aggressive anyway and rip each other apart no matter how much research I do ahead of time when stocking.

For the third time this year I reset this tank due to being sold sick fish, and I once again was sold fish that contracted ich. I'm not going to even bother treating them because I'm tired of having to slave over tanks with money I can't stand to spend and time I don't want to give to changing out water to fix the issue every time it arises. My parameters are always spot on, I take the extra time to ensure maintenance is done as well as possible, but it doesn't matter. This entire hobby is a joke to me now because the small fish I buy just end up dying either randomly for no reason or bringing illnesses with them. And before I hear about QT tanks, the 55g IS my QT tank because I have to start over from scratch each time and there's no fish in there. I wish I could even use a QT tank, but I never have healthy fish in my showtank long enough to even warrant using one. They just continue to die, bring diseases with them, or fight to the point I have to take them back.

My 75g SA Cichlid tank is working well, and it's mostly because I'm too terrified to ever consider adding to it again. I'm just leaving it as it is for good and doing maintenance as needed. I've wasted so much money on fishkeeping that the idea of starting this tank over again when these fish inevitably die soon is laughable. I feel like a nutcase for all the times I've continued to buy new fish expecting things to change. And from the looks of all the forums I've ever seen, this isn't an issue that's unique to me, even if I've had it worse than others.

What this rant leads to is me wondering from any of you if you'd advise keeping a planted tank with whatever fish survive and just letting it sit on autopilot. I still like to grow out the plants and see the kind of jungle I can create and I wanted to know if they could do well with just a few corys or whatever, the only fish that ever survive these illnesses. Thanks.

 

Maybe just grow the plants then, if that's your thing. As far as fish, sometimes i wish people would focus more on keeping the fish healthy and alive from the start, then bring plants into it, or vice versa, instead of trying to learn both at once. I think people mentally and often emotionally burn themselves up that way. Of course, a run of bad luck doesn't help.

 

Hey man, let me start off by saying that it’s ok to leave a hobby. The point of fishkeeping, to me at least, is to have a slice of nature to sit back and enjoy. If all it’s bringing you is stress, maybe it’s time to take a step back.

That being said, if you want to step back without leaving completely, I have some tidbits that might help. Firstly, I suggest a downsize. A standard 10g or 20 long is ample space to play around with, while keeping maintenance requirements low. A bucket’s worth of water every week is all you need to worry about.

Second, find what works for you. If you like plants, only keep plants. You can source fish and plants from local hobbyists and breeders to increase your chances of success. In my area, swords and crypts thrive and grow like crazy, but I struggle to keep duckweed alive. I also find corydoras to be bulletproof but I know there are a few people here whose corys just keep dying.

And third, I suggest looking into starting a small Walstad tank. The method’s philosophy is basically “throw a bunch of stuff in there and see what lives”. It requires no filter, no water changes, minimal lighting and almost no stocking. I have a few walstad style jars that I keep on a windowsill, all I do is wipe algae from the glass once in a while. This might be something you could enjoy without stress. If it dies then it’s dead, if it lives then great!

 

Just put 1 fish in your 55g and keep it planted. Make life easy for your self. This hobby shouldn't be stressful!

Here's my 75g with only cherry shrimp:

 

If you aren't enjoying keeping fish, and it sounds like that's the case, then by all means stop. And there's nothing wrong with keeping tanks for just plants if that's what you enjoy. If you want to put a fish or two in them, or shrimp, or snails, that's okay too. The whole point of hobbies is enjoyment and relaxation (assuming you like to relax).

 

Alternatively, try invertebrates or a species only tank. I never had great success with community tanks, and had similar problems with poor health from one fish wrecking the whole setup. I've had a *much* better time with keeping only a single charismatic fish in each of my nano tanks. Less stock, less problems.

Cherry shrimp, especially if you can get some from another hobbyist (NOT farmed) are very adaptable and pair beautifully with planted tanks. They're an absolute sight to behold in large setups, where they can form supercolonies. I'd recommend starting with wild color if you can't get any tank-breds though... i know how discouraging it is to have expensive pretty shrimp die for seemingly no reason.

 

Just put 1 fish in your 55g and keep it planted. Make life easy for your self. This hobby shouldn't be stressful!

Here's my 75g with only cherry shrimp:
View attachment 793580

This is beautiful!!

 

This sounds like an easy fix. Set up a small quarantine tank. Your 55 is not the QT tank even starting over. Disease does not just live on fish.

Now it will not fix sick fish being bought, but it also won’t decimate your main tank.

Proper acclimation, healthy diet, proper maintenance and quarantine are full proof methods that will yield a nice, healthy main tank that never gets sick aside from something crazy coming in from the water source.

Honestly ich is possibly the easiest thing to treat especially in a separate tank. Might need to adjust how you select fish. Most of my fish right now are fish I saw in a store multiple times over weeks. And every time I saw it, it looked nice a healthy. If it has been it the pet store a while with no symptoms, chances are it’s a healthy and durable fish.Of course no way to know unless you visit the store often. And you risk losing it to someone else.

Bringing back mean fish is just part of the hobby. I have brought back plenty. This is another thing you can observe over a period in the store though it’s not 100%.

Millions of people keep healthy tanks this way. It isn’t the hobby, something is being done wrong.And truth be told, one year
Is not that long to establish a nice healthy tank, disease free.

Also not sure what you do, but just something I cannot stress enough is water replacement acclimation. If you find your fish are fine a die suddenly within days or a week of buying them. It takes about 60-90 minutes to properly acclimate a fish. Fish can amazingly adjust to parameters but are almost always doomed if not IME. Fish stores are pumped full of salt and who knows what else to keep sickness hidden. Makes sense since they have so many fish it’s really the only way. But for you, the fish will have to adjust.

I also want to say some of my tanks are very very slowly built from fish I have bought online. It’s slow because man is it expensive. But I have never ever been sent sick fish online from the big distributors. Course they drawback is not being able to see them first.

Slowly build your stock through a QT tank. Yes some will die. Yes some won’t get along. Adjust and keep going in the name of an end goal of a great tank.

Just stuff to think about.

 

I'm very sorry you are going through this.


when I started this hobby, I had issues with my emerald cory cats. half of them died. it was very stressing because I felt like a failure. But I realized fish is a numbers game - they know X number die in transit to store, die in store, die when get home... it's depressing.

I've started buying online because my neon tetras in my area, the bloodlines are weak. , 6 made it to 1 year. only 2 made it to the 2 year mark.

Black neons - I'm down to 5, 1 is dying now. I had 12, then 9 , then 6.... I almost used clove on him last night (took him out using a betta cup) but he seemed to start to swim okay, but that was me fooling myself. I expect he'll be dead tomorrow.

Find a reputable breeder or hobbyist breeder online - if you decide to go back into buying fish.

I've purchased snails - 3 different kinds, shrimps, a betta and now 7 sparkling Gourami (just go them Thursday) -all on ebay with no issues. 2 day shipping. just check their seller feedback clsoely. I'm doing same for plants for past year because the local stores just aren't quality like a hobbyist who loves fish - jmo.

Just know you aren't alone and we in the hobby get it.

If I knew how much my first betta was really gonna cost me - all the equipment, fish , plants etc I've spent over last 2 years, I never would have bought him! But I've learned so much and it's made me a some what better person because it's forced me to learn and adapt.

Best wishes.

 

Very sorry to here about your problems its very discouraging. Let the tank run for a week or two with no fish to insure the ich is gone. My advice if you want to try again is to ask your lfs to hold the fish you select for a week to ensure their health. Make sure their eating before you take them home and carefully watch their behavior. Are they 'scratching' against objects in their tanks, racing around the tank [normal behavior for danios], or breathing fast? Maybe stay away from weaker fish. Neon's and cardinal's seem weaker than many other tetra's. Hatchet's always seem to have ich. Danio's, most tetra's, and rasbora's seem very hardy as do most cory cats. As bad is ich is it's pretty curable with meds. Important to follow instructions and continue treatment until instructed, not stop when fish look good. The hobby can be confusing at times and much advice given seems contradictory, i hope things work out for you.

 

I've given this hobby every ounce of patience I have, and I've reached the decision it isn't worth it anymore. I've been trying to keep fish for the better part of three years now, spending tons of time researching and plenty of money buying everything I ever needed to make my tanks a success. But no matter what I do, no matter who I buy from, I get screwed over in the end. I've had on and off issues with what should be a simple, planted 55g community with easy fish. I had just made a post about them randomly dying off, but now that issue has multiplied. Every time I start over this tank due to getting sold sick fish, they sell me sick fish again, and it's not the same place every time.

I have 5 LFS's, and each one of them now has sold me sick fish. I'm then expected to go out and spend even more money on treatments. And when that inevitably doesn't work and most of my tank (or the entire tank) dies off anyway, I'm supposed to go back and buy more to replace them. And then what happens? These "peaceful" fish end up being aggressive anyway and rip each other apart no matter how much research I do ahead of time when stocking.

For the third time this year I reset this tank due to being sold sick fish, and I once again was sold fish that contracted ich. I'm not going to even bother treating them because I'm tired of having to slave over tanks with money I can't stand to spend and time I don't want to give to changing out water to fix the issue every time it arises. My parameters are always spot on, I take the extra time to ensure maintenance is done as well as possible, but it doesn't matter. This entire hobby is a joke to me now because the small fish I buy just end up dying either randomly for no reason or bringing illnesses with them. And before I hear about QT tanks, the 55g IS my QT tank because I have to start over from scratch each time and there's no fish in there. I wish I could even use a QT tank, but I never have healthy fish in my showtank long enough to even warrant using one. They just continue to die, bring diseases with them, or fight to the point I have to take them back.

My 75g SA Cichlid tank is working well, and it's mostly because I'm too terrified to ever consider adding to it again. I'm just leaving it as it is for good and doing maintenance as needed. I've wasted so much money on fishkeeping that the idea of starting this tank over again when these fish inevitably die soon is laughable. I feel like a nutcase for all the times I've continued to buy new fish expecting things to change. And from the looks of all the forums I've ever seen, this isn't an issue that's unique to me, even if I've had it worse than others.

What this rant leads to is me wondering from any of you if you'd advise keeping a planted tank with whatever fish survive and just letting it sit on autopilot. I still like to grow out the plants and see the kind of jungle I can create and I wanted to know if they could do well with just a few corys or whatever, the only fish that ever survive these illnesses. Thanks.

I have upgraded to a 200L (50g) tank recently and I had issues with some angels dying. These fish were young and both died in exactly the same way even though my parameters were spot on as you say. Both angels died off and then when I went to get some more I payed the extra cash for larger angels therefore OLDER angels. The 3 I bought are thriving. Buying older more grown fish is a great sign they’ve begun their life healthy and are unlikely to be carrying pre existing diseases. I hope this helps

 

Having a small quarantine tank is essential in this hobby. A 5 to 10 gallon should be adequate for most home aquarists. The tank should be sparse, like a hospital irl... no substrate, no plants, you don't even really need a light. You just need a fliter, a heater and an airstone. It's a good idea to put a couple of pieces of pvc pipe for fish to hide in/behind.

You should always assume that new fish are sick or carrying parasites unless you are 100% sure they are not. A small quarantine tank is easy to medicate, 10 times less medication than a 55 gallon. You can do water changes in seconds. You can keep it spotlessly clean and completely eradicate ich and other parasites before putting fish in your display tank.

 

TJKJ, I think with the older fish they are physically stronger and able to survive diseases and issues better than juvenile fish. Usually ich occurs more in wild caught fish thank bred ones [angels are mostly tank bred]. Imports also have to endure the stress of shipping which alone can kill many fish. A quarantine tank is the best solution but careful selection from a good shop can avoid many problems.

 

I understand your frustration finding success in this hobby because I have experienced it myself. The first issue is that you do not have a quarantine tank and proclaim your main display 55G is your quarantine tank due to having to start over multiple times. I also have a hard time believing that you do adequate research and more so think that you are impatience. After 3 years, you also state that you consistently obtain sick fish and your fish randomly die off. I'd point out that there is a large fundamental flaw or gap of novice fish keeping skills that you need to solidify to build the proper groundwork towards success. Base on your testimony, there are to many contradictions and simply mastering the basic will alleviate or greatly reduce the following:

1. Fish Death
2. Easily cure sick fish through quarantine or hospital tank
3. Understanding temperament and peaceful fish aggression
4. Parameters are one thing, but enough line of sight decor to disperse aggression

I have emperor tetra, classified as a peaceful fish, but they still show aggression especially the male and will sometimes harass my Angelfish. My advice to you will be for the following:

1. Pick up a 20G as a quarantine tank and another for a hospital tank. $50 will save you a lot of misery. Easier to medicate and assure proper health.
2. Learn how to incorporate proper decorations especially in a community aquarium setup to disperse aggression.

I cannot fathom where to begin, but the 3 years and constantly facing the same issue all revert back to the basics. I deeply express mastering it by all means. I also wrote this novice guide that I never finished, but it should help as well.

The Ultimate Freshwater Beginners Guide.docx

 

Buying fish from LFS is hit or miss. Many are sick already when you buy them so it may not be your fault. Buy easy to keep fish from a local breeder and do a species only tank. Also check your water parameters like hardness and softness and select a fish that is compatible. For example most tetras are good for soft water and livebearers are good for hard water. Keep it simple and it should be very easy. Most of the headaches are when we try to do too much and make things complicated.

 

I understand how you feel as a few years back I stepped away from the hobby myself. However I started up my small tank a few years later and got back into with some simple fish which were a school of danio's.

I've now four years later have a 29 gallon which is the only tank I have. Started dabbling in plants, and I have recently branched out to keeping neos which I really enjoy. I even have two of those danio's left! I think its perfectly okay to dip in and out as we need. Also, I buy my fish online and I haven't had an issue. I know what its like getting sick fish, it really drains on you after a while. However this online retailer has been brilliant and I've not had a single death which is win for me.

 

I understand how you feel as a few years back I stepped away from the hobby myself. However I started up my small tank a few years later and got back into with some simple fish which were a school of danio's.

I've now four years later have a 29 gallon which is the only tank I have. Started dabbling in plants, and I have recently branched out to keeping neos which I really enjoy. I even have two of those danio's left! I think its perfectly okay to dip in and out as we need. Also, I buy my fish online and I haven't had an issue. I know what its like getting sick fish, it really drains on you after a while. However this online retailer has been brilliant and I've not had a single death which is win for me.

Mind sharing who the retailer is? I wouldn't mind having a reliable livestock source for once.

 

Nothing wrong with keeping aquariums for the sake of plant-life. Creating a nice display with lots of spiderwood and a large amount of shady and floating plants can be very rewarding. You can even leave artificial lights and heaters out of your tank; the latter depending on your Cory fish of course. And add neocaridina shrimp. You don't need to feed those if you have lots of wood and plants. I run 5 tanks like these; visitors always ask; "where are the fish?" .

 

I think everyone here is right it’s about less stress and if ur good with just a planted tank then have a planted tank and yea if u want it keep some corys in there awesome there really interesting fish I have them in all my peaceful community tanks but if u do decide u ant to try fish one more time then I would say give the tank a good cleaning and order ur fish online from a reputable place or try getting fish from people who home breed them they tend to take much better care of the new fish as they are doing also as an enjoyable hobby not mass producing fish for profit

 

I think this thread has run it’s course as the Op has not responded since the thread was posted

Molasses, sorry you’ve had such a rough time, maybe one day you’ll return to the hobby.

Thread closed.