Knowing when to quit

While out looking for insulation suitable for wrapping my tanks should the power go out in the upcoming storm I was directed to an employee in a different department "because he has a fish tank and will know". Okay... So I went and in talking to him discovered that he kept cichlids (promising) and that he builds his own filters for the tanks. Sadly, he'd just lost many of his fish. I expressed my condolences and asked if he'd suffered a power outage in the last week's windstorm. Nope, he'd moved his fish into a new tank but had a nitrite spike. He couldn't understand how because he'd moved all the gravel and some of the water to the new tank! I asked if he'd moved the media but he hadn't. After the deaths he took the old sponge and squeezed it out in the new tank. I tried to tell him about the bacteria and where they live but he insisted that what he'd done is fine and that his filters work so well that he "never" needs to do water changes! I was alarmed at this point. Said that he only ever tops up the tank but never does water changes because of this awesome filter he built. I asked if he ever added cichlid salts or any kind of thing like that because minerals are used up by the cycle. Nope! His fish never showed any symptoms so he didn't feel he needed to add any. At which point I thanked him and walked away. I figured I wasn't getting anywhere and I can only hope that what little I tried to tell him inspires him to do a little research

 

Sad. Unfortunately that's how some people start in this hobby.

 

Interesting idea to insulate tanks. How effective is it? Just curious.

 

Well, I draped a thin fleece baby blanket over part of one tank and it was enough for the temperature to rise a few degrees overnight! I figure a properly-done insulating job should work really well to slow heat loss in a power outage

 

That is very unfortunate... I can't help but think of what those fish go through. When I was looking at the fish at my LPS, I overheard two girls buying critters (3 fancy goldfish, 5 ghost shrimp, 1 male betta) saying that they love the look of fish in vases around the house. They were going to put the betta in the bathroom window, the ghost shrimp on the nightstand, and the goldfish around the livingroom with daisies.

I literally just stood there and stared at them until they stopped talking, shot me some dirty looks and walked away. Then the sales lady who got the fish for them started chatting with me about her 4 aquariums including her piranha tank. And I said "so you know better, but still sold those fish to go die in vases?" She just turned and went into the back until I left. Ugh.

 

:'(

 

seabunny, Aquaphobia.....if I could curse, I would. People like that should never keep fish. As for the employee who knew better, should be fired...all for a sale.

 

I don't even think it's all "for a sale" because they don't get commission or anything ... I think it's more of a "the customer is always right" type thing and they are probably told to just sell what people want. Rules probably made by someone at a desk in another state with no actual experience. Just like every other corporate business ...

 

I wasn't very clear in my first post but I wasn't at a pet store this afternoon but a hardware store. The guy I was directed to just happened to keep fish so it was assumed he would know how best to deal with anything fish-related. I was surprised by the lack of basics though:-\

 

I wasn't very clear in my first post but I wasn't at a pet store this afternoon but a hardware store. The guy I was directed to just happened to keep fish so it was assumed he would know how best to deal with anything fish-related. I was surprised by the lack of basics though:-\

No I was referring to the person selling goldfish for bowls around the house.

 

I thought you were, but just in case I felt I had to make sure

 

Aquaphobia, the guy you talked to was very ignorant and closed minded, you can't help people like that. He should have known that you are very knowledgeable just by the questions you asked him. Let's hope he went home and thought about it, and is at least doing the minimum amount of research.

 

Well, I was a bit hesitant to say anything seeing as how it was unsolicited However, I did clam up when he said that he never did water changes and he knew they didn't need them because the fish acted fine, I think because I was shocked into silence!

 

We have a gas water heater, so ive used hot water bottles/thermos to keep temp durring power outages

 

Sadly, no gas anything here:-/ I was thinking of heating a pan of water and large river stones over a gel fuel chafing dish warmer and putting those in the tank if worse comes to worst.

There's also a barbecue that just needs a new tank of propane that could be used. Hopefully it won't be as bad as predicted!

 

How about those heat packs that are used for camping? Not sure of the price, will have to look around. You could get a few of those, tape to the tank, wrap the tank in whatever insulation.
I'm just thinking outside the box.

 

That's actually something I was looking for while I was out! I never did find them though. I know I can get them downtown but that's over an hour drive away and I didn't feel like making the trip today.

 

Last hurricane Matthew made me to invest in portable honda generator. They are pricey but last forever. And they are super quiet so good for those who have balcony or terrace but have complaining nosy neighbor. They are also lightweight so lifting them with just one hand is not a problem. Runs 8hrs on a gallon of gas powering my entire flat.

 

That is very unfortunate... I can't help but think of what those fish go through. When I was looking at the fish at my LPS, I overheard two girls buying critters (3 fancy goldfish, 5 ghost shrimp, 1 male betta) saying that they love the look of fish in vases around the house. They were going to put the betta in the bathroom window, the ghost shrimp on the nightstand, and the goldfish around the livingroom with daisies.

I literally just stood there and stared at them until they stopped talking, shot me some dirty looks and walked away. Then the sales lady who got the fish for them started chatting with me about her 4 aquariums including her piranha tank. And I said "so you know better, but still sold those fish to go die in vases?" She just turned and went into the back until I left. Ugh.

Poor fish!!

 

Have you tried styrofoam and/or bubble wrap? I know styrofoam would work and a layer of bubble wrap I'm between may help some. They're both dirt cheap too.

Of course if all else fails, you could just breathe on the glass really hard until the power comes back on.

 

LOL but then it would fog the glass and my fishies wouldn't be able to see!

I know styrofoam is good and was the option suggested to me but I was hoping for a thinner, blanket-style idea for ease of storage. Bubble wrap is basically useless except in certain applications and I didn't think it would be much good in mine