I'm so glad, there are no digital pictures of that tank. Had a 20 as a holding tank for young mbuna. sand bottom, just 2 rocks and over 35 mbuna offspring of about 2'' each, that I grew out in there to 4''. Was a shame in my opinion, because besides feeding and wc/vacuum, I didn't even take note of that tank.
Shame Tanks We Never Mention
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I’m reviving this thread.
Shame 2.5gal betta tank. The betta is the last one from my first batch of bettas. He’s 3ish and has survived a leap of faith, persistent fellow.
Shame 36gal betta sorority that always has horrible brush/hair algae, this is after a good water change and manual removal of algae. I’m bad at keeping up with water changes in this tank.
Shame 2.5gal betta tank. The betta is the last one from my first batch of bettas. He’s 3ish and has survived a leap of faith, persistent fellow.
Shame 36gal betta sorority that always has horrible brush/hair algae, this is after a good water change and manual removal of algae. I’m bad at keeping up with water changes in this tank.
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I wasn't emotionally ready to share my shame tank last time I happened upon this thread Now, I'm trying to own up to it.
3.5 gallon tank, filtered and heated, one male plakat betta (only male I kept from my bettas' spawn). Sort of proud of the fish, not proud of the setup. I took the internal filter off one of those stupid 1 gallon corner tanks and fitted it to this one with paper clips. I keep the water level lower than I'd like it because if it's too high, it raises above the filter and defeats the purpose. I keep the tank in the bottom of my stand that I use for my gerbil tank and 10 gallon planted tank, because I don't have any other place to put it - and because it's a shame tank!
I throw everything in there. Old gravel and sand I decided not to use anymore, a random piece of driftwood, plant clippings from my 10 gallon... Definitely not a display tank by any means.
Maybe some day I'll have more space, move my betta out of there, and make it a proper shrimp tank.
3.5 gallon tank, filtered and heated, one male plakat betta (only male I kept from my bettas' spawn). Sort of proud of the fish, not proud of the setup. I took the internal filter off one of those stupid 1 gallon corner tanks and fitted it to this one with paper clips. I keep the water level lower than I'd like it because if it's too high, it raises above the filter and defeats the purpose. I keep the tank in the bottom of my stand that I use for my gerbil tank and 10 gallon planted tank, because I don't have any other place to put it - and because it's a shame tank!
I throw everything in there. Old gravel and sand I decided not to use anymore, a random piece of driftwood, plant clippings from my 10 gallon... Definitely not a display tank by any means.
Maybe some day I'll have more space, move my betta out of there, and make it a proper shrimp tank.
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I honestly don't have any shame tanks. If I'm upset with the way a tank looks, I rescape. If I had a tank that I didn't like, I'd save up and get a better one. If plants don't look the way I want them to, I either trim them back, let them grow out, or focus on the one's I know look good and get rid of the ones that don't. If I don't like a fish or they don't get on well with others, I rehome them. If algae is my problem then I do a blackout or a bleach dip.
Sure, if things don't look like how I want them to I get discouraged and I feel a little stupid. But then I see all the amazing tanks ya'll have going and all the beautiful aquascaping people do and I'm reminded that there is always potential for improvement. You can always start fresh.
Sure, if things don't look like how I want them to I get discouraged and I feel a little stupid. But then I see all the amazing tanks ya'll have going and all the beautiful aquascaping people do and I'm reminded that there is always potential for improvement. You can always start fresh.
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The first time I saw this post, I only had one relatively well cared for tank.
Then my neighbour gave me her old betta tank for free. ...and then another neighbour put a free 2 gallon tank on their lawn with a big FREE sign. ...so now I have a shame tank.
The former hosted a plethora of swamp critters - which I HIGHLY recommend trying, if you've never done it! I had no idea there were wild daphnia in ditch puddles in my area! And fairy shrimp? Don't even get me started!
Anyways, one thing led to another and I ended up with 75 growing tadpoles in the "big" tank and 2 hitchhiking goldfish fry in the tinier one, as well as maybe several hundred pond snails. But all of those things are algaevores, right? Shame tanks, indeed... Look at the mud splatter on that bottom one!
Then my neighbour gave me her old betta tank for free. ...and then another neighbour put a free 2 gallon tank on their lawn with a big FREE sign. ...so now I have a shame tank.
The former hosted a plethora of swamp critters - which I HIGHLY recommend trying, if you've never done it! I had no idea there were wild daphnia in ditch puddles in my area! And fairy shrimp? Don't even get me started!
Anyways, one thing led to another and I ended up with 75 growing tadpoles in the "big" tank and 2 hitchhiking goldfish fry in the tinier one, as well as maybe several hundred pond snails. But all of those things are algaevores, right? Shame tanks, indeed... Look at the mud splatter on that bottom one!
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How would you even kidnap a puddle??? Take a cup and a pitcher?
AGH, Okay, so I'm really not proud of this one, but it was from when I first had a fish and I didn't know what I was doing. Guess this isn't really a "shame tank" rather than a "shameful fishkeeper".
My mom had bought me a 5 gallon with a school of barbs (about 7 or 8) and two albino/pink frogs when I was 9. They had a 120 gallon saltwater tank, so they knew how to test for those, but they didnt know how to test freshwater/how to cycle etc. Fortunately we had well water so chlorine didnt kill them.
Those floppy frisks lived for 5 years. Frogs kept escaping and scaring my mom in the kitchen (which I thought was funny) but I didnt know how to clean the tank, how to cycle, anything- so it kiiiinda got gross ^^'
Second shame: I was 17, roommate bought me a betta and a tank for my dorm. (She noticed I was looking at them and got one).
I didn't know jack about fish, just that you had to feed, clean the tank, make sure they dont get sick, and they'll be fine!
Learned about testing the waters properly and cycling and proper care about five-six months ago. That betta? Still alive. I have no idea how he is- he was in untreated water, no water changes, cleaning his tank once a month, didnt presoak his food, etc. for about a year and this fish came from WALMART. I have fish dying from Petsmart the day after we bring them home and yet /this guy/ has lived this long???
And he's still swimming happily. He's doing better now we got him in a 30 gal with a plant and a snail with a smaller bristlenose pleco.
Fish, man.
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My tank is eh- more empty than anything. 30 gal with 2 bubble decorations, a plant, a few little decorations and then the fish and substrate. Pretty empty for 3 fish xD Need to get something to actually aquascape it.
I'm just inexperienced as a fish pet owner honestly ^^' You can study as much as you want, but once you're faced with the situation, every case isn't by the textbook. We need a shameful/embarrassing fishkeeper moments thread lol
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The thought of that is terrifying; those poor fish!!!!!- Messages
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My old 10 gallon... It had neon blue and green gravel, fake plants, and a lot of fake decor. One of the fake plants was spiky and sharp, not to mention a neon rainbow of color. I think it's supposed to look like coral? but it doesn't.
To be short: A small, overstocked, fake, neon tank. Not good.
I discovered live plants and aquascapes, and began to slowly replace the fake plants with real ones until I just straight up upgraded... just went from a small crowded 10g to a big heckin 40g bowfront! It does have fake decor, but It's all fake driftwood and rocks. Also, all live plants. Honestly, I love my 40!
(Not to mention it's severely understocked, and overfiltered as is)
To be short: A small, overstocked, fake, neon tank. Not good.
I discovered live plants and aquascapes, and began to slowly replace the fake plants with real ones until I just straight up upgraded... just went from a small crowded 10g to a big heckin 40g bowfront! It does have fake decor, but It's all fake driftwood and rocks. Also, all live plants. Honestly, I love my 40!
(Not to mention it's severely understocked, and overfiltered as is)
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I’ve really taken to fixing up my 36gal shame tank. The only shameful thing about it now is the brush algae and stocking. It houses 3 juvenile angels, 2 upside down catfish, 2 adult female BN, a juvenile red BN, and a male betta....
Could be worse I suppose but certainly not ideal.
My current shame tank is the largest, 55gal with ~20 African cichlids and a raphael catfish. I want to rehome all the cichlids and move the angels, upside cats, and my school of fireline danios into it as a planted community tank.The hardest part would be getting rid of all my Africans. Easier said than done unfortunately.
Could be worse I suppose but certainly not ideal.
My current shame tank is the largest, 55gal with ~20 African cichlids and a raphael catfish. I want to rehome all the cichlids and move the angels, upside cats, and my school of fireline danios into it as a planted community tank.The hardest part would be getting rid of all my Africans. Easier said than done unfortunately.
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I currently have a 10 gallon planted shrimp tank that has algae floating in the water column...
At one point I did 50% daily water changes for a week then blacked out the tank and turned off the tank light for two weeks. All that did was harm my plants.
I’m going to try and slowly move all my shrimp to another tank, do a bunch of water changes and algae scraping, then put in something that will hopefully get rid of the algae on the plant leaves.
The weirdest thing about this tank- the shrimp are thriving. They’re mixed colors and some really interesting ones have popped up. I’m on my third generation of shrimp. Most of the plants haven’t died and actually periodically grow new leaves.
At one point I did 50% daily water changes for a week then blacked out the tank and turned off the tank light for two weeks. All that did was harm my plants.
I’m going to try and slowly move all my shrimp to another tank, do a bunch of water changes and algae scraping, then put in something that will hopefully get rid of the algae on the plant leaves.
The weirdest thing about this tank- the shrimp are thriving. They’re mixed colors and some really interesting ones have popped up. I’m on my third generation of shrimp. Most of the plants haven’t died and actually periodically grow new leaves.
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I have a trash tank. It’s a ten gallon tank that I throw in the unwanted. I have it my room, and I keep saying I will get rid of it, but never do.
There’s 1 leopard danio ( he is a bully and murdered my other danios, so he moved to this tank). He has half of its scales missing because of the fights. No one wants to take him.
There’s also 1 apple snail. I made an order of feeder snails and I somehow ended up with this. I noticed it wasn’t a mystery snail when it kept growing and wiped one of my nicer tank out it’s foreground plants. Also some ramshorns.
This tank has an old internal filter I threw in there all sideways and a bunch of plants and driftwood I couldn’t figure out what to do with from my other tanks. It’s so ugly. I don’t Even fill it anymore, just ignore it.
There’s 1 leopard danio ( he is a bully and murdered my other danios, so he moved to this tank). He has half of its scales missing because of the fights. No one wants to take him.
There’s also 1 apple snail. I made an order of feeder snails and I somehow ended up with this. I noticed it wasn’t a mystery snail when it kept growing and wiped one of my nicer tank out it’s foreground plants. Also some ramshorns.
This tank has an old internal filter I threw in there all sideways and a bunch of plants and driftwood I couldn’t figure out what to do with from my other tanks. It’s so ugly. I don’t Even fill it anymore, just ignore it.
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How did I never see this thread before??!!
My shame tank will take the cake, I'm sure. I don't think I've ever shared it because it is so shameful! From the decor to the fish and everywhere in-between.
The story is this: My daughter's friend told her that she wanted to get rid of a fish tank that she had had for several years. She was tired of taking care of the goldfish and wanted it to go to a home where it would be cared for. She shared an old picture of it. The 29 gallon tank and all gear would come with it. I said...you bet we'll take it! Fast forward to 6 months later when the exchange finally happened. Come to find out that the goldfish is 8 years old and is 7"!!
So, here I have this tank with the clown puke decor and a fish that is too big for it. But I can't get rid of it because I promised this 16 year old girl that we would take care of it.
So, here's what we're stuck with. The fish seems healthy and happy and we've had it for about 9 months now.
My shame tank will take the cake, I'm sure. I don't think I've ever shared it because it is so shameful! From the decor to the fish and everywhere in-between.
The story is this: My daughter's friend told her that she wanted to get rid of a fish tank that she had had for several years. She was tired of taking care of the goldfish and wanted it to go to a home where it would be cared for. She shared an old picture of it. The 29 gallon tank and all gear would come with it. I said...you bet we'll take it! Fast forward to 6 months later when the exchange finally happened. Come to find out that the goldfish is 8 years old and is 7"!!
So, here I have this tank with the clown puke decor and a fish that is too big for it. But I can't get rid of it because I promised this 16 year old girl that we would take care of it.
So, here's what we're stuck with. The fish seems healthy and happy and we've had it for about 9 months now.
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The two dark shrimp in those pictures are the result of second generation blue velvet x red cherry shrimp mixes.
(First picture is old- she’s darker now.)
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I feel a little bit like I'm in a movie at an AA meeting as I type this.
Hi, my name is and I have 2 shame tanks. One is a 1 gallon tank that I got for breeding minnows but now it is the Snail Gulag with no heater or filter and a ton of duckweed. All the snails I find when buying plants get put in here. I tell myself it's less cruel that squishing them but I'm not totally sure that's true.
The second shame tank hurts to talk about because it was supposed to be my show tank. It's a 37 gallon tall tank that is the first "big" tank that I bought new and started from day 1 with all live plants ($$$$$). I used ammonia for a fishless cycle and the algae wrecked the drift wood. I've tried everything to fight the thick black algae. The tank smells bad even though it's lightly stocked (currently just 2 new juvenile EBAs until they pass quarantine) and gets 50% weekly water changes. I hate this tank and can't wait to get rid of it cheap on Craigslist.
Hi, my name is and I have 2 shame tanks. One is a 1 gallon tank that I got for breeding minnows but now it is the Snail Gulag with no heater or filter and a ton of duckweed. All the snails I find when buying plants get put in here. I tell myself it's less cruel that squishing them but I'm not totally sure that's true.
The second shame tank hurts to talk about because it was supposed to be my show tank. It's a 37 gallon tall tank that is the first "big" tank that I bought new and started from day 1 with all live plants ($$$$$). I used ammonia for a fishless cycle and the algae wrecked the drift wood. I've tried everything to fight the thick black algae. The tank smells bad even though it's lightly stocked (currently just 2 new juvenile EBAs until they pass quarantine) and gets 50% weekly water changes. I hate this tank and can't wait to get rid of it cheap on Craigslist.
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I rescaped and did a big water change on my current most shameful tank, the 55gal African cichlid tank.
Looks alright from a distance, okay hardscape, crystal clear water
Then you get closer and ooof, look at those water stains! Look at the weird black algae!
Look at the grotesque mutant cichlid! (He has an internal growth going on 2ish years now, he’s almost 6 too).
I still want to restock this tank but rehoming these snots that I raised from fry, many I bred myself, and not knowing if they’d ever be sold/rehomed if I took them to a pet store makes me rethink things. This tank and I plus it’s inhabitants have a lot of history together.
Looks alright from a distance, okay hardscape, crystal clear water
Then you get closer and ooof, look at those water stains! Look at the weird black algae!
Look at the grotesque mutant cichlid! (He has an internal growth going on 2ish years now, he’s almost 6 too).
I still want to restock this tank but rehoming these snots that I raised from fry, many I bred myself, and not knowing if they’d ever be sold/rehomed if I took them to a pet store makes me rethink things. This tank and I plus it’s inhabitants have a lot of history together.
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