The Worst Aquarium Misconceptions!

[PoorBigBlue]

Perhaps more than any hobby I know of, the aquarium hobby has a ton of misconceptions that endanger the life we keep. What are some of the misconceptions that you've encountered over the years?

Seeing as I've currently got two tanks, a betta and a reef, here are my two contributions.

Keeping bettas in small bowls/sub gallon tanks - I'm sure this doesn't need a lot of explanation to most of you, but bettas deserve space to swim, and perhaps more importantly, a cycled and heated tank with enough dilution to provide a safe environment for the fish. 2 gallons would be my absolute minimum, although I know a lot of people would say 5-10 gallons+. My girl is in a 5.5, and is fat and happy, with lots of meaty foods and ghost shrimp to hunt.

Finding Nemo - I grew up with this movie, and still love the story. That said, the aquarium portrayed in the movie (and the focus on clownfish, hippo tangs, and moorish idols) caused a massive amount of death in the hobby. Kids wanted their own Nemos, Dorys, and Gills, and parents went out and bought massive amounts of these fish without any research - more so false percula clownfish and Blue hippo tangs, but lots of other fish were affected. Of course, this led to a lot of death, and the repercussions can STILL be seen today in the clownfish industry. Finding a wild-caught false perc is nearly impossible in most LFSs today, since there's such a strong breeding scene due to the movie. Breeders existed before the movie came out, but they came in droves once the demand became so high.

 

[Platylover]

Inch per gallon rule- no, just no. There’s only one species I can think of this remotely works with and even then it can be finicky. You need to smartly stock, not just toss things in because of the size it is or the size it gets. I understand people who really don’t know and that’s what they were taught, but the ones teaching it... like petstores? It’s rather foolish and greedy on their part.

Advice from petstores or fish stores- this is like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They smell your money and will make up whatever they need to to get it. They are there to make money, not give advice. Granted there’s a lot of good hearted people working there who really don’t know, but that’s the problem. They’re trained with the information that makes short term money, not the information that will actually properly help someone.

Goldfish in a bowl- if people would stop and think for a moment prior to doing this, I believe it would be less of a problem. Common goldfish get 12” long, even by the inch per gallon rule they couldn’t go in a bowl. I know people are misinformed, but the people teaching them things aren’t the ones who will be caring for the fish. They need to properly research, which brings me to my next point.

Not doing research- not so much a misconception but something I notice a lot of people do. When you buy a pet you have a responsibility to properly care for it and to do that you need to know how. To do so without causing unnecessary stress on the fish or animal you should do the research prior to purchasing it.

Balloon and dyed fish are cute- maybe if you don’t know what’s causing them to be “cute.” Balloons have a severe spinal deformity that causes their organs to push forward. This of course causes major health issues and is just an inhumane thing to do or support. With the dyed or tattooed fish they either have their slime coat ripped off and themselves dipped into die or have a needle punctured into them over and over again. Another inhuamne thing...

Those are just a few...

 

[PoorBigBlue]

To add a few more:

Short-bodied fish - this kinda goes with your balloon comment above. Any fish that's bred to be short-bodied (whether for aesthetic reasons or due to bad genetics) will live a shortened life, and will often die a seemingly painful death. Their organs simply grow too large for their bodies, and that can't be a fun way to live.

Bettas only being solitary - While I can't recommend that everyone go out and try a sorority or a betta community (because they don't always work), the idea that bettas are only capable of being housed alone is still wide-spread and is extremely incorrect. In a tiny tank, I'm sure a betta wouldn't want to share his space. But, I'd say that 8/10 bettas (be them male or female) would allow a non-flowey fish to live with them in an appropriately sized tank.

Saltwater tanks being expensive - It is true that saltwater tanks can be costly, and they do tend to be more costly than their freshwater counterparts. However, their difficulty and their cost are often inflated by people for seemingly no reason other than to keep people out of the hobby. While my saltwater tank (a 10 gallon - a size that a lot of people still scoff at being extremely hard to maintain) requires a bit more cash and a bit more attention to maintain than my betta tank, it's not like I'm babying the tank 24/7. I top-off the water every 2-3 days, feed daily, and perform maintenance weekly. That's literally the same routine that I have with my betta tank - it is a bit more involved, but not by much. As far as cost, I spent $60 on lighting, $65 on filtration and flow, $25 on rock and sand, $80 on salt, and $15 on fish so far. That's $245 total, and the salt will likely last me at least a year. It IS costly, but not much more so than a high-tech planted tank.

 

[WinterSoldier.]

"Bettas like living in measuring cups, the smaller the better, they live in mud puddles"

 

[Cheesecake]

"Bettas like living in measuring cups, the smaller the better, they live in mud puddles"

Please tell me no human who has ever kept fish said that.

Another one; you don't need filters, and aquariums are self-sustaining ecosystems. That may not be a very big one, but it is an important on.

Saltwater tanks being expensive - It is true that saltwater tanks can be costly, and they do tend to be more costly than their freshwater counterparts. However, their difficulty and their cost are often inflated by people for seemingly no reason other than to keep people out of the hobby. While my saltwater tank (a 10 gallon - a size that a lot of people still scoff at being extremely hard to maintain) requires a bit more cash and a bit more attention to maintain than my betta tank, it's not like I'm babying the tank 24/7. I top-off the water every 2-3 days, feed daily, and perform maintenance weekly. That's literally the same routine that I have with my betta tank - it is a bit more involved, but not by much. As far as cost, I spent $60 on lighting, $65 on filtration and flow, $25 on rock and sand, $80 on salt, and $15 on fish so far. That's $245 total, and the salt will likely last me at least a year. It IS costly, but not much more so than a high-tech planted tank.

Well, how expensive would a freshwater tank of similar size be?

 

[KPitt]

Perhaps more than any hobby I know of, the aquarium hobby has a ton of misconceptions that endanger the life we keep. What are some of the misconceptions that you've encountered over the years?

Seeing as I've currently got two tanks, a betta and a reef, here are my two contributions.

Keeping bettas in small bowls/sub gallon tanks - I'm sure this doesn't need a lot of explanation to most of you, but bettas deserve space to swim, and perhaps more importantly, a cycled and heated tank with enough dilution to provide a safe environment for the fish. 2 gallons would be my absolute minimum, although I know a lot of people would say 5-10 gallons+. My girl is in a 5.5, and is fat and happy, with lots of meaty foods and ghost shrimp to hunt.

Finding Nemo - I grew up with this movie, and still love the story. That said, the aquarium portrayed in the movie (and the focus on clownfish, hippo tangs, and moorish idols) caused a massive amount of death in the hobby. Kids wanted their own Nemos, Dorys, and Gills, and parents went out and bought massive amounts of these fish without any research - more so false percula clownfish and Blue hippo tangs, but lots of other fish were affected. Of course, this led to a lot of death, and the repercussions can STILL be seen today in the clownfish industry. Finding a wild-caught false perc is nearly impossible in most LFSs today, since there's such a strong breeding scene due to the movie. Breeders existed before the movie came out, but they came in droves once the demand became so high.

Perhaps more than any hobby I know of, the aquarium hobby has a ton of misconceptions that endanger the life we keep. What are some of the misconceptions that you've encountered over the years?

Seeing as I've currently got two tanks, a betta and a reef, here are my two contributions.

Keeping bettas in small bowls/sub gallon tanks - I'm sure this doesn't need a lot of explanation to most of you, but bettas deserve space to swim, and perhaps more importantly, a cycled and heated tank with enough dilution to provide a safe environment for the fish. 2 gallons would be my absolute minimum, although I know a lot of people would say 5-10 gallons+. My girl is in a 5.5, and is fat and happy, with lots of meaty foods and ghost shrimp to hunt.

Finding Nemo - I grew up with this movie, and still love the story. That said, the aquarium portrayed in the movie (and the focus on clownfish, hippo tangs, and moorish idols) caused a massive amount of death in the hobby. Kids wanted their own Nemos, Dorys, and Gills, and parents went out and bought massive amounts of these fish without any research - more so false percula clownfish and Blue hippo tangs, but lots of other fish were affected. Of course, this led to a lot of death, and the repercussions can STILL be seen today in the clownfish industry. Finding a wild-caught false perc is nearly impossible in most LFSs today, since there's such a strong breeding scene due to the movie. Breeders existed before the movie came out, but they came in droves once the demand became so high.

 

[Platylover]

Please tell me no human who has ever kept fish said that.

Another one; you don't need filters, and aquariums are self-sustaining ecosystems. That may not be a very big one, but it is an important on.



Well, how expensive would a freshwater tank of similar size be?

You’d be surprised, it’s a rather common phrase you here from at least petstores...

Well, to be fair, some aquariums don’t require a filter. Like walstads

 

[wrs2]

Bettas only being solitary - While I can't recommend that everyone go out and try a sorority or a betta community (because they don't always work), the idea that bettas are only capable of being housed alone is still wide-spread and is extremely incorrect. In a tiny tank, I'm sure a betta wouldn't want to share his space. But, I'd say that 8/10 bettas (be them male or female) would allow a non-flowey fish to live with them in an appropriately sized tank.

100% agree on this! I still see people say this though, on here even, and I've had bettas for longer than I care to mention and in the over decade of betta care most all of them have lived in community tanks and I never had a problem with a betta being aggressive to other fish!

 

[Cheesecake]

You’d be surprised, it’s a rather common phrase you here from at least petstores...

Well, to be fair, some aquariums don’t require a filter. Like walstads

True.
Another one; the amount of fish in a tank!
Imagine a 20 gallon with 20+ goldfish.....

 

[KPitt]

Back in the 70's when I started in the hobby a second time, the misconception was that when you started a new aquarium you had to let it work for two weeks before adding fish. No mention of the Nitrogen cycle or actually anything for that matter. Now I think I lived in an area where fish keeping was kind of behind the times, I was in my teens. No wonder we lost so many fish.
The other was activated charcoal, it was necessary. It isn't always needed but back then if was incorporated into everything!!

 

[Jocelyn Adelman]

I’ve come across the betta statement a number of times unfortunately...
As for the filter... you don’t need one, but you DO need a cycled tank (I have a few unfiltered, not beginner setups)

Goldie in a bowl... personally blame a lot of this (and goldfish in tiny tanks) on the marketing companies... pictures always show the Goldie in a bowl/small tanks!!! Any why if you know your glo fish need bigger tanks, why offer a small glo kit??!?!

For me... ferts cause algae. Plants don’t need to be fed. Water changes aren’t important.

 

[PoorBigBlue]

A lot of aquariums can be run filterless - it just has to be set up and stocked in an appropriate fashion.

Please tell me no human who has ever kept fish said that.

Another one; you don't need filters, and aquariums are self-sustaining ecosystems. That may not be a very big one, but it is an important on.



Well, how expensive would a freshwater tank of similar size be?

It depends on the freshwater tank. I'm going off the assumption that someone who wants to get into saltwater is prepared for the cost, and has in-depth experience with freshwater tanks. It's not fair (IMO) to compare the cost of an average cost of a regular Freshwater aquarium to that of a reef - you need to compare the cost of a planted tank, so you can get as many parallels as possible with lighting. Here's the cost that I'd figure up for a planted 10 gallon:

Tank: $10
Filter (AC 30): $30
Heater (Aqueon 50W): $16W
Planted substrate (Fluorite): $19
Lighting (PAR 38 with DIY fixture): $45 (depends on the bulb you use)

That comes out to $120 without considering any livestock.

As similar reef tank, would cost about this much:

Tank: $10
Filter (AC 30): $30
Powerhead (Koralia Nano 425): $30
Heater (Aqueon 50W): $16
Aragonite: $12
Live rock: $12
Lighting (PAR 38 with DIY Fixture): $60
Salt (50 gallon bag of reef crystals): $15

That comes to $185, without consider stock.

On average, livestock will cost more for a saltwater tank - so you are looking at probably 75-100% more for a saltwater tank. But, people make it seem like it's out of reach for your average hobbyist, and it really isn't, especially if you go FOWLR. Saltwater isn't cheap, but if you go and check out a lot of websites, the estimated costs are way too high.

Back in the 70's when I started in the hobby a second time, the misconception was that when you started a new aquarium you had to let it work for two weeks before adding fish. No mention of the Nitrogen cycle or actually anything for that matter. Now I think I lived in an area where fish keeping was kind of behind the times, I was in my teens. No wonder we lost so many fish.
The other was activated charcoal, it was necessary. It isn't always needed but back then if was incorporated into everything!!

I remember that we used to just let the tank sit for 24 hours. We didn't know any better!

I’ve come across the betta statement a number of times unfortunately...
As for the filter... you don’t need one, but you DO need a cycled tank (I have a few unfiltered, not beginner setups)

Goldie in a bowl... personally blame a lot of this (and goldfish in tiny tanks) on the marketing companies... pictures always show the Goldie in a bowl/small tanks!!! Any why if you know your glo fish need bigger tanks, why offer a small glo kit??!?!

For me... ferts cause algae. Plants don’t need to be fed. Water changes aren’t important.

Sadly, it's all about the money.

 

[Rtessy]

"bettas will drown if kept in a large tank, so they need small tanks"
"Bettas eat plant roots, so if you keep them in a vase, you don't even have to feed them!"
"Algae eaters clean your tank for you"

 

[Gourami36]

Plecos eat fish poop and clean your fish tank so you don’t have to feed them
Fish only grow to the size of their tanks
Fish are to dumb to be stressed/unhappy
Bettas live in tiny dirty mud puddles so a bowl is much better
Fish die just because they have a short lifespan

 

[PoorBigBlue]

"bettas will drown if kept in a large tank, so they need small tanks"
"Bettas eat plant roots, so if you keep them in a vase, you don't even have to feed them!"
"Algae eaters clean your tank for you"

Not gonna lie, the algae eater thing is one of my biggest pet peeves on forums. Fish do NOT clean your tank - that's YOUR job!

People buy plecos without realizing that they can't survive and grow properly off of just the algae on your glass. They need a specialized diet - some are wood-eaters, some are carnivorous, and some need fresh veggies. That, and the common pleco thing... oof. Same thing goes for fish like Siamese algae eaters and Otos - neither of those fish are cleaners, really. Otos will clean, but should still be supplemented. The whole "culture" surrounding cleaner fish (even in saltwater) is just pretty bad.

Plecos eat fish poop and clean your fish tank so you don’t have to feed them
Fish only grow to the size of their tanks
Fish are to dumb to be stressed/unhappy
Bettas live in tiny dirty mud puddles so a bowl is much better
Fish die just because they have a short lifespan

 

[Gourami36]

Fish live in dirty lakes/other bodies of water in the wild so I don’t have to clean the tank
Fish can die very easily/fish are very easy to take care of
Fish are good beginner pets for children (usually no)
Fish are a cheap pet
You can buy any fish whenever you want and they will be fine
Feed fish any time they will eat

 

[Jafa]

Lordie, in an attempt to clear 'misconceptions' in the fish keeping industry I have just read some absurd misinformation propagated by people who regurgitate old myths and misinformation like facts.
Fish keeping is a Science.
Unless you wish to follow old 'How to' books you need to be analytical and develop an open mind with keen observation skills.
Never mindlessly listen to 'experts' but take on board their advice with a critical and analytical mind.

A couple of my 'favourites'.
Anything that ends in -fix is a scam.
Salt has no place in a tropical fish aquarium.

People need to test their theories before espousing them.

Betta do not drown in deep water. But they are a fish that loves to visit the surface. They are also often laden down with heavy fins.
It is inhumane to keep Betta in deep water.

 

[SM1199]

Not quite a misconception, but something I hear so much:

"I saw someone do *insert dumb idea* before and the fish were alive, so it must be completely fine"

Example, that I have actually heard before from a friend in college: "I saw my friend keep bettas in old Hennessy bottles before and the fish were alive, so it must be completely fine"
A few months later and I overheard them saying the guy's bettas had all died eventually. I feel bad for the fish, but WOW, I tried to warn them.

"I saw someone keep a 6 inch cichlid in a 10 gallon tank before and it was alive, so it must be completely fine"

 

[Jafa]

Algae eaters do in fact eat algae in your tank. Fact.

 

[Skavatar]

Just because goldfish don't need a heater, doesn't make them "cold water" fish. they are temperate. Many are bred and raised in outdoor ponds in the tropics, like Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Hawaii. They also have established breeding populations around the world including Brazil and parts of Africa where "tropical" fish originated.

 

[Kathryn Crook]

“Ive been doing this for 40+ years and that's not the way it is done.”

That's the one that drives me nuts the most. Like nothing new has been learned about fish keeping in 40 years. Ugggh..

 

[PoorBigBlue]

Lordie, in an attempt to clear 'misconceptions' in the fish keeping industry I have just read some absurd misinformation propagated by people who regurgitate old myths and misinformation like facts.
Fish keeping is a Science.
Unless you wish to follow old 'How to' books you need to be analytical and develop an open mind with keen observation skills.
Never mindlessly listen to 'experts' but take on board their advice with a critical and analytical mind.

A couple of my 'favourites'.
Anything that ends in -fix is a scam.
Salt has no place in a tropical fish aquarium.

People need to test their theories before espousing them.

Well, I do have to say that I've found most of the "-fix" products to be irrelevant at best. Most of the chemicals people add to their tanks serve little purpose, other than making the company money, IMO.

As far as salt... that's a whole 'nother discussion. IMO, it's usually overused. But, different things for different people!

 

[Jafa]

For 30 years I kept fish tanks in my classrooms with fish, snails, plants and tap water. NO CHEMICALS and salt being the only med.
Balanced ecosystems work!
But only if you are intuitive and sensitive.
I would only recommend it for the purists.

“Ive been doing this for 40+ years and that's not the way it is done.”

That's the one that drives me nuts the most. Like nothing new has been learned about fish keeping in 40 years. Ugggh..

Seems to me, Ms Crook, that many people achieved much success 40 years ago and should NOT be dismissed.

One prevalent thing I am seeing here is, 'Living fish do not equate to healthy fish.'
Lordie, I truly think that is our litmus test!!!
Happy is for the empathetic.
Too few empaths in the industry. Too few empaths in the world.

 

[PoorBigBlue]

Seems to me, Ms Crook, that many people achieved much success 40 years ago and should NOT be dismissed.

Old techniques often work. However, there are MANY new ones that work just as well, as if not better.

It all comes back to the fact there's more than one way to keep fish, and as long as your fish are happy and healthy, there's no problem with you keeping them the way you see fit.

For 30 years I kept fish tanks in my classrooms with fish, snails, plants and tap water. NO CHEMICALS and salt being the only med.
Balanced ecosystems work!
But only if you are intuitive and sensitive.
I would only recommend it for the purists.

Hate to disagree with you here, but salt isn't a cure-all for all diseases. Take ich, for example - salt doesn't kill ich, at least not at levels tolerable by most freshwater fish. Maybe it helps keep the fish alive and to fight off the parasite, but then you're dealing with ich management - and any one stressor could cause the ich to manifest, and then you have another outbreak all over again. That method works, but is risky, especially when proven medications are so cheap and safe these days.

 

[SM1199]

I'll say, for the whole salt thing, it doesn't cure everything, BUT it can be very effective against non-salt-tolerant bacteria that can cause certain illnesses like fin rot, and sometimes against parasites too. I treated some shrimp that had parasites with just a 1 minute salt bath and literally watched them drop right off of the shrimp and die, shrimp went away unharmed and are still alive today.

The key here is non-salt-tolerant bacteria/parasites versus salt-tolerant bacteria/parasites, and knowing the difference. I could tell that, between two rescue bettas, one's fin rot responded to salt treatment miraculously in a day, and the other did not at all over a week. Non-salt-tolerant versus salt-tolerant bacteria: the two were infected with different things.

 

[Donovan Jones]

My step mom was led to believe all bettas carry ich by a PetSmart employee and she ran with that philosophy for years. 12 year old me was just getting into fish at the time and it wasn't until quite a while later I realized how stupid that really was.

 

[nikm128]

Not so much a misconception, but definitely a mistake.
Taking any tank size reccomendation from walmart or petsmart. Walmart because they advertise pictus catfish for 5 gallon tanks. Petsmart because they worship API stuff and use everything that company says as indisputable fact. Along with that, their tank reccomendations are constantly changing. For example, one week they had opaline gouramis for 20g, next week it was 29, two weeks later it was 20 gallon again. They also reccomend all African and American cichlids for 29 gallon tanks when most Africans will be lucky to reach 6" and Americans will happily hit a foot.

 

[Jafa]

Old techniques often work. However, there are MANY new ones that work just as well, as if not better.

It all comes back to the fact there's more than one way to keep fish, and as long as your fish are happy and healthy, there's no problem with you keeping them the way you see fit.


Hate to disagree with you here, but salt isn't a cure-all for all diseases. Take ich, for example - salt doesn't kill ich, at least not at levels tolerable by most freshwater fish. Maybe it helps keep the fish alive and to fight off the parasite, but then you're dealing with ich management - and any one stressor could cause the ich to manifest, and then you have another outbreak all over again. That method works, but is risky, especially when proven medications are so cheap and safe these days.

The best and safest treatment for ich is salt and raise the te

My step mom was led to believe all bettas carry ich by a PetSmart employee and she ran with that philosophy for years. 12 year old me was just getting into fish at the time and it wasn't until quite a while later I realized how stupid that really was.

We all take on ignorant advice at times.
It is up to us to decide to be analytical about everything we hear.
That isn't to say to be disrespectful and discard other people's experiences. Much advice is well researched.
Just be open minded.

 

[nikm128]

On a similar note to my first post, don't use API. Their food is full of chemicals and super processed ingredients, if we as people are starting to open our eyes to junk in our food, our fish deserve the same. Also don't use API test strips, they're notoriously inaccurate, if you want to use API use the liquid test kit which still isn't the best.

 

[Jafa]

Old techniques often work. However, there are MANY new ones that work just as well, as if not better.

It all comes back to the fact there's more than one way to keep fish, and as long as your fish are happy and healthy, there's no problem with you keeping them the way you see fit.


Hate to disagree with you here, but salt isn't a cure-all for all diseases. Take ich, for example - salt doesn't kill ich, at least not at levels tolerable by most freshwater fish. Maybe it helps keep the fish alive and to fight off the parasite, but then you're dealing with ich management - and any one stressor could cause the ich to manifest, and then you have another outbreak all over again. That method works, but is risky, especially when proven medications are so cheap and safe these days.

PoorBigBlue, you need to research ich treatments.
Free swimming ich is highly sensitive to even small amounts of salt.

 

[Rtessy]

PoorBigBlue, you need to research ich treatments.
Free swimming ich is highly sensitive to even small amounts of salt.

Being condescending does not help. There are many Ich treatments. I haven't treated it, but I've seen it work using salt and temp raise. I've seen it go away faster with meds though.
Edit: also I don't mean to come off poorly, and I'm not sure you are being condescending, it's hard to read tone over words alone. No hard feelings meant

 

[PoorBigBlue]

PoorBigBlue, you need to research ich treatments.
Free swimming ich is highly sensitive to even small amounts of salt.

I didn't mean to offend - I've never heard of salt being used to successfully treat ich. After a quick Google, it seems as if there is a salt regiment that some people say does work - so, I'm sorry for making a general, sweeping statement.

However, raising the temperature or simply using a medication such as cupramine is also safe, and the cupramine is guaranteed to work. I always keep a bottle on hand, as well as a copper test kit, and it's never failed me with freshwater or saltwater ich.

 

[wodesorel]

Seems to me, Ms Crook, that many people achieved much success 40 years ago and should NOT be dismissed.

This one always bothers me. Opinions change with the times, but observable facts do not. It always seems like newer keepers who want to seem bigger and better than their predecessors will pick and choose and further narrow down information in order to seem new and hip. If something worked for decades, then guess what! It works. Period.

 

[Jafa]

Being condescending does not help. There are many Ich treatments. I haven't treated it, but I've seen it work using salt and temp raise. I've seen it go away faster with meds though.
Edit: also I don't mean to come off poorly, and I'm not sure you are being condescending, it's hard to read tone over words alone. No hard feelings meant

I am never condescending. But I cannot ignore ignorance. I am an educator.

I have another one.
That harsh medications are needed for any anomaly.

 

[PoorBigBlue]

This one always bothers me. Opinions change with the times, but observable facts do not. It always seems like newer keepers who want to seem bigger and better than their predecessors will pick and choose and further narrow down information in order to seem new and hip. If something worked for decades, then guess what! It works. Period.

I agree! But, new things are developed over time, and sometimes new treatments are more available or are simply easier than some of the older techniques. Once again, it all comes down to the fact there are a million ways to keep healthy, happy fish.

I am never condescending. But I cannot ignore ignorance. I am an educator.

Perhaps your education would be better accepted if you were a bit more kind with it.

There's a fine line between educating and looking down at someone for not knowing the ins and outs of something. Not sure if you are, but it sure seems like it.

I have another one.
That harsh medications are needed for any anomaly.

Something we can agree on! Some medications in Canada now require you to get a prescription from a vet in order to get certain medications - I believe erythromycin is one of them, which renders a lot of medications prescription-only. That'd be fine, except for the fact that vets that work on fish are few and far between, especially in Canada!

 

[Rtessy]

This one always bothers me. Opinions change with the times, but observable facts do not. It always seems like newer keepers who want to seem bigger and better than their predecessors will pick and choose and further narrow down information in order to seem new and hip. If something worked for decades, then guess what! It works. Period.

See, my only problem with this is the quality of fish. Could neon tetras live for 5-10 years 40 years ago wihout water changes? Yeah, they totally could. But now, they just don't live that long, whether you keep them "properly" with perfect parameters or still without water changes.

I am never condescending. But I cannot ignore ignorance. I am an educator.

Sounds good, thanks for explaining your point of view. Your writing style is a bit short, and it could be read as a condescending tone.

 

[aae0130]

It is a misconception that fish keepers didn’t know what the nitrogen cycle was up until recently. It was discovered in 1877.

 

[Jafa]

Perhaps your education would be better accepted if you were a bit more kind with it.

I am usually described as a very kind person.
If you reread my comments, they are usually meant to be informative and kindly.
Excepting one, mebbe

 

[PoorBigBlue]

Perhaps your education would be better accepted if you were a bit more kind with it.

I am usually described as a very kind person.
If you reread my comments, they are usually meant to be informative and kindly.
Excepting one, mebbe

I'm glad! Just a misunderstanding, then.

 

[DoubleDutch]

On a similar note to my first post, don't use API. Their food is full of chemicals and super processed ingredients, if we as people are starting to open our eyes to junk in our food, our fish deserve the same. Also don't use API test strips, they're notoriously inaccurate, if you want to use API use the liquid test kit which still isn't the best.

Reading through this thread this might be the thing nowadays. A lot, it not all, aquabrands make us believe we can't do without them and that their stuff / meds willd do wonders.

Most bacterial starters are bacterial buy-timers used in case of the lack of PATIENCE

Nitrate reducing sponges contain chemical pellets to do so for a short period of time.
Plants need nitrates though so removing them is oftrn unneeded.

The Dutch fairytale med Esha 2000 treats EVERYTHING (only not Ebola I believe). NOT

My tanks started doing well using office lighting instead of expensive full spectrum plantgrowth tubes

This is why I think a lot of old methods work better by far instead of profit driven (is this English) commercial fairytales.

So there are a lot of misconceptions and a lot are pushed in our brains by these brands.

Common sense often is a lot better.

A shame all these misconceptions cost millions and millions of fish their lives yearly.

 

[ValerieAdams]

"bettas will drown if kept in a large tank, so they need small tanks"
"Bettas eat plant roots, so if you keep them in a vase, you don't even have to feed them!"
"Algae eaters clean your tank for you"

Not gonna lie, the algae eater thing is one of my biggest pet peeves on forums. Fish do NOT clean your tank - that's YOUR job!

People buy plecos without realizing that they can't survive and grow properly off of just the algae on your glass. They need a specialized diet - some are wood-eaters, some are carnivorous, and some need fresh veggies. That, and the common pleco thing... oof. Same thing goes for fish like Siamese algae eaters and Otos - neither of those fish are cleaners, really. Otos will clean, but should still be supplemented. The whole "culture" surrounding cleaner fish (even in saltwater) is just pretty bad.

And not only will plecos not clean your tank, they will poop, a lot. And put a lot more cleaning on your list of things to do

 

[coralbandit]

3 pages and no one said large water changes are bad yet ? Biggest misconception going .There was only one thing wrong with everyones brand new tanks when they set it up .They lacked bacteria .New water has never been issue for a healthy fish .If it is then that is because of the slacker who had the fish before you !
Guess that is why some try to keep some fish and some make more fish …
Nobody keeps fish without keeping water correct first .
Most change too little water IMO but don't understand or blame the new fish for issues that clean water really would have helped their fish avoid .
50% is nice and will work if you reset your tank every month .Reset is 75-90% water change.With any other schedule you are building up TDS like if you only flushed 1/2 the water in your toilet every week ….Eventually old tank syndrome or some other issue come up for most who think they are doing enough .
60+ tanks disease free [completely] for over 1 year now .Most disease free for last 5+ years ..
I change a lot of water !

 

[WinterSoldier.]

Please tell me no human who has ever kept fish said that.

Another one; you don't need filters, and aquariums are self-sustaining ecosystems. That may not be a very big one, but it is an important on.



Well, how expensive would a freshwater tank of similar size be?

Yes they did, someone at petsmart, because I complained about the "tanks" they were selling.

Not gonna lie, the algae eater thing is one of my biggest pet peeves on forums. Fish do NOT clean your tank - that's YOUR job!

People buy plecos without realizing that they can't survive and grow properly off of just the algae on your glass. They need a specialized diet - some are wood-eaters, some are carnivorous, and some need fresh veggies. That, and the common pleco thing... oof. Same thing goes for fish like Siamese algae eaters and Otos - neither of those fish are cleaners, really. Otos will clean, but should still be supplemented. The whole "culture" surrounding cleaner fish (even in saltwater) is just pretty bad.

I think that "algae eaters clean your tank" is over hyped, personally I keep snails so I never really have to worry about algae, if people went with snails instead of algae eaters the world would be a better place

 

[Isobelle]

My local Petland, under their bettas, has a sign that says “can go in bowls, good companion for aquatic frogs, needs aquarium salt to survive”


.... what

 

[coralbandit]

All I know about algae eaters is they usually poop green..You still got the algae out of tank in a different form ..
Fish keepers keep tanks clean.Everything else is a bio load beneficial or not and has to be cared for by the keeper.
Some clean up fish do better then keepers cleaning up 'messy tanks' leading the huge misconception the fish has a huge bio load..They just leave evidence of their activity that is clearer to see IMO. For the most part size of fish and amount fed is what makes up bio load ,not a specific sp. of fish [example being plecos ]….People just see clear water and think all is fine ..Hard to miss pleco/snail poop.....I bet the water is clear enough to see that ?Yet possibly in need of attention ….

 

[mattgirl]

3 pages and no one said large water changes are bad yet ? Biggest misconception going .There was only one thing wrong with everyones brand new tanks when they set it up .They lacked bacteria .New water has never been issue for a healthy fish .If it is then that is because of the slacker who had the fish before you !
Guess that is why some try to keep some fish and some make more fish …
Nobody keeps fish without keeping water correct first .
Most change too little water IMO but don't understand or blame the new fish for issues that clean water really would have helped their fish avoid .
50% is nice and will work if you reset your tank every month .Reset is 75-90% water change.With any other schedule you are building up TDS like if you only flushed 1/2 the water in your toilet every week ….Eventually old tank syndrome or some other issue come up for most who think they are doing enough .
60+ tanks disease free [completely] for over 1 year now .Most disease free for last 5+ years ..
I change a lot of water !

I have enjoyed this hobby for close to 40 years. I have never had to deal with any of the many diseases I see here every day. Could it possibly be because I do water changes.....a LOT of water changes. I feel sure it has a lot to do with it.

Just some food for thought and the reason I am unable to help folks that do deal with diseases. My first suggestion will always be up your water changes.

I do cringe when I read water changes aren't good for one reason or another.

 

[Dawn Michele]

This is a good one I heard. A 12 inch Oscar can live in a 20 gallon tank his whole life!!! Are you serious?????

 

[coralbandit]

mattgirl
Got to keep water right before one would expect to keep fish in it huh ?
Large water changes are nothing but good for fish.If they create a problem it is the users interference [or lack of] that usually does the most damage .
I feel like harping on water changes a little .I do really think most are a little light on theirs ,especially with so few tanks to manage and what sounds like great concern or care for their fish .
The toilet analogy is my favorite from another reputable breeder /keeper. Keeping fish is simple math ,not let nature take its course . We poorly duplicate natural waterways in home tanks ..X in X out.If you only remove half of what builds up weekly the math wins my argument in seconds ..
I too cringe when I her 'most fish can't handle large water changes' yet I a dedicated ram breeder and raiser and discus breeders all over the world can get away with such risky behavior as 90% water changes daily ? Oh yea we are doing something dangerous and risky alright ..We are busting our humps to create great fish that most will take mediocre care of at best ...
The appreciation that is received from those who get it is what it is all about for me . Others can join whenever they choose .It is never too late to improve any aspect of our lives.

 

[Wraithen]

I love the "you aren't cycled because you have 0 nitrates" crowd, even when there are fish in the tank and ammonia and nitrites are 0.

 

[Platylover]

This is a good one I heard. A 12 inch Oscar can live in a 20 gallon tank his whole life!!! Are you serious?????

Lol, I recall that as well. I suppose it can live it’s whole life in a 20g, but the life will be cut incredibly short.

I forget if this has been included prior or not, but-
Everyone wants to hear my advice- ok, so if it’s asked for, knock yourself out. I am completely for giving your advice and opinions on matters and explaining why you don’t agree with contrary opinions. This is a forum where discussion is something you can really learn from! But when it comes to giving unasked for advice? That’s just rude and disrespectful to the OP. What I mean by this is when someone jumps onto a thread, sees a photo of a Bala shark in a 20g, the thread is only about the scape, and they start berating the person and telling them to rehome the animal! That is not even remotely what the question is about... if you want to ask the OP if they’d like to discuss some stocking issues you see, go for it, but don’t force your “advice” on others. I’ve seen multiple people leave here because people just harassed them like this.