Your experience is making me very happy I did not do this. I was actually seriously thinking for like 3 weeks about doing something very similar in a 10 gallon tank for a betta. I ended up with a hamster
Anybody know about fresh water aqua scaping?
- Thread starter AnamCara
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AnamCara
Chameleon Enthusiast
I totally should have gotten a hamster.Your experience is making me very happy I did not do this. I was actually seriously thinking for like 3 weeks about doing something very similar in a 10 gallon tank for a betta. I ended up with a hamster
I setup a second tank last night with just fake plants and stuff and low and behold it's not cloudy or stinky this morning. I over do things and THIS IS WHAT I GET BECCA.
Girl I feel ya... I loved the idea of tank with all live plants and drift wood. Even was looking at this ground cover plant that takes over like grass. I was watching tons of youtubes on it. And then I realized I would basically be getting myself into another chameleon experience with a huge learning curve. So I got a hamster that literally does nothing except look adorable when it is actually awake. Which is literally only at night when I am asleep.
AnamCara
Chameleon Enthusiast
Current update : this is still a disaster. Lollll. I am unable to get the ammonia down. Guy at the fish store sold me some live bacteria to help...it did not help. I ended up getting a second tank to setup a very simple, fake plant aquarium bc my fish is coming tomorrow and the planted tank is no bueno for a fish. Le Sigh.
I'm tempted to just start from scratch, but I know patience is key. Some of the grassy plants started dying. I'm gonna just ride this tank out and see what happens after 4-5 weeks.
I'm tempted to just start from scratch, but I know patience is key. Some of the grassy plants started dying. I'm gonna just ride this tank out and see what happens after 4-5 weeks.
AnamCara
Chameleon Enthusiast
Don't let me discourage you. I am, after all, an idiot.I was wondering lately if I wanted a fish tank, now I know I don’t wanna fish tank
jamest0o0
Chameleon Enthusiast
So I didn't read everything, but @DocZ gave good advice. Really you should do fish less cycles in any situation involving aquariums... simply test the water until the levels are where they're supposed to be at. The water will get yucky during the cycle, this is normal. YOUR AMMONIA LEVELS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE DOWN
. Your tank is correctly cycling if they're up. Fish tanks are a patient process! Once the nitrates are up and the ammonia is 0(this takes like a month). Then do a big water change and slowly start stocking the tank.
It's not that bad to anyone reading, it's just not as simple as filling a tank with water either and throwing stuff in. You need to understand the basic chemistry(harder than it sounds). Not trying to be rude by any means, just putting it out there!
. Your tank is correctly cycling if they're up. Fish tanks are a patient process! Once the nitrates are up and the ammonia is 0(this takes like a month). Then do a big water change and slowly start stocking the tank.It's not that bad to anyone reading, it's just not as simple as filling a tank with water either and throwing stuff in. You need to understand the basic chemistry(harder than it sounds). Not trying to be rude by any means, just putting it out there!
jamest0o0
Chameleon Enthusiast
Thank you for the thorough and detailed response! I just took my water to a store and the amonia was at a .6 . They said this is why I had a film. They gave me some refrigerated live bacteria to add to the tank. I'm hoping it helps. I am learning I needed to cycle my tank longer and water change once a week until it was all cycled.
And I thought this would be a new fun, carefree and easy hobbie
Buying bacteria isn't necessary and neither are water changes unless you're keeping living stuff in the tank(you can though, but it might slow the cycle as it reduces the ammonia). I kept a nano reef(which are no joke to care for!) alive, I promise I'm not lying lol.
AnamCara
Chameleon Enthusiast
You're not rude at all! I greatly mistook how long it would take to Cycle. I jumped the gun and ordered the fish too soon so I had to have a backup. The ammonia was too high for a fish to go in, so I went with the backup tank for now. I'm gonna keep cycling! I'm just an impatient a****le.So I didn't read everything, but @DocZ gave good advice. Really you should do fish less cycles in any situation involving aquariums... simply test the water until the levels are where they're supposed to be at. The water will get yucky during the cycle, this is normal. YOUR AMMONIA LEVELS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE DOWN
It's not that bad to anyone reading, it's just not as simple as filling a tank with water either and throwing stuff in. You need to understand the basic chemistry(harder than it sounds). Not trying to be rude by any means, just putting it out there!
(Also now I have two tanks which I wasn't planning on but if I'm going in on this aquarium thing I'm GOING ALL IN DA**IT!)
AnamCara
Chameleon Enthusiast
I totally agree about the planted tank being harder than a Cham. I know everyone says keeping chameleons is so involved and hard, but to me it's just an expensive startup. Once you get the enclosure automated it's actually pretty easy (until they get sick, but even that was manageable because I have a very good vet who happens to be a moderator on these forums)
