Hey everybody

I thought I'd post an update! My 20 gallon is nearing half way through it's cycle it looks like, according to the water params, yay!

Unless something changes, I possibly get to go uptown tomorrow for a few fish supplies and I had a few questions

I of course have little money, as always it seems, so I can't go for anything really spendy here....

I'm on my last cup full of food for the guppies (LoL the flakes I had were to big for the guppies so I'd take so much from the container, crush them a little and keep them in an air-tight container), so that's one of my top priorties tomorrow. I usually get the Tetra Tropical Flakes for them, but I was curious if anybody has any suggestions for something cheap, but better than that... and perhaps more bite-size for a guppy. My little guys are very picky and won't touch pellets/wafers and only go for flakes -_- LoL

If I have the spare money after the food, some new filters, and hopefully a heater, I wanted to get my guppies another treat. They currently get some crushed freeze dried bloodworms (they don't touch the frozen ones -_-) once a week. I seen some freeze dried krill a couple dollars cheaper at Wallyworld last time. If I crushed that, would it be okay for the guppies as well?

I also hope to get my heater for the 20 gallon tank so I can get things going with that. I asked this on the Goldfish Tank Equiptment board but I have not heard back and if I do go up tomorrow, I need to find out tonight -_- It's 5 watt per gallon right? (100 watt for a 20?). If I cannot find a 100 watt heater at Wallyworld or Petco, could I get away with a 75 watt (or 50, if they don't have a 75)? I don't get many chances to go uptown, so this is likely my only chance to get the heater for a couple months

My other guys are doing well! My little frog has been in such a happy mood, and my Vieltail has decided he can't sleep anywhere else in the tank but beside the Crowntail's little home! It's so cute they sleep next to each other on either side of container! LoL My guppies are doing very well also! My 2 fry are going to be female.. Their gravid spot just showed up a few days ago

- Jen

That's such a happy update

Yes you're right that you'll need a 100W heater. I don't know if you could get away with a 75 or not...hopefully someone else does.

You don't have any petsmarts, right?

can't you get a heater online? they are usually a bit cheaper than in shops if you find a good, and reputable, website (although sometimes shipping costs can bump it up so it's no longer such a bargain)

I think as long as the room the tank is in doesn't get too cold then you can use a lesser wattage but you dont want to go too low, so I wouldn't go under 75 watts.

See if this gives you an idea.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/tipsandt...lheatersize.htm

Nope, no Petsmart around here... Closest one is Olympia Washington (2+ hour drive from here).

*sigh* Can't order online either Almost all sites require a credit card for payment, and I don't plan on ever owning one

Devs, thanks for that site o.0 Hmm, right now the tank temp stays a steady 68-70F. During winter though, that could drop by 10 degrees, I don't know. So, I guess if I were to figure the tank would drop to around 60 during the winter months, I'd probably want to go with the 75watt minimum then, 100 if I can find it

Kissy: Hehe, it would have been an even happier update if the tank were cycled, heater/plants/background/decorations/food bought and it was ready for my fish! LoL I can't wait!

Thanks everybody! Unless my sis goes into labor tonight or tomorrow morning, it sounds like I'm going uptown for a little bit! Food, filters and a heater are at the top of my list

i'm glad everything is going well for your tank and fish. i have the baby shrimp from wally world and i have crused it up and my guppies ate it just fine, but mine aren't too picky. they eat just about anything.

Hmm, thanks Kristy! I forgot about that Baby Shrimp also I know that's sold at Wallyworld and Petco here...

Yay! I'm going uptown still.. Grr, my sister is going too though since she's been having pains this morning *sigh* Bummer....

I'll let everybody know if I was able to find a heater or not! I must try and resist my urge to look at the fish while I'm there today since I'll be short on time -_- Wish me luck! LoL!

Yay! Back from town

I did find a 100watt heater at Wallyworld for $20 (Petco's were almost $10 more o.0) I'm going to get it all rinsed off well and setup. I'll make sure I raise the temp slowly over the next few days until it's where I need it.

The freeze dried krill was a bit much, so I bought a small thing of baby shrimp instead I also got the usual TetraMin Tropical Flakes... the only other tropical flake in stock was by Wardley and my guys never did like those for some reason. Also got my froggy some more bloodworms and some more filters for my guppy tank!

*sigh* I did look over the fishies at Wallyworld and Petco. Wallyworld's tanks were just about empty, and Petco's didn't look so well this time which is a shock o.0 A lot of tanks had Ich this time, which is odd for them. That's the first time I've ever seen them have a bunch of sick fishies! Their crowntail bettas looked nice and healthy though, and there were some really pretty ones there!

Anyway, I'm off to start with that heater! I just need to finish the cycle and the tank is ready for fish! I can work on the extras (background, plants, etc) later

An update! The heater is working well and my final adjustment should set the temp were I want it. It doesn't have the numbered dial, so I have had to slowly raise it once a day to figure out where I need it at LoL

One of my fish had fry too o.0 I don't know which one though. My one female is much slimmer, but she usually has batches of 10+ and there are only 3 new little baby fry in there. I've been looking all over but I haven't seen any others. I wonder if one of my younger females had her first batch o.0 One does look a littler less round LoL

*cries* On a sadder update, my other little froggy died over night I'm trying to figure out from what and why still. She had been floating around a lot and I seen some weird patches of raised red marks on near her stomach on her underside. My water params were fine, no physical problems with the froggy until she started floating around the other day in areas she normally doesn't go to.. she was eating well still too *sigh*

Anyway, just wanted to update. I should finish getting ready. My brother has a graduation ceremony for the high school I'm going to tonight

aww atryeu, i'm so sorry you lost your little frog she's with her little friend again now congrats on the babies

Thanks Kristy I miss the little froggy already *sniff* Somebody on an ADF board said it sounds like she had Red Leg but they were not certain. I need to take the tank apart and get it all rinsed out well I guess now. I'll hope to get another pair next spring/summer. By then, I will have my 20 gallon fully going (hopefully o.0), and can have the 5 gallon recycled and I can get ahold of a medication for the frogs, just in case.

Thanks, about the fry I still only counted 4 little guys in there. It doesn't look like there were any others unless they are well hidden LoL. As soon as my 20 gallon finishes it's cycle, I plan on seperating the males from females for now. It will be awhile before the 20 gallon will be stocked, so it will be perfect to hold a family of females until my mom's work friend comes to pick them up when they get older...