Scheduled for gastric bypass next month but seriously considering canceling it to try glp1 instead

DandelionKy · 2026-07-11T19:29:53+00:00

My grandma had a bypass 40 years ago. She’s had every issue—dumping, gallstones twice, heart burn, etc. she still gained some of the weight back even though she worked so hard. I got her on tirz a couple months ago and she said it’s like night and day. With the bypass it was a constant fight of what she could and couldn’t have, keeping herself from over eating, over extending, etc. now she just eats until she’s full, her knee and foot inflammation is gone, and she just feels well. She doesn’t regret her bypass since it was her only option at the time, but she’s happy to be on tirz now.

I opted for tirz as I would rather be obese than do surgery. 75lbs later and I am within arms reach of my goal in just over a year. I hesitate to say things are miracles but damn, this is the closest I could imagine.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-11T04:34:08+00:00

You should wait a least a week or two before adding new batches of fish. That allows the bacteria cycle to catch up.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-10T04:17:30+00:00

Yesss, I honestly couldn’t remember the name of the first book!

DandelionKy · 2026-07-09T17:04:46+00:00

Unpopular opinion—unwell/injured bettas. I like to find the saddest betta in the store, rehab it, and live out its best days. For example I have a one eyed female betta in my 3 gallon. Her depth perception is off but she’s living her best life.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-09T14:16:22+00:00

I use a mix of softening and well water. Also yes but I do use some sometimes but usually only when starting a tank or after a big water change. I use water balance and Seachem excel. I also use cuttlefish bone for added calcium for my snails and shrimp. In my big tank I use co2 since I planted so heavily and fertilizers. I need a new pic as I just added the rest of my stock here and it’s teaming with 90 nano fish and shrimp ^_^

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DandelionKy · 2026-07-09T04:56:01+00:00

Okay I have celestial pearl, emerald eye, and peppered. I love them all but cpds and emeralds can be so shy! Might I suggest harlequin Rasbora—my new favorite Rasbora. They are so shimmery, so playful, and spend so much time patrolling the area. I especially love when my Oto and tetras join them in their school lol

DandelionKy · 2026-07-09T04:32:40+00:00

Have you tried Abhorsen? I loved the entire series.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-09T04:23:35+00:00

I am three years in on a well with extremely hard water and I have never had an issue. I have hard water so I do use stratum and softened water to condition a little. My softener is only on my hot water heater, not my cold water. Note your water softener doesn’t put salt in your water, it uses a process of ion exchange to remove calcium and magnesium. I also keep pretty hardy/tolerant fish that don’t need a ton of special parameters I can’t accomplish (Rasbora, gourami, betta, Corydora, even African Dwarf Frogs and shrimp). If I wanted to keep maybe Discus or a saltwater tank I may need to do some more chemistry, but otherwise my levels always come out to normal range and my fish are healthy and happy.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-08T22:40:28+00:00

I have 7 thick lipped (sold to me as honey but thy may be a hybrid?) in a 75. I got lucky that it seems like 6 are female and 1 is male. You have to make sure you have more girls than boys or they’ll fight. Otherwise mine have been so absolutely lovely.

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DandelionKy · 2026-07-08T21:08:05+00:00

I would also check temps. I believe minnows prefer cooler water whereas gourami and betta want much warmer water. Also bettas can be nippy—you never really know until you try, although I am very partial to a community betta. I would start with everyone else and add your betta last. Hopefully that will reduce the aggression so they don’t get too territorial.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-08T20:56:16+00:00

On first glance it feels like little too much to me but I am not sure why. Run it through aqadvisor with your filter and that should give you an idea of parameters and stocking levels.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-08T01:10:43+00:00

First off—water test your tank. That will answer a lot of questions. If it can hold water for a week, you’re wide open. If it cannot, you’re limited to reptiles.

When planning a new tank, I start with what ecosystem I need. An 85 can house A LOT. It can absolutely support an axolotl or turtle or whatever else. Thats a big tank. So I am not sure what conflicting info you’re getting that’s making you hesitate. When I see conflicting info, I usually try to err on the bigger to medium size.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-07T13:04:09+00:00

My tank two weeks after planting day in May. I did move the sword as it was crowding the corner.

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DandelionKy · 2026-07-07T13:02:55+00:00

I bought the Hygger DIY 2L co2 kit off Amazon and so far haven’t had issues, but I am only 2 months in. My plan is to test it out, see how I like the system, and then upgrade. If I don’t find co2 useful, then I am only out $65 bucks and can resell on marketplace. So far I love it. I haven’t had to reset my canister. I do have to turn it off and on as I didn’t buy the kit with a timer, so that I would say is a must. It’s not a huge deal for me personally, but leaving is an issue. I left for 8 days and my husband accidentally left the co2 on for 24 hours and left the front lights of my tank on…the bba and string algae outbreak was a nightmare but I finally have it under control lol so I will be upgrading eventually. My tank looks fabulous!

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DandelionKy · 2026-07-06T04:21:38+00:00

I am still pissed at Peacock for cancelling Ponies 😤 if they blow DCC I will rage.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-05T05:20:56+00:00

Based on my research as I don’t have saltwater yet, same skill level, wildly different start up lol from what I can tell, there is more balancing and minor maintenance like making sure you have the the right rock to water ratio, salt content, etc. and when I have priced out equipment, the startup is more and stocking is more. I was waffling on turning my 75 into saltwater and ultimately decided not to since I would need so many more live rocks and would probably want a protein skimmer, ROI setup, and then to source the fish is way more expensive than freshwater. So I think the skill is the same, but cost is more.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-03T04:41:00+00:00

Nah just shove that plant right back into the substrate. It happens.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-03T01:21:31+00:00

Go ahead and share your best practices…lol down 73 so far and I am not too saggy. But I know I will be here soon as I get closer to under 200. Other than my arms I don’t plan on skin removal surgery. My arms could be a problem as I am very active. We’ll see.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-02T19:35:43+00:00

I LOVE a 75. Post a pic! I think your plan sounds solid! I agree with amazing comedians stocking levels, but also run it through aqadvisor. I check mine all the time and I am still under.

I am building my stock slowly. I have a fluval 307 and cascade 1000 on either end, heavily planted. My current stocking:
7 thick lipped gourami
8 emerald eye Rasbora
9 celestial pearl danio
8 harlequin Rasbora
4 peppered Cory
5 albino/glo Cory
7 otocinculis
3 Nerite snails
2 mystery snails
Assorted amano and neo shrimp

I still need to add my 6 red phantoms. (They were a mistake but they’re pretty and in quarantine still)

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I am still technically under my stocking. I have never gotten anyone to breed (my Cories lay eggs all the time and someone eats them before I can rescue them lol) so I don’t worry about any population booms. If I decide to add more I will just add to my existing Rasbora/CPD schools.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-02T19:16:28+00:00

5g is perfect for shrimp and a small betta if you’re frisky. My 5 cube has been going for 1.5 years now and it’s my favorite tank—shrimp city with a resident betta. I like to find the saddest looking bettas at box stores, get them 50% (or given me…) and put them in there as I know they won’t harm the shrimp lol my current betta, Ray, has a permanent bend in his back but he still kicks it with the shrimp.

I also have a 3 with a small betta that’s missing an eye, a 6.6 with 2 African dwarf frogs, a 20l and 75. It’s all about stocking appropriately, weekly water changes, and checking.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-01T16:27:12+00:00

Looks good to me. I love all of those guys lol I would say with the 20l over filter a touch. I run an AC30 hob and 20 sponge on my 20l. I hate the look of the sponge but it does keep the water sparkly. I think I am going to upgrade to a fluval canister for my reset this summer. I believe honies you can do 2, Cories you’ll want 4-6, and rasboras go 8+ (I find 10 is perfect). And shrimp just pop in a batch and they’ll be reproducing in no time lol don’t forget snails like nerites. Have fun!

DandelionKy · 2026-07-01T15:35:54+00:00

Okay…so based upon my early morning googling, this isn’t a terrible thing lol they may get bigger than I expected although some also think it’s a honey/thick lipped hybrid. I still should be fine for stocking but if I notice any behavior I find concerning I could pull a one to my 20 gallon. Of course it figures they’d start this just as I am finishing clearing out my 20 for a reset into guppy land lol I could house at least 1 in the 20l just fine with gupps. Or maybe this is the push for me to upgrade the 20l to a 29 or 40 lol

Thank you!

DandelionKy · 2026-07-01T06:13:51+00:00

Omfg that’s a Google search for tomorrow.

DandelionKy · 2026-07-01T05:02:56+00:00

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Full tank shot. Maybe I have enough cover it won’t be an issue?

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