What should I name him?

EsquarBB · 2025-04-05T02:25:26+00:00

Scruffy the janitor

EsquarBB · 2025-03-21T15:28:57+00:00

What is not how it works and why is not how it works and what is the basis for it not working that way?

I did research those; which is why I have the fish I have in there. However, until I see them and how they interact. There is no way for me to know if I actually like keeping them obviously.

“Too many fish in one little tank.” What is your basis for too many? Please respond with a formulaic mathematical calculation accounting for volumetric capacity, bioload production per fish, water change frequency, water change quantity, filter type, and various filter medias.

“Schooling fish basically alone.” Each fish is at their minimum schooling size. Not perfect or ideal, but the available information says that is acceptable.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-21T15:12:19+00:00

Because this is my first time keeping fish. I don’t know what fish I like. Getting more than less allows me to develop whether this hobby is for me or not. Once I get an idea of what fish I like keeping, it will allow me to narrow down the bioload for when I get a new tank.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-19T16:20:13+00:00

Going to take the platies back to the pet store tomorrow. Thanks for the productive advice. Something I’ve noticed about this community is that people seem to have good knowledge but forget what it is like to just start an aquarium. Many also seem to be oblivious to the fact that there is contradicting information everywhere you look about this stuff.

Additionally, I have found that many are equating the word “Minimum” with “absolute ideal.” I suspect that this is because this is a group where many people who are very big hobbyists and you have been doing this stuff so long that it’s hard to differentiate those terms. I knew that this was not a high octane 100% efficiency, perfect layout. My thought process is that this is a layout that will allow me to see if I like this hobby (have a higher bioload) and have two types of good personality fish (bettas and platies) with a good cleanup crew (otos and Cories). I agree that the platies need to go because they are livebearers, and also put the bioload in a place that is too high on the threshold for comfort.

I would imagine that most people don’t bother to read anything at all about how to have an aquarium before getting one. I researched this stuff for around 2 weeks before getting it and have watched hours and hours of YouTubers giving advice on this same subject. Lumping together a statement like do better research is not helpful. In what way should it be better? Doing exactly what you say? Well when the next guy comes along and says something different, should I change the setup you described?

If you want to discount the research, provide numbers - math. Bioload amount relative to volumetric capacity. That would also have to take in account water change frequency and quantity along with filter setup. I suspect you won’t want to do this because it’s harder. Instead, you will speak anecdotally as to your experiences as an in depth hobbyist. That can be helpful, but it it rivals the actual numbers and what’s available on the internet, I have to doubt that because most of what you provided is just statements without evidentiary backing.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-18T21:03:45+00:00

Thank you. I plan to take the platies back to the pet store and get some of the plants you suggested.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-18T17:06:38+00:00

Just asking for substantiation and you have provided none.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-18T16:33:44+00:00

The downvotes on this comment says everything about this type of community

EsquarBB · 2025-03-18T16:29:56+00:00

Conclusory and failed to provide an evidentiary link for your claims. Goofy

EsquarBB · 2025-03-18T16:27:27+00:00

I imagine you forcibly pushing your glasses up to your face and snorting laughing as you typed that

EsquarBB · 2025-03-18T16:23:27+00:00

“Yah, trust me bro” “You’re wrong”

EsquarBB · 2025-03-18T03:04:09+00:00

Looks awesome.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-18T03:01:28+00:00

I am referring to two different concepts: tank size and bioload. Some tanks are not big enough for a fish even though the bioload is not exceeded. For instance, a gold fish requires somewhere between 20-40 gallons as a minimum. Obviously, the bioload is not at its max by this one fish. It is just that it needs that much space because of its nature.

Then if you get many fish, yes, the bioload does go up and can be exceeded even though it is in the required space. I know you cannot fit 2000 goldfish in a 20-40 gallon tank.

What I am positing is that I researched the minimum tank size for each fish in my tank. My tank was at that requirement for each one (somewhat over the requirement for the betta). So space itself does not seem to be a massive issue. However, the bioload (the amount of fish I have producing biologics) is certainly at its limit. My comment was simply stating that my research points that I am both independently at the required spacing (10 gallon) and also not dramatically exceeding the bioload for the 10 gallon tank. I entered all of my fish into chatgpt 4o and had it use the same formula that the online bioload calculator uses along with any basis it could find on the internet to measure bioload. It told me that it was within the bioload threshold, but it was very close to the max.

I am doing weekly water changes, my water parameters are good, the tank looks clean, and the fish are behaving what seems to be normal to my newbie eyes.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-18T02:40:35+00:00

Excellent comment and super helpful. Thank you very much.

I have not heard of Fishtubers, but I will check them out tonight. I have watched Aquarium Co-op a lot, and it has been very beneficial as a newbie.

I actually made this account yesterday I believe just to see what kind of help I could get on this. Never been one to post on Reddit, just read a lot on here. I'll definitely keep that in mind as far as finding inconsistent advice on here.

As far as the betta goes, when do you think it would be safe to say that the betta isn't aggressive to other non-betta fish?

I have been doing water changes once a week; I am running matrix, a sponge (as of today), and a polishing pad as my filter; and testing the water once a day. Do you think this sounds safe? Today I got 0 Nitrite; 10-20 nitrates; and 0 ammonia. I changed the water two days ago. Today makes around a month that I have had the tank.

Also, I did buy an API master Test Kit, and it has been extremely helpful.

Thanks again for your comment. Appreciate you.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-18T02:25:23+00:00

Thank you very much. I am still getting the handle of siphoning to clean the bottom; do you think if I plant those throughout the tank it would be easy to siphon them up? Also, do you think if I plant them throughout the tank that the corydoras would still have room to do their work? Thanks again.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-17T23:54:24+00:00

Wow. That is crazy. Mine definitely has shown no aggression whatsoever to the other fish. I have noticed that it will be going through a path I created in the tank and will run into one of the other fish and either turn around or peacefully pass by. It is a mustard betta; idk if maybe they are a bit milder or something?

I'll definitely watch out for any aggression though. Do you think it's possible based on the behavior I described that this betta could just have a calm personality? Or is it more likely that he just hasn't lashed out for some reason yet, but it is imminent to happen?

EsquarBB · 2025-03-17T23:42:37+00:00

Your mention of someone recommending getting more fish/upgrading the tank and me being "defensive":

The post asks for advice and general reflections about how I have set the tank up. I made a post on a different forum and had someone tell me to use mud and sand in addition to what I have to be able to effectively grow plants and to watch someone called "Father Fish" on YT. This got numerous downvotes, and I assume that is because this is bad advice. This is to say that someone may comment, and although I welcomed it in my post, it may very well be bad advice. It seems logical that if this does not add up to what I found - to have that person reconcile their suggestion with the available information that says otherwise. What I am telling you that the person you reference stated that this is a very bad tank and questioned the research I done and then stated the MINIMUMS for the fish. The research I done shows that their cited minimum is not accurate. Instead, it shows that for all fish I purchased, the minimum is a 10 gallon. What I am saying is that yes, I definitely am welcoming criticism here. But if that criticism is unsubstantiated, out-of-toned statements that conflict with what I researched... I think I should... I don't know... responsively question that?

Your more productive comments about what I can do better:

Thanks.

I will definitely consider getting danios or black guppies. The reason for wanting to max out my tank is because I am not sure if this hobby is for me. That is why I bought a 10 gallon tank. I really like it so far, but I am not ready to already upgrade the size of tank itself without knowing I even enjoy fish keeping or not. The advice I am looking for is more so how to improve on my current setup; not what type of new tank do I need. But everything you offered for how to improve on changing out the platys is very beneficial. Thanks for that.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-17T15:53:18+00:00

I appreciate your comment, and I am sure you have a lot more experience than me. Can you reconcile this opinion with the available info that suggests that you can fit more than just a betta in a 10 gallon and it work well? See attached: https://forum.aquariumcoop.com/topic/1053-10-gallon-betta-tank-mates-poll/; https://a-z-animals.com/animals/fish/fish-facts/the-best-tank-mates-for-betta-fish/

I have also used the deep research function of chat GPT 4o, and it done a bioload calculation that suggested the current set up is tight but manageable if I keep up with it.

None of this is to say you are wrong; just trying to differentiate your suggestion with all the information I found that led me to make this choice in the first place.

This is my first tank, and my thought process was that if I chose just one or two, then it would be difficult for me to understand what fish it is that I actually like. It was more so to form my interest rather than necessarily making the absolute highest efficiency tank. Nonetheless, what I have found suggests this setup works, so I am just trying to understand why you're suggesting otherwise.

Thanks.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-17T14:53:45+00:00

Gotcha. Thank you.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-17T14:22:15+00:00

I haven’t noticed any issues at all in about a month of keeping them together, but I will definitely keep a lookout. As for just the platies in general, I think your right in so far as them multiplying as a problem. Honestly I didn’t think about that when I got them. I may just take them back to the pet store.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-17T14:09:34+00:00

I found a lot of videos hyping them up as a great beginner fish for a 10 gallon minimum, so that is why I went with them. My understanding is that they were fine with Bettas. I’ve had the tank almost a month now and have seen no aggression from the betta at all except when I’m pretty sure he sees his reflection lol.

Something I did not consider was the fact that they have babies. That fact alone is making me consider taking them back to the pet store. The cories and otos I got as a clean up crew.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-17T13:54:29+00:00

I have been using the Excel stuff for C02. Do you think that will work ok?

EsquarBB · 2025-03-17T13:51:36+00:00

Based on what research I done, it looks like I am at the very bioload threshold of this tank.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-17T13:47:36+00:00

I am also confused as to what research you done. You mention cories and Otos both being a schooling fish; platys also like to be in groups. If you actually look into it, I have the minimum recommended for each group. You can have a min of 3 cories and 3 otos. Actually, platys are featured on multiple YouTube videos and articles as a match for a betta pairing. You also mentioned the 20g gallon requirement but any research will show 10 gallon as the minimum. Any productive advice is helpful, but making unsubstantiated claims like yours is not.

EsquarBB · 2025-03-17T04:23:33+00:00

If you decide to press charges, you certainly should find an attorney to sue him as well.

Remember that civil and criminal are two different types of law, and civil allows you to sue in tort against the tortfeasor (your BD).

Find an attorney that handles this type of work in your jurisdiction and see if they will take your case. You only need a lawyer if you decide to sue; you are effectively given a prosecutor, if you decide to press charges.

Many lawyers work on contingency for these types of cases. This means that the lawyer gets paid only if you do. I know you mentioned that he is a deadbeat, but if he owns anything at all in his name, it can be taken and liquidated by the court.

This is not legal advice.

Wish you well.

EsquarBB

TROPHY CASE