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Post by babygeige on Jul 5, 2012 20:23:36 GMT -5
I recently got a new position at work and now I have a big cubicle with lots of empty desk space! So...I was tossing around the idea of getting a small fish tank. 2.5 gallon or so, most likely.
Before I even applied for this position and got the bigger cube, my co-workers would tell me I should bring in a tank. I never did for 2 reasons: 1) my cube was too small, and 2) I worry about the weekends.
Now that I have reason #1 taken care of, I'm debating on reason #2. My cubicle isn't really near a window, so it wouldn't get much light on the weekends. There is someone in the office from 9-12 on Saturdays, so there would be a little bit of light, but most of Saturday and all day Sunday the poor fishie would kind of be in the dark. (or at least pretty dim)
What do you think? Am I making a big deal out of nothing?
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Post by parker002 on Jul 6, 2012 8:20:51 GMT -5
They might spawn over the weekends!
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Post by Carl on Jul 6, 2012 10:22:36 GMT -5
Probably yes IMO, but this could depend upon the fish kept.
I have had dozens of Bettas in desk top aquariums of businesses where I maintained larger aquariums. These did fine over the weekend including darkened conditions.
The potential problems I observed were temperature extremes over the weekends such as air conditioners or heaters that were shut down. Over feeding by well meaning co-workers was another problem I observed.
Carl
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Post by bikeguy33 on Jul 6, 2012 21:12:54 GMT -5
i cant see an issue....i used to use timers and self feeders or even feeding blocks....as well....a fasting period is good for any cold blooded animal....helps to clean them out. anyways....no worries...your fish will thrive in your lil tank as long as its not an arrowana....
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Post by babygeige on Jul 7, 2012 13:47:21 GMT -5
I'd probably just take one of the bettas I have here at home in there, so now spawning will occur, lol! I'd most likely take my female double tail. Right now she's living in my 5 gallon QT tank. It'd be nice to have it back so I can get new fish and QT them properly.
I don't know about temperature swings. I didn't think about that. Someone is there on Saturday mornings every week, so they may not do anything with the temp. I just remembered that an employee in another department has a betta in one those horrid vase-plant things (she has a window), and it's surviving (as well as an animal can in such a small cramped space), so the temperature must not get too bad.
I didn't really want to go into a light timer, but I do want to have filtration. I want to plug in as little as possible.
Of course, I still have to ask my boss and make sure I'm allowed to have a tank. That might be a good idea!
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Post by Suzie Q (Lori) on Jul 7, 2012 15:05:41 GMT -5
Get a timer for the lights. I have a 55g at work, but I also had a 1.5g with a male betta. Make sure the heater is not on the timer, but the lights work well. I have a timer with my lights plugged in. The only problem is a power outage....make sure you reset the timer to the correct time. I forgot to and it was 10am before the lights came on...supposed to be 9 to 5
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Post by goldenpuon on Jul 7, 2012 18:07:23 GMT -5
You could keep a betta in a 2.5 gallon at work. If not, two (no more) male guppies would work. They should bee alright over the weekend even with no feeding IMO. Just feed them 3-4 small feedings for the guppies the day before the weekend of the usual two feedings. Just have a heater set to 76-79 F ideally and a sponge filter and they should be fine. Renee
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Post by Carl on Jul 7, 2012 18:50:15 GMT -5
I didn't really want to go into a light timer, but I do want to have filtration. I want to plug in as little as possible. A HydroSponge #2 can work when cut in half, resulting in a Mini Hydro Sponge with a spare sponge too: See this article: Sponge Filtration; Bowl or small aquariumCarl
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Post by babygeige on Jul 11, 2012 20:04:44 GMT -5
A HydroSponge #2 can work when cut in half, resulting in a Mini Hydro Sponge with a spare sponge too Yeah, I have one like that in the 2.5 gallon I keep in my bedroom. It works pretty well. I'll definitely keep that in mind when I look into tank options. I'm going to look at those kits with the built in filter. They're more money, but I like the polished look they have, especially for in an office setting. This one is WAY out of my price range, but it looks cool. www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12289102&lmdn=Fish+Aquariums+%26amp%3B+BowlsFluval makes interesting (if expensive) tank kits.
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Post by parker002 on Jul 12, 2012 9:14:59 GMT -5
If you're wanting something similar to the look of the Fluval Edge or Fluval View but don't want to pay the price, Tetra makes several similar alternatives...
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Post by babygeige on Jul 13, 2012 20:09:22 GMT -5
I actually own the 2nd one in the above pictures, the one with the little drawer in the bottom. It's a 1.5 gallon. It's ok...the led lights are basically useless. The filter is air powered, which I am hoping to avoid with this tank. I like the looks of the 3rd one. I'll have to see what kind of filter it takes. I'm probably going to do a little browsing at the lfs and maybe a big box store as well this weekend. I got the ok from my boss today. She said the fish can be the department mascot.
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Post by bikeguy33 on Jul 13, 2012 21:18:55 GMT -5
thats great news...
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Post by Carl on Jul 14, 2012 10:57:49 GMT -5
I actually own the 2nd one in the above pictures, the one with the little drawer in the bottom. It's a 1.5 gallon. It's ok...the led lights are basically useless. We have experimented with several of these low cost aquariums with LED lights. Everyone has failed to this date. I even gave one to my son, I replaced the filter with a Sponge filter, but currently his tank is lit by desk lamp nearby Carl
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Post by babygeige on Jul 17, 2012 22:07:56 GMT -5
I ended up with an Aqueon 2.5 gal bow front. It's a cute little thing with a small power filter. I plugged it in over the weekend and let it until last night. The filter is very quiet, almost silent. It's lit by a 15 watt incandescent bulb. Funny story about it though. I ended up at Petsmart because the lfs wanted $43 for it. Petsmart had it on sale for $35. I picked one out and was carrying it around looking at other stuff when I spotted almost the exact same thing only marketed as a "Betta Bow" tank. Everything is the same in it, except it has betta food instead of fish flakes. It was on sale for $30!! I don't really understand it, but whatever...
I'm taking everything in little bits at a time. I'm planning on taking the actual fish to work on Monday. I'll let you know how it goes!
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Post by parker002 on Jul 18, 2012 9:33:20 GMT -5
We have one of those 2.5G Aqueon's, nice little tank. It has more of a "kiddie" look to it than the others...
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Post by babygeige on Jul 19, 2012 19:56:17 GMT -5
We have one of those 2.5G Aqueon's, nice little tank. It has more of a "kiddie" look to it than the others... Yeah, I suppose it kind of does. I got one with the black hood, so it's not as bad. The price was about what I wanted to spend, so I'm happy with it.
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Post by Carl on Jul 20, 2012 9:37:12 GMT -5
I think for a lost cost product, these are a nice aquarium. Aqueon is a company (owned by Central Pet; NASDAQ:CENT) that puts there name on other's products, but generally goes for a little higher quality than is available IMO. I think the filter is quite nice albeit basic for a tank this size. The incandescent light can be replaced with a more efficient and better light energy CFLCarl
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Post by parker002 on Jul 23, 2012 8:52:50 GMT -5
Agree with Carl. IMO, for the price, you can't get a better HOB filter than the little Aqueon's. And adding a CFL is good idea, too.
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Post by babygeige on Jul 29, 2012 18:47:54 GMT -5
Yeah, I have a CFL in the 5 gallon light. I just tore down the 5 gal this weekend, so I may take that bulb in on Tuesday and put it in the tank at work.
I do love that tank though. It's so quiet you can't hear it running at all. So far, the betta seems to be doing pretty well in there. This was her first weekend there. I was there on Saturday until noon. There was a decent bit of light in there, even with most of the office lights off. It was a cloudy day too. I think I will put a timer on the tank though, just so it's not quite so dark.
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Post by Carl on Jul 29, 2012 19:07:59 GMT -5
I think a timer is a good idea, and they cost next to nothing IMO
I usually put one every tank I set up, even small ones
Carl
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