Post by aquamomma on Oct 5, 2017 21:53:06 GMT -5
We have a 10 gallon freshwater tank that we got for my 8-yr-old son a year ago. I hadn't had fish since I was a kid, so I did a lot of reading first. (Technically, they're "his" fish, but I do most of the maintenance. I make him help as much as he is able to teach him responsibility, but I make sure things are done properly to try to give our fish a chance.)
To make a long story short... after a few months of learning curve, we got the basics down and the tank seemed to be doing well. However, over the course of the year we have lost a number of fish to what appeared to be various ailments, despite the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, etc all testing fine. After several months of them doing well, we lost another last week and now another is looking sickly. But this time in trying to research what was wrong with them online, I think I've finally stumbled upon the answer - mycobacteriosis. The symptoms, and long time that it sometimes takes for symptoms to appear, match perfectly with all that we've been through. I've read posts & articles by Diane Walstad about it and how UV sterilization helped save her other fish and prevent further problems. So, I went about researching UV sterilizers, which is how I found this forum.
I've read Carl's articles and searched the posts on this forum, and I'm not sure whether there exists a UV sterilizer that is right for our situation. Obviously, I need one that can provide level 1 sterilization, not just clarification. But the problem is that with a 10-gallon tank with a waterfall type filter, I'm not sure that there is one that will work, will fit, and is cost-effective. I've looked at the ones that AAP offers: The AAP/SUNSUN CUV-107 wouldn't work with our waterfall filter without a kit that brings the cost over $100. The AAP/SunSun CUP-609 says vertical installation is recommended for aquariums, but at 11.75" it is too big - 8" is all the vertical clearance we've got between substrate and the top of the water. Even if we were to install it horizontally, it is so big that it wouldn't allow adequate space between it and the rock that we have that our fish like to hide in.
**So, now for the BIG QUESTION... Are there options out there that either include a pump or work with a waterfall filter, don't take up too much tank space, are effective for level 1 sterilization (at least for a tank this small - I don't care whether it would be effective for anything larger), and are under $100 (preferably by a reasonable amount)??**
If not, I'm ready to throw in the towel. I don't see how we'll get the MB under control otherwise, given its ubiquitous presence (see Walstad's articles) and both my son and I are tired of losing fish. And, although we're trying to treat our fish right, there's a limit to how much I'm willing to spend on a small kids' aquarium. If I can't find something that works, we'll try to give our remaining 2 healthy guppies the best life we can, then call it quits when they're gone.
To make a long story short... after a few months of learning curve, we got the basics down and the tank seemed to be doing well. However, over the course of the year we have lost a number of fish to what appeared to be various ailments, despite the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, etc all testing fine. After several months of them doing well, we lost another last week and now another is looking sickly. But this time in trying to research what was wrong with them online, I think I've finally stumbled upon the answer - mycobacteriosis. The symptoms, and long time that it sometimes takes for symptoms to appear, match perfectly with all that we've been through. I've read posts & articles by Diane Walstad about it and how UV sterilization helped save her other fish and prevent further problems. So, I went about researching UV sterilizers, which is how I found this forum.
I've read Carl's articles and searched the posts on this forum, and I'm not sure whether there exists a UV sterilizer that is right for our situation. Obviously, I need one that can provide level 1 sterilization, not just clarification. But the problem is that with a 10-gallon tank with a waterfall type filter, I'm not sure that there is one that will work, will fit, and is cost-effective. I've looked at the ones that AAP offers: The AAP/SUNSUN CUV-107 wouldn't work with our waterfall filter without a kit that brings the cost over $100. The AAP/SunSun CUP-609 says vertical installation is recommended for aquariums, but at 11.75" it is too big - 8" is all the vertical clearance we've got between substrate and the top of the water. Even if we were to install it horizontally, it is so big that it wouldn't allow adequate space between it and the rock that we have that our fish like to hide in.
**So, now for the BIG QUESTION... Are there options out there that either include a pump or work with a waterfall filter, don't take up too much tank space, are effective for level 1 sterilization (at least for a tank this small - I don't care whether it would be effective for anything larger), and are under $100 (preferably by a reasonable amount)??**
If not, I'm ready to throw in the towel. I don't see how we'll get the MB under control otherwise, given its ubiquitous presence (see Walstad's articles) and both my son and I are tired of losing fish. And, although we're trying to treat our fish right, there's a limit to how much I'm willing to spend on a small kids' aquarium. If I can't find something that works, we'll try to give our remaining 2 healthy guppies the best life we can, then call it quits when they're gone.
