Flumpweesel

Have you considered setting up a rain butt for tank changes? Or a reed bed to pass the water through before using.

They do get sleepy if it's cold let us know if warming him up helps but go steady.

I think in one of Corys German store vids he mentioned that Tropica premium nutrition is the nearest to easy green in Europe. Not sure about root tabs. I have some JBL ones but I rarely add them so I'm not in a position to say if they are any good. I love Dorset pea gravel can't grab it locally anymore used to be everywhere. Pop a picture of the iffy plant in the plants thread someone might have seen it before. We have no real way of checking O2 (with standard equipment) generally advice is to have an air line so you know there is always good O2 surface agitation is the other option but Bettas aren't fans of strong currents. Ask the shop what pH their water is see how much it differs from yours. The pH can change while you cycle but most rocks don't effect it what have you put in? (Again photo might help) I wouldn't expect 7.6 to be an issue with most fish. What's your tank size in litres I only ask because it's easier for me to visualise and I'm guessing around a 40 litres. Oh Betta last so it is less territorial when you add other things. I think I've covered most questions prompt me if I've missed one.

Thanks all super tiny net sourced and my shrimp have had a bit of sort. The ones deemed not red enough have been moved to the community tank so good luck to them in there

I took my strainer off because like @Torbay mentions it is a lot wider than the tube and a funny shape so it would just have been a fiddly fight to get it on.

I think this depends on what the friend wants from the fish tank, size wise definitely needs to be discussed with them. I would definitely guide them to long over tall for the ease of maintenance. I prefer gravel to sand but that's just my preference. Moss can be fussy I would go with anubias, java fern and nice stem plant but if you have similar water you know what plants work well. I think you could have a fun set up with rosy barbs and garras which wouldn't need a heater. You could add danios to. But to my mind they need to involved in the fish choosing it's the most fun bit. I would get them a sponge filter and a decent gravel vac. And a good food that suits everything so feeding time is a straightforward as possible. Make sure they have a bucket or two, gravel vac and light timer at the start. The best way to make it low maintenance is make sure they are equipped for the maintenance. How far will water have to be carried do they need a hosepipe and sink adapter. If a hose isn't going to be used I favour the watering can over the bucket for filling as it much more controllable so less likely to spill also if you attach the rose (sprinkle/ seed head) it doesn't disrupt the substrate.

I always think a breeding project would be fun but I have not got the fish space to allow one. Trying to scratch that itch with shrimp.

I would use string or screw them together. Wire can be difficult to not leave a sharp point somewhere that a fish looking for hidden food won't get snagged on.

It's it just the fish in the new substrate that are stressed ? I had a goldfish that would sulk if I took it's ugly ornament out of the tank (would just sit on the bottom until it was returned). Keep the lights out and feeding normal and they should relax. The fish don't know that are back in there old tank they are somewhere new and they don't know yet that there isn't a giant pike in there about to eat them. Once they realise they are safe they will relax again. They had a very confusing day they might also be wondering where those other fish they met have gone. Did you put the same fish back in the 55? Assuming of course all parameters are kept good.

My first thought was those tiny Ramshorns.

Well probably not a apisto then.

Was the initial plan to put them in the 90? What temp is it running at they are pretty adaptable. I kept them with my Betta for awhile so that was pretty warm.

The yellow and the eye stripe suggests an apisto to me.

Do you use CO2? It's there an air stone? When was the last water change?

Thanks everyone, I think especially with the male bettas they are going to be a bit older before they are sold as those tails need to grow. It would be great if we were as familiar with fish longevity as are with other pets, I keep a list of dates I buy my fish so I don't go drive myself potty trying to work out if there is something wrong or just their time. But you almost never hear of a Betta getting to the 2 year mark maybe we expect to much

So my shrimp need sorting what makes a good shrimp net? I don't currently have anything currently that will work hunting in a nano tank . Do normal fish nets do or would I be better with something like a brine shrimp net. Do those triangular ones make sense or are they a waste of time.

Everyone starts somewhere.

You should drop hints when your working at the lfs see if you can recruit some

If the story is good the set doesn't matter as much, we have moved from compelling stories to pretty pictures. I think we have lost a lot.

Nothing worse than coming home and everything seeming off Please do a water change, (I know you have limited testing) but a water change will reduce anything nasty in water and add lots of O2. Hopefully now you are home and able to fuss you can get them back to being happy fish.

I have a fluval chi aquarium that is an all in one. It is 20 litres and cycles really quickly. Their filter module can't really be changed it only has space for one sponge. The light could be better and it's semi lidded which is than ideal I love this nano tank as it needs water changes less often than my bigger tanks so isn't the labour drain of most nano tanks I assume this is due to the waterfall feature of the filter module that increases the service area of the bio filtration far in excess of the sponge

If I'm honest me and my partner rarely holiday together so my tanks are rarely left unattended by one of us for more than 3 days. I do have an auto feeder but should we ever travel together again I would ask a friend to feed every 3 days if you are overseas you need someone who can react on your behalf. I did lose all my fish by not being there and a tragedy happening on a holiday I was away two weeks but by partner was only way for the middle long weekend still he came back to horrific fish loss. My tanks can go months without maintenance but if something goes wrong you need someone onsite to fix it. Sadly this isn't a hobby that suits travel you kinda have to make as much consideration as for a dog or cat . It's not impossible to travel but be prepared for the worst if you have to leave the tanks

I kept a goldfish for 15 years with no filter no dechlorinator and no air stone. Nearly lost the fish when filtration was added. Sometimes I wonder if we are just making things harder.

I have just added cuttlebone to my shrimp tank. Time will tell how that pans out for my snails. I have hight ph and soft water so some mineralisation is required. I try to provide that with tinned vegges and shrimp formula dried food in all my tanks

I think cholla wood can be high in tannis so unless your want a dark water tank you may want to pre soak /boil. I generally boil if I'm uncertain of the origin and storage of anything that is going in my tank. I've never bothered with cholla wood myself but if I got online I would boil or mircowave to be on the safeside.