FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hey folks,

Whenever somebody does a boneheaded thing, there is one thing good about it. Somebody else might be able to learn from it and not make the same STUPID mistake. So with that, I'll pass along my boneheaded move.

I got home from work today and found a package from Big Als. It was the Melafix I ordered. Now I didn't purchase the samll bottle, I went big. Hey it's 75 gallon tank. Unfortunately I was in a rush to take care of something and stupidly didn't read the instructions. I just thought it was the same as the Melafix in the small bottle. Within 5 minutes, I knew something was drastically wrong. All my small fish were schooling at the opposite side of the tank. 1st time I ever saw my black neons school. All my little rummy noses went white.

Anyway then I read the directions, this is professional (which I obviously am not) strength and is 5 times more powerful then the stuff in the small bottle.

I immediately did a huge water change and things look to be improving rapidly. Rummies have red heads again and not as much schooling going on. Most likely I'll do another chnage later tonight.

Hopefully I can prevent the same thing from happening by passing along my own stupid mistake.

Always read the directions.

good call on noticing it in time!
you could have easily overlooked the strange behavior and seriously harm your fish.

Luckily you haven’t lost any fish.

May I ask what you are using the Melafix for?

I guess another water change cannot harm, except if you would replace all the water (but that would be another stupid thing to do and one a day is enough ).

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

SJ thank you so much for posting! Easy to happen if you are already familiar with a product.

Hope your little friends are okay.... update?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

SJinNJ
You did make a silly mistake in not reading all the instructions first, but you were cleaver enough to fix the mistake. Well done on that part anyway.

Keith

Last edited by keithgh at 30-Jun-2005 03:21

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

extremely lucky!!

A mate of mine bought this chamical that just eliminates bad bacteria in ur tank! and he read the intructions and all, when he added the chemical..it was clear but as soon as it hits the aquarium water it turns to a fantastic looking blue! When he saw that he called out my name and goes watch this!!! he poured so much in that the whole tank was bright blue...i punched him and called him an idiot and told him to do a water change...he lost 4 fish tho!!]:|

Thanks alot for informing us with your mistake & i'm happy that you didn't lose any fish. Yes, instructions are there to be read before using the products.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

As of this morning, all the fish are fine.

SJ, just take into consideration it is mostly the manufacturing company mess-up. they should have made it ABSOLUTELY CLEAR so users won't make such mistakes.

way too many times companies just don't take human factors design into labeling.
this time it was medication to fish, but it happens with human poisoning all the time.

glad to hear your fish are ok.

I never read directions... it might be because i know how much stuff to add (well, my fish have never been sick, other than my friends stupid guppy) so i really only add dechorlanitor..

Also, never put it in bottled water and drink it, it is nasty.

Victim!!! Never put what in bottled water and drink it?

Otherwise I'm glad your fish are ok sin, Now you know why a bigger bottle treats more gallons, other than well the amount there

I'll be honest my first thought was that the bottle had been sitting outside and the contents were hot when you added it to the tankGlad that wasn't the case

Good catch with the water change, and I better the fishies are feeling much better on both accounts

Let it be a lesson we need to read directions...heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

I never drank declorinator before, but I did eat bloodworms on a dare.