how do i approach this..please read

Kworker · 05-17-2012, 03:48 PM

so for lacrosse next semester i have to get an assessment from nurses at my university so i had to make an appointment which is what brought me to here..

the reason of the topic is in the waiting room they have a what appears to me as a 15/20 gal column octagon tank, very skinny and tall maybe like 12/16 inches in diameter and 18/20 high..

it has no substrate, just a stupid castle looking thing and a 5" i think red parrot cichlid by its color and body shape. and a small 2 inch common goldfish that hangs out at the bottom.

how do i approach to tell them that they should let me that they should do me a favor and let me redo the thing.. i have a bunch of topsoil and sand in my fish room and some spare crypts that could do alot of justice plus i have TONS of guppies that i can color up the tank with.. (only 6-8 males of course maybe so they don't have a thousand in no time)

i mean i just want to do this for them im not looking for anything in return but to educate them on this.. im not looking to charge them or anything lol

the only issue is im not sure what to do with the red parrot cichlid and gold fish

binako · 05-17-2012, 04:06 PM

I'd be worried that they might throw out the cichlid and the goldfish, and that they wouldn't maintain the tank. If you offer to redo the tank, will you also offer to do water changes, dosing, algae-removal, and other basic maintenance? What's the tank light like, and how long do they leave it on? They may not have a person at the clinic who is as invested and interested in the hobby as you are, and that may mean that the plants will die, fish will get sick, or whatever.

If you're really set on redoing it, and you think that it won't cause them problems in the long-run or be extra work for you/anyone else, I'd casually ask someone at the desk who takes care of the tank, then proceed from there.

DogFish · 05-17-2012, 04:17 PM

Just talk to them. Here's a script:

I saw the fish tank in the waiting area. That 's my hobby too. Who takes care of the tank? I couldn't help notice the fish. I'm sure they were O.K when they went in but they are a bit big to live a good life in that tank now.

If your interested I would volunteer to clean it up, change it around a bit so it looks very nice. I've got some fish that are a better size that won'y out grow the tank that I'll donate. I'm pretty sure the LFS will give "US" some credit if I take the fish you have back. We can use that credit for supplies.

The great thing is we can get those fish you have now into a proper some tank. Who should I talk to?

**acitydweller** · 05-17-2012, 04:59 PM

i'd start by finding out who is responsible for the tank and see if they really care about it or just do the minimal. If they are friendly and open to some "charity" then offer up what you had in mind. its all about what they are receptive to because you have to remember, after you do your job and walk away, they are left holding the bag and caring for it.

They may not want the trouble judging by how sparce the tank looks atm... Oddly, they may just want to get rid of it as it may have been more trouble keeping it to date and the original people who arranged for it may have moved on from there.

Start by asking. It doesnt hurt to have a friendly chat to assess what the situation is. You never, know...

Kworker · 05-18-2012, 02:12 AM

Really im not looking to do any of future maintanence.. if anything the tank should be much better off with the plants and few smal guppies in comparison to the parrot cichlid and goldfish..

I figured what i may do with the goldfish. Talk to security gaurd at my old hs who actually voluteered and set up multiple glassed in ponds in middle of school .. but unsure of cichlid..

The lights just your standard tube light youd find at lfs nothing good but crypts should be good.
Especially since i wil have topsoil to provide nutrients to them to capped with decent amount of sand so theres no mess.. too me , redoing the tank would make taking care of it easier

binako · 05-18-2012, 02:45 AM

I'd say exactly, that, then. And I'd do as someone above suggested, and call you local fish store to see if they'll take the cichlid. If that fails, offer it as a RAOK here on the forum, or maybe on Craigslist.

05-17-2012, 03:48 PM	#1
Kworker Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Long island Ny Posts: 472	how do i approach this..please read so for lacrosse next semester i have to get an assessment from nurses at my university so i had to make an appointment which is what brought me to here.. the reason of the topic is in the waiting room they have a what appears to me as a 15/20 gal column octagon tank, very skinny and tall maybe like 12/16 inches in diameter and 18/20 high.. it has no substrate, just a stupid castle looking thing and a 5" i think red parrot cichlid by its color and body shape. and a small 2 inch common goldfish that hangs out at the bottom. how do i approach to tell them that they should let me that they should do me a favor and let me redo the thing.. i have a bunch of topsoil and sand in my fish room and some spare crypts that could do alot of justice plus i have TONS of guppies that i can color up the tank with.. (only 6-8 males of course maybe so they don't have a thousand in no time) i mean i just want to do this for them im not looking for anything in return but to educate them on this.. im not looking to charge them or anything lol the only issue is im not sure what to do with the red parrot cichlid and gold fish

05-17-2012, 04:17 PM	#3
DogFish Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (33/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: ChicagoLand Posts: 5,187	Just talk to them. Here's a script: I saw the fish tank in the waiting area. That 's my hobby too. Who takes care of the tank? I couldn't help notice the fish. I'm sure they were O.K when they went in but they are a bit big to live a good life in that tank now. If your interested I would volunteer to clean it up, change it around a bit so it looks very nice. I've got some fish that are a better size that won'y out grow the tank that I'll donate. I'm pretty sure the LFS will give "US" some credit if I take the fish you have back. We can use that credit for supplies. The great thing is we can get those fish you have now into a proper some tank. Who should I talk to? __________________ ToxicTen/DogFish's 40/Aquaponics for Vegans

05-17-2012, 04:59 PM	#4
acitydweller ओं मणिपद्मे हूं (View User Tanks) PTrader: (121/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New York, NY Posts: 6,033	i'd start by finding out who is responsible for the tank and see if they really care about it or just do the minimal. If they are friendly and open to some "charity" then offer up what you had in mind. its all about what they are receptive to because you have to remember, after you do your job and walk away, they are left holding the bag and caring for it. They may not want the trouble judging by how sparce the tank looks atm... Oddly, they may just want to get rid of it as it may have been more trouble keeping it to date and the original people who arranged for it may have moved on from there. Start by asking. It doesnt hurt to have a friendly chat to assess what the situation is. You never, know... __________________ Namaste ओं मणिपद्मे हूं My life extends far beyond the limitations of me Keeper of the LIST

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05-17-2012, 04:06 PM	#2
binako Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 79	I'd be worried that they might throw out the cichlid and the goldfish, and that they wouldn't maintain the tank. If you offer to redo the tank, will you also offer to do water changes, dosing, algae-removal, and other basic maintenance? What's the tank light like, and how long do they leave it on? They may not have a person at the clinic who is as invested and interested in the hobby as you are, and that may mean that the plants will die, fish will get sick, or whatever. If you're really set on redoing it, and you think that it won't cause them problems in the long-run or be extra work for you/anyone else, I'd casually ask someone at the desk who takes care of the tank, then proceed from there.

05-18-2012, 02:12 AM	#5
Kworker Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Long island Ny Posts: 472	Really im not looking to do any of future maintanence.. if anything the tank should be much better off with the plants and few smal guppies in comparison to the parrot cichlid and goldfish.. I figured what i may do with the goldfish. Talk to security gaurd at my old hs who actually voluteered and set up multiple glassed in ponds in middle of school .. but unsure of cichlid.. The lights just your standard tube light youd find at lfs nothing good but crypts should be good. Especially since i wil have topsoil to provide nutrients to them to capped with decent amount of sand so theres no mess.. too me , redoing the tank would make taking care of it easier

05-18-2012, 02:45 AM	#6
binako Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 79	I'd say exactly, that, then. And I'd do as someone above suggested, and call you local fish store to see if they'll take the cichlid. If that fails, offer it as a RAOK here on the forum, or maybe on Craigslist.