Or doom to whatever fish I do this too.

I got a 3 gallon new version Water Wonders tank from Tetra to test how idiot proof it is. They include some water conditioners, and stuff to get the water going theoretically right out of the box that they include with the package. So does it work, they want to know.

Also a $5 Petsmart store card to go pick out a uh. victim,

The offical directions that came with the kit do state that you should wait 24 to 48 hours and does give all the *proper* fish tank setup instructions but the problem is most of the time no one bothers to read them. Or at least that's what they say is their biggest problem.

The packets of goo, (there's two of them) don't really list what is in them, but I'm guessing one is dechlorinator, and the other some sort of stress coat/beneficial bacteria thing.

I'm trying to think of all the things that you just should *not* do setting up a fish tank.

My plan so far is to set up the tank with tap water and the conditioner, go to the store and pick out a fish and then dump it right into the tank and see what happens.

Any other thoughts on stupid things to do? Any recommendations on a fish? I have no idea what a normal person would pick out. I can't even let my kids do it I don't think, they'd want to cram a blood parrot in there or something.

I know betta are pretty common for that small a tank but given I've seen them ship in bubbles the size of golf balls, I think they're a bit more hardcore than I'd like to use.

Shrimp! I have a betta in my 3g! Typical fish to put in a small tank. If it was me I would do a "SMALL Oscar" lol...lol...lol..just kidding of course, wait how about a gold fish...they don't get that big....lol..jk! If ti were me I would go with water plants and some shrimp maybe a rock or something.

I need to test this as if a complete n00b was setting up their first tank. That is, not to necessarily pick out what would be appropriate, but to do something that people like us who've been doing this forever would go, "wow, I can't believe you did that."

I talked to another person I know, and I completely forgot about trying to overstock the living crap out of it. Once I'm done the testing, I want to get some marimo balls and have them grow in there.

As for shrimp, I used to tend a massive salt water reef tank, and after having to deal with those mantis shrimp sneaking in on coral, all shrimp are evil. Almost 8 years later I still have the scar on my hand where one got me really badly.

So did you ever get the tank up and running and stocked? I was thinking about it and thought maybe you could stock 100 of these goldfish in it!!!!!

Bwahahahahaha! Those fish are some of the shortest lived fish I've ever had in my possession. The brown "pretzel" variant are even more short lived.

As for the tank, the fish manager gave me a deal on 4 Boesemani rainbow fish for a buck each on the condition that I don't bring any of them back dead. They've had more than 80% of their original order returned dead with that Petsmart 14 day guarantee of theirs and they were originally near 10 bucks a fish.

Anyway, since they're extremely small and it sounded like they were delicate, I skipped the dumping them right in part and floated the bag to equalize the temperature. After a 20min float they went in with no problem.

They took the Tetra supplied flake food just fine. I set the light up on the the usual timer that I used for everything else and I threw in a small chunk of the Sunset Hygro from Mike D.

After 6 hours of the light on, one of the Rainbows ended up dead. But, I'm not sure what the cause was. Adult size for them are about 3 inches and these guys were only 3/4" to a 1" so definitely juvies.

It's been 3 days now and the 3 that are left are doing just fine. The tank chemicals worked just fine for them and while it wouldn't be my first choice in fish food, it too worked.

My issue with the fish food was, and I'm not sure if it was due to shipping that it was for the most part dust. They would have done better to put it in a little plastic cup instead of the little pouch it was in.

As a side note, the tank uses an adjustable height halogen bulb. The hygro in there must really like it. After being in there for two days, it went from the green it was to having very pretty pink tips on it's leaves.

Rainbows probably not a good choice for that tank. Good luck with your quest!

That's the whole point.

I'm giving them a week. They make it through to friday I'm moving the rainbows into a proper home. I have some mollies that came in with some feeder fish that can go in there.

I'm sure it's not the best for the mollies either, but it's either that or they can take their chances with the turtles.

Oh I understand now...whew! Rainbows are nice fish and very durable IMO.

Except for the one dropping right away they do seem to be alot sturdier than I was led to believe. They also colored up something fantastic. I had no idea they were going to turn out that pretty.

IMO I would have gone with goldfish becasue the normal noob goes into the store and says, hmm, whats bright and cool looking and dosnt cost much? goldfish! the only reason I would have said no to the rainbows though is becasue where I am their 10-15 bucks which is waaay more than a first time fishkeeper wants to spend.
Interesting experiment though saint_felony, do you work for this company doing product testing?