Self-Loathing

This morning I was horrified to find that when I'd changed the sick loach's water...when was it? Yesterday morning or yesterday evening? I don't even know...I forgot AGAIN to plug the heater back in. I despise myself.  His tank was at 68 degrees. Awful. I've really done him a huge disservice (and that's putting it mildly) because this morning his body has more ich spots, this time on the torso and back rather than just on his fins. I am enraged at myself for forgetting to plug the heater in a second time. If this poor fellow lives through this, it'll be a miracle. Between being in an un-cycled hospital tank and two drastic temperature fluxuations AND the ich, his survival would be nothing short of miraculous. He's going to be in this hospital tank for a while, obviously.

Idiot.

Meanwhile, despite everything I've ever read to the contrary, the loaches in the 55 seem quite happy in their small group of three. Clowns are supposed to be kept in groups of 5-6 at the minimum, but my guys seem gregarious and active. They pall around with the Burmese Loach most of the day. Unlike my first batch of clowns back in 2003, these guys never hide. They're constantly foraging and rooting and loaching around. It's heartwarming.

As for Rhaegar, I can't tell if he's really happy in the 55 or not. He hides 50% of the time, or perhaps it's more accurate to call it lurking. The other 50% (maybe 45%) of the time, he's moving around. He swims among the plants and from one side of the tank to the other, from top to bottom. He rarely flares at anybody, and nobody bothers him a trifle. Even Bruce, who does watch, has shown no aggression. Rhaegar has no nipped fins. The current is a little strong for a betta's taste, but he doesn't seem to be struggling. So I'm really wondering if he is happy in the 55 or not. Jerkface would be more suited for life in the 6.6, since he's taking chunks out of Chunk. However, it's harder to develop a relationship with a betta in a big tank.

I've posed my question to the Aquarium Advice Freshwater forum.