newbie

[markbob]

Hi everyone, I have tank and am getting ready to setit up. I bought it used and think that its either a 20 or 35 tank but have to do a volume check. I am thinking about setting it up with some nice plants, a small school of neon tetras and a blue lobster. I'm concerned about the lobster because I have heard varing reports on the minimum size tank and that the substrate for the plants can kill them.
I have been reading through a few posts here and was wondering about a few things, what does cycling the water mean? Do you guys use a timer to control the lighting or dou you just turn the lights off before you go to bed and back on when you get up?:confused:

[cocoa_pleco]

lobsters often try to eat other fish in the tank. cycling is getting the "good" bacteria in your tank and filter to eat the ammonia fish produce, read the stickies on fishless cycling to learn more. you should have tank lights on 8-12 hours a day, and i just flick them on at 8am and off at 8pm

welcome to ac!

[gm72]

Welcome aboard!

I would very much like you to post your questions again in the General or Beginner's forum more members are exposed to them and you can get the feedback you need.

[markbob]

Thanks, I posted it in the beginners forum too. I just posted here because I really like the idea of having a lobster.

[gm72]

No problem. I replied to your questions, as will others. Again, welcome!

[cocoa_pleco]

i wouldnt recommend a lobster, i used to have a few and they went after all the fish, and they were just a nuisance

[kid_fishboy13]

arent lobsters saltwater and neons freshwater?

[squirt_12]

well i believe that the blue lobsters (or is it the blue crayfish) are freshwater and the neons are freshwater too. But like the lobster is a bottom dweller and so are the neons. Well they like the bottom to the middle of the tank so....the lobster could snatch them and eat them. So the tank would pretty well just be a blue lobster.

EDIT- Welcome to the forum!!!!:19:

[jeffs99dime]

welcome to a.c.