All enthusiasm, no research

[Rick Debono]

Hi, just joined the forums and thought I would post about my new aquarium.

I haven't had fish since I was a kid (and they were gold fish). I was struck by the urge so last weekend I purchased a 50L tank (plus submersible filter, heater, gravel and some stress zyme). I set everything up, filled it with water (and some stress zyme) and ran the filter/heater for ~5 days.

Two days ago I went to a LFS, explained that I had a new tank and wanted to start stocking it. So I purchased a number of fish (not so good on the names of them yet) and put them in the tank.

Neither of the two pet shops had mentioned anything about cycling the tank or changing water. The next day one of the small cat fish was dead. I thought this might not be out of the ordinary until later on in the afternoon I found the "good" cat fish (pictus I believe) dead. Now I have two other fairly sick looking fish :(

I decided to do a bit of reading, and this seems to be the best resource I have found so far!

Since then I have:


Done a number of water changed
Purchased an external air pump for a corner filter and two air stones
added a smaller grade gravel


I will be looking for a water testing kit in the next couple of days, although hopefully nothing else dies in the meantime.

Still on the To Do List


Make a tank hood with day / night lighting on a timer
Get some plants in
Stock a school of hardy fish until the tank settles

[ALW]

If you want to cycle the tank with fish in it then I would suggest 4-6 Zebra Danio. They are hardy and cheap. Two for a dollar where I live.

I did not use live plants in my 10 gallon tank. I also made the mistake of leaving the lights on a lot.

Light stimulates growth. Algae growth, that is.

Zebra Danios

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[Rick Debono]

Thanks, I will put some in when I get back on Tuesday! :19:

[Nick_Pavlovski]

If you can get SERA products, buy some Sera Nitrivec. That will help get the bacteria going that your tank and fish need.

[Rick Debono]

Oh, almost forgot. I added a cup of gravel from my neighbors tropical tank which hopefully will assist the bacterial process.

I will see if I can get some Sera Nitrivec as well :)

[Nick_Pavlovski]

It will assist...can you borrow some scrapings out of his filter? That would be even better than the gravel, may even save you having to buy the Nitrivec...

[siymdapolio]

yup do what everyone has said. I also sugggest dont distrubt the substrate to much during water changes... This will disrubt what little bacteria youhave so you still to establish it in the substrate.

Also get some hardy plants java fern, elodea stuff like that which will break down waste and things... Allways another good thing to get some more beneficial things to your tank

[MandyL]

Well, doing your research now is still better than a lot of new fish keepers. ;) I don't know why I still am so surprised at fish stores giving bad info or none at all... Ticks me off!

Do you still have living fish in the tank? Do you know what they are, or can you show us pictures? Adding danios to the tank right now if you already have fish in there will cause more harm than good.

As well, I'm not familiar with Stress Zyme. Does it remove chlorine and chloramine? If not you need a conditioner that does that ASAP.

[doug z]

Does it remove chlorine and chloramine?

Huh..

Good question..

It says it's a water conditioner, but doesn't say if it nullifies chlorine, or copper or other harmful elements..

Anybody know?

Welcome aboard, Rick!

I was in the same boat as you..

But fortuanately I decided to do some research before actually adding fish!

Needless to say every single thing I'd bought from the lfs went back!!

[Rick Debono]

Well, doing your research now is still better than a lot of new fish keepers. ;) I don't know why I still am so surprised at fish stores giving bad info or none at all... Ticks me off!

Do you still have living fish in the tank? Do you know what they are, or can you show us pictures? Adding danios to the tank right now if you already have fish in there will cause more harm than good.

As well, I'm not familiar with Stress Zyme. Does it remove chlorine and chloramine? If not you need a conditioner that does that ASAP.


At the moment I have a Betta, two of the short Kissing Gouramis, ,a Bronze Catfish (not 100% on this one), and what looks similar to a small Discus (silver with bright blue coloring, about 1.5cm).

I have de chlorinated the water and done a number of water changes.

[doug z]

a Bronze Catfish

You mean a bronze corydoras?

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[MandyL]

OK so your choice is whether to keep those fish and see how they do during the cycle, or take them back and get a few danios... If they are true Kissing Gouramis they will get too large for your tank, as will the Discus if that is what it is? The betta is fine but you'll have to make sure you don't get any fish that nip fins or any fish with long flowing fins that he would mistake for another betta (or gouramis, he will most likely fight with them as well). If the catfish is a Bronze Cory he will need another 4 buddies at least since they school, but I wouldn't add any until your cycle is done.

[easty-uk]

Maybe you could take them all back to the Lfs (if they will take them back, better for the fish and yourself in the long run), and do a fishless cycle.

Regards

Tony

[graceluvsplatys]

No do fishless. The danios will slowly get suffocated like carbon monoxide for humanS! I would NOT reccomend, it is just cruel

[easty-uk]

I have danios in my community tank, I bought them after the fishless cycle....

These guys are great, NONE stop movement all day long :hmm3grin2orange:
Yes, they will eat you outta house and home if you let them, but they are great little fish.
I think that they sometimes get a bit of a bad deal... Alot of people just use them to cycle their tank's, and then in a lot of cases take them back... Why should these fish have to suffer through the cycle just because they are hardy/ tuff little fish ??? It's like you or I being put in the ring with Tyson and expecting us to survive !! (maybe not to that extreme), but you know what I mean. Give these guys a chance... buy them after the fishless cycle and put some life some movement into your tank....

Regards

Tony.