Adding fish -- next weekend!

[BirdOfPray]

Well, the latest on the 30 hex is that I kept having pH crashes that stalled the cycle and I decided things were getting ridiculous. Decided to try Seachem Stability after doing some research about exactly what they say it is and why they say it works -- even e-mailed customer service with a question and got a response the same day. I've been adding that for a couple of days now per instructions and it seems to be working -- ammonia is 0 and nitrites are dropping. Operating on the assumption that I should have a cycled tank by next weekend, I'm trying to make sure I have my plan down for adding my first batch of fish.

I'm thinking to start with I want to add either the cardinals or the corys. Is one or the other of these a better bet for a newly cycled tank, or does it matter? I don't intend to get fish if the tank conditions aren't right, so we're not talking about toxic water conditions or anything. How much of either one should I add to start with?

And finally, doing some more research on the corys, is there any chance that corydoras trilineatus would be an option for me? The pygmys are fine if not, but it looks like trilineatus only get to about 2 - 2.5" and I really like that look. The tank is 18" in diameter (measuring from straight side to straight side) or 20" from corner to corner. Each of the six sides is 10" long.

Thanks yet again for any advice -- y'all are awesome and I really appreciate all the help and encouragement so far on getting my tank set up.

Almost forgot -- my driftwood finally started sinking and I put it in the tank tonight! Will take pictures when the water has settled. Now to get some java fern...

[aricall]

wow sounds great......wish i was as far along as you are.
i just started cycling my tank wednesday haha
keep up the good work
sounds like your getting close

[Sharon]

I think I'd add the Cardinals first and then add the Corys after the tank has been stable for a couple of months. The trilineatus should be fine in that tank....

Acclimate the Cardinals slowly...they can be sensitive....

[mattsbottleofjager]

I'm putting fish in this weekend too, so no advice from me, but I do wish you the best. I'm starting with Cardinals or Neons, whichever my LFS has when I go in today.

[Lab_Rat]

What other fish are going in the tank, besides cardinals and cories? I have always added cardinals last since they can be so sensitive. Cories are sensitive fish also, but I'd probably add them before the cards.

[smaug]

The corys would be a slightly better choice for first fish.Cards can be a bit sensitive to newer water.Just a heads up about the wood.You may start to see a white scummy fungus coming out of it,especially at the end grains.Its normal and harmless,just remove it once in a while,it goes away after a month or so.

[BirdOfPray]

The complete stocking plan is cardinals, corys, marbled hatchets and a blue ram. I figure the hatchets and ram will be the most sensitive, so they're definitely not candidates for being first. I'll go with the corys if they're the least sensitive -- I just wasn't sure between them and the cardinals. There's also the possibility that it could come down to which of the two is in stock, but they told me Friday that they're stocking up for the weekend sale so I'm hoping I'll have my choice.

Thanks for the tips, and for the heads up on the driftwood! I'll keep an eye out for the scummy stuff.

[smaug]

Keep a tight lid on the tank with no holes at all or the hatchets will jump out.I lost over 10 of them till I realized they were jumping out of a hole no bigger then 2" sq.

[bushwhacker]

thats good to know smaug, i didnt know hatchets were jumpers. i had thought about a small group when i set up the angel tank but its open top

[smaug]

They are very jumpy ,especially when you first turn the lights on.Therehatchet shape is actually speciallized muscle designed for jumping.

[BirdOfPray]

Smaug, thanks for another heads-up. I have a glass top and a piece of fine netting that I'm going to use to cover the gap at the back of the tank where the filter hangs. I cut small slits for the filter intake/output, but nothing big enough for a fish to slip out. Water changes may be tricky, but hopefully not too hard.

[smaug]

You are welcome.Hatchets are a fun fish.If you want to watch them goe truly nuts,get some wingless fruitflies that are meant for frogs and such.They really like those.

[sandypants]

Well I don't have experience w any of the fish you are planning on but I will say have fun getting your fish this weekend! Aclimate slowly. I usually do 1-1.5 hours with water additions every 15 min. And make sure you net and put the fish in- none of the bag water should go with them. Depending on your driftwood you may still get some tannins in the water but they are harmless. One of my pieces was fine after I boiled it (from LFS) another I purchased online has been soaking since March- it sinks now but even after numerous boils and water changes, some tannins still come out. It's slowing but after a trial run in my aquarium I took it back out because it changed the water light brown, tested fine (H20) but looked too dirty for me. Anyway keep us posted on your new additions! :11:

[sandypants]

Oh wait- I forgot you are planning on a ram! I got mine a week ago. His colors are just now starting to show more brightly since he's adjusting and getting settled. Def. fun to watch and a beautiful fish!!!! At the LFS this past weekend I saw Gold Rams for the first time- GORGEOUS, more like an irridecent yellow. :goldfish: so pretty but I don't have the room for one. :1luvu: One to add to the "someday list." My GBR stays toward the bottom and searches around for food in the sand. He eats flake but doesn't go up toward the top like the other fish for it, waits till it drifts down some. He also loves frozen blood worms and live brine.