noob ?

[anort717]

Hello everyone, my names Aaron, i've been checking out the forums for a few days and decided to join. I've decided that i want to become an aquarium enthusiast, gain knowledge and do things right. I dont want to be just another goofball with a fish tank cause thats what ive been. Had my current tank up and running for a little while so forgive me if some things are a little wrong but thats why im here. After researching a little bit i think i might be over stocked how big of a problem is that. its a 5g tank my fams had laying around for a few years and have 7 smaller swordtail. They all look comfortable and it doesnt seem to cramped or fighting for space. just remember im here to learn and be better dont rip me to hard lol :torch:

[robnepper]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Your sword tails will not be in the smaller category for long, so a 5er will not be good enough for 7 of them. You would be pushing the limits in a twenty depending on gender mix and decorations. They are quite fast and spry and love to jump out of tanks. They should grow to about 2.5 to 4 inches so I would either invest in at least a twenty gallon (long if you could find one), or keep one nicer male or a couple of females. The other problem is that if you keep all of them, your seven will turn into 30 and then 160 and so on as they are prolific breeders.

[gadget228]

Agree it's not going to take very long for your sword-tails to outgrow your tank, craigslist is a good place to find a good used larger tank.

Welcome to the AC... :22:

[xasuma]

yea, you will need a larger tank, or you can return some of the fish back to the store.
you still have some time until they grow a little.
and they shouldnt be many fries in that amount of space, cuz the adulkts will eat them most likely. :p

:22:

[anort717]

okay so i found out we had an old 20g kicking around in the garage used some of the substrate from current tank and set it up how long should i let this tank cycle before adding fish and also thinking of adding some sort of bottom feeder should i go with pleco cory or algae eater

[xasuma]

let it cycle for 3 to 4 weeks.
I do mine with ammonia, make sure its the pure stuff, doesnt has to foam.

If you are keeping that tank for good, then maybe not a pleco, cuz they grow pretty big, the only pleco that could work is the BN, but it might still a little too large for it.
So probably one of the others, i dont know tho, i just have plecos, lol.
Try and put the temperature over 80 if u can, and read the fishless cycle topic in my signature.
good luck :22: