Got my 30 gallon all set up

[ryan81986]

Well I finally got my 30 gallon tank all setup and running. I wound up getting 5 long finned blue danios to start off. I'm not sure what I should get next. Obviously the danios are very docile and good schooling fish but I'm not sure what else to put with them.

[ryan81986]

Also I have a couple of questions. The temperature in the tank is around 82 is that too warm? Also how much should I feed them per day? The guy at the pet store said a pinch a day but I read online that they should be fed a pinch a few times a day.

[Rocky06fx4]

Also I have a couple of questions. The temperature in the tank is around 82 is that too warm? Also how much should I feed them per day? The guy at the pet store said a pinch a day but I read online that they should be fed a pinch a few times a day.

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The Blue Danio or Kerr's Danio (Danio kerri) is a tropical fish belonging to the Danio family (Cyprinidae). Originating from South-east Asia on the island of Ko Yao Yai in the Malaysian Peninsula, this fish is sometimes found in the fish keeping hobby. It is a blue colored, deep bodied Danio with several pinkish/gold lines from tail to gills which may or may not be continuous, over a powder blue side.

The Blue Danio is a peaceful, active schooling fish that is usually kept in groups. They prefer a well planted environment but still need plenty of space to school. Blue Danios prefer water with a 6.5 - 7.0 pH, a water hardness of 8 - 12 dGH, and a temperature range of 73 - 77 F (23-25 C).

Blue Danios are egg-scatterers that spawn among a coarse gravel bed. They will typically spawn at the first light of day. The eggs will hatch in approximately 36 hours.

[ryan81986]

I better turn down the heater then.

[Zerileous]

generally ideal temp for a tropical tank is between 75-80 F, but of course that varies with species and it looks like you want to be a bit on the cool side for this one.

As far as feeding, I go with a pinch a day (feeding only once a day). Remember its somewhat dificult to starve a fish, while you can easily crash a tank by over feeding. It is definately best to err on the side of LESS when feeding your fish. Eventually you will get the hang of how much they will want to eat.

[Incredulous_Ed]

If this is a new tank, don't feed the fish for a week. The tank is cycling and the fish waste produces ammonia, which is very toxic to the fish. After a week, beneficial bacteria grows that turns the ammonia into something less harmful. Feed very little the first few weeks.

[RobbieG]

A fishes stomach is about the size of its eyeball (as a general rule) - keeping that in mind - 5 danios would only need about the tiniest pinch possible

[ryan81986]

I just got another 10 dannios to try and fill the tank, just for now while they get used to it. Although now they are mostly just sticking to the top of the tank. Eventually I want to get some tequila sunrise guppies to put in with them.

[Lady Hobbs]

WHOAAAAAA.....slow down. You now have 15 fish in an uncycled 30 gallon tank. When cycling with fish, you need to start out slowly so please add no more fish.

Keep those temp up there, too. The heater turned up with help get that bacteria growing faster as well as aerating the tank. You will need to get a Master Test Kit so you can start watching for ammonia spikes and with 15 fish, I doubt it will take long.

Read about cycling in the Tank SetUp thread.

[Kuli_Loach]

Hobbs has it right, you have done got off on the wrong foot, you have to cycle the tank for atleast a week before placing fish in. You will now probably have over half die from ammonia and nitrite and then there is ick and tail rot.

[ryan81986]

Yeah that was stupid I admit it. I guess I am going to have to chock that up to a dumb newbie mistake.

[A340]

Since you've already got fish in the tank, I'd recommend going out and buying a bottle of Seachem's Stability, it'll boost your cycle and protect your fish. Add the required capfuls (read the instructions of the bottle) everyday for 7 days and your tank should be done cycling with healthy fish.

[Kuli_Loach]

Get some ammonia and nitrite detox as soon as possible also.

[ryan81986]

I put in some chlorine remover that came with the tank and I just read the bottle and the fine print says it removes ammonia too.

[Kuli_Loach]

It doesn't do it well and as long as you have fish, there will be a constant output of ammonia.

[ryan81986]

Ok. I got the stabilizer, do I need to wait until I get ammonia readings or do I just put it in?

[Kuli_Loach]

All it does is detoxifies the ammonia you get in there. If you have fish in then I would.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Actually, just do 50 percent water changes twice a week. It will take the ammonia out naturally.

[Kuli_Loach]

I use it anyways.:c3:

[A340]

Ok. I got the stabilizer, do I need to wait until I get ammonia readings or do I just put it in?
If it's Seachem's Stability, add the required amount of capfuls everyday for 7 days and you should be good to go. What it basically does, is boost your cycle by adding the beneficial bacteria needed to cycle the tank and also providing a detox to protect your fish against the harmful ammonia spike.