A few newby questions

[crookedfish]

Hi

I have a few newbie questions, as the more I read, the more confused I get

I have been thinking of getting fish for ages, so last week I ordered my first tank. I started by looking at the small 10 uk gallon tanks. After lots of reading, decided to get a bigger tank, so ordered a Boyu HX-600 which is a 112litre (25 uk gallon) tank.

Now for the questions:

1. I am due to get the tank at the end of May, but I am going on holiday at the beginning of July. I don't want to stock the tank until I get back so as to make it easier for the people looking after my 15 Guinea pigs. So do I fill it with water to get the tank started, or do I leave it till I get back off holiday ?

2. What would be the best (easiest/hardy) fish to start off with that will get on with Neon Tetra's (thats what the GF wants).

3. What are the stocking rules ie how many fish would be acceptable to put in the tank? I have read conflicting information. My book says 2" per gallon, the shop says 36" for the tank, and I have also read 1" per gallon (us or uk?).

Thanks for any help

Si

 

[kgrehm]

No Problem,

Since you are going somewhere and it would be to much for someones to watch the tank and make sure that everything is together, i would fill it up and hook everything up to start the process.

Do fishless cycling, and before you leave add some ammonium, or if you dont have that maybe a bit of fish food. Or see if house sitter can. That will start the cycling and since there is no fish in the tank yet the amounts wont effect any thing.

And when you get home take the lvls. of ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate. If they are all 0, or close to you are starting the cycle. If its off, do the necessary jobs, ex. wate changes.

The the time a couple weeks role around it should be look good to start you neon tetras.

Neon tetras are pretty small, and they like to be in schools of at least 6 which is fine for a 25 gal. tank. But watch after you but them in and make sure the lvls are consistant or you watch them carefully.

HTH

 

[crookedfish]

Thnaks for thr reply kgrehm. That is very useful information. I didn't want to give someone the hassle of checking and feeding the fish in a new tank etc.

What does fishless cycling involve?

If I was to put 8 - 10 neons in the tank as a start, could I slowly put more fish in later (when the levels have stabilised) and if so how many?

Edited to say: Would you use tap water or de-chlorinated water in a new tank (obviously de-chlorinated when doing water changes)?

Sorry for all the qestions, but I don't want to over stock the tank.



Si

 

[Fordaz]

As soon as you get the tank, rig it up... get everything working at let it just run for at least 7 days.

You're actually in a good position, not wanting to put fish in too early, because it means you can thoroughly establish the tank before introducing any fish to it.

Like kgrehm said, after your tank's been up and running for a bit, add some cycle bacterial aquarium suppliment, or failing that, regular fish food... the food will decompose in the bottom of the tank which causes Ammonia and Nitrite, which are very harmful to fish. The rise in ammonia and nitrite will trigger a growth of Filter Bacteria in the bottom of the tank, which will convert these toxic chemicals into less-dangerous Nitrate.

You'll need this bacteria established in your tank before you introduce any fish, so they can convert the fish waste quickly into Nitrate.

Nitrate can still be dangerous in large quantities, however. Some of it will be filtered by your mechanical filter, but the rest must be removed by doing a partial water change every 1 or 2 weeks, you must do this even though there's no fish in the tank, because you don't want your Nitrate level to build up. A 30% water change is ideal.

This process is called cycling.

By the time you come to put your fish in, your tank should be perfect for them.

Before you introduce the fish, do at least a Nitrate, Nitrite and PH test on the water... you can pick up testing kits in your LFS for about £8 each, and they last for about 70-80 tests. Alternatively, if your LFS has a testing facility, just take a water sample there.

PH should be around 6.5 to 7.5, any furter each way and you're risking Acid/Alkaline burns on your fish. Nitrite should be 0, or as close to 0 as possible... 0.1 is acceptable, but keep tabs on it to make sure it doesn't get any worse. 0.3 and above is potentially lethal to a fish. If your Nitrite level is high, get an Ammonium testing kit, and check the levels of Ammonium... if it's too high, stop putting stuff in the tank.

Nitrate isn't such an issue for hardy fish, but delicate fish can have problems with higher levels of Nitrate. 0-25mg/l is 100% fine for pretty much any fish you want to put in your tank, 25-50mg/l is tolerable for most sensitive fish, 50-75mg/l is tolerable for most hardy fish.

Anything more than 75mg/l and you need to take action to recude it, 30% water change should sort it.

Rule of thumb is to start out small, buy maybe 4-6 small, hardy fish like Guppies, Danios or Tetras. Neon Tetras aren't a great starter fish, despite what people might say. They're very sensitive to changes in their environment, but Cardinal Tetras are much easier to start with, and look just as pretty.

Leave them to do their thing for 2-4 weeks, regularly cycling the water just like before, and checking the water for nasties with the kits. After 2-4 weeks, if everything is alright on the tests, you can introduce some more... keep doing this until your tank is full.

You should be looking at 2" per (US) gallon, max, as a rule of thumb.

[Edit: Never introduce too many fish at one time. If you do, the Filter Bacteria won't be able to cope with the influx of Ammonia and Nitrite from rotting food and fish waste, this will cause a build-up of Ammonia and Nitrite in the water and could eventually kill your fish.

Always introduce a small number at a time, to give the Bacteria time to compensate. ]

 

[crookedfish]

Thanks for that Fordaz, lots of helpful info.

Just one thing though, I calculated that 25 imperial gallons = 30 US gallons. That would mean that I could stock up 60" of fish in the tank. Is this correct?

Si

 

[tstenback]

NO...the vast majority of members here would never advise 2" of fish per gallon. That level of stocking would be almost impossible for any experienced aquarist to look after and should never be attempted by a novice. In a 30 gallon tank you should have no more than 30" of fish. One inch per gallon until you become more knowledgable on the chemistry involved it is not advisable to exceed that limit. You should not add all of this fish at one time, just a 3 or so at a time and then check your water parameters and then once they are stable add a few more a couple of weeks later. Dont rush putting fish in as you will be disappointed in the results. Also as far as cycling goes please read the pinned article at the top of this forum about avoiding new tank syndrome. All of the details are in there. It is important as you enter this hobby to do all the reading you can so that you can provide the fish you choose to keep with the best possible environment. HTH

 

[Fordaz]

Technically, yes. But it may get a bit crowded.

It's not advisable to go for the max amount of fish you can fit in... for a start it won't look too good, and secondly, your fish won't be too happy.

38" will be fine, when you get more knowledgable and feel you can handle more (more fish = more work), you can add more.

@tstenback - I have a 10 gallon with 18 small (one inch) fish in, and they're doing fine. I suppose it depends on the fish. Shoaling fish can handle being in large numbers... it's what they're made for.

I wouldn't advise putting a lot of big fish in though.

 

[tstenback]

Once again i must stress that the recommended maximum level of stocking in a fully cycled tank is 1" per gallon. This limit is the accepted norm for most aquarists and is very important to maintain until such time that you have gained the knowledge of the water chemistry and the individual fish you stock to make a decision if your tank and community can support perhaps a few more inches of fish.

 

[crookedfish]

Thanks for all the info guys. I now know what fishless cycling is, and that is what I am going to do.

All I need to do now is decide what fish I want and which ones to put in the tank first. I know that I want neon tetras (probably 6 to 8) and Empra tetras (probably one or two pairs), but I am not sure what to put with them, but maybe something slightly larger.

Is there any fish that help clean the tank that I can put with the neons?

Si

 

[waterwatereverywhere]

Is there any fish that help clean the tank that I can put with the neons?

For algae eating, otos, though they like there to be plants around - but plants are a good idea anyway! Also some of the smaller plecs, especially bristlenoses, but make sure you know what species you're getting as the common plec will get too big for your tank. For fish which will generally busy themselves around the bottom of the tank and hoover up food, etc, you can't beat corys. Good luck

 

[Fordaz]

Get an Amano Shrimp or something... they'll eat the algae and leave your other fish alone.

Or if you want a cleaning fish... a low-maintenance catfish or something would be a good idea. I hear Striped Corydoras are easy to manage and are very peaceful, they don't grow too huge either, so they won't take up all your space. Never had one myself though.

[Edit: WWEW got there before me]

I had an Amano once upon a time in an old tank of mine, they're quite interesting to watch. Make sure you leave it a month or so before you introduce a bottom-feeder though, 'else they won't have anything to eat and you'll have to feed them yourself.

 

[crookedfish]

Thanks for all the info. I am very interested in the Amano Shrimp. Are they easy to look after?

Would I be able to have a Striped Corydoras with the Shirimp?

Does anyone have a picture of the Amano Shrimp that they could post or e-mail to me?

Thanks

Si

 

[tstenback]

Her's a link that should help Amano Shrimp - Caridina Japonica HTH

 

[crookedfish]

Thanks for that link tstenback. They do look very interesting, I will have a read up on them tonight. Are they available from any good tropical fish stockest?

Si

 

[tstenback]

Yes. But they seem to be stocked on an irregular basis (at my location anyway) so its kind of hit and miss. I just ask if they can bring some in and shortly after they magically appear.