Another Noob Has Joined!

[SlippyGuppy]

Hi everyone!

I have just started my venture into keeping an aquarium and have found many of the threads extremely useful in setting up so thought I would join. The biggest challenge I have experienced so far is the complete contradiction in advice across the Internet, local retailers and books. It's a minefield! I feel way more inclined to trust the views and opinions here as, unlike the retailers, your's are driven by enthusiasm and passion over profit!

I have a 60L freshwater set up and having cycled the tank for three weeks (I have been testing pH, temp, ammonia, nitrates and nitrites every couple of days - All good) was advised to get some fish in there. I opted for two Danios as they seemed to be the most resilient from my research and they seem to be having a great time! I buried an air stone in the gravel at one end and when they're not chasing each other they're getting really stuck in to all the bubbles!

I have only live plants as I really don't like the artifical look of all the plastic offerings (why are they all so bright and neon?!) I want the colours of the fish to pop personally! I have a chunky piece of rock and some bog wood too.

From the advice I have been given I shouldn't add any more fish for at least another week and then no more than double the current population so was thinking of adding one more Danio in a weeks time?

Firstly I'm looking for some help on the following please:

Will three Danios be suitable or would they prefer to have more friends?

I like the idea of keeping tetra but while the shop said they would be fine I have read that they are not suitable for hard water areas so a bit confused as to whether I should keep them?

I'd like to add that I feel strongly about the welfare of my fishy friends and don't want to have occupants that will merely 'survive' as opposed to flourish so any tips on a good partnering with danios in a hard water area would be much appreciated!

Oh and lastly, I'd like to keep as smaller fish as possible as my tank is obviously not the biggest and I'd like as bigger community as possible without over stocking,

I look forward to participating and learning and thank you in advance for your advice!

 

[Goggy]

a school of 3 danios isn't a healthy number, i would go a group of 6.
It depends on the type of water the tetras at the store are living in.
and yes, 1 more week of cycling

 

[Ninjouzata]

 
When you were cycling the tank did you just let it sit there or were you adding ammonia? If it just sat there then it hasn't cycled at all unfortunately. Also are you using a liquid test kit or strips? The strips are highly inaccurate is why I ask this.
 
By adding fish to it you are now doing a fish-in cycle..this isn't recommended although it can be done.
If you really must or want to do it that way then have a read of these two articles: HERE and HERE.
 
What I would really suggest though is to take the fish back to the LFS and do a fish-less cycle with ammonia following THIS.
 
Something to add, if those are zebra danios they do need a group of at least 6, and prefer cooler water than other fish.
They are also very active fish so are actually best off in a bigger tank than what you have, preferably one that is 4 ft long.
 
I hope I havn't come off too negatively, just want to help.

 

[SlippyGuppy]

Hi both, thanks for your comments, no not negative at all and appreciate the advice, I returned my two danios to the store today as I'm unable to upgrade to a bigger tank at the moment and certainly wouldn't want to add another 4 if this one's not even big enough! I raised both eyebrows as high as I could at the lady who sold them to me, based on the same info I provided here!!

I will wait until fully cycled before I consider adding anything else. Of the three local aquatic centres near me they all stock tetra so guessing they'll be okay as the whole region is hard water but will get back on the research before deciding!

Thanks for the links to those articles that's really useful, I think I'm getting there with the cycling!
Oh and I've been using the API testing kit with drops

 

[LyraGuppi]

Welcome! c:

 

[Ninjouzata]

Glad to hear! Have you found some ammonia to use? I think in the UK Kleen Off is the popular brand to use?
 
Once you've finished cycling by following that article (and post questions if you have any, someone will be happy to help) you can make a stocking thread for your tank. When you do that the dimensions of your tank as well as the ph, kh, and gh of your water will be good to know.
 
You can get a test kit for the gh and kh separate from the API master test kit or you can usually find the information on your water company's website. I know you said your water is hard it's just good to know the exact numbers if possible.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Welcome!

 

[BeckyCats]

Hi SlippyGuppy! You joined for the same reasons I did. I also found superior advice and enthusiasm here.
 
I am no expert by any means. I am still a novice, so please keep that in mind when weighing my suggestions. You asked about small fish that do well in hard water. While I have no personal experience with them, I found dwarf emerald rasboras and celestial rasboras to be absolutely charming but was unable to get them because I have very soft water and they apparently prefer hard water. Look them up and see if you like them. I was super sad that I couldn't get them because they are so pretty. According to Seriously Fish, they only get to 20mm. Although they also say, "Despite its small size minimum base dimensions of 60 * 30 cm are recommended due to the sometimes combative behaviour of dominant males" I'm not sure if your tank fits that minimum.
 
Best of luck with whatever you choose!

 

[BeckyCats]

I'm sorry, I meant to say celestial pearl danio, not rasbora.

 

[SlippyGuppy]

Hi thanks for all the tips, the celestial Pearl danios look really cool! I'll check to see if I can get hold of them when the time comes. The store near me had just taken delivery of some multicoloured endlers guppy which look incredible! They're absolutely tiny as well!

Fishless cycle seems to be going well, I have been adding some tapsafe that I had but then also got the ammonia product as mentioned. Levels did spike a bit but I've just done some tests this morning and my readings were:

(NH3/NH4+) - 0.25ppm
(No2-)-0.25ppm
(No3-)-20ppm
pH - 8.0

Just to remind that the tank is 60L / 13Gal

I've not been able to get hold of the test kit for gh /kh as of yet so can't provide any exact details other than checking the water companies report for my supply water which is as follows;

Calcium mg/l Ca 89
Magnesium mg/ Mg 9.2
Total Hardness mg/l 261

Tank has been running for 2 weeks now and all the plants are doing well! I'll start a stocking thread soon for some more ideas!

 

[BeckyCats]

Yeah, the endler guppies are awesome. Very striking. Another fish I wish I could have.

 

[SlippyGuppy]

Hi All,

So still in the process of cycling and getting some significant algae proliferation to the piece of bogwood in the tank, I've just noticed what looks to be a small type of water snail mooching across the bogwood, rather bemused as to how he got in there? I'm using dechlorinated Mains water so assuming he snuck in on one of the plants?

Wondering if I should take him out? Quite like the fact it's turned up unannounced and seems to be enjoying the algae?!....

 

[LyraGuppi]

It's normal for pest snails to hitchhike on plants. Here is a nice freshwater snail guide to ID him. I've got Physidae, MTS, and Ramshorn snails in my tanks, and they don't bother anything. They're a bit beneficial, actually, since they munch on any leftover food or dead leaves. c: Just a warning though, they breed quickly.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

It's normal for pest snails to hitchhike on plants. Here is a nice freshwater snail guide to ID him. I've got Physidae, MTS, and Ramshorn snails in my tanks, and they don't bother anything. They're a bit beneficial, actually, since they munch on any leftover food or dead leaves. c: Just a warning though, they breed quickly.

I just found that out a week ago. Now I have about 30 snails. Lol.

 

[SlippyGuppy]

Thanks for the link, most useful! I'll keep an eye on things as u think I may see some eggs lurking at the back, 30 seems like a few too many!!