BEGINNER IN URGENT NEED OF SOME ADVICE

[NEON]

IM BUYING A TROPICAL FISH AQUARIUM FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT AN NEED SOME PROFFESIONAL HELP IN SETTING IT UP.
IVE READ BOOKS AND INTERNET INFORMATION BUT STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED.
IM LOOKING TO PUT INTO THE TANK ON CHRISTMAS EVE NEON TETRA'S TIGER BARBS GUPPYS AND A BLACK SHARK (RED TIP) IS THIS WRONG?
I ALSO WILL NEED TO MOVE THE TANK ONCE IT HAS BEEN GIVEN AS A PRESENT ON CHRISTMAS DAY. IS IT OK TO SWITCH IT OFF FOR A SHORT LENGTH OF TIME?
I AM ALSO LOOKING TO SET UP THE TANK TOMORROW, FROM THEN TILL CHRISTMAS EVE, IS THAT ENOUGH TIME FOR THE RIGHT BACTERIA TO FORM?
AND ONE LAST THING, WILL I NEED TO TREAT THE WATER WITH ANYTHING?
ID LOVE THIS TO GO TO PLAN AN WORK OUT AS A PERFECT GIFT SO I APPRECIATE AN HELP IM GIVEN AS IM VERY VERY NEW TO THIS!!!!

 

[aquarius]

Hi. how big is the tank? and are you planning on doing a fishless cycle or cycle it with fish? you would have to treat the tap water with a conditioner that removes chlorine before putting it in the tank

so you want to put the fish in on christmas eve and almost immediately after take them out and move the tank? i think that would be pretty stressful for the fish.

 

[dixaisy930]

You might want to rethink the type of fish you'll have in there, depending on your tank size. Neons need to be in a school of atleast six or more, and the tiger barbs should be in a shoal as well, so they only pester each other, and not the other fish, so you should have probably atleast 4 or 5 of them (I don't know much about either of these fish, and am really guessing on the numbers...someone please correct me if I'm way off). As far as the black shark, I would think those would get pretty big, but again, not sure. For a beginner, the best rule of thumb is one inch of fish per gallon of water.

I'd have to agree with aquarius that moving them so soon will put alot of stress on the fish.

 

[NEON]

NOT SURE IF A MOBY DICK TANK MEANS ANYTHING TO U? ITS ANBOUT 28 INCHES WIDE!!
IS THERE ANY WAY OF MOVING THE TANK WITHOUT TAKING THE FISH OUT? IT WOULD BE MOVED FROM ONE ROOM TO ANOTHER
AND I DONT REALLY UNDERSTAND THIS CYCLE THING, I DO REALLY NEED A BIT OF HELP!!!

 

[aquarius]

do you mean your tank is 28 inches wide or 28 inches long?

and this is a link on cycling the tank http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?sh...showtopic=10099

 

[dixaisy930]

From one room to another would probably be fine...I thought it would be across town or something

There's an article in the beginner forum (I believe about cycling), it should make it a little more clear.

Sounds like you have enough room for the fish (maybe not the shark though...not sure about him). But I don't know if the tiger barbs would see the small neons as food..either someone else here will know, or you might want to ask the tetra forum on here.

Edit: I mis-read...I thought it said 28 gallons...if it's length, I don't think it would be enough room for everyone.

 

[NEON]

SORRY, ROUGHLY 28 INCHES LONG, DONT HAVE IT TO LOOK AT RIGHT NOW.
IF I HAVE MORE THAN ONE OF EACH OF THE FISH I LISTED, AM I OK TO PUT THOSE IN, CAN I PUT THEM ALL IN AT ONCE?

 

[aquarius]

i would recommend against having the tiger barbs. from what i know, these fish can terrorize and kill their tank mates. guppies are an especially no no with them. as for neons, these are peaxeful fish and should be kept in a group of 6 or more, ideally. guppies are nice and peaceful too. the shark, i'm not so sure about. i think it needs at least a 36 inch tank. http/www.geocities.com/wtaf2000/redtaile...blackshark.html

 

[NEON]

I AM REALLY CONFUSED ABOUT ALL THIS, STARTIN TO GRASP A FEW BITS THOUGH.
SO SWITCHING OFF THE HEATING AND FILTER TO MOVE FROM ONE ROOM TO ANOTHER SHOULD BE OK, NOT TO HARMFULL OR STRESSFULL FOR THE FISH?
COULD U GIVE ME ANY ADVICE ON WHAT FISH I COULD START OFF WITH TO PUT IN TO MAKE I LOOK NICE, YET PRACTICAL?

 

[dixaisy930]

I have to commend you, NEONS, atleast you've asked questions about your fish first, before you got them. Many of us had bought first and asked questions later.

This is the best way to prevent problems in the furture.


I think having the heater off for that short of time shouldn't cause any problems. My power went off once, and the heater was off for hours, and the fish were fine.

As for fish, you could always go for guppys, molly, or platys. All are hardy and come in very pretty colors. Although you might want some more unusal fish, I don't know. Do you want peaceful fish, or semi-aggressive? Do you want fish that are pretty, active, entertaining, or all of the above?

 

[NEON]

WHAT GOES GREAT WITH THE NEONS THEN?
AM I RIGHT IN SETTING IT UP TOMORROW AND ADDING THE FISH CHRISTMAS EVE?
THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELP

 

[aquarius]

i'm afraid moving your huge tank will be very difficult unless you have an aquarium stand on wheels. you will have to take out 90 percent of the water, leaving just enough to keep the gravel wet. you will have to take out all the fish, decorations, ets. otherwise the tank will crack if you try to lift it. it would be much better if you would just set up the tank where you want it right away

 

[aquarius]

oh and the fish in my sig. get along great with neons and are good beginner fish and look very nice

 

[NEON]

OH DEAR, THIS IS PROVING TO BE A PROBLEM, WAS HOPING TO KEEP IT A SUPRISE UNTILL CHRISTMAS DAY, THEREFORE WOULD HAVE TO BE KEPT IN A SEPARATE ROOM UNTILL THEN!!! ILL SEE HOW IT ALL GOES, THANKYOU!!

 

[dixaisy930]

I'd say maybe get a nice school of neon tetras, and maybe five or six cory catfish of your choice. They are very peaceful fish, and are real entertaining. They are great at cleaning up the neons leftovers. Although, they'll need some of there own food too (sinking wafers).

If you're tank is about 28 inches long, it's not too much bigger than a ten gallon (I would think...my ten gallon is 20 inches long). I agree that the best option would be to set the tank up where it's permanent home will be.