First tank - used, planted.

[rymo]

Hello, everyone. Glad to be a member here!
A week ago I got my first used tank - full set-up, already cycled and scaped, with plants and snails. Yesterday I added three neon tetras and pothos seedlings. I’m trying to troubleshoot a few things but there’s so much information out there and I’m not familiar with all of the proper terminology yet.

Based on the photos, what do you think so far?
What are the black dots that have attached to the roots?
Should the filter have those air pockets or should I get rid of those?
Any other concerns you have?
Thanks!
Ry

 

[MattW]

To TFF

Nice looking tank! I would add to the tetra group if possible. And the black bits on the roots looks to me like snail . It seems you have a filter with an air regulator which adds oxygen to the water so air pockets would be expected.

 

[rymo]

Thanks for the reply! Snail poo, makes sense.
If these tetras are happy next week, I’ll get 3 more

 

[Sparx]

Welcome to TFF
Your tank looks great! Have you kept fish before?
I agree with @MattW neon tetras are a schooling fish and they prefer to be kept in groups of about 10 or more.
How big is the tank? What litre/gallon?

 

[rymo]

Welcome to TFF
Your tank looks great! Have you kept fish before?
I agree with @MattW neon tetras are a schooling fish and they prefer to be kept in groups of about 10 or more.
How big is the tank? What litre/gallon?

Thanks! I haven’t kept fish as an adult. We had a family fish tank when I was a kid, and I had a leopard gecko for 15 years after that.

It’s a 10 gallon tank, so I wouldn’t have more than 10 tetra. I’m just trying to limit the number I start with in case I royally mess something up and they don’t make it.

 

[BigBurgassio]

For a first try that looks immense, well done

 

[Sparx]

Thanks! I haven’t kept fish as an adult. We had a family fish tank when I was a kid, and I had a leopard gecko for 15 years after that.

It’s a 10 gallon tank, so I wouldn’t have more than 10 tetra. I’m just trying to limit the number I start with in case I royally mess something up and they don’t make it.

Looks bigger than a 10g! That’s fair though. I was gonna ask if you’d have any other fish or just tetras lol

 

[emeraldking]

Welcome to our forum...
Yout tank looks great..! The black dots on those roots of those floaters are nothing to be concerned about. Just enjoy your tank for now...

 

[fishorama]

Welcome! I'm new here too but not a newbie to fish.

Your tank looks very nice! I like the rocks & plant placement.

I'm with everyone suggesting more neons. Some things to look hard at when buying more tetras: any white dots or smeary looking areas on body or fins. slightly nipped fins or tail (it might be ok or not)? Missing fins?!? White lips?

Also watch them for a while. Do they all act "normal"? No awkward swimming or extremely fat tummies (not just in a female way). Look hard at the blue "neon" part. Is there a whitish gap in the blue or less in the red? That is a sign to me of "neon tetra disease" It is not treatable, it's slowly fatal & can spread to other neons, cardinals & some other tetras too.

Sorry to sound so alarmist but learning to choose healthy fish is an important skill to develop. Especially since you don't have a quarantine tank. If any fish in the neon tank look sick in any way, skip them all for now. Don't be in a hurry to get more, neons are pretty commonly available. If they don't look great, wait! There will be more available in short time.

Treating ill fish can be expensive, hard work & heartbreaking, try to avoid that as best you can.

Sorry again, a bossy old timer fish keeper trying to help you avoid mistakes I've made over many years. Your tank is off to a great start!

 

[rymo]

Six weeks later — look how my aquarium has transformed! Third photo is from my original post.
Added a few neon tetra (up to 7 now), an assortment of plants, and today I got a male platy (named him Plato). The snails have been thriving and reproducing too. Super happy with everything so far.
My red rooted floaters all died after I added the other plants… my guess is they weren’t getting enough nutrients after the vegetation skyrocketed. I haven’t bought a fertilizer yet; I was hoping to go without it but I feel like it would have prevented that.
I have a plant light next to the tank and have been propagating pothos in the back of the tank as well. Also Added a backdrop and a plant corral.

Any tips for separating the black rock from the white sand at the centre-front of the tank? Originally it was a nice white sand beach, now it’s all mixed up.

Cheers