RoLo
New Member
Greetings everyone. I just recently got my first aquarium/fish, and was interested in finding an online forum to do with my new found hobby, and FishForums.net seemed like the most popular, active, and informative, so here I am. As for my setup, I have:
1. 10 gallon tank with built in LED lighting
2. 3 pearl danios fish(Read in many many places and was also told at the aquarium store that danios are a great startup fish, which are very hardy and great for the breaking in period of my tank)
3. Marineland Bio-Wheel Power Filter Penguin 100(3 stage filtration, filters 100 gallons per hour, good for tanks up to 20 gallons)
4. 50 watt aquarium heater
5. API Freshwater Master Test Kit
6. Siphon tube
7. Water conditioner, bio-support, and bio-clean
Now, the tank started running last Tuesday(December 27th), I put in 2 teaspoons of water conditioner, bio-support, and bio-clean as instructed, and will be adding 2 more teaspoons of the bio-support tomorrow as that makes 1 week of the tank running. I then bought my fish Saturday afternoon, meaning that the tank was running 3 and a half days before putting the fish in, introduced them into the tank slowly like I had been explained and read online. I also have the tank water temperature at 27 celcius(80 fahrenheit). As far as I'm concerned, I'm on the right track thus far...but what do I know right? lol =) So I just have a few newbie related questions that need some answers. I've gone over your newbie threads, and believe me they've helped, but I got some other questions.
1. I have yet to test for ammonia or anything yet, and have yet to clean/change/or add any water, as I figured I would do both of those tomorrow when adding more bio-support and cleaning the water with my siphon tube. Tomorrow makes about 4 days that the fish have been in the tank. Have I waited to long to do these things?
2. The filter instructions say to change the filter sponge inside it every 2-4 weeks. Should I follow this? What about my bio-wheel, what do I do with that?
3. As mentioned above, the water temperature is at 27 celcius(80 fahrenheit) is this a good temperature?
4. As also mentioned above, I have 3 pearl danios. Was this a good choice in your opinion as a starting fish? As for feeding them, I am feeding them 3-4 flakes once a day. Is that sufficient enough?
5. When it comes to changing water and cleaning my tank, should I turn off my heater? I have a friend who electrecuted all his fish by not turning it off during a water change. Was he just a dummy? lol
6. When it comes to cleaning my tank with the siphon tube, I then need to add water after because of the water I lose while cleaning. Is it okay to expose to fish to water conditioner? As I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to add some to every cup of tap water I put into my tank.
7. Lastly, I've included a picture of my tank. Is it too overcrowded? Sometimes I think so because it seems that my pearl danios usually gravitate toward the back right of the tank behind some greenery and just kinda float there for a good period of time. Is that due to lack of swimming room for them? It's not always the case, but it just has me thinking. Please give me your opinions.
Wow that was a long thread lol I'm such a newbie, and I hope I'm not being too overwhelming. Any answers to any questions are truly appreciated and any other unrelated suggestions are as well.
Also, I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Anyone else on here from there? I've done all my fish/tank related shopping at Big Al's(www.bigalscanada.com)which are a pretty reputable fish and aquarium service superstore. Are there any better dealers out there? Anyone have any positive or negative experiences with Big Al's?
Okay I think I'll stop typing now lol. Thank you all very much, and I look forward to becoming a long lasting and active member of this forum community. Cheers.
1. 10 gallon tank with built in LED lighting
2. 3 pearl danios fish(Read in many many places and was also told at the aquarium store that danios are a great startup fish, which are very hardy and great for the breaking in period of my tank)
3. Marineland Bio-Wheel Power Filter Penguin 100(3 stage filtration, filters 100 gallons per hour, good for tanks up to 20 gallons)
4. 50 watt aquarium heater
5. API Freshwater Master Test Kit
6. Siphon tube
7. Water conditioner, bio-support, and bio-clean
Now, the tank started running last Tuesday(December 27th), I put in 2 teaspoons of water conditioner, bio-support, and bio-clean as instructed, and will be adding 2 more teaspoons of the bio-support tomorrow as that makes 1 week of the tank running. I then bought my fish Saturday afternoon, meaning that the tank was running 3 and a half days before putting the fish in, introduced them into the tank slowly like I had been explained and read online. I also have the tank water temperature at 27 celcius(80 fahrenheit). As far as I'm concerned, I'm on the right track thus far...but what do I know right? lol =) So I just have a few newbie related questions that need some answers. I've gone over your newbie threads, and believe me they've helped, but I got some other questions.
1. I have yet to test for ammonia or anything yet, and have yet to clean/change/or add any water, as I figured I would do both of those tomorrow when adding more bio-support and cleaning the water with my siphon tube. Tomorrow makes about 4 days that the fish have been in the tank. Have I waited to long to do these things?
2. The filter instructions say to change the filter sponge inside it every 2-4 weeks. Should I follow this? What about my bio-wheel, what do I do with that?
3. As mentioned above, the water temperature is at 27 celcius(80 fahrenheit) is this a good temperature?
4. As also mentioned above, I have 3 pearl danios. Was this a good choice in your opinion as a starting fish? As for feeding them, I am feeding them 3-4 flakes once a day. Is that sufficient enough?
5. When it comes to changing water and cleaning my tank, should I turn off my heater? I have a friend who electrecuted all his fish by not turning it off during a water change. Was he just a dummy? lol
6. When it comes to cleaning my tank with the siphon tube, I then need to add water after because of the water I lose while cleaning. Is it okay to expose to fish to water conditioner? As I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to add some to every cup of tap water I put into my tank.
7. Lastly, I've included a picture of my tank. Is it too overcrowded? Sometimes I think so because it seems that my pearl danios usually gravitate toward the back right of the tank behind some greenery and just kinda float there for a good period of time. Is that due to lack of swimming room for them? It's not always the case, but it just has me thinking. Please give me your opinions.
Wow that was a long thread lol I'm such a newbie, and I hope I'm not being too overwhelming. Any answers to any questions are truly appreciated and any other unrelated suggestions are as well.
Also, I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Anyone else on here from there? I've done all my fish/tank related shopping at Big Al's(www.bigalscanada.com)which are a pretty reputable fish and aquarium service superstore. Are there any better dealers out there? Anyone have any positive or negative experiences with Big Al's?
Okay I think I'll stop typing now lol. Thank you all very much, and I look forward to becoming a long lasting and active member of this forum community. Cheers.