Guppy and molly

[itiwhetu]

Thanks. I will add more plants to the small one now I've changed the substrate. Gravel is hard to keep roots in - well my gravel was too shallow. But 2" of sand is much easier.

Plants really enhance the tank. @Kerneels you'll see such a difference in the tank by switching out some fake plants for real ones.

It all takes time

 

[Kerneels]

Can you post a pic of the tank so we can see set up?

A Molly needs lots of swimming place so a tank length of 90cm. Here it's recommended to only use tap water conditioner and not other additives like stress coat. I find @essjay a fountain of knowledge on what we should or shouldn't add to tank.

I’m not done stocking because I still have to go get the plants and hiding places so it’s very empty

 

[Kerneels]

Also would you consider swapping fake plants for real plants? Lots of benefits for the tank.

I've a 60L (24" x 12") and try to break up the line if sight & give the fish places to hide including under floating plants. I'm restocking the tank plants wise so bit low at the minute with amazon sword, Anubis Nana, Elodea, Salvinia, water wisteria & Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green.

Yes I’m going to try and find good plants because our petshops aren’t really stocked but your tank really looks amazing

 

[Kerneels]

Thanks. I will add more plants to the small one now I've changed the substrate. Gravel is hard to keep roots in - well my gravel was too shallow. But 2" of sand is much easier.

Plants really enhance the tank. @Kerneels you'll see such a difference in the tank by switching out some fake plants for real ones.

I will definitely because wow

 

[AilyNC]

I will definitely because wow

This was my tank when I first joined. My fish shop actually advised against plants but I listened to @AdoraBelle Dearheart instead and as my tank improved my fish did better. I had lots of kisses early on before finding this forum. That was just 3.5 months ago and now I'm hooked!

 

[AilyNC]

I’m not done stocking because I still have to go get the plants and hiding places so it’s very empty
View attachment 119584View attachment 119585

It'll help if you have deeper substrate. Yours looks quite thin. I recently swapped my gravel for play sand & have 2-3" deep. The fish are having way more fun with the sand now & plants have deeper space to grow roots. You can find good lists for beginner plants - for me Elodea, water wisteria, java Fern & java moss, Limnophila sessiliflora are all easy and some fast growing ones too. I add Seachem Flourish Comprehensive liquid fertilizer weekly & some root tabs that last several months. That way plants get nutrients they need. They'll also gobble up excess ammonia & nitrate so act to clean the water too. I think your skull would look really cool peaking out if some long green leaves. Frogbit or Salvinia floating on top will grow quickly use up nitrate & help provide shade for your fish. Another @AdoraBelle Dearheart tip is to raise water level to meet the black rim. It makes a big difference to the look of the tank & how the light filters through.

 

[AilyNC]

I really don't wanna overload with info but I'd get driftwood for the Pleco. They need to graze the wood to aid digestion. It'll love more plants too and somewhere to hide. Do you know what kind it is?

 

[Kerneels]

This was my tank when I first joined. My fish shop actually advised against plants but I listened to @AdoraBelle Dearheart instead and as my tank improved my fish did better. I had lots of kisses early on before finding this forum. That was just 3.5 months ago and now I'm hooked!

Wow I hope mine will do better because my platy fish passed away and I don’t understand why because yesterday he seemed okays and this morning I saw he had passed away and I have asked on the fish emergencies if someone could tell me why he passed away but no one has answered me yet

 

[AilyNC]

Wow I hope mine will do better because my platy fish passed away and I don’t understand why because yesterday he seemed okays and this morning I saw he had passed away and I have asked on the fish emergencies if someone could tell me why he passed away but no one has answered me yet

Do you have a test kit for ammonia, Nitrite abd Nitrate? It's important to check these regularly in your tank, especially after a death. My tank wasn't cycled so the bacteria to breakdown toxins such as ammonia & nitrite wasn't there and the water was bad for the fish. That's why I'd lots of losses & a steep learning curve.

Platy are pretty hardy fish so I would definitely get a test to check ammonia, Nitrite & nitrate. You need a big 50-75% water change if ammonia and/or Nitrite above 0 and/or nitrate above 20. You should also be doing big weekly water changes. Especially as your tank settles in.

 

[Kerneels]

It'll help if you have deeper substrate. Yours looks quite thin. I recently swapped my gravel for play sand & have 2-3" deep. The fish are having way more fun with the sand now & plants have deeper space to grow roots. You can find good lists for beginner plants - for me Elodea, water wisteria, java Fern & java moss, Limnophila sessiliflora are all easy and some fast growing ones too. I add Seachem Flourish Comprehensive liquid fertilizer weekly & some root tabs that last several months. That way plants get nutrients they need. They'll also gobble up excess ammonia & nitrate so act to clean the water too. I think your skull would look really cool peaking out if some long green leaves. Frogbit or Salvinia floating on top will grow quickly use up nitrate & help provide shade for your fish. Another @AdoraBelle Dearheart tip is to raise water level to meet the black rim. It makes a big difference to the look of the tank & how the light filters through.

Thank you, can I mix my current gravel with sand? And how many plant should I get? Also what kind of hiding place or “house” can I get for the fish and I actually keep my tank a tiny bit open because if I close it it fogs up and my filter needs to be a certain point above the water otherwise it’ll burn out and won’t the sand get sucked up if I use my gravel cleaner?

 

[Kerneels]

I really don't wanna overload with info but I'd get driftwood for the Pleco. They need to graze the wood to aid digestion. It'll love more plants too and somewhere to hide. Do you know what kind it is?

I tried finding but it’s very hard 3 of the petshops that are trustworthy are all sold out. The petshop said it was a clown pleco but I recently found out that it is actually a common pleco

 

[Kerneels]

Do you have a test kit for ammonia, Nitrite abd Nitrate? It's important to check these regularly in your tank, especially after a death. My tank wasn't cycled so the bacteria to breakdown toxins such as ammonia & nitrite wasn't there and the water was bad for the fish. That's why I'd lots of losses & a steep learning curve.

Platy are pretty hardy fish so I would definitely get a test to check ammonia, Nitrite & nitrate. You need a big 50-75% water change if ammonia and/or Nitrite above 0 and/or nitrate above 20. You should also be doing big weekly water changes. Especially as your tank settles in.

No I don’t have one yet can you give me a suggestion on what kit I should buy?
so should I change half of my tanks water every week?

 

[AilyNC]

The sand will sink below the gravel & people usually use one or the other. You can put the old gravel in cup or net and leave it sitting in the tank to help the beneficial bacteria build up on new substrate. The Pleco will prefer the sand and can dig a tunnel/cave for itself in the sand under a piece of driftwood. Or some driftwood pieces are carved to provide a hiding space.

To clean sand you swirl the siphon around the top of the sand to lift dirt up. There's good youtube videos on doing this.

Plants is up to you & what's available locally. I would get fast growing floating plant like Frogbit or Salvinia. Check out an online fish shop for plants you like the look of - then compare care guide to see what needs low CO2 & is easy to care for. It's a little research but worth it to get plants you like.

I like water wisteria, Limnophila sessiliflora, and Cryptocoryne plants.

Most of us use API Master Test Kit. It will last 800 tests so worth the money. Works out cheaper than strips and is much much kids accurate. It's a pretty essential fish keeper kit.

 

[AilyNC]

I tried finding but it’s very hard 3 of the petshops that are trustworthy are all sold out. The petshop said it was a clown pleco but I recently found out that it is actually a common pleco

There's a catfish section on the forum. Can you take photos of your Pleco, body and find and head and post there's for a "Pleco ID"?

Common Pleco are monster size fish! They're also much cheaper than clown pleco so I would return to store and insist on refund or trade. You need a small Pleco for that tank like clown, zebra or cheaper and more fun Bristlenose Pleco.

 

[Kerneels]

The sand will sink below the gravel & people usually use one or the other. You can put the old gravel in cup or net and leave it sitting in the tank to help the beneficial bacteria build up on new substrate. The Pleco will prefer the sand and can dig a tunnel/cave for itself in the sand under a piece of driftwood. Or some driftwood pieces are carved to provide a hiding space.

To clean sand you swirl the siphon around the top of the sand to lift dirt up. There's good youtube videos on doing this.

Plants is up to you & what's available locally. I would get fast growing floating plant like Frogbit or Salvinia. Check out an online fish shop for plants you like the look of - then compare care guide to see what needs low CO2 & is easy to care for. It's a little research but worth it to get plants you like.

I like water wisteria, Limnophila sessiliflora, and Cryptocoryne plants.

Most of us use API Master Test Kit. It will last 800 tests so worth the money. Works out cheaper than strips and is much much kids accurate. It's a pretty essential fish keeper kit.

I already bought new gravel so can I maybe just add more gravel and I will definitely try to find driftwood and also do research on the plants, I will look for this kit and let you know what my readings are as soon as I get it