I don't want to be that guy, but

[n00bie]

I just got a tank started and everything seems to be running smooth. I started out with 2 zebra danio, 2 leopard danio and 1 giant(jumbo) danio. After a few days I added a blueberry tetra and a Silver Dollar. Just looking for suggections on which direction I should be headed in.....(I realize that I will need an Algae eater of some sort and something to help keep waste to a min), but just looking for ideas.


BTW, it's 29US gallon tank.

 

[totalbolshevik]

You don't really need an algae eater... I had a suckermouth cat for a while, he did a good job of keeping the glass nice and clean, but he left crap all over the bottom of the tank. It was really nasty, and eventually he ran out of algae to eat, so I ended up taking him back to the store.

Also, blueberry tetras are dyed...? Dyeing is a really nasty practice, avoid buying dyed fish in the future.

Did you cycle the tank before you put too many fish in there?

 

[n00bie]

I actually just read that about the Blueberry.... ..Hopefully i can help give the little guy a better life as long as I have him. As far as the cycling goes, I got the tank and equipment from my uncle since he just upgraded, and ran it for a week or so once I got it (had some scenery in it that was covered with algae and such) so i'm hoping that it was enough of a bacteria start to help me with the cycling.



PS, sorry guys. I know i'm gonna get grilled about the blueberry, but it WON'T happen again.

 

[totalbolshevik]

That's alright, I bought a couple dyed fish once too... Had no idea and I felt really bad after I found out.

So... The tank, filter media, water and everything are old? Or just the filter media?

 

[n00bie]

Gravel, Filter, decorations, rocks are all old. Water is only new thing, and that's cause I had to travel with it. Everything was in good working order when he had it, so I tried to keep everything as close as possible. I realize that water's a HUGE portion of that equation, but no way to transport that too( little on the heavy side ).


BTW, nice sig

 

[Angry_Platy]

I have 2 bnose catfish and they successfully keep the tank algae free and do not leave crap at the bottom of the tank...they never run out of food as I feed them algae wafers and vegies (cucumber, zucchini, snowpeas, beans etc.) all the time...so while they are eating them the algae builds up again and the cycle goes on....

That and the fact that I have about 30 bnose babies makes me VERY happy indeed

 

[Tropjunky]

u put too many fish in there at once1
IMO ur theater should be near the filter.
u wanna get a catfish to keep the weast down i have 3 and i hardly have to clean the rank

 

[The-Wolf]

Have you thought about getting an amoured shrimp?
Mine keeps the bottom of my tank very clean by eating
fish waste and leftover food 8)
See my sig for latin name

 

[BigSteve]

♂ Don't worry so much about algae eaters right now, but definitely
get about 3 cory cats as scavengers for a tank that size.

 

[J_acon]

Hello, welcome to the forum

 

[totalbolshevik]

Gravel, Filter, decorations, rocks are all old. Water is only new thing, and that's cause I had to travel with it. Everything was in good working order when he had it, so I tried to keep everything as close as possible. I realize that water's a HUGE portion of that equation, but no way to transport that too( little on the heavy side ).


BTW, nice sig

Oh, well that should probably do it, as somebody else explained in a different thread, that's pretty much like making a copy of an existing tank.

About keeping the tank clean, corys do a good job of cleaning up the bottom, and they're cute, too.

 

[n00bie]

Well after seeing the posts about the cycling, I just wanted to make sure I was OK. Ammonia came out to be just below .25. It said on the kit that was a safe range and it was just a shade between the safe and good range.

 

[totalbolshevik]

Best to have no ammonia at all, any is harmful to fish. Supposedly there is a "safe range", but I don't believe that. Did you check your nitrite level?

 

[n00bie]

Didn't get that far yet, will check tomm some time.

 

[mrcrabbs]

Also, blueberry tetras are dyed...? Dyeing is a really nasty practice, avoid buying dyed fish in the future.

Why is it bad to buy died fish?