IM NEW TO THE SCARY FISHES!!!!!

[gearyboy]

I have kept coldwater fish before but have forked out for my first tropical fish tank. Its a 29gallon/126 litre tank. Its all set up heater filter gravel, p.plants and have been told to leave it 2weeks for the tank to settle. Ive added some water conditioner and biological aquarium supplement (it came with the tank) There are four questions that I hope you wonderfull people can help me with

1) What can I add to the water to keep the chemical balance ok? ( I am refering to maintenace)

2) As I may struggle at the start with the water, what fish can I add that will tolerate if I do struggle (doulbe hard ba&*$%d fish) I was thinking shoaling fish?!?

3) Would I be right in saying adding a couple of fish at a time is the right way to go? rather than putting loads in?

4) Have been looking on fleebay at testing kits, what should I be looking for?

Cheers Matt

 

[WILDER]

You can do a fishless cycle using ammonia, or add some hardy fish like danio's,no need to do any maintance on the tank till it has cycled, you only preform water changes when a fish is suffering from high nitrites.

 

[rdd1952]

I would suggest a fishless cycle also. It will take about 3 weeks and you will be able to add all your fish at once when it is finished. You also won't run the risk of losing a bunch of fish or the trouble of having to do daily water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels down.

 

[andywg]

I wouldn't add all the fish at once after a fishless cycle unless you have been cycling using a lot of ammonia at each time.

I would definately go with running a fishless cycle.

With test kits you want the drip method that changes the colour of the water rather than the paper strips as these are more accurate. Minimum tests you need for the cycle will be ammonia nitrite and nitrate.

Andy

 

[annka5]

Welcome to the forum!

1. You need to add basic dechloricator to your tap water before you add it to the tank. No chemical is as good as doing a water change- say 25% once a week once your tank is cycled. I would steer clear of all other chemicals. Possibly get some snail-killer for using on live plants BEFORE you add them to the aquarium.
2. Use a fishless cycle -have a look a tthe pinned topics for more info.
3. depends if you do a fishless cycle or not -see (2).
4. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, pH, gH and kH. Once your tank is stable and mature, you'll find you don't need to use these very often.

Re: cycling, the pinned topics give plenty of detail as to why it's a good idea, and how to do it. it takes a bit more patience (no fish!!) but is slightly quicker... see the pinned topics anyhow.

 

[Ethos]

I think its much more fun, and isn't as much "work" as the others' are putting it off to be.
I've never done a fioshless cycle, and I've never really had to re-start a tank after doing a fishless cycle.
True, it takes about the same amount of time, but I would still refer you a fish cycle.
With begginers its great because they feel like they're doing something....
Plus you can see the difference between a few small fish, and then the fish your going to keep in your tank.

I'm cycling my 55G with White Clouds, and then once its done, I'm keeping angles and gouramis in there. I've never really kept small tetras expcept danois....

hmhm....

 

[andywg]

I think its much more fun, and isn't as much "work" as the others' are putting it off to be.
I've never done a fioshless cycle, and I've never really had to re-start a tank after doing a fishless cycle.
True, it takes about the same amount of time, but I would still refer you a fish cycle.
With begginers its great because they feel like they're doing something....
Plus you can see the difference between a few small fish, and then the fish your going to keep in your tank.

I'm cycling my 55G with White Clouds, and then once its done, I'm keeping angles and gouramis in there. I've never really kept small tetras expcept danois....

hmhm....

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And on top of the fun you're having you can revel in the fact that you're exposing your first fish to toxic levels of ammonia and nitrite which will almost certainly reduce their lifespan and ability to fight off disease.

And last time I checked danios aren't tetras.

 

[gearyboy]

I tell you what guys and gals Im impressed with this forum, cheers for the help guys! any more for any more?