New Aquarium from PetSupermarket...

[hypergeek]

Hi,

I'm another one of those generic, completely clueless, new guys that occasionally shows up in this forum.

I just bought a 10 gallon tank at PetSupermarket and I want to know if I'm doing everything right.

I've had it for three days so far, on the first day I set it up by doing the following:

1. Added color rocks.
2. Added big reddish rock in center of tank.
3. Filled with water and started the filtration system.
4. Attached thermometer to side of tank.
5. Added recommended amount of conditioner.
6. Added recommended amount of "Cycle".
7. Watched an empty tank for three days while my mind slowly dipped into madness.
8. Came to this forum.

QUESTIONS:

A. When can I get my fish?

B. I'm thinking of adding about five or six neons. Is that too many?

C. How long do the fish have to be in the tank before I can add plant life?

D. Anyone else buy one of the 10 gallon deluxe kits from PetSupermarket? Is there anything I should know that I might not?

E. I'm a bit confused. I have to wait a while to add fish, but then I read that you have to change 25% of the water every four weeks or so... if I change the water, aren't I recontaminating the tank?

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

welcome to the forum, i am also fairly new to the group and have found it really friendlt and received good advice.
you can put plants in straight away if you want to, just make sure they are true aquatic plants as some shops seel plants which may live for a few weeks underwater and then die (a good way of making them money as you return to buy more again and again)
did you buy the rocks from a local fish supplier (lfs)? if not they may be bad news for your fish.
i wouldn't put that many neons in at once, maybe three now and another three after the tank has cycled.
as for water changes, you wont be recontaminating the tank, you will be diluting the end product of the filter cycle (nitrate) always remember to use dechlorinator for every water change though!!

also find a good specialist pet shop/aquarium shop and stick with them. do you know anyone who keeps fish in your area? ask their opinion about which shop they buy their fish from
one final piece of advice........ enjoy your new hobby, you may find that it takes over your life (and house!!!)

 

[hypergeek]

you can put plants in straight away if you want to...

I was told that I had to wait about a month to do so. Hmmm.

did you buy the rocks from a local fish supplier (lfs)...

Absolutely. I'm sensible enough to know that introducing unknown elements to the tank would = TROUBLE.

i wouldn't put that many neons in at once, maybe three now and another three after the tank has cycled...

So this is where my confusion starts:

I was told not to add fish for three days from one person and a week from another.

I was told by the kid at the petstore, who seems to be very confident in his fish-expertise (and he mentioned that he's had fish for a while), that all I had to do was setup the tank, add the dosage of conditioner and a PRODUCT named "Cycle" and then come in a few days later to have my water tested for free.

Then I was told by someone to use ammonia to cycle the tank, test the water daily by myself, and not to use the "Cycle" product.

So what should I do?

Also, I have a black box filter with what looks like a thick straw going down an inch away from the rocks. The filter seems to suck the water up and then, as what I can only describe as the "worlds smallest waterfall" - it dumps the water through the filter back into the tank.

Is this type of filter recommended? What about that oxygen thingy I've been hearing about? Is that a necessary addition?

also find a good specialist pet shop/aquarium shop and stick with them. do you know anyone who keeps fish in your area...

This kid was having this totally technical conversation with another customer. He mentioned that he has two 80 gallon tanks at home.

one final piece of advice... enjoy your new hobby, you may find that it takes over your life (and house!!!)

Oh, I'm sure it will. I have a feeling that there's going to be a little trial and error at first though.

That's why I started with a 10 gallon tank. If all goes well, then yeah, I'm sure I'll be going for a larger setup.

 

[subopposite]

I will give you what advice I know or think I know.
patibility.
I know nothing about plants. I use fake ones, so someone else will have to help you there.

This link will give you info on fish. http/www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/co...mpatibility.asp
Look up your neons on there. I have been told that neons are not a good starter fish and not the strongest of fish, so you probably should start your tank with something else if you are not going to do a fishless cycle. I did not do a fishless cycle either and I started my tank with a dwarf gourami and 2 guppies for a 46 gallon. For a 10, probably no more than 2 fish to start would be a good idea and a fish that is no longer than 2 inches. (gourami, danio, guppy...). If there is another fish you would like in that tank, that is probably a stronger fish than the tetras. Also, 6 tetras should not be too many for a 10 gallon tank. I think most people consider them about an inch in body length.

I added fish about 3-5 days after having my tank setup with water and everything going.

I think most people here do their water changes differently. I think a general consensous is when you are cycling to not do many water changes until things start peaking (ammonia, nitrite) You want a test kit for those two to begin with. Getting ammonia is what starts the all known CYCLE. Some people don't like to do water changes because it will slow down the cycle period. For me, I would rather have my fish under less stress and have a longer cycle period I suppose, so I changed my water about 20% every two weeks in the beginning. Now, I change it about 20% a week when I do my vaccuming. When I do my water changes, I just assume use my Python to take out the water from the bottom and get up some crap as well since I am guessing that is where the poorest water is.

A rule of thumb is 1 inch per gallon of water in your tank, so if you have a 10 gallon tank with proper filtration, you should be able to handle 10 inches of fish. Having 5 or 6 neons should work just fine and you should be able to get 2 other fish that are grow to 2 inches long. Generally smaller fish make less waste so the one inch per fish can be stretched a little there as opposed to foot long fish that produce mass waste.

I am sure other people will help you out here. They are pretty good here. Good luck.

 

[impur]

Take your water to get tested first off. Test ammonia and nitrite. You will probably see some ammonia(hopefully) and zero nitrite. If both are zero, which i am betting they will be as that cycle product is crap, purchase 3-4 danios. You will need an ammonia and nitrite test kit as suggested above. Test the water every day or so for ammonia. You will see it slowly rise to a very high level. You have a choice here to make life easier for the fish and do a small water change or not to do one and see if they live. I suggest you change 10-20% of the water. The ammonia will slowly decline and the same process will begin with nitrites. After the nitrites decline to 0, you will be cycled and can add a few neons or fish of your choosing. Wait for plants until your tank is cycled. Now you will need a nitrate test kit. You need to monitor mainly nitrates from here on out. As they rise, do a water change to remove them. I do 15% a week. Your filter is fine, and you don't need an air supply because as the water penetrates the surface of the water from your filter, it brings in air with it. Hope this helps and ask away if you have more ?s

 

[val]

Don't add a pure source of ammonia. It's extremely dangerous for the fish. If you don't want to start with neons, start with some zebra danios, platies, or black mollies. Take into consideration that black mollies need some salt added to the water. Add fish at intervals. Since most starter fish are shoaling fish, you pretty much have to add 2 the first time or else the lone fish will start to sink to the bottom of the tank and die. After the first fish, watch the water conditions like impur said. Then, slowly, add one fish at a time. Always checking the water. Live plants will help, after the tank is cycled, to keep the water in good shape.
As far as air goes, lots of people say that just the waterfall effect is enough for fish. But personally, I like to add an air bubble stick at the back of the tank behind the filter, so that when the bubbles hit the surface, the waterfall takes them back into the water and puts plenty of oxygen in the water. JMO

good luck,
Valerie

 

[juliethegr8t]

I definitely agree with val, in that if you don't want to start with neons, use fish like zebra danios. I thought when I started my 10 gal it would be ok to put in neons, so I added 3, and unfortunately they were all dead within 48 hours ! Anyways, I tried tiger barbs too, with no luck (except for one loner who made it!!), and eventually I ended up with Zebra Danios - all of which survived. They really are hardy fish, and so much fun to watch. Even though most people don't like the "starter" fish like these, I do, I think they're wonderful, and plan on keeping them!

 

[baseballfan111]

fish and plants i would get

after you cycled add three zebra or pearl danios

after a week add 3 platies or 3 guppies

after another week i would get 4 neon tetras

then when ever you want to get 2 cory catfish albino

one otocinclus

now for the plants

six vallisneria

2 bunches ancharis

two bunches rotala indica

one amazon sword plant



this shoping list is directly from a book

also the 1 inch a fish a gallon is kinda outdated i think its more a general guidline

for larger fish this makes no sence

 

[baseballfan111]

accully the larger the less likly hood of failier cause smaller it is less stable it is, more of a chance of ammonia spiking

 

[hypergeek]

after you cycled add three zebra or pearl danios

after a week add 3 platies or 3 guppies

after another week i would get 4 neon tetras

then when ever you want to get 2 cory catfish albino

one otocinclus

That's 13 occupants in a 10 gallon tank...

...isn't that a bit much?

 

[baseballfan111]

from a book havnt lost a single fish, even when i was cycling. and i didnt do water changes every day, i did them like ever three days or 4

 

[val]

I do water changes every week. And 13 is too much for a 10 gallon.

Valerie

 

[pebbles]

i think myself that slowly and patiently is the key. . when i had my first tank iset it up and running,just well washed gravel,water,filter ,lightsand heater,and added stresscoat[tapwater conditioner]and stresszyme[bacteria?]i was advised to wait 1 week for the tank to settle before adding any plants but i couldnt bear an empty tank so in went just two fake ones.then after two weeks iwas able to add two mollies to continue with.i was then testing water to see when the ammonia peaked and the nitrite peaked.[as impur was detailing] . in my opinion the products help but should not be relied on.for cycling i would only start with 2 small[1--.2 inches] fish in a ten gallon so you have room for a few more nice ones later .if you are using danios for cycling and have a nice friendly fish store they may let you return the fish when the cycle is complete,.its hard not to rush it but it is worth it in the end,cycling usually takes about 6 weeks,but you need you ammonia to rise, then the nitrites to rise[ammonia will start to fall ] when both of these have risen and gone back to 0, then you can continue stocking your fish, but slowly every week or so and only a few at a time untill you get 10 inches of fish.[nose to beginning of tail]i hope this hasnt confused you further ,but its what i did and both the fish and i survived! hope this helps pebbles