New Tank Advice

[Mr Melt]

Allrite guys. To get to the point, several days ago I lost patience with my Baby Biorbs inability to keep any of my poor fish alive, and upon the death of my last neon tetra I decided to splurge out on a new tank altogether. I bought a 48ltr/12.5 gallon (I think) Interpet Fishbox (http/www.petsathome.com/shop/fish-box-40cm-tank-by-interpet-(available-in-store-only)-36859) on Monday and I am currently on Day 2 of cycling the new tank =D

I have several major questions about the new tank/introducing fish, so I will begin with the 1st one; what fish are best for a "starter" role in my tank?

- I have been advised to get 5 black neon tetras and 2 mollies to start/or 2 mollies and a betta when the tank is cycled (suggested to buy them in a weeks time), but I'm completely open to suggestions (NB - I'm from Northern Ireland so I might not have as much choice as my US/mainland UK counterparts =P)

2nd question; I have a soft spot in my heart for Black Moor goldfish; is it possible to raise a single black moor in a tank with tropical fish? (NB - the heater will stay set to around 26 degrees centigrade at all times)

Finally; are there any tips that could be suggested on what I could do to ensure that the nitrogen cycle happens as quick and as smooth as possible in the tank? At the moment I have added the tapsafe, and am adding a small dose of filter start every 2 days for the next fortnight.

Thanks very much for your time =)

 

[tenohfive]

First of all some light reading for you - as I suspect that what you've been told of cycling by P@H won't be accurate, the comment about adding fish within the next week being the main clue, the filter start being the second:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/175355-arrrggghhhh-whats-cycling-new-tank-and-ive-already-got-fish/
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/271928-the-nitrogen-cycle/
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

Theres a fair bit of reading there but it's worth making sure you understand it. There's only one way I know to cycle a tank quickly - that's by adding mature filter media from an established tank to your own filter. If you don't know anyone that you can get mature media from then I strongly suggest you do a fishless cycle.

I'll let someone else advise you on stocking, but keeping tropical and cold water fish together is a bad idea. And IMO that tank is too small for black moors anyway as they grow to a decent size.

 

[minnnt]

I wouldn't go for the BM mate as they get quite big and would certainly be too big for your tank. The Neons and Mollies sound good, but remember that the Mollies can attain a fair size too! Not really up on Bettas and what they can be stocked with but i know guppies are a no go as they can mistake them for enemies and attack them with them having such brightly coloured and patterned tails. Betta and Neons would probably be ok though?!

 

[Royster]

Where abouts in N.I. are you mate?

 

[Mr Melt]

Where abouts in N.I. are you mate?

Belfast.

 

[Mr Melt]

I wouldn't go for the BM mate as they get quite big and would certainly be too big for your tank. The Neons and Mollies sound good, but remember that the Mollies can attain a fair size too! Not really up on Bettas and what they can be stocked with but i know guppies are a no go as they can mistake them for enemies and attack them with them having such brightly coloured and patterned tails. Betta and Neons would probably be ok though?!

Thanks for the reply. I know that guppies/neon tetras (or cardinal tetras) are a bad choice for a new tank in general; they're only suitable for "more established aquariums". I also know that guppies and bettas will destroy each other in there.......

.... what about Angelfish? The missus loves them, and the local shop sells very small ones at the minute (although I don't know what size they reach at adulthood.....)

First of all some light reading for you - as I suspect that what you've been told of cycling by P@H won't be accurate, the comment about adding fish within the next week being the main clue, the filter start being the second:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/175355-arrrggghhhh-whats-cycling-new-tank-and-ive-already-got-fish/
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/271928-the-nitrogen-cycle/
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

Theres a fair bit of reading there but it's worth making sure you understand it. There's only one way I know to cycle a tank quickly - that's by adding mature filter media from an established tank to your own filter. If you don't know anyone that you can get mature media from then I strongly suggest you do a fishless cycle.

I'll let someone else advise you on stocking, but keeping tropical and cold water fish together is a bad idea. And IMO that tank is too small for black moors anyway as they grow to a decent size.

Thanks very much for the advice. I'll get cracking on these once I return from the petshop (heading up there to replace the crappy suction cups for my filter, as they keep slipping >_>)

Regarding the BM; is it not true that fish size is determined somewhat by the environment it lives in? (eg. in a 50ltr tank the fish wont attain full size)

 

[eaglesaquarium]

.... what about Angelfish? The missus loves them, and the local shop sells very small ones at the minute (although I don't know what size they reach at adulthood.....)

Make sure you know the adult size before purchasing any fish.

Regarding the BM; is it not true that fish size is determined somewhat by the environment it lives in? (eg. in a 50ltr tank the fish wont attain full size)

And not exactly. The growth can be stunted by a smaller tank, but "stunted" should be interpreted as malformed. You wouldn't keep a great dane in a pet carrier designed for a terrier, would you (even if it could fit)?

 

[fluttermoth]

Allrite guys. To get to the point, several days ago I lost patience with my Baby Biorbs inability to keep any of my poor fish alive, and upon the death of my last neon tetra I decided to splurge out on a new tank altogether. I bought a 48ltr/12.5 gallon (I think) Interpet Fishbox (http/www.petsathome.com/shop/fish-box-40cm-tank-by-interpet-(available-in-store-only)-36859) on Monday and I am currently on Day 2 of cycling the new tank =D

I have several major questions about the new tank/introducing fish, so I will begin with the 1st one; what fish are best for a "starter" role in my tank?

In all honesty, there are no 'best' fish for starting a tank. If you fishless cycle properly, you can add almost any fish, apart from the few things that do prefer a more mature tank, neon tetras being one, but there are a couple more species too.

- I have been advised to get 5 black neon tetras and 2 mollies to start/or 2 mollies and a betta when the tank is cycled (suggested to buy them in a weeks time), but I'm completely open to suggestions (NB - I'm from Northern Ireland so I might not have as much choice as my US/mainland UK counterparts =P)

A full grown molly can be 4" or so, so I'd consider them too large for your tank. 13 gallons is a small tank, so you want small fish to live in it.

2nd question; I have a soft spot in my heart for Black Moor goldfish; is it possible to raise a single black moor in a tank with tropical fish? (NB - the heater will stay set to around 26 degrees centigrade at all times)

No, it's not fair on goldfish to make them live in tropical tempratures. It shortens their lifespan considerabley (from 20 years down to maybe 3 or 4). Your tank is too small for fancy goldfish anyway; you need 40l per goldfish with a minimum of 100l; so 100l for one or two, 120l for three etc.
Angel fish grow to 6 or 8" long and a foot from top to bottom, fully grown, so they're out too, I'm afraid! If you want these larger fish you'll just have to look at getting larger tanks. I personally wouldn't bother with any tank less than 3 foot/100l, unless it was for a special project; ember tetras or celestial pearl danios or similar.

Finally; are there any tips that could be suggested on what I could do to ensure that the nitrogen cycle happens as quick and as smooth as possible in the tank? At the moment I have added the tapsafe, and am adding a small dose of filter start every 2 days for the next fortnight.

The best and fastest way to cycle is with some mature media added to your filter; you might be lucky enough to get your LFS to donate some to you to start your bacterial colony off. I don't know what 'filter start' is exactly, but it's probably useless; you need some ammonia or a source of it. You'll run into big problems cycling, either fishless or fish-in, if you don't have a decent set of test kits (that's the ones that come with dropper bottles or tablets and test tubes; the paper dip strips are notoriously inaccurate)

Thanks very much for your time =)

You're welcome
I know it all seems terribly complicated at the start, but it gets easier, I promise!

 

[Royster]

Well I'm over by forestside and I can give filter media but I can give you plenty of water if that helps any, my tanks only going 3 weeks

 

[fluttermoth]

Well I'm over by forestside and I can give filter media but I can give you plenty of water if that helps any, my tanks only going 3 weeks

That's a very kind offer, but it won't help the OP out. The bacteria cling pretty strongly to the media; there are virtually nil free in the water.

 

[minnnt]

There isn't that much good in the water, its the media that is beneficial providing it isn't used in normal chlorinated water as it will kill the good bacteria in the media. Angels as said require a taller tank and to be honest, they would possibly nip the fins of the betta. There is no reason you couldn't add a group of pygmy corydoras and a group of the smaller tetras such as the already mentioned ember tertras. It could be a very nice little tank with some nice dwarf plants and dark substrate. Add some nice pieces of small bogwood too!!

 

[Littlemonkey]

Is there any possible way you can go to a bigger tank, say 1 x 100 litre. I found out the hard way. The smaller the tank the harder they are to keep. Once smaller tanks however are very well established and good maintenance is undertaken then you can look at different stocking.

 

[Mr Melt]

Is there any possible way you can go to a bigger tank, say 1 x 100 litre. I found out the hard way. The smaller the tank the harder they are to keep. Once smaller tanks however are very well established and good maintenance is undertaken then you can look at different stocking.

I'm a student - the landlord is raging enough about my 48ltr, nevermind a 100 ltr one! =P

I've decided on a betta and 2 mollies (or platys) to start off. Will be a while before that happens though! =P