New Tank - Fish And Any Other Advice?

[moochy13]

what sort of filter do you have ? id say its even worth paying a bit for mature media, especially in your situation to keep little'un happy. might get some for free though. bear in mind 95% + of 'good bacteria' live in the filter media - some say the water/gravel can help, in my opinion its not worth the hassle. bearing in mind you will be changing lots of water each day, getting water from the fish shop is a waste of time.

i take it you got dechlorinator for the water ? the fish i mentioned cant all be kept together, and not in big numbers either. you have to get male/female ratios right, and if these dwarf cichlids start mating, they can be a bit aggressive and terrotorial. however you have a nice long tank with a decent footprint, similar to mine, which means you have scope for a lot of territory. as oppose to a tank that was taller, with less floorpsace. however, this is all stuff you will find out as you research the fish, and ask questions to the right people. im not one of them to be honest.

as for red - i have a big soft spot for cherry barbs. if you get nice ones, the males are an amazing vibrant red. in my sig pic of my tank, you can see a couple of bright red spots on the left of the tank - they're my barbs. cheap, small, and totally docile. the females are not as red, but are more crimson and cream patterned.

 

[LindseyH]

The filter is an Eheim Aquaball 130. Yes, I do have a dechlorinator.

I've been rereading this thread (fishless cycling: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/ ). One thing I don't fully understand is how long the 'Add and Wait' method takes, on average. One member has commented that they 'just hope more people will see that it is possible to cycle without fish in a reasonable amount of time'. Presumably, it's considerably quicker if you avoid the Add Daily method. I also wonder which method I should use if we manage to get some mature media, or whether that would be best for a fish-in cycle.

If the best thing is obviously to wait a little longer before getting fish then I'll just have to explain it to my daughter. A whole month would be pretty awful for her though.

I'm with you on the cherry barbs — they look lovely.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

If the best thing is obviously to wait a little longer before getting fish then I'll just have to explain it to my daughter. A whole month would be pretty awful for her though.

I feel your pain LindseyH. How awful to wait a month, compared to just putting fish in the tank and letting them slowly (or hopefully to avoid the suffering, quickly) die. Yes I really feel for your daughter. Your daughter must come first.

 

[gforce17]

YOU MUST CYCLE YOUR FILTER! Sorry to be so abrupt but your daughter will learn to keep fish properly if you do the right things.

 

[LindseyH]

I don't think that's particularly fair, Prime Ordeal. I haven't said that I won't do a cycle. In fact, my opinion is that I'll have to. Did you read my last questions?

You took that quotation out of context, by the way. the rest of that paragraph was referring to the suggestion that some methods are a little faster (ie, not a full month). What I want to know is which method is best, not how can I avoid this altogether.

 

[gforce17]

Sorry but Prime Ordeal is right - just said it in an up front way. I tried to say it more gently but I totally agree with Prime Ordeal.

 

[LindseyH]

Please see my previous post. I'd really like some advice on which cycling method will be best if I manage to get some mature media. That is all I asked. Prime Ordeal misunderstood me.

 

[gforce17]

The ones described in the reading material you've done each work well so you can choose, but they all take time which you really should take to ensure the fish are safe and healthy.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Do a fishless cycle. I'm willing to guide you through it from start to finish.

 

[gforce17]

I was frustrated like you at the beginning when I had to wait so long to get my fish but now the tank is so clean and healthy that I am really glad I did the full cycling.

I should accept that fantastic offer!

 

[LindseyH]

Presumably they'd each work just as well with the additional mature media, would they? I'm asking because Moochy13 suggested using it for a fish-in cycle. So I have that option, and then also the Add Daily and Add and Wait methods. I want to do whatever is best and yes, obviously the health of the fish is the main consideration. We want a healthy tank - top priority. I'm sorry that my previous post was (possibly understandably) misconstrued.

Do a fishless cycle. I'm willing to guide you through it from start to finish.

I might take you up on that!

 

[Prime Ordeal]

If you have access to mature media then then you are instantly cycled and you don't have to worry.

 

[gforce17]

Using mature media will shorten the process considerably but i would still keep it fish less until the ammonia and nitrite levels are under control. No need to apologise!

Ditto to Prime Ordeal's post.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

gforce17 I'd always promote fishless cycling, but if LindseyH has access to mature media then a (managed) immediate introduction of fish is appropriate.

 

[gforce17]

Yes - totally agree!