New To Fishkeeping, Help Needed

[JAYMK2]

Hi lads, Jamie here, from Meath, Ireland

So there 2 days ago i was in buying cat and dog food and i seen a small tank on sale for €50 and came with filter, light and heater. so at the same time i got talking and said id take it and how long would it be before i put fish into it, and he said we normally say 2 weeks but if u put in Eco-Start i could put in the fish the next day.

so yesterday i went back and told another shop girl that i was in yesterday bought all the stuff for the tank, stones, decorations, Eco start and the plastic plants and now i want to get the fish, all went well and i came home with 5 neon tetras and 2 algae suckers ( gold ones )
Put them in the proper way, float, mix water, and then take out with a net and into the tank. fed them and all is still ok.

Ive been reading alot on starting the tank and alot of people say the way i done it is incorrect and shouldnt have done it because fish will die, but surely theyd be dead by now if the water wasnt right, like there is no bubbles in the water, only bubbles in it are from the filter so i think they'll be fine.

what i do need to know is how to clean the tank and how often.
how many fish can i have in total in my tank.
and is there anything to add over time into the water?

The tank is a Aquael 30l shrimp set, but not getting shrimp because there horrible.

Cheers
Jamie

 

[Cossie1111]

You are in a fish in cycle.
You need to test your water and possibly do large water changes everyday until ammonia, nitrite and nitrate stabilize.

Also im not to sure, but those "algae suckers" could be chinese algae eaters (i think thats what there called) which will grow up to be very aggesive and kill your fish. You need to wait for someone more experienced to confirm this point.

My advice is to take those algae suckers back, and buy a test kit (most of us use api master kits) you need to test your water every day and if you get an ammonia reading above zero, do a massive water change. You will also need a dechlorinator, as you cannot put fish strait into tap water (i use seachem prime)

Also it is likely your neons will die as they are notoriously fragile from commercial breeding.

I do not know anything about eco-start, but most will tell you products like this dont work, however, I used seachem prime to kick off my fish in cycle and im doing great.

I suggest you thoroughly read through ALL the articles here : http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/page__pid__2300022#entry2300022

I know its alot to take in, but it will help you immensely in the future.

Hopefully a more experienced member will come along and reinforce my main points.

Good luck and welcome!

 

[JAYMK2]

You are in a fish in cycle.
You need to test your water and possibly do large water changes everyday until ammonia, nitrite and nitrate stabilize.

Also im not to sure, but those "algae suckers" could be chinese algae eaters (i think thats what there called) which will grow up to be very aggesive and kill your fish. You need to wait for someone more experienced to confirm this point.

My advice is to take those algae suckers back, and buy a test kit (most of us use api master kits) you need to test your water every day and if you get an ammonia reading above zero, do a massive water change. You will also need a dechlorinator, as you cannot put fish strait into tap water (i use seachem prime)

i highly doubt they will, there quite a stupid fish haha stuck to the side of the tank all the time LOL

say if i got a water testing kit and a dechlorinator i could add tht with fish in the tank?

wow, so much to take just for fish
il pick up some dechlorinator tomorow and add it in and the next day get the water tested or look for a testing kit

so once my water is at a suitable level i can add more fish straight away?

 

[Cossie1111]

Only add declorinator when doing water changes, add it to the bucket of new water before adding that water to the tank.

Once your fish in cycle is complete (it will most likely take 3 or so weeks) you can start to slowly add more fish.

I also added to my original post

 

[JAYMK2]

Only add declorinator when doing water changes, add it to the bucket of new water before adding that water to the tank.

Once your fish in cycle is complete (it will most likely take 3 or so weeks) you can start to slowly add more fish.

I also added to my original post

How do i know when to change the water? or will the test kit show that by the levels of stuff in the water?
and does that just involve takin out most of the water and adding new water with the declorinator straight back in?
and so the fish i have now will die as a result of the water not being right? or will they be ok?

i seen you added on and its alot to read im only used to goldfish haha

cheers for the welcome

 

[Cossie1111]

During your fish in cycle (you are in now) large water changes will most likely be needed, once your tank is cycled, 25% water changes weekly will do fine. And yes take out water, add the same amount of tap water back into the tank with dechlorinator.

It is most likely your neon tetras will die.

Again, I strongly suggest you read this:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/page__pid__2300022#entry2300022

it contains answers for all the questions you have.

 

[JAYMK2]

During your fish in cycle (you are in now) large water changes will most likely be needed, once your tank is cycled, 25% water changes weekly will do fine. And yes take out water, add the same amount of tap water back into the tank with dechlorinator.

It is most likely your neon tetras will die.

Again, I strongly suggest you read this:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/page__pid__2300022#entry2300022

it contains answers for all the questions you have.

cheers i'll have a good read of that in the morning/afternoon

so tomoro what i need to buy is, Dechlorinator and a test kit? that everything?

 

[Cossie1111]

Pretty much yeah, if you cant find a master kit, make sure you buy at least ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests seperately if you have to.

 

[JAYMK2]

Pretty much yeah, if you cant find a master kit, make sure you buy at least ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests seperately if you have to.

test strips? http/www.aquariumpharm.com/products/product.aspx?productid=212

 

[Cossie1111]

No, they are quite innacurate, go for a liquid kit

http/www.aquariumpharm.com/Products/Product.aspx?ProductID=67

 

[JAYMK2]

No, they are quite innacurate, go for a liquid kit

http/www.aquariumpharm.com/Products/Product.aspx?ProductID=67

cool, hopefully the shop has them

and then basically its test change test change over a week or more until all levels read 0 ? would that be right?

Thanks a mil for all your help so far

 

[Cossie1111]

Yes thats right, ammonia and nitrIte should be 0, while nitrAte is safe up to 100ppm and over.

Once you get a nitrate reading, you know your tank is processing ammonia

 

[JAYMK2]

Yes thats right, ammonia and nitrIte should be 0, while nitrAte is safe up to 100ppm and over.

Once you get a nitrate reading, you know your tank is processing ammonia

so right now my tank is pretty much just plain water?
i'll hopefully get a kit tomoro and post results anyway

the water change is a daily thing aswell as testing? and how much water comes out? half or most

 

[JAYMK2]

out of all these what one do i need or will i have to buy multiple?

http/www.aquariumsolutions.ie/testkits/

 

[Cossie1111]

If you get a master test kit like the one I linked to, it will contain everything you need: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH.

For the time being, half water changes should do fine.