Newbie

[BethK]

Hi All

I'm new to the forum, so thought I would pop in and say a big HELLO

I started my aquarium 3 weeks ago. I have a Siamese fighter, 5 black tetras and a very small catfish (black with tan/brown spots on, I forgot the name), oh and a snail who broke in over night (well, not over night but he came in on one of the plants).

I am really getting into my fish and want to expand once I learn more about what I have. I only have a 19ltr tank and do understand, esp with the catfish, that I will need a bigger tank but that is future thinking for me.

I hope I can gain some very useful knowledge from you guys xx

Beth x

 

[chrisbassist]

First off welcome to the forum!

Secondly, do you know what your water stats are? You'll need to know ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph. You can buy tests to tell you how it's going. Problem is 3 weeks isn't a long time, and you have lots of fish in a small tank. Each of the fish will create waste which turns to ammonia, ammonia is extremely toxic and burns fishes gills, thankfully there are bacteria which turn that into nitrite. Unfortunately that's also very toxic. Luckily for us there are more bacteria that turn that into the not so toxic nitrate.

All that bacteria takes time to build up in the numbers we need. So I'm guessing you're now in a fish in cycle.

Fish in cycles can be done, but take lots of work to prevent fish suffering. Basically lots of water changes to keep the levels down.

Anyway there's more info in the beginners resource section.

 

[Night61]

i got a good laugh at the snail braking in, picturing it with a little bandanna around its eyes.
anyways the snail is likely a pest snail. i would honestly remove it then go buy a mystery or nitrate if you like snails. they are awsome little snails and will not multiply llike crazy.

 

[BethK]

I dunno if this helps at all but I had the tank filled with water 2 weeks prior to the fish going in 3 weeks ago. I had the water tested yest when I got my catfish and it was at an acceptable level.

I change about 2ltrs of water every 5 days, my siamese is a happy chappy in there. He's colour has turned more of an electric blue and he has been laying bubble nests. The water temp has been at a constant 24c and contrary to popular belief, my Siamese Fighter gets on fine with the tetras and catfish. Although he does like to wind the tetras up, he's never attacked them but he does occasionally swim up to them and flares himself up and then swims off. TBH the tetras have their space and the Siamese has his (usually wrapping himself around the tank heater, which has a protector on it).

I'm going to take the snail out, when I can find it. This is a stupid question but can snails multiple without an opposite sex about?

I am getting a 1 meter tank next month, a friend called this morning and said she was getting a bigger tank and would kindly donate her current one to me!

Thanks for the welcome x

 

[BethK]

Just wanted to say a big thank you to this forum; after reading through posts, I have realised that Ebay sell cheaper test kits. I've brought the annomia, pH and nitrate kits, all for £11, which would most prob have cost me nearer to £30.

What other kits would I need, other than those?

 

[chrisbassist]

Nitrite is the only other one.

Just so you know. I did something similar and ended up in a fish I'm cycle. And I changed 20 gallons every day for a while. Because that was the only way of keeping the levels ok.

It's not fun, it's not easy, but a fish in cycle can be done. And unfortunately, the alternative isn't presented to us. We don't know there is another way.

Acceptable levels are:
ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 25
ph - doesn't matter but it needs to be stable. And dif fish like did ph. But the most important thing is that nothing changes it.

Unfortunately most lfs will tell you that higher levels are ok. When really it's burning the fishes gills, shortening their lifespan or at worst, killing them.

Glad you got some tests, but don't worry too much about the hard work, enjoy yourself.

 

[BethK]

Thanks, least I know what to look for. The guy who tested it, went out to the back and came to find me 10 mins later to say everything is ok.

I use a de-conditioner and cycle liquids.

If I get a 1 meter tank, how many fish would be acceptable and what size heater do you think would be needed, as well as filter? I am asking, as I have been to 3 different aquarium shops and they have all told me 3 different things

You guys are fab!

 

[Night61]

I'm going to take the snail out, when I can find it. This is a stupid question but can snails multiple without an opposite sex about?

that's not a stupid question at all.

the answer is some can like your mysterious snail bandit, some can't. the mystery snails need a male and a female snail in order to reproduce.
others are just fussy nitrate snails need brackish water or salt water for their eggs to hatch.

if you ever have any snail questions head to this section Invertebrate amphibians and aquatic reptiles

i hang out in there often and will be more then happy to help

 

[BethK]

Thanks Night x

 

[DuMScOuSe]

others are just fussy nitrate snails need brackish water or salt water for their eggs to hatch.

Do you mean nerite snails?

 

[Night61]

others are just fussy nitrate snails need brackish water or salt water for their eggs to hatch.

Do you mean nerite snails?

yes

 

[BethK]

I have a feeling that my rogue bandit snail is either hiding in the tank's protective heater cover or has been fried................I haven't seen it in a while

 

[DuMScOuSe]

Thoght so night61

 

[suziegup]

i got a good laugh at the snail braking in, picturing it with a little bandanna around its eyes.
anyways the snail is likely a pest snail. i would honestly remove it then go buy a mystery or nitrate if you like snails. they are awsome little snails and will not multiply llike crazy.

Hi, Night 61. Noticed your post from april regarding the snail. I haven't removed my first one. It also "broke in" all of the sudden. And now I have hundreds of them. Do you know how to get rid of them? It's ok to have some but not as many. In my case they just took over tho whole aquarium, the plants, decorations ect.

i got a good laugh at the snail braking in, picturing it with a little bandanna around its eyes.
anyways the snail is likely a pest snail. i would honestly remove it then go buy a mystery or nitrate if you like snails. they are awsome little snails and will not multiply llike crazy.

Hi, Night 61. Noticed your post from april regarding the snail. I haven't removed my first one. It also "broke in" all of the sudden. And now I have hundreds of them. Do you know how to get rid of them? It's ok to have some but not as many. In my case they just took over tho whole aquarium, the plants, decorations ect.

 

[deanoce]

Hi Suzie, There are formulas to knock them out and then net them out and then do a further 50% water change (or similar depending on product)
That never worked for me a few survived and bred like wildfire, so I got zebra loaches, their great , seen barely any snails for a week, Also if you consider loaches, I would recommend, chain or zebra loaches as they dont grow nearly as big as clown loaches.
Anyway, hope any of that helps