Seeking advice & reassurance

[Rory the cat]

I am really new to this hobby and have taken over a long established, but sorely neglected 16 gal tank.

I took on the tank at the end of February - it hadn't seen a water change in nearly a year. I have done a massive prgramme of maintenance (daily water changes etc) to get it up to speed.

I am going to the LSF (see - I've been lurking) to get advice etc and have my water tested. I'm having a battle with the Nitrite which I think might be down to overfeeding (I don't do the feeding as another member of my household does - but I think I may be taking that job off him soon!).

I am doing weekly 30% water changes at present, using a gravel vacuum (I add treated tap water). I add Stress-Zyme and Morena weekly (live in very hard water area). I have a Interpret IPE Duo 3 power filter filled with carbon and a 'Tea bag' filter inside the aquarium. There is no algae at all anywhere in there. I was using 'No more Nitrate' but it doesn't seem to do a lot so swapped it for stress zyme. I also have an air stone and the temp is 79 - 81.

I am very lucky in that I have 3 good fish shops within 20 minutes drive (2 of which are particularly superb shops), therefore am getting a lot of advice from different sources. I am also reading lots in books and on the net - though learning to sift carefully through this stuff!

Is there anything else I should be doing? Bought a Interpret Easy Test master kit today (have been using dipsticks or shop testing before this) so will be doing more accurate tests of my own from now on.

The Aquarium is stocked with -

1 scissortail 8 cms long
1 serpae tetra 4 cms
1 harlequin 3 cms
1 glow-lite 3 cms
5 jumbo neons 3 cms
2 albino corys 3 cms
1 colomesus (my ) 4 cms

I only got the puffer, corys & neons on Wednesday this week, so still new (and parying they all survive - they seem very happy so far!)

 

[Nidge]

No water change for a year!............WOW.
Make sure you look after the feeding and be sure not to over feed.
And keep your water changes regular.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

The only thing I'll suggest is, when the tank is ready, to give all of those lonely schooling fish some friends!

 

[Rory the cat]

I know what you are saying. That's why I bought the Neons - I was worried about the Harlequin and the Glo-lite being lonely. They seem extremely happy shoaling with the neons now.

The glo-lite, serpae, scissortail and harlequin were inherited in the tank (SOMEHOW they survived the year without the water being changed). I tried to buy more Glo-lites but the LSF warned me that the Scissortail would scoff them, so I got the Jumbo Neons instead. I don't really want anymore Serpaes, Scissortails or Harlequin, so I am just trying to keep them happy until they pass on naturally (they are all elderly fish, bless them). Once the Sciss goes I'll get more Glo-lites.

I'm just trying to work around with what I have so all the fish are happy and safe.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Cool, as long as there is a plan

 

[lelover]

Is this a peaceful breed of puffer? I thought they were all pretty vicious!

 

[Rory the cat]

Is this a peaceful breed of puffer? I thought they were all pretty vicious!

The Colomesus is supposed to be the most peaceful breed of Puffer. All I can say is so far so good - he's not bothered with any of the other fish - not so much as a second glance. Seems more interested in riding on the bubbles from the air stone and digging himself into the gravel

 

[lelover]

Sounds like a great fish! I'll have to keep my eye out for them!