The Complete Noob...

[Mr^Man]

Hi all, this is my first post to this forum, and I'm clueless as all get-out...

Okay, on Saturday, I bought a Waterhome 'econo-20', which is a 24x12x14 (15g), which comes with an Elite Hush 20 filter and 100W heater. I equipped it with bright-blue gravel, 4 plastic plants, and various rocks, and a stick-on thermometer.

Yesterday (Sunday), I rinsed everything as per instructions, and filled it, adding 2 caps of Nutrafin AquaPlus, and 2 caps of Nutrafin Cycle...
Currently (Monday), temp is sitting at about 26celcius, with about 7.5pH... I don't yet have a kit to measure amonia, nitrite or nitrate...

Does the Nutrafin Cycle do everything to cycle the tank, or do I need to add ammonia? Or perhaps a couple hardy fish?
Also, do I need to scrub the bubbles on the walls of the tank, to get rid of them, or do they go away on their own?

I'm planning on some gouramis, cichlids, maybe an angel, and my gf wants 2 red-cap oranda goldfish (I know, bad idea, but she has her heart and mind set...)

What say you, oh wise and experienced keepers of trops?

 

[Bloo]

to TFF & congrats on your new tank

I don't yet have a kit to measure amonia, nitrite or nitrate...

Definitely get one. At the bare minimum ammonia and nitrite tests. However, API Master kit is great.

Does the Nutrafin Cycle do everything to cycle the tank, or do I need to add ammonia?

No it doesn't.
There are two ways to cycle a tank. Fishless (by adding ammonia) or with fish.
Fishless the best in my opinion - that way you don't stress (or kill) any new fish and don't end up with fish you may not neccisarily eventually want in the tank.
See this topic on Fishless cycling.

I'm planning on some gouramis, cichlids, maybe an angel, and my gf wants 2 red-cap oranda goldfish (I know, bad idea, but she has her heart and mind set...)

Goldfish are coldwater fish. A 15 Gallon tank is not suitable for a Goldfish (see pinned topic). They are big waste producers. And do not mix with tropical fish - at all.

In my opinion, the tank is also to small for an Angelfish. They can be very bossy and territorial and grow to 6". You also need a tank with a minimum of 18" water depth. You could however add a pair of Rams (if you are thinking Cichlids) - but no more as the tank isn't large enough. Or dwarf gouramis.
Perhaps make another thread about stocking advice

Happy reading

 

[Mr^Man]

just thought I'd add these pics of the tank... y'know... just because...
http/i179.photobucket.com/albums/w286/Ye...er/IMG_0200.jpg

http/i179.photobucket.com/albums/w286/Ye...er/IMG_0201.jpg

http/i179.photobucket.com/albums/w286/Ye...er/IMG_0203.jpg

(On preview, I see they just come up as links... how do I get the actual pic to come up?)

 

[Bloo]

Very beautiful !

You need to copy and paste the IMG link instead if you want the pictures to show up in your post (instead of just the links).

Ps: ensure your heater is fully submerged & best get a heater guard as well

 

[gpgscott]

to TFF & congrats on your new tank


Goldfish are coldwater fish. A 15 Gallon tank is not suitable for a Goldfish (see pinned topic). They are big waste producers. And do not mix with tropical fish - at all.

In my opinion, the tank is also to small for an Angelfish. They can be very bossy and territorial and grow to 6". You also need a tank with a minimum of 18" water depth. You could however add a pair of Rams (if you are thinking Cichlids) - but no more as the tank isn't large enough. Or dwarf gouramis.
Perhaps make another thread about stocking advice

Happy reading book:

Have to second Bloo here, one of the easiest mistakes is putting too many or incompatible fish together and the end result is unhappy fish, unhappy fish keeper, you've got time while that tank is cycling to surf this forum and other sites to learn. You will be happy you did. Scott

btw Bloo I like your cat, what breed?

 

[Bloo]

Thanks Scott He's was a Bengal (or rather 75% Bengal and 25% Siamese). Sadly he died in a car accident almost 2 years ago

 

[Mr^Man]

This afternoon, I got a pack of AquaClear BioMax, and stuffed it into the back part of my filter (fits nicely), and primed it with Cycle. The aquarium department manager, to whom I spoke, told me I don't need to add ammonia, and that my tank should cycle fine.
I also got a background, which I still need to trim and install...

Now, I know it'll still be a couple weeks, but for stocking... I'm thinking of dwarf goumaris, maybe some small plecos or cats (I kind of like the Zebra Oto), and what else?
What's a compatible trop that looks kind of like a goldfish? I thought it would be a good compromise with my girlfriend...

 

[Torrean]

the worst mistake I made when I started out was I listened to the lfs (local fish store) employee. Some are very knowledgable others not so much. Your tank needs a source of ammonia. If you add cycle to your tank without ammonia all it will do is add cycle to your tank. The bacteria will have no food therefore there will be no bacteria.

Also is Cycle refrigerated? If not then I don't believe it will do anything at all. Hopefully, someone will come along and contradict me with a story of it working for them but by and large the only product that I have heard of successfully cycling a tank is something called bio spira. It is refrigerated. If you find some that is not refrigerated don't waste your money. In fact if you know someone who has a fishtank already then don't waste your money on the biospira. Just put some of his filter media into your tank (try to make sure their tank is healthy) This will seed your tank with bacteria and as long as the bacteria have a source of ammonia your tank will cycle.

As to stocking suggesstions this should really be pinned
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...mp;#entry979097

 

[Will91]

I would add that I recently started a 26 US gallon bowfront tank about a month ago and used BioSpira with great success. After letting the tank filter, aerate, and heat for over a week, I added a few zebra danios, a betta and a few tetra along with BioSpira (from MarineLand). I monitored the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate every few days. I may have missed the ammonia spike since it never really even moved beyond 0.25 ppm or so and is now definitely at zero. Some correspondence with MarineLand indicated that this is as expected since the BioSpira bacteria are in place to handle the ammonia. I did see a small nitrite spike that is also down to zero and I am seeing a slow rise in nitrate which I maintain with weekly 25% water changes. The fish were very healthy and happy throughout the whole cycle and I never saw any signs of stress (clamped fins, etc.).

I am now adding a few more fish every week with helpful advice of my LFS.

Good luck with your new tank.

 

[Amunet]

Just stop using that Cycle stuff. I made the mistake of buying it and it hasn't done diddly-squat for my tanks. Just an expensive bottle of fluid that's good for nothing.

I would take the suggestions of these folk and go the pure ammonia route if you don't have any friends with healthy cycled tanks that would be willing to let you have some of their filter media.

You could also try getting some from your LFS as well.. or maybe some gravel. I'm not sure how much gravel is needed, just know that you put it into a sock and then let that sit in your tank to help get the bacteria going. But that bacteria would still need ammonia to feed off of.

 

[Mr^Man]

I decided to get my tank started cycling, by just putting in a couple platy's... LFS says they're pretty tough, and are a good start...
I also put in a cave-like decoration, in case any fish are feeling shy...

 

[TerraDreamer]

I added Cycle to an already cycled tank and my nitrites shot through the roof. Into the garbage it went.

Buy yourself a Freshwater Master Test Kit by API; you're going to need one. Danios may have been the better choice for fish cycling.

Enjoy your blue gravel...while it's still blue, that is. In six months (or less) you'll come to realize what I'm saying.

 

[Mr^Man]

Enjoy your blue gravel...while it's still blue, that is. In six months (or less) you'll come to realize what I'm saying.

The blue gravel was actually my girlfriend's idea... after we bought it, and I read a bit into the subject, I realized that I would've prefered a more natural, neutral color, which would better show off the color of the fish... oh well... I'm sure it won't be the worst mistake I make... lol

 

[Torrean]

I believe he's talking about colored gravels tendency to turn white in patches over time especially if you have algae eaters...I wonder if the colorant they use is harmfull in anyway. I'd like to say I'm sure it's safe but I've seen some really bad info in pet stores recently...my faith is shaken

 

[Birdie]

Have you read this thread yet? It's a list of forum members who are willing to donate mature filter media for the purposes of vastly speeding up tank cycling. It worked for me LOL.

I'd also recommend the link that Torrean posted

And welcome from another complete novice