virgin fishkeeper

[virgin fishkeeper]

Well are story starts at a fun fair, needless to say we ended up with 2 gold fish and a cheap bowl etc. After walking through are local pet shop we were blinded by this super fish bowl called a 'biorb'. We continued to purchased it with the stand.
We came home, set it up, let the water settle (2 weeks) then added are gold fish!

After a week the fish became dissressed and after numerous treatments we lost are goldfish. We then decided we would convert this to a smal tropical tank, so we emptied the water and started again. We bought a heater and off we went . Well after many deceased fish and lots of new filters and treatments we are now down to 2 survivers,a thick lipped gourami and a neon tetra.

This has now cost us yet more money as we have ditched the biorb and bought a juwel 350 trigon (we know, bit on the large side, supprised us aswell!)

I now have this tank awaiting set up and stocking!. If any of you could help us with advice on stocking (fish to use etc) and how many we can add to this, we would be most gratefull as we dont want to lose anymore of our wet little friends!

Tim.

 

[benzonar]

First thing to do is to read the stickies at the top of the forum, in particular the bit about fishless cycling.

Go to Homebase and buy their own brand Household Cleaner (white bottle, blue label).

If you want plants then read the stickies in the plant forum.

Buy some test kits and be prepared to be patient for 3-4 weeks.

Patience now means less grief in the future.

Have fun, its all worth it in the end

 

[virgin fishkeeper]

Thanks for your reply. Sorry i'm gonna quiz you for some more advice if you don't mind...I have lost so many fish, im starting to wonder if i am really cut out for this, but i feel i owe it to the two remaining fish and my interest is growing quickly.

I have been researching as much as i can but still feel far from confident. I am setting up my new tank tommorow and understand that it is still going to be a further 2 weeks or so before i can introduce my faithful friends to their new home.

Would you advise that they can be added as the first fish to the tank or keep them seperate and begin the tank with a set of newly purchased first fish. My 2 friends are a thick lip gourami and a lonely neon-tetra. I am concerned that they won't last much longer in the biorb but i want to get this new tank up and running by the book-with no mistakes. Also... i was thinking of using plastic plants as they do not require CO2 - would you advise on real plants ? is it worth the hastle in the long run ?

Tim,

 

[BigC]

I am concerned that they won't last much longer in the biorb

I cannot understand why a Biorb cannot support your fish. It is a contained body of water the same as a tank. I have seen many a Biorb setup and they can look stunning. The fact that your fish are dying in this environment is nothing to do with the recepticle itself. I dont mean to sound forward but why didn't you stick with the Biorb until you learnt a little bit more about keeping tropical fish before spending loads of dosh on a Juwel 350 Trigon.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Don't put in any fish! Set up your tank with NO fish at all. Get the filter running and start a fishless cycle with either pure ammonia or a similar product that they sell in most fish stores for fishless cycling. It normally takes about 3 weeks. Keep checking ammonia and once that zeros then start testing for nitrItes. Once they zero then you'll have to do an 80% water change (don't forget dechlorinator) and only then can you add fish. Obviously add no more ammonia once they're in or you'll kill them.
It is tedious to wait with an empty tank but seriously worth it.
I suggest you do your best you can with the two you have still by keeping their water clean etc.
Hugs,
p.

 

[IMCL85]

Poor fishy little goldy

 

[platyfreek]

make sure you're using dechlorinator! and i pray for your gourami and your neon because i love both species. the reason you probably kept loosing fish is cause you never cycled your tank. I agree with Miss Dib Dabs, don't put any fish in! a fishless cycle requires patients but it saves a lot of fishy lives and its worth it is the end.

 

[virgin fishkeeper]

thanks for all your replys,i have been doing water changes etc,and they have percked up no end the gourami keeps coming up and kissing the glass to say helo(he's loverly)real fond off this one)things are looking up will setting up his new home at the weekend no short cuts,and no expence spared,i will be doing fishless cycling,as i dont want to lose him,thanks to your site i am a lot more confident about setting this tank up!,and i am looking forward to the joys off fish keeping,not the heart ache (its suprising how attached to these little chaps you get!) thanks to this sight i should no longer be the grim reaper to fish,and yes the tank is a bit ott!didnt realise how big it was! still cant wait till it is all running so my little friend can move house. once again thanks to you all and the sight T.k

 

[SnowyzMom]

Congrats virg, you have now been bitten by the fishkeeping bug! It's very contagious and there seems to be no cure. Just think how delighted your little Neon will be once the tank is cycled up and ready and you can give him some more Neons to play with. A school of 6-10 of them looks stunning in a tank.

You can find many simplified "dummies are us" fish keeping books (my favorite kind!) at the public library. I did some reading in those, plus advice from experts here and around my town, plus the pinned topics here when I first started out. Don't worry, you'll pick it up in no time. Cheers on becoming one of the finny flock at last.

 

[JDS]

Also... i was thinking of using plastic plants as they do not require CO2 - would you advise on real plants ? is it worth the hastle in the long run ?

Tim,

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Hi, just a quickie to say that I had quite a lot of trouble early on with growing real plants. I asked at my local fish shop for some hardier plants and they suggested Java Fern and Anubias. I've since had a lot of success with both of these plants growing well (and not being overly eaten by my fish )
I don't add any CO2 to my tank ... one less thing to worry about but i reckon the tank looks better and healthier for having real plants in.

JDS

 

[virgin fishkeeper]

my brother in law (or soon to be) has a custom made 1800ltr tank built into his house he recomends using clay for the plants,he has had great succses(its like its own eco system in there)has anyone else heard of this?,we are going up to stay with them for the weekend for some fishy lessons!he is like a guru for fish keeping! so with all the help we are getting from you lot and with the help from him,we should lose the pain of fish keeping! real excited now,so much to do and so much to learn,i cant wait,thanks to all(great site keep it up,cant belive how helpfull you all are!)many thanks again. T.k