Just bought a fish tank
Discussion
One of these, being delivered Friday,
http://aquael.co.uk/product/aspect-80cm-black-cabi...
Used to keep Tropical fish years ago so know a little bit, but after tips on essential reading, fish to buy or any tips.
http://aquael.co.uk/product/aspect-80cm-black-cabi...
Used to keep Tropical fish years ago so know a little bit, but after tips on essential reading, fish to buy or any tips.
The maximum for nitrate in tap water is 50 mg/l, above which your water company would be in trouble. Whilst this would be too high for some species of fish and/or inverts, it's fine for a large number of spjecies - especially if the individuals are acclimatised to it, which they will be if you bought them from a nearby fish store.
If you're buying water from a shop, it'll be Reverse Osmosis (RO) water. It's important to know that you must not use it on its own, because it has zero hardness and therefore no buffering against swings in pH. You must either remineralise it using special mineral mixtures, or mix it with your tap water. I personally use rain water and mix it with tap water in approximately 3:1 rain:tap ratio, which gives me the moderately soft water that I want for my chilli rasboras (but not too soft for my shrimps).
We know this tank is 80cm long, but what are its other dimensions? That will be key is determining what fish you can keep.
Another key question is quite simply: which species of fish do you like? What have you kept in the past, and how successful were you? Are you interested in growing plants? Do you want to keep inverts like shrimps?
If you're buying water from a shop, it'll be Reverse Osmosis (RO) water. It's important to know that you must not use it on its own, because it has zero hardness and therefore no buffering against swings in pH. You must either remineralise it using special mineral mixtures, or mix it with your tap water. I personally use rain water and mix it with tap water in approximately 3:1 rain:tap ratio, which gives me the moderately soft water that I want for my chilli rasboras (but not too soft for my shrimps).
We know this tank is 80cm long, but what are its other dimensions? That will be key is determining what fish you can keep.
Another key question is quite simply: which species of fish do you like? What have you kept in the past, and how successful were you? Are you interested in growing plants? Do you want to keep inverts like shrimps?
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Sunday 11th December 20:43
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
The maximum for nitrate in tap water is 50 mg/l, above which your water company would be in trouble. Whilst this would be too high for some species of fish and/or inverts, it's fine for a large number of spjecies - especially if the individuals are acclimatised to it, which they will be if you bought them from a nearby fish store.
If you're buying water from a shop, it'll be Reverse Osmosis (RO) water. It's important to know that you must not use it on its own, because it has zero hardness and therefore no buffering against swings in pH. You must either remineralise it using special mineral mixtures, or mix it with your tap water. I personally use rain water and mix it with tap water in approximately 3:1 rain:tap ratio, which gives me the moderately soft water that I want for my chilli rasboras (but not too soft for my shrimps).
We know this tank is 80cm long, but what are its other dimensions? That will be key is determining what fish you can keep.
Another key question is quite simply: which species of fish do you like? What have you kept in the past, and how successful were you? Are you interested in growing plants? Do you want to keep inverts like shrimps?
Used to have a pair of Silver Dollars, loads of Neon Tetras and the usual stuff, it went pretty well, had a 2 ft tank, just lost one of two Goldfish after 15 years, thats our only current fish, the other looks like its 100 years old.If you're buying water from a shop, it'll be Reverse Osmosis (RO) water. It's important to know that you must not use it on its own, because it has zero hardness and therefore no buffering against swings in pH. You must either remineralise it using special mineral mixtures, or mix it with your tap water. I personally use rain water and mix it with tap water in approximately 3:1 rain:tap ratio, which gives me the moderately soft water that I want for my chilli rasboras (but not too soft for my shrimps).
We know this tank is 80cm long, but what are its other dimensions? That will be key is determining what fish you can keep.
Another key question is quite simply: which species of fish do you like? What have you kept in the past, and how successful were you? Are you interested in growing plants? Do you want to keep inverts like shrimps?
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Sunday 11th December 20:43
This holds 112 litres, 80h * 30d * 45h.
I bought the display one which had a load of plastic plants, but will have a mixture I think, I remember that live plants help Nitrogen levels.
Going to do some reading on types of fish and decide what to get, nothing sharky, had a red tail one last time and it was a menace, would like a couple of Silver Dollars again, reminds me of my youth, used to have my tank in my bedroom at my parents before I moved out, was fantastic, really excited to go back to having a tank, its going in my office/man cave which has always looked a bit unfinished but I think it will really finish it off.
Turn7 said:
Please google tank cycling, and do not add fish until the filters are matured....
Time has moved on chap. That was the case when I set mine up 30 years ago. Pissing around for weeks with ammonia droppers and test kits, then once it had "matured" added fish and started a mini cycle all over again. It is the Stone Age method and quite unnecessary today.Get it set up and fill it up with water. Leave it running at temperature for a week and let it settle. Then buy the right sized bottle (or slightly bigger than your tank - you cannot OD the tank with this stuff) of Tetra Safe Start, and a couple of hardy fish to provide ammonia to the bacteria in SS. Dump the entire bottle of safe start in and add the fish in the same hour. Don't bother testing anything for a week, and don't do any water changes either. Sounds criminal, but it is the fastest way I have seen to get to a properly cycled tank, and does no harm to the fish IME or anyone else I have spoken to about it.
This is what I have done for my last two tanks, and I only lost the original fish when I went on hols and the filter failed earlier this year.
I use R/O remineralised for water changes. My water is 40ppm nitrates out of the tap, so not good for my fish or shrimps. Doesn't really matter what you fill it up with first time (you are gonna get nitrates at some point) but do condition it if you use tap water.
ETA: buy safe start from a local aquarist or even Pets at Risk if you have to so,you can see it and make sure it is well in date - the contents are live bacteria, which degrade or die if out of date and it won't work.
Edited by SeeFive on Monday 12th December 00:03
SeeFive said:
Turn7 said:
Please google tank cycling, and do not add fish until the filters are matured....
Time has moved on chap. That was the case when I set mine up 30 years ago. Pissing around for weeks with ammonia droppers and test kits, then once it had "matured" added fish and started a mini cycle all over again. It is the Stone Age method and quite unnecessary today.Get it set up and fill it up with water. Leave it running at temperature for a week and let it settle. Then buy the right sized bottle (or slightly bigger than your tank - you cannot OD the tank with this stuff) of Tetra Safe Start, and a couple of hardy fish to provide ammonia to the bacteria in SS. Dump the entire bottle of safe start in and add the fish in the same hour. Don't bother testing anything for a week, and don't do any water changes either. Sounds criminal, but it is the fastest way I have seen to get to a properly cycled tank, and does no harm to the fish IME or anyone else I have spoken to about it.
This is what I have done for my last two tanks, and I only lost the original fish when I went on hols and the filter failed earlier this year.
I use R/O remineralised for water changes. My water is 40ppm nitrates out of the tap, so not good for my fish or shrimps. Doesn't really matter what you fill it up with first time (you are gonna get nitrates at some point) but do condition it if you use tap water.
ETA: buy safe start from a local aquarist or even Pets at Risk if you have to so,you can see it and make sure it is well in date - the contents are live bacteria, which degrade or die if out of date and it won't work.
My tapwater is 40ppm, so for weekly water changes on my 600 litre Malawi tank, I pre prepare my water into a 220 litre water butt. Tap water goes into a 2 stage heavy metal filter and then into a 12 litre nitrate filter - gives me 0 nitrates to do water changes..... This is then heated and aerated for 24 hours before the weekly water change happens.
I see about 1 degree of temp difference per water change, and all other paramaters remain constant.
Last time I had a tank, I just kept it clean, changed a few inches of water every week and had what, at least it seemed to me to be a healthy tank with active fish.
I didnt do any PH, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia or any other testing, I had no idea about it and very rarely lost many fish, dont remember having any stuff to add tot he water.
Will be a bit more scientific this time though, just filled it today and tested the PH and it was 7.0 based on the test kit, water is clearing nicely.
I will give it this week and then pop to my local fish shop and get a few hardy fish, Danios and maybe something else.
Quite an expensive business this, popped in yesterday to get more gravel and an air pump/stone, £50, realised I didnt have a net or a thermometer, so theres another £15, then, Friday probably another 50 quid. Had to get an 8 gang socket, £18.
I didnt do any PH, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia or any other testing, I had no idea about it and very rarely lost many fish, dont remember having any stuff to add tot he water.
Will be a bit more scientific this time though, just filled it today and tested the PH and it was 7.0 based on the test kit, water is clearing nicely.
I will give it this week and then pop to my local fish shop and get a few hardy fish, Danios and maybe something else.
Quite an expensive business this, popped in yesterday to get more gravel and an air pump/stone, £50, realised I didnt have a net or a thermometer, so theres another £15, then, Friday probably another 50 quid. Had to get an 8 gang socket, £18.
... If,you are adding fish, add a whole bottle of Tetra Safe Start in any volume bigger than your tank to be (shaken vigorously beforehand) an hour before the fish. Turn off any blue lights for a week at least and just leave it alone 
IMO, don't let them fob you off with anything else instead of safe start.
IMO, don't let them fob you off with anything else instead of safe start.
SeeFive said:
... If,you are adding fish, add a whole bottle of Tetra Safe Start in any volume bigger than your tank to be (shaken vigorously beforehand) an hour before the fish. Turn off any blue lights for a week at least and just leave it alone
IMO, don't let them fob you off with anything else instead of safe start.
Well, its a Fish tank, am fairly keen to get some fish in there at some point IMO, don't let them fob you off with anything else instead of safe start.
When you say Blue Lights, does that mean the Led tubes in the tank.
Will get some safe start for sure, will be going on Friday to get it and some fish, maybe a couple of plants.
With regards to adding rocks, if I want to add some does it have to be from the fish shop or are there any rules for adding stuff I have or find, obviously dont want to poison the tank
J4CKO said:
Well, its a Fish tank, am fairly keen to get some fish in there at some point
When you say Blue Lights, does that mean the Led tubes in the tank.
Will get some safe start for sure, will be going on Friday to get it and some fish, maybe a couple of plants.
With regards to adding rocks, if I want to add some does it have to be from the fish shop or are there any rules for adding stuff I have or find, obviously dont want to poison the tank
And safe start will let you do that with a few hardy fish to feed the bacteria over the first few weeks as you gradually start to stock up. I used three guppies for the first two weeks to cycle my tiny 46litre tank, and have previously used tetras with no losses. Patience is a fishkeeper's virtue. When I did my marine tanks years ago, I had thousands of pounds worth of tanks and filters, and about 10 quidsworth of fish in each tank for about 2 or 3 months... When you say Blue Lights, does that mean the Led tubes in the tank.
Will get some safe start for sure, will be going on Friday to get it and some fish, maybe a couple of plants.
With regards to adding rocks, if I want to add some does it have to be from the fish shop or are there any rules for adding stuff I have or find, obviously dont want to poison the tank
Get your tank all set up with plants and everything in it as it gives the bacteria in SS more surfaces to cling to - although most of the good work will be done in the filter. The blue led type lights have been reported to potentially have an adverse effect on the SS bacteria, blame laid for making it fail. Stick with white lights until cycled - which should be well inside 2 weeks. You may need to regulate your light timings as you bring back the blue to avoid algae growth but encourage plant growth - real knife edge in new tanks.
Wrt rocks, there are all sorts of tests you can do with acid to see what type of rock you have, and the impact it will have on water conditions. Generally, wood softens water and rock hardens it. There is a bit of a summary in rock types to use/avoid and how to introduce them here, and how to prepare them safely for a tank.
http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/blog/adding-rocks-an...
It is incomplete, but a starting point that would take far too long to put together in a post. There are some good guys on here who can help you going forward. Let us know how you get on.
I got four Platys, three Silver Dollars and five Neon Tetras, two Neons have deceased, looks like the biggest one has nipped the tails off them, seems to have settled down, PH, Ammomnia, temp and Nitrate all fine, water looks fine, put Safe Start in.
Fish shop will replace the Tetras when I get some more fish they said but said wait a week or two which is fair enough.
Is a Betta a bad idea ?
Fish shop will replace the Tetras when I get some more fish they said but said wait a week or two which is fair enough.
Is a Betta a bad idea ?
J4CKO said:
I got four Platys, three Silver Dollars and five Neon Tetras, two Neons have deceased, looks like the biggest one has nipped the tails off them, seems to have settled down, PH, Ammomnia, temp and Nitrate all fine, water looks fine, put Safe Start in.
Fish shop will replace the Tetras when I get some more fish they said but said wait a week or two which is fair enough.
Is a Betta a bad idea ?
Sorry to hear about the neons. Quite surprised that they were nipped to death as they are quite evasive and can hide given the right cover. Fish shop will replace the Tetras when I get some more fish they said but said wait a week or two which is fair enough.
Is a Betta a bad idea ?
With that mix of fish I would say yes, it would be a mistake to put a betta in. They have long flowing fins which attract nipping fish, not too agile and from what you say, you have some nippy little buggers there.
Personally, I have not had a lot of success with Bettas in community tanks and therefore haven't tried one for over 30 years.
Your readings will not be true with safe start for a week or two, so don't waste your fluids / strips unless you see the fish behaving oddly.
The fish shop replaced the Neons, have added three Panda Corys, 2 Gourami and a Shrimp, all seems pretty harmonious so far and lovely to watch, checked all the levels today (PH, Nitrates and Ammonia) and they were all good, changed ten percent of the water.
That will do for now, seemed a bit lacking but plenty to look at now, will let them all settle in and then rethink the planting in there, just gave the Dollars some lettuce to try and entice them away from eating the plants, I knew that would happen and thankfully they only bother with one and it is growing faster than they can eat it.
That will do for now, seemed a bit lacking but plenty to look at now, will let them all settle in and then rethink the planting in there, just gave the Dollars some lettuce to try and entice them away from eating the plants, I knew that would happen and thankfully they only bother with one and it is growing faster than they can eat it.
Sounds on track. Nice one Jacko, when adding a lot of fish it doesn't hurt to put a shot of safe start in to boost the bacteria as the ammonia pressure increases from your additions maybe creating a mini cycle and algae bloom. Not essential, personally I don't as a rule but I add fish very slowly over a long time. The only exception was when I added an 8 shoal of quins, 4 regular and 4 purple in one go.
Plants... The wet arm beign of my life. My shrimp tanks has gone nuts with a couple of bunches of fronded plants sending runners all over the place during the year. It is even infesting the filter / heater chamber now. It is very fast growing and requires trimming frequently so the celestial pearl danios have some swimming room. I put a wysteria looking plant into the community tank. I know these can be fast growing, but it was ok for a few months till it suddenly went nuts over a couple of weeks. I removed around 2/3 of it yesterday as it was significantly reducing light and preventing swimming room. Makes the Java moss look slow growing...
Must say, both tanks look ok now. The shrimp tank has lots of green plants heavily flecked with red shrimps at various stages of development as they breed. The community tank just looks uncluttered with the trimmed wisteria central rear behind bogwood, a couple of Amazon swords adding green in the rear corners and a few others dotted around low (there may be a fake one in there to add a little redness that my lights will not sustain ).
Off to get some RO tomorrow as I have neglected changes over the Christmas period (only one since 23rd) so will do a couple of fairly large ones (30% community, 50% shrimp). Sounds a lot but the occupants seem to like it - tends to trigger a lot of moults and subsequent berried shrimps. They will get a glass clean and a little blanched spinach first - it is amazing how quickly 50 or so red shrimps can congregate and destroy spinach leaves. The much larger Amanos in the community tank just run away with them and eat them all to themselves in hiding, greedy gits.
Plants... The wet arm beign of my life. My shrimp tanks has gone nuts with a couple of bunches of fronded plants sending runners all over the place during the year. It is even infesting the filter / heater chamber now. It is very fast growing and requires trimming frequently so the celestial pearl danios have some swimming room. I put a wysteria looking plant into the community tank. I know these can be fast growing, but it was ok for a few months till it suddenly went nuts over a couple of weeks. I removed around 2/3 of it yesterday as it was significantly reducing light and preventing swimming room. Makes the Java moss look slow growing...
Must say, both tanks look ok now. The shrimp tank has lots of green plants heavily flecked with red shrimps at various stages of development as they breed. The community tank just looks uncluttered with the trimmed wisteria central rear behind bogwood, a couple of Amazon swords adding green in the rear corners and a few others dotted around low (there may be a fake one in there to add a little redness that my lights will not sustain
).Off to get some RO tomorrow as I have neglected changes over the Christmas period (only one since 23rd) so will do a couple of fairly large ones (30% community, 50% shrimp). Sounds a lot but the occupants seem to like it - tends to trigger a lot of moults and subsequent berried shrimps
. They will get a glass clean and a little blanched spinach first - it is amazing how quickly 50 or so red shrimps can congregate and destroy spinach leaves. The much larger Amanos in the community tank just run away with them and eat them all to themselves in hiding, greedy gits.I didn't have much luck with Bettas in a community tank either so would also suggest not bothering.
Found Cardinal Tetras to be more hardy than neons for much the same look.
Panda corys. Have one that has been in this tank since set-up - transferred from previous tank which sprang a leak - & is fine. Others introduced at the same time from the old tank & subsequent replacements haven't lasted. Water is fine, plenty of plants & wood for hiding places & neither I nor the fish shop can work it out although there are two flying foxes that were in the previous tank & we suspect are the problem as they are boisterous to say the least & other bottom dwellers get knocked about. When they eventually die I'll try pandas again.
Endlers guppies. Breed like guppies & no problems.
Glowlight tetras. No issues.
Found Cardinal Tetras to be more hardy than neons for much the same look.
Panda corys. Have one that has been in this tank since set-up - transferred from previous tank which sprang a leak - & is fine. Others introduced at the same time from the old tank & subsequent replacements haven't lasted. Water is fine, plenty of plants & wood for hiding places & neither I nor the fish shop can work it out although there are two flying foxes that were in the previous tank & we suspect are the problem as they are boisterous to say the least & other bottom dwellers get knocked about. When they eventually die I'll try pandas again.
Endlers guppies. Breed like guppies & no problems.
Glowlight tetras. No issues.
Edited by paintman on Sunday 1st January 15:57
My Shrimp promptly hid in the gap behind the filter and I thought he may not be well/happy, this morning he is centre stage charging up and down, funny to watch,
Did put some safe start in when I added the new fish, noticed a bit of Algae on the front of the tank, have ordered a scraper to remove it, are snails better for keeping it clean or other methods ?
All seems good, lots of activity, no agression manifesting itself.
Did put some safe start in when I added the new fish, noticed a bit of Algae on the front of the tank, have ordered a scraper to remove it, are snails better for keeping it clean or other methods ?
All seems good, lots of activity, no agression manifesting itself.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff