Help Me Name My Fish!!! *Img Hvy*

[CrowinKing]

You have a new tank and there for your gonna go through the new tank syndrome!! When first setting up a tank you should let it run for a month before adding fish! Around the second or third week the water will get cloudy and then clear up after that happens its ok to add fish! I bet if you check the water the ammonia is through the roof! Its from the bacteria working through the tank! The only prob with changing the water before it goes through its cycle its like pressing the reset button on the computer its gonna just keep cycling! I'd let it run its coarse!

 

[texasreb]

Quote:
This is bad advice!!

If she doesn't add a source of ammonia, the tank will never cycle!! Bacteria can't live on nothing! Running an empty tank does nothing to cycle it. She needs ammonia.

Google fishless cycling for more info.

This is a common myth the perseveres despite scientific and practical evidence to the contrary.

Cycling with fish is what the OP is inadvertently doing right now. It used to be the commonly accepted way to cycle a new tank. All but the hardiest fish usually die so people used to buy, "throw away" fish to cycle their tanks and then add the fish they really wanted after the cycle was complete.

This method is now considered cruel and outdated--plus the throw away fish often wound up with disease that remained in the tank after their usefulness was over and the "good" fish often contracted their disease and died anyway.

A source of pure ammonia is easily had. Most dollar stores carry it. Make sure it contains no dye or surfactants and or sudsing agents. Read the label and shake the bottle. Your own urine is also a source of ammonia. Lots of aquarists us it to be sure they are getting a pure source!

 

[Year of the Rooster]

I have 5 fish tanks: one 55 gallon (freshwater), one 60 gallon(saltwater), one 5 gallon(freshwater), one 10 gallon(freshwater), and one Biocube(saltwater). I agree with doing the water changes but CrowinKing has a point and so does texasreb. What I use is this liquid that you can buy at any petstore. Actually there are two: Cycle, and Bioboost. Use these to help cycle your tank faster. I use Bioboost with all my tanks and it works fast. I think its basically a culture of bacteria and enzymes to help break down the waste faster. Also, with a fully cycled tank, I only do a water change once a month and that is sufficient for me. If all you other fish lovers have any questions you could email Jeff Howe, he writes articles for Freshwater and Marine Aquariums (FAMA) Magazine. I've emailed him before and he was great

. His email is [email protected]

 

[texasreb]

Year of the Rooster,

How heavily stocked are your tanks?

I usually give the advice of weekly water changes because it is generally considered "fool proof." Note: I'm not indicating that anyone here is a fool!

I too have several tanks; all are freshwater:
4--eighty gallon tanks
2--55 gallon tanks
1--29 gallon tank
1--20 gallon tank
and several 10's

I let nitrAte creep drive my tank changing schedule. Whenever the nitrAtes get above 20ppm in any tank, I change out up to 100% of the water by draining the tank 75%, refilling it and then draining another 75% and refilling. This usually gets the nitrAtes below 5ppm. Having done this for years, I know how long it takes for each tank to get up to 20ppm without constant testing.

My 80 gallon with a single oscar gets the full tank cleaning twice a week as oscars are extremely messy fish. On the other hand, my heavily planted, lightly stocked rainbow fish (80 gallon) tank only needs about 25% water changed per month.

The only product that actually contains the correct type of live bacteria for cycling tanks is BioSpira. It is hard to get and often mishandled in shipment (needs to be refrigerated) and so it is iffy as to whether or not you'll get a viable batch.

My preferred way of instantly cycling a tank is to use seeded filter material from an already established tank--easy to do when you have several tanks. If you don't have another tank to borrow from, you're left to try to find someone with a healthy tank that will share some media with you.

 

[ChicknThief]

OK, so I just responded to a craigslist ad for a 200g for only 20$

It had only been up for about four minutes, so I probably got it!

It does have a crack in the bottom glass, but that won't be nearly as expensive to fix as it would be to buy a 200g new. I don't think that overstocking will be an issue in this tank.

In fact, I think I will be satisfied with just a ranchu, a ryukin, and an oranda or two.

Pray that I get it please!

 

[ChicknThief]

I just got an email back and the tank is mine! I am paying a little more to have him hold it for me, just 35 dollars as opposed to 20, but still an amazing deal!

 

[Year of the Rooster]

wow! I bet that's going to be huge!!! I'm sooo jealous

I hope your "swimmy butts" like it

 

[CrowinKing]

I add feeder fish or get a bacteria culture!!

 

[theOEGBman]

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[ninny]

you should go to the library and get all the books you can find on freshwater tanks if that is what you are going to have. plus their are several good forums on the web. DO NOT mix goldfish with other fish. the reason being that goldfish are super messy and they can not handle the high temps that other fish need. use your ten gallon to quartine all new fish at least two weeks. If you see a fish you like then ask for the real name of the fish not the common name and look it up before you buy it!! this is a great hobby just lots of reading needs 2 be done first. at the moment we have a 29 gallon angel tank set up and i love it!!!