Fish Tank Help

[karla]

My husband got a huge tank and equipment from a guy at work. The problem is we have no clue how to begin to set it up. The tank has been cleaned adn we have the gravel in it, but as far as the filters and stuff we have no clue what goes where. Can anyone help?

Thanks

 

[WesleyJohn]

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[Mrs K 2004]

That was EXCELLENT advice

I would go to your petstore and buy a book on setups! If you find a good one it will even give you good suggestions on fish that go together!

We live in an apartment and only have room for a small 10 gallon tank But I've had my fish in there (and a small frog) for over a year!!

Also if you have other pets (especially cats) keep them away from the start!! My cat sits on my fish tank and scares the heebees outta me! I'm so glad she hasn't yet eaten them! I hope she doesn't learn how to get in!!

 

[Dagna]

You've gotten excellent advice so far. I would also suggest going to a strictly aquarium store. Take a look around and see how healthy the fish are, talk to the employees. Many of the good aquarium stores have no problem giving advice, even if you're aways from setting up the tank. Take your time with it, and decide what the one type of fish you would want to have and then build the rest of your tank around it. Not all freshwater fish are compatible due to the different ph and salinity requirements, so you want to get ones that will be able to live in the same environment. Also, avoid the pleco's. They get HUGE and it's a pain to constantly have to sell the old ones and get new ones. I would just get a couple bottom feeders that will stay small. If you get algae buildup on the sides of the tank, just get a scrubber (aquarium use only) and scrub the algae off that way.I've never been terribly impressed with pleco's tank cleaning abilities anyway, and with a good filtration system, they aren't necessary

 

[oworm]

Your tank will 'cycle.' A colony of good bacteria needs to be built up in your tank before you increase the bioload. This bacteria breaks down the fish waste, converting it to nitrite, and nitrate. The fish waste will create ammonia, and then the bacterial colony will begin to grow, converting it to less harmful materials. During this cycling process, your tank will bloom, or get cloudy. Don't worry about it. Once the cloud goes away, you know that your bacteria colony is doing its job. (The ammonia cloud is why you don't want to add a lot of fish at first).

Good advice: However these two excellent articles on "Fishless cycling" have the advantage of giving you a fully cycled tank in under 2 weeks to which a full load of fish can be added. Ive used this method frequently and to good effect. The advantages being that you have a fully cycled tank in a third of the time to which can be added a full compliment of fish all at the same time which cuts down on territorial bullying.Feel free to PM or post for further guidnce.
http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/cycling.html
http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/cycle2.html

 

[Key Of David]

Excellent advice in that first reply! I'd like to add that if you're letting your water sit you need to run your filters to better dissipate the chlorine and to avoid stagnation of the water. Also....if you use gravel.....do NOT use an undergravel filter if that's what you have. Its a good filter but requires horried methods of maintenance...and it WILL stop up and that won't be good for the fish. If you have a choice....go with a canister filter such as Ehiem (they're German). I've heard they're silent and excellent filters and only require a cleaning every 3-6 months. They're also good for sand-type substrate...as it doesn't mess up the impellor that pumps your water through the canister....the water is filtered through a ton of material before it ever reaches this part. This brings me to my next suggestion. If you're going to keep gravel then you'll need to vaccuum this gravel about every two weeks to a month....depending on your fish load. Waste gets trapped down in there and it becomes a "nitrate factory". The good bacteria will attach to the gravel and work well at converting this waste into nitrates....but again....it will still cause a LOT of them. This requires a lot of frequent water changes. I used to use a "Python" siphon and changed 20% of my water ever week. Then I discovered something really too good to be true.....SAND! I looks MUCH better and doesn't trap waste. All you have to do to clean it is maybe every week run something over it (your hand or an algae brush or fishnet) to stir the waste up off of it and then let it get sucked up into the filter as it eventually makes its way there. Wait a little while for the water to clear, waste to go into the filters...and then change them. After this...change the water...and you're done. I LOVE IT!

This sounds terrible but really it is great...its not much at all. I have an african cichlid tank which is beautiful....I enjoy this great beauty and so do my guests everytime I/they enter the living room.....and I only have to mess around with it about every two months (I'll stir up the sand a little about every two weeks but nothing more).

God Bless on your new adventure.....you won't be disappointed!

David

 

[karla]

Thanks so much for all the great info. I will be heading to the store to get a book today - if it ever stops snowing! I hpoe to have it up and running by the end of next week. My daughter keeps asking when we are going to go get her fish. Thanks again.

 

[Abigail's folly]

You might want to search on the internet for forums and information on more of the specifics of aquarium keeping and what kind of fish you intend on having.

I raise fancy goldfish and koi (koi are outside) and they take a whole different setup since they are such poop-producers! I have enough filtration to take care of twice the volume of water if I was just keeping tropical fish.

Learn all you can and cut short that painful learning curve!

 

[countrymousenc]

You've gotten a lot of really great advice. I know it's hard for your daughter to be patient, but don't hurry through the setup process. The only other thing I'd add is to start out with some really hardy fish that go through the cycling process easily. I've had really good results with livebearers (who like harder water), especially platys, as well as rosy barbs (who like softer water). Oh, and take a tap water sample to the fish store and get them to test it for hardness and pH. That will help you choose what kind of fish to get.

 

[Key Of David]

I also keep goldfish and also cichlids....so I know first hand what it's like to need overfiltration. You can never have enough filtration. Here's the forum I like to visit often....its cichlid based...but it has so many great articles, pics, and advice and discussion that you're bound to find something of benefit there.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/index.php

 

[karla]

Thanks so much for all the advice. We got the tank set up last week and we added some goldfish last night. My daughter is loving it! We figured once we really know what we are doing we will buy some more colorful fish, rather than just the goldfish. Of course of all the fish my daughter looked at she said the pirranah was her favorite. I don't think we will be doing htat any time soon

Thanks again

 

[pmarquette]

I prefer undergravel filters , 2 ( 1 pair / tank ) ; when dirty , simply put siphon hose assembly ( plastic pipe , thin wall with plastic hose ) over discharge tube , start siphon , and will suck out contents of filter ( black molases like sludge ). I also have a exterior power filter in conjunction with undergravel filters .

Remeber that fish feed at a certain level in the tank , and once the food falls below that level will not move up or down to feed at different level ( unless hungry )
ie: top feeders .... guppies , mollies , platys , betas , gourami's
middle feeders : tetra's , zebras ,
bottom feeders : catfish , loaches , snails

Stay away from members of cichlid family at first , aggressive , and will eat smaller fish : angels , oscars , fire mouth , jack dempsy , cichlids .....

1. Basic need : heater specific for that size tank ; air pump , valve assembly ( gang valve with 4-6 ports ) ; air stone ; filter(s) corner , bottom , exterior (as desire) ; gravel in tank 1-2" thick ; hood (cover) and light ; plants [ valisenaria , myrofillium good ]

2. clean tank walls with sponge and a little table salt ( to remove dried up food / algae ) , rinse tank ;

if wish to try undergravel filters place in bottom of tank with air tubes in corners , cover with stone ;

if desire to use corner filters , place stone in now ; fill tank about 1/3 full of water ( any leaks ? ) let set for 1-2hrs ;

fill 1/2 full plant plants , add decorations , place large bowl in center in bottom ( so once set up and add additional water , bowl will prevent disturbing " good stuff " if pour water into tank , into bowl )

hook up air pump , connect to filter , air stone , etc. and adjust valves to get
slow gentle flow to filters ( if have 1 more valve than devices , can blow extra air out into room , and cut back as pump ages and lime builds up in air tubes )

hook up heater , check pH of water ( want to be about 6.8 )
let tank warm up to 68-72 degrees ( may take a day + ) depending on tank size

do some window shopping , ask questions , look for ideas .....
find some one who has tanks , go over for a cup of coffee , look , make sketch ,
ask dumb questions [ they might come over and help you set up tank... ]

go shopping for critters .... start with 3-4 midsize fish [ ask people at pet store if ones you like , will work together , otherwise may have a expensive 10 minute show and funerals when add them to tank ....and a couple of catfish ( corydors ) for the first month --- build up bacteria , allow tank to stabilize ,
see how fish do together

 

[tazzz171]

I noticed that u are very clever with fish tanks and i have a question.
Is it okay to put a fish tank in front of a mirror?I just put it up today and i am going to put the water in 2morrow.Should i do anything special to prevent a problem or am i okay?