1st Tropical Tank Help Please :)

[lucejayne123]

Hi Guys,

Im after some advise. We already have a Juwel Rio 240 that we have a coldwater aquarium in, this has been set up and running fine with no problems for almost a year now... but multiple tank syndrome has kicked in and our Juwel Trigon 350 is coming on sat Wooooooop! exited is not the word!!! hahaha.

But help... id like to keep angel fish. but how long do i need to have the aquarium up and running before adding fish in a tropical tank? what fish can live with angel fish? and any general advise would be appreciated lots! thanks

 

[Truck]

have you heard of cycling? you need to cycle your tank before adding fish, or you can do a fish in cycle (add fish then do daily water changes for 6 weeks)

 

[stang1]

I'd go with the fishless cycling, it's a lot fairer on the fish and a lot less work for you.
Have a read of the pinned topics about fishless cycling to give yourself a better idea.
And congratulations on the new tank!

 

[lucejayne123]

I'd go with the fishless cycling, it's a lot fairer on the fish and a lot less work for you.
Have a read of the pinned topics about fishless cycling to give yourself a better idea.
And congratulations on the new tank!

so how long does a cycle take? i will have a read up now, im very green on tropical fish.....so appologies for my dumbness!

 

[Truck]

anywhere from 4-8 weeks, but if you do a fish in cycle properly there is no harm done to your fish aslong as ammonia and nitrite remain unreadable on the test kit

 

[stang1]

Even though there may be no harm done, it is always a risk. One that I wouldn't be prepared to take.
It also means that you are constantly testing and changing water to keep levels down.
It may be a pain waiting to get the fish but it pays off in the end.

 

[lucejayne123]

anywhere from 4-8 weeks, but if you do a fish in cycle properly there is no harm done to your fish aslong as ammonia and nitrite remain unreadable on the test kit

so what fish do you keep and what fish would you recommend for me? reading up on cycles now...

 

[Truck]

in a new tank anything hardy

danios
minnows etc

but are you doing fish in or fishless?

but be aware with fishin you could end up doing 3 water changes a day, but on the filp side you could end up doing daily water changes in a fishless cycle if you have a low KH because the PH will drop.

 

[lucejayne123]

in a new tank anything hardy

danios
minnows etc

but are you doing fish in or fishless?

but be aware with fishin you could end up doing 3 water changes a day, but on the filp side you could end up doing daily water changes in a fishless cycle if you have a low KH because the PH will drop.

i will find it really hard waiting to get the fish as im so exited and want them now!!! hehe , but i will have to do it fishless i think as i couldnt do 3 water vhanges a day as i work full time..

are angel fish really naughy fish that arnt community fish ? alwayes wanted angel fish but if they will eat other fish i won't..

thanks!

 

[Truck]

they will eat anything that fits in their mouths

 

[lucejayne123]

they will eat anything that fits in their mouths

and im guessing they will grow quite big in the tank... i also would like some nice plecos.

 

[Truck]

get to about six inches, as for plecos, you have about 300 to choose from

 

[stang1]

Is there a list of fish that you like?
We can then tell you whether they are compatible or not.
It's always worth wandering around your lfs and getting an idea of what appeals to you.

 

[lucejayne123]

Is there a list of fish that you like?
We can then tell you whether they are compatible or not.
It's always worth wandering around your lfs and getting an idea of what appeals to you.

we did that at weekend, and it just made us more exited we like guppys with the lovley tails, coloured glass fish, plecos, the little shark things, and all the angels. i love big fish, my cold water aquarium they are all really big fish in there now and id like some big tropical fish. i love discus fish but there really hard to keep and expensive too - i really dont think id be able to keep them yet but one day hopefully!

 

[Truck]

coloured glass catfish have been artificially died, which means they were injected with dye, or dipped in a stripper then coated then dipped in a replenisher
to get the slime coat back, its sickening really, dont buy from that LFS, are you in the UK?