Adding First Fish!

[N4kedD4ve]

Hello,

I got a tropical tank 2foot / 60litres. Its all running with no fish in it a the minute. Anyone got any suggestions to what I should put in there first?

I eventually would like to get a catfish.

Thanks

Dave

 

[SexyFishKeeper]

Guess you've cycled the tank or are doing so at the minute?

 

[lilfishie]

would you like a catfish as in cories which need to be in groups of at least 4 or as in a pleco, in which case a bristlenose would bee good but not as the first fish, after cycling i'd recomend either danios or platies

 

[N4kedD4ve]

Well errr, this is what Ive done so far. Im not planning on rushing this so don't go mad...

I have set the tank up water, gravel, rocks etc. I used some water treatment. The water is upto temp 24/25 degrees and the filter as been running since Saturday. I tested the water yesterday and all seems fine.

I have read a bit about cycling I thought you needed fish to start cycling?

I need all the help I can get I don't want to rush it and end up killing all my fish.

Thanks

Dave

 

[helterskelter]

Well if you add fish now they will almost surly die at first, It take 30 days or so for the good bacteria to grow in your system. How ever if you add some ammonia to the water (a odd prawn, fish food, or pure ammonia) this will help the bacteria to grow.

As for testing your water, it's far to soon to get true results and you should be testing for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates.

Once you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites your system will be safe to add a few fish, stock slowly, 2-4 small fish or 1-2 medium fish and then add same again after 10 days this then should allow the system to build up slowly and safely, resulting it very few deaths.
If you just go out now and buy some fish then your be looking as lest than 50/50 changes of survival and a lot of problems resulting from stress.

 

[N4kedD4ve]

Ok, thanks for the advice. So if I leave my tank alone now for 30 days everything should take a natural course? I don't have to do anything else?

 

[SexyFishKeeper]

Ok, thanks for the advice. So if I leave my tank alone now for 30 days everything should take a natural course? I don't have to do anything else?

No, if the filter is running now it's best to put some source of Ammonia in there quickly before all the minute amount of bacteria dies off. Prawns or fish food works well until you can get some bottled ammonia.

Read a sticky topic in this forum which runs through what you're required to do.

Basically it'll involve testing water each day and adding Ammonia.

 

[N4kedD4ve]

Grrrrr all I wanted was to have some fish, ha ha... I will add some food straight away. And when you say prawns do you mean dead ones like ready to eat ones? sorry im thick.

Cheers for the help.

I will read that post.

Thanks again.

 

[SexyFishKeeper]

Yes ready to eat, get frozen prawns. Be warned, they smell when they decompose! Get an airfreshner.

 

[N4kedD4ve]

Ha ha, the wife will be please... How many am I looking at for a 60 litre tank do you think?

 

[SexyFishKeeper]

Ha ha, the wife will be please... How many am I looking at for a 60 litre tank do you think?

Its not really exact, you'll have to use trail and error but will take a few days for them to decompose and release ammonia

 

[SJ2K]

Or run to boots/wilkinsons/anywhere that sells cleaning products and get yourself a bottle of ammonia I think 'klean off' is a popular brand to search for.

 

[KraKen]

When you get the ammonia make sure that it's unscented, pure ammonia. The ingredients should be just ammonia and water. A good way to see if it's usable is to shake it, if there are no bubbles than its safe.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

it is definitely worth adding an otto As they clean up the tank nicely however watch out for when the algae levels drop they will need supplement food eg algae waffers

 

[N4kedD4ve]

hello i am a total noobie what is an otto?