Angelfish Aggressive, Tank Not Big Enough?

[lilfishie]

the swords may be small now but they grow 4inch +

 

[Jazzzz]

i didn't do any water tests as i do not have a test kit
the fish dont do it as much as they did when they first got in the tank..
by the looks of it i would like to say i have
2 females
1 male
(mollies)
also, i dont think ill be putting any angels in but how much more fish do you think i could get in?? if any..
the best i can do right now i guess is take some of my water down to the petstore as i do not have a test kit and i will get back to you guys

appreciate it guys im gonna head down in a couple hours
talk soon
lee

also, swordtails.. 10 gallon not big enough?
there so small

as young fish yes an oscar is small at 3 weeks

 

[callaghan]

ok so realistically.. how many water changes do i need to do and how often? and how do i get to the point where i only have to do like one a week?

 

[always4lora]

if you're doing the fish in Cycle there is no set amount of times and ammounts on how much water to change, basically you're wanting to get rid of the poision in the tank , the ammonia and nitrites, get a test kit and do a decent water change, keep monitoring the levels, if the ammonia/nitrite comes back change the water again.... i think i did mine twice daily for the 1st week or so then did daily for around 2--3 weeks before it started setlling down a bit .

It's painfull , i did it on mine and didnt particully find it fun but now it's all sorted it was well worth it .


oh and you get to the bit when you do one a week normally when the tank is cycled

 

[callaghan]

ok so i went to big als and got it tested
he said there was a little bit of ammonia

BUT

he said to just do a 25% water change about twice a week and it will disappear.

 

[Tolak]

Big Al's is a retailer. They hire employees at the cheapest rate they can, they need to turn a profit through sales. Bottom line is they want you to spend money. Taking aquatics advice from them is similar to taking nutrition advice from the kid selling burgers at McDonalds.

Nobody posting here makes a single cent off of helping others, and doesn't plan on it. We do this because basically we are aquatics junkies, and like to get other people hooked. If you have an upleasant experience with aquatics our fun is over as well.

That being said, cycling can take anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months. If you can get some mature filter media to add to your filter this will speed up the cycle, there is a pinned media donor topic; http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=150631

"A little bit of ammonia" means your tank is nowhere near done cycling. If they didn't give you numbers that is typical of big box corporate owned & run shops, along with no test for nitrite or nitrate.

You will need to do daily water changes of at least 25%, 50% is better, until you have zero ammonia & nitrite.

 

[callaghan]

ya that makes sense..

he seemed pretty positive about it though but you do bring a good point
and yea he didnt give me any numbers as to percentage

im wondering about a good filter (i am planning on upgrading and getting a 55gal tank within the next month as well) so a good filter, and a good heater for that.

so 25% water changes everyday?

also, if i get this 55 gal tank, how long do you think it will take to cycle and what is the best way to go about a "perfect" cycle so everything goes according to plan.

thanks again for the help as i am new to this hobby.. but lovin it

talk soon
lee

 

[mwood2]

well from the sounds of it you should have a nice filter on the 10 gallon and the 55 gallon. What I suggest is keep the 10 gallon running for 1-2 months doing water changes 2-3 times a day while checking ammonia and nitrite on regular basis. Let that finish its cycle. When you get that new 55 gallon make sure your during a fishless cycle for that. As for a filter I would suggest a Canister filter if you have the money for it since they are powerful, effective and need less maintenance (so its said). For a good one your looking at 80-150 bucks for it. If your looking cheap I would suggest a Marineland Power filter recommended for a 75 gallon which has dual bio wheel and large area for media.

First things first you want a good filter for your 10 gallon, this and a test kit should be first priority.

 

[callaghan]

ok thanks for the advice.

can you explain exactly what a fishless cycle is?

 

[callaghan]

also, if im doing 25% water changes, how many tbl spoons of conditioner should i put in? and aquarium salt?

 

[Miah002]

How about some gouramis.

You can get the dwarf or honey. They're colourful and lovely fish to keep.

 

[mwood2]

gourami probably wouldn't fit in his tank, the tank itself is over stocked on the top layer and needs to be fully cycled before anything else is added. Here is a link to a topic on fishless cycling:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

Now just make sure you do water changes multiple times each day, I suggest 2-3 50% changes. The more water changes the more the ammonia and nitrite is reduced. The test kit is still very important since it will let you know when you should do water changes (when the ammonia/nitrite is above .25) rather then guessing and doing one every few hours to be safe. Also conditioner should be 5ml to every 10 gallon usually but follow the instructions on the bottle. As for aquarium salt, dont use it. When brackish water is talked about it needs marine salt and needs to be tested for alot more then you need to worry about. My molly is just kept in plain freshwater and she is doing fine. Just add dechlorinated water that is at the same temp as the tank.

Good luck.

 

[callaghan]

marine salt eh?
whats the difference? i thought maybe aquarium salt would help because it says it helps reduce stress, and puts that coat on their fins.

im getting a 55 gallon on tuesday also, how long will i need to cycle?
again, thanks for everyones help its greatly appreciated

i want to put an ID shark into it with maybe one or 2 angel fish.. and im thinking one of those cool lookin goldfish
any advice?

 

[mwood2]

aquarium salt isnt really suited for creating a brackish environment, I dont remember the exact reason but the two salts have there differences. What I suggest doing now is preparing the new tank properly. I would start planning how to set it up now. What I would suggest is a sand substance, lots of hiding spaces and live plants. Now if you plan to have a planted aquarium you need to do a lot of research on each plant, know there needs and so on. Also for a tank that big i would suggest a Co2 system. In the end it could be expensive. Now one way to go is a Cichild tank (angels are a form of this species). They have a tendency to un root plants making it not worth keeping and should have large rock pieces that allow for hiding yet still allow plenty of swimming room. A tank this large would allow for alot of options. As for sharks, most of them require a tank even bigger then this and a species only tank due to there aggression. Lastly is goldfish. These are cold water and not fit for a freshwater aquarium and in the end would shorten there lifespan drasticly. They should be kept in a species tank. The rule with goldfish is the first one will require 20 gallons and 10 gallons for each goldfish after that. That means in a 55 gallon you could fit 4 goldfish (maybe 5). These fish also will uproot plants so they should have similar setups to Cichilds (dont quote me on that part).

Also when I was talking about sand some Cichilds species prefer gravel over sand, make sure you research your fish properly before you add.

Ok and onto other tank matters. Next you need to keep in mind for a good filter. keep in mind your 10 gallon should be first before you buy your new tank and accessories. While there are many filter options such as HoB, Internal and so on I would highly suggest canister filter. these provide optimal space for beneficial bacteria to grow and have a high water cycle rate. By water cycle I mean it moves more water through the filter. This will not help your fishless cycle but its good for a fish tank. You will also need an adequate heater for the tank. Besides those 2 things the set up is yours to make. Oh and on the subject of canister filters they will be 100+ bucks but often are worth it, keep in mind.

I think thats all I can think of for the time being, hope it helps and if anyone sees that I made a mistake please let me know.

 

[callaghan]

ok this is what my plan is.. (keep in mind i am a noobie!)

im getting a 55 gallon
don't really want live plants im just thinking decorations to keep it simple
either wooden ones with stones etc, or mix it with fake plants and stones etc .. i haven't decided

i really want one or two ID sharks (it says at the store they are community, and who i have talked to said they should be okay in a 55)
also, maybe one angel, a couple decent sized swordtails

i also wanted a nice looking goldfish but i guess i cant do that because they are cold water fish??
i am getting a master test kit as well and hoping it will give me the levels as to where they should all be at when i am testing.

ummmm, i am also keeping my 10 gallon with the mollies/frys inside of it seeing as i hear the mollies won't grow that big, but the 2 swordtails i have in there will, so they need a bigger tank. (the 55gal)

now about gravel, or sand i am not sure yet what is best under the circumstances but as for filter, i will have a emperor 280 and a couple powerheads.

i will be spending about 40 dollars on the heater, but cannot remember the name of it.

i am really into this hobby, but not sure where to research about the specific things i am looking for so i am hoping you guys can help!
which by the way i really appreciate all the help and advice you guys give
thanks!