Any Advice To A Total Newbie?

[liliesandlemonade]

Hello there everyone!
I am totally new to keeping fish and I was wondering if I could get advice on how to get my fish tank 'swimming' along happily. I have a tiny, tiny 4.5L/1 gallon tank which is brand new. Initially I filled it with water, gravel and the appropriate number of drops of API Stress Coat+ and 1 fern-like plant and a smaller plant. I left it for a 5 days with the filter going (undergravel filter that came with the kit). After 5 days the guy at the aquarium shop said it should be ok to put some fish in so I bought 2 little guppies and left the bag floating for about 1 hour before putting them in. I also put a heater in too, set at 26degrees celcius. Unfortunately, I did not get my water tested (don't have a kit of my own) because the guy at the aquarium shop said it should be ok, after explaining everything I had done so far.

Of course, my fish died within 12 hours!!!

Now after reading about the whole cycling process, I figured they died of ammonia poisoning, so have started from scratch again.

So on the 5/5/11 I put some more plants in (now 1 fern-like plant, 1 hairgrass, 1 crypt-something-or-other and a little leafy plant) as well half a handful of filter gravel from a friend's healthy, established tank, onto the gravel of my tank. Obviously no fish yet. The heater is going at 27degrees celcius. The filter is still going. The day I put in the established filter gravel, the tank stayed cloudy for about 24 hours (bacterial bloom perhaps??). Now it has cleared up and I don't know if it's just me, but the water smells...less ammonia like? Is that even possible?? I haven't changed any water yet, other than the top-up when putting plants etc. in. Should I change water now?

I am planning to take the water back to the aquarium shop (a different one than the first one - with an owner that gave me advice to get old filter material) on the 11th. I also hope to get fish that day too.

Does anyone have any helpful advice, tips or tricks?? Any would be most appreciated

x liliesandlemonade

 

[Didge007]

If u have a trusted lfs never ever leave them! Lol also when u think about purchasing new fish ask (& research on the net) how big the fish will get, what fish it does & doesn't get along with & what is a suitable size tank...it will save u a lot of heartache

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Don't change the water... the water in there contains ammonia and perhaps some nitrites, to help the bacteria grow.


You need to get an ammonia test kit (API's Master kit has all of the tests you will need. Be sure to read all the directions carefully for the nitrate test. I misread it because I thought I knew what it said... bad readings ensued.) Ultimately, you need to KNOW that the tank is safe for fish before you add them again. In the US find a local Ace Hardware, and grab the Janitorial strength container of ammonia so that you can redose your ammonia levels when they drop. In the UK, I've heard of Boots as a source. I don't know much more than that.

You want both ammonia and nitrites to reach zero in 12 hours after dosing to 4ppm. That will mean that the tank is cycled and ready for a reintroduction of fish. (Obviously you will do a huge water change right before the reintroduction of fish to remove excess nitrates - should be as low as possible before adding fish again, different levels are possible based on the level of your tap water, but I think 20ppm is considered the max for nitrate after that big water change. Nitrates aren't as dangerous in low quantities, but they will build up as the nitrogen cycle process goes on. So, water changes are needed to keep those lower - having plants helps a little though.)

 

[Kelly-Jo]

I personally left my tank with nothing but plants, gravel and water and filter going for 3 weeks before adding any fish. There should be some information about fishless cycling on here which you can read about. 5 days before adding fish was definitely not enough which is why your fish died. It's best to do your own research and take what certain fish shop employees say with a pinch of salt, as in some places they'll tell you anything for a quick profit.

You should do a water test before doing a water change as doing a water change may just mean that it will take even longer for bacteria to build up in your filter media.

 

[liliesandlemonade]

Thanks Didge007

I've always had my heart set on guppies and I wanted a little tank that would not require too much work (it's all relative I guess!). I figured that guppies do not get that big and I am not planning on getting other fish.

Ahh yes the heartache. Nothing worse than waking up to floating fish I guess

By the way, this is going to sound totally ignorant, but what does lfs mean?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

If u have a trusted lfs never ever leave them! Lol also when u think about purchasing new fish ask (& research on the net) how big the fish will get, what fish it does & doesn't get along with & what is a suitable size tank...it will save u a lot of heartache

To add to this, research research RESEARCH any fish you are interested in buying for YOURSELF. Don't rely on the LFS to give you the full scoop on the fish. They are in business to make money, and they won't always give the best advice. Remember, their ultimate goal is to stay in business and sales are the way they do that. Seek out independent opinions about compatibility of fish species and how they get along with others from folks who have "no skin in the game". To be honest, I have found this forum to be full of people who will try to help you make the right decision for you and your fish. The folks here make no money for their advice, so it is a bit more trustworthy, IMHO. There are a lot of online sources of information about basically EVERY fish available in the trade, including some that you may fall in love with, but can't find anywhere! Again, don't just trust those profiles either. Talk to some folks who have actually kept the fish in their tanks. Listen to how they have done it.

Consider your water parameters before you purchase a fish. The closer your tap water is to the water the fish prefer, the better success you will have with minimal effort.

Thanks Didge007

I've always had my heart set on guppies and I wanted a little tank that would not require too much work (it's all relative I guess!). I figured that guppies do not get that big and I am not planning on getting other fish.

Ahh yes the heartache. Nothing worse than waking up to floating fish I guess

By the way, this is going to sound totally ignorant, but what does lfs mean?

Local Fish Store. Don't worry about it. We have all been there with something or another!

 

[liliesandlemonade]

So in essence, don't change the water yet because it has bacteria in it. But I will get my water tested to see if it is ready to have fish in it. I have seen testing kits but the ones I have seen are about $120 australian dollars. Which is a little more than I was willing to spend just yet...but i guess it may very well be necessary.

I haven't put any ammonia in it - not even sure where you can get it in Australia??

I read about using fish food as a source of ammonia to kick start the bacteria, so I dropped in the tiniest pinch in...hoping that it wasn't going to do anything too bad!

Thanks everyone for your advice so far

 

[fluttermoth]

LFS = local fish shop

There are lots of articles on fish-in cycling (where you grow the bacteria in your filter with fish in the tank; means you can get fish right away, but you must have your own test kits and be prepared to do a lot of water changes), fishless (as eaglesaquarium describes, where you use a source of ammonia to grow the bacteria before you buy fish; this is a safer method as you can't kill any fish if you get it wrong) and other important things in the beginner's resource centre; link is in my sig

 

[liliesandlemonade]

Well I listened to the advice of my friend who has kept fish successfully for a few years already! But I think maybe because my tank is so tiny, everything that happens in it is completely exacerbated and there is no room for compensation or error with it.

I have learnt alot from these forums actually. And there has certainly been alot of 'crap!! If only I knew that before!!!'

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes; I wouldn't advse anyone to start out with a tank that size; you have no time to catch problems before they become serious in a volume of water that small. I'd get something a little bit bigger if you can possible afford it; even one of those 'starter' sets that are 20 or 30 litres would be fine for a few guppies and a lot easier for you.

 

[liliesandlemonade]

Another quick question: how often and what percentage water changes should I do as soon as I get fish in??

 

[fluttermoth]

With such a small tank, I'd recommend more frequent, smaller water changes (as it will be so easy to do). My tanks get 50% weekly; I'd do two 25% changes a week if I were you, but it does depend on how many fish you end up with; over stocked tanks must have more, largr water changes. Don't forget to dechlorinate!

 

[KittyKat]

As much as you need, starting from 50% every day, up to 90% twice a day is quite normal.

Please do a fish-less cycle, there is no need to toy with the lives of animals.

 

[-FighterFishh]

You'll need to be really careful with the stocking in that tank.
I suggest two male guppies so they don't breed. Don't get females, they can still spawn even without a male, so two males should do you just fine.
Good luck with the next tank!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You'll need to be really careful with the stocking in that tank.
I suggest two male guppies so they don't breed. Don't get females, they can still spawn even without a male, so two males should do you just fine.
Good luck with the next tank!

Well, they still need a male, but they can store sperm for about 6 months. They might just be "pregnant" when they arrive in the home tank.