Boring Beginner Questions ;)

[ghostchoir]

First of all, this site has been really helpful for me! I've been lurking it for a few months now and it's really helped me out. I hope to finally get my tank next month, and I have just a few questions I'd like to get answered. Please answer quite simply haha, all the terminology just confuses me.

1. Though I see doing a fishless cycle is more commonly done, would I be able to do it with just a few fish in, and if so how long will this take? Would cories be suitable for this?

2. Plants - are they going to make it a lot of hassle for me? I don't mind adding fake ones but I'd quite like some real ones at the same time just because they tend to look nicer and I think the fish will like it more. Will this cause too many chemical changes to be worth it?

3. I've read that cories like sand, but I've seen a lot of people saying that sand will muck up the PH. Can anyone tell me the sands that won't do this - preferably UK brands if possible.

4. How often should I feed my fish?

5. Does anyone have any recommendations of quieter filters, etc? The tank is likely to be in my room, and though I don't mind if there's some noise coming out of it I don't want lawnmower noises all night! Is there anything that can be done to quieten this?

6. How long will the fish be able to go without running air, etc? I'm really paranoid about things like power cuts killing my fish If there is a powercut, is there anything I can do to help my fish?

7. When I introduce new fish, how should this properly be done? Is it just standard allow it to float for a while and then allow them to swim out themselves?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

hello and welcome to TFF, I'll try and keep the answers simple, let me know if there's anything you don't understand!

1. Though I see doing a fishless cycle is more commonly done, would I be able to do it with just a few fish in, and if so how long will this take? Would cories be suitable for this? - You can cycle with fish or without, not a combination of the two, adding ammonia to the tank with fish in is very very dangerous and should definately not be done. I'd recommend a fishless cycle, if not then check out the beginners resource centre for a few pinned topics on cycling with fish.

2. Plants - are they going to make it a lot of hassle for me? I don't mind adding fake ones but I'd quite like some real ones at the same time just because they tend to look nicer and I think the fish will like it more. Will this cause too many chemical changes to be worth it? - Keep it simple and you'll be fine, if you nose in the planted forum you'll probably get baffled by all the science, I know I certainly do. However if you stick to just a few easy plants like cabomba, amazon swords, java fern etc then you'll be fine. You can always upgrade the tank later if you get more into the planted side of things

3. I've read that cories like sand, but I've seen a lot of people saying that sand will muck up the PH. Can anyone tell me the sands that won't do this - preferably UK brands if possible. sand shouldn't mess your pH up, either buy aquarium sand from your lfs or play sand from somewhere like argos. Don't go for any buildres sands as the grain will be too coarse for fish like cories and it could potentially contain additives.

4. How often should I feed my fish? depends what fish you get! for an average community tank you should feed once a day leaving one day a week of not feeding, feed as much as the fish will eat in a couple of minutes, there should be a frenzy for food if there isn't you're either feeding too much or not giving enough variety

5. Does anyone have any recommendations of quieter filters, etc? The tank is likely to be in my room, and though I don't mind if there's some noise coming out of it I don't want lawnmower noises all night! Is there anything that can be done to quieten this? you get what you pay for generally, spend a little more money and it will be quieter, skimp and it'll be noisy i recommend Eheim's

6. How long will the fish be able to go without running air, etc? I'm really paranoid about things like power cuts killing my fish If there is a powercut, is there anything I can do to help my fish? various things, keep the tank warm by wrapping a spare blanket or somethng around it, pour tank water through the filter every so often so the bacteria can still work through it, stir up teh water manually (obviously gently) so it still passes through the filter. If you live in an area where power cuts are common it's worth considering investing in a generator. most fish can survive if everythings off in the tank for a short period, watch out for a mini cycle afterwards though as some bacteria may die off so keep testing the water

7. When I introduce new fish, how should this properly be done? Is it just standard allow it to float for a while and then allow them to swim out themselves? open the bag and roll the sides down the float it in the water, add a little tank water to the bag after 10 mins or so, add a little more at 20 mins and after half an hr net the fish from the bag and put them into the tank, throw away the fish shop water. For sensitive fish you can do a drip acclimitisation, clip the bag to the side of the tank then put a jug of tank water somewhere near the bag but higher up, get a length of airline and tie a loose not in it, start the tube siphoning by sucking the end until water comes through then tighten the knot so water is just coming through in drips, let this drip into the bag until it's half and half fish shop and fish tank water, then net and release the fish.

hope that all helps!

 

[*Fishkies*]

1. Though I see doing a fishless cycle is more commonly done, would I be able to do it with just a few fish in, and if so how long will this take? Would cories be suitable for this?

If you would like to cycle with fish zebra danios are a good cycling fish. They are very hardy and quick healing fish.

5. Does anyone have any recommendations of quieter filters, etc? The tank is likely to be in my room, and though I don't mind if there's some noise coming out of it I don't want lawnmower noises all night! Is there anything that can be done to quieten this?

Whisper filters are very quite. Of course this all depends on the type of tank and the size your getting. I have a marineland bio-wheel, but it can be noisy if you do not have the water up to the top where the outflow is. But they work great!

6. How long will the fish be able to go without running air, etc? I'm really paranoid about things like power cuts killing my fish If there is a powercut, is there anything I can do to help my fish?

There are some battery-operated pumps that you should be able to buy either on-line or in stores.

7. When I introduce new fish, how should this properly be done? Is it just standard allow it to float for a while and then allow them to swim out themselves?

You first float the bag in your tank for 20mins. then net them out but don't introduce the fish store water to your tank.


Best of Luck!!

 

[three-fingers]

You first float the bag in your tank for 20mins. then net them out but don't introduce the fish store water to your tank.

I'd debate that, that's a good way to shock the fish and easily kill it if it's a sensitive species or if your water is different from where you got the fish....
I'd personally pierce the bag with a needle under the water line and leave it for about an hour.....then empty the bag and the fish. I think I picked that method up from an old post by someone on this forum, I've only used it a couple of times and it worked great.
Unless you notice something wrong with the tank the fish came from, don't worry too much about mixing water.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

You first float the bag in your tank for 20mins. then net them out but don't introduce the fish store water to your tank.

I'd debate that, that's a good way to shock the fish and easily kill it if it's a sensitive species or if your water is different from where you got the fish....
I'd personally pierce the bag with a needle under the water line and leave it for about an hour.....then empty the bag and the fish. I think I picked that method up from an old post by someone on this forum, I've only used it a couple of times and it worked great.
Unless you notice something wrong with the tank the fish came from, don't worry too much about mixing water.

if there's something wrong don't buy fish from the tank!!

 

[three-fingers]

Lol, sorry, maybe I should have said that? I kinda just assumed people would stay away from such tanks anyway.

 

[newtotropical]

You first float the bag in your tank for 20mins. then net them out but don't introduce the fish store water to your tank.

I'd debate that, that's a good way to shock the fish and easily kill it if it's a sensitive species or if your water is different from where you got the fish....
I'd personally pierce the bag with a needle under the water line and leave it for about an hour.....then empty the bag and the fish. I think I picked that method up from an old post by someone on this forum, I've only used it a couple of times and it worked great.
Unless you notice something wrong with the tank the fish came from, don't worry too much about mixing water.

maidenhaed do a thing called a "Fintro" costs £4.00 all you do is put ypour new fish with the water they come in and a valve lets water in slowly so all things are equal before they go into the tank, i bought one cos im inpatiant when i get new fish!! It worth a look and takes the guess work out

 

[colbat1]

i say get live plants they easy to handle n stuf and three-fingers u sent a reply to my message

 

[three-fingers]

Colbat1, I would appreciate it if you stopped 'following' me around on these forums to ask if I've answered your PM's (which I obviously have, but your too busy following me to notice).
In fact, if you stopped 'following' me around altogether that would be nice.... .

 

[colbat1]

k