MoonStarRaven
Mostly New Member
I apologies upfront for the long post. 
I haven't had fish in close to ten years now. I used to love keeping them and at one point had several 5 gallons, a 10, 20 and 40 gallon set up. This was way back before I had access to the internet and just going by what the so called 'experts' in the fish department at the pet store told me and half the time felt like I was waging a war with the aquariums to keep them clean and the fish alive. So I stopped replacing the fish and one by one shut the tanks down, and well I missed having fish I resisted the temptation to get back in the hobby... Until my so called friend casually says in conversation, "my mothers giving away her 56 gallon aquarium with stand and everything, you know anyone who'd want it?"
So here I am after days of scouring the internet for new information... No wonder I gave up on having fish, between the under gravel filters that I was told needed to be strip down and the tank cleaned every few months and the pet stores advice to replace the filters and clean the filter box monthly... I'm amazed I managed to kept the fish alive for the years that I did.
So anyway here I am to pester you all for accurate up to date information on fish keeping.
I'm not sure what all is coming with the tank, (I'm picking it up tomorrow,) But up until a few months ago it was an established saltwater tank with seahorses. So any advice on converting it to fresh water would be helpful. Can any filters and what not be reused or should I just get new ones?
I'm guessing and substrate will need to be replaced, after a bit of research I am leaning towards going with sand versus gravel. Especially as I want cory's again. (Poor little Oscar, why, why did the pet store tell me that all I needed was one Cory to clean the tank, he must have been so lonely.
)
I've gone to the pet stores a few times with my daughter (want her to learn getting a pet's not an instant thing) to look at fish and have already have somewhat planned out what we'd like. She of course feel in love with the Glofish, I was hesitant as colored fish like that used to be dyed, but after researching them with her and discovering their now born that way I feel better about it. Anyway what I was thinking about stocking the tank with is:
8 or 9 Danio (one of each color GloFish, regular and long finned Zebra, and a pearl danio.)
9 Tetra (One of each color Glofish, a white skirt and regular and long fin black skirt
Them all being Danio and Skirt Tetra they should be happy and school together right? My daughter wants different colored ones so she can tell them apart and each have a name. (Are there any other color variations that will school with them?) and of course Cory's this time a nice little school of them.
1 Albino Cory
1 bronze Cory
1 panda Cory
Are there any other Cory colors that will be happy together? Would ideally like a total of 6 different colored Cory's
Was thinking about getting a male beta for in there as well, as way back when I had one in my large community tank but not sure if that was a fluke and advice on the internet seems to be all over the place.
And not sure what else to put in there, was thinking maybe guppies as they have lots of different colors, but really don't want a bunch of baby fish, and not sure about them if I put a beta in there. Any suggestions?
Okay well this post is long enough, guess I'll go wander around the site, trying to update my decades old fish knowledge.
I haven't had fish in close to ten years now. I used to love keeping them and at one point had several 5 gallons, a 10, 20 and 40 gallon set up. This was way back before I had access to the internet and just going by what the so called 'experts' in the fish department at the pet store told me and half the time felt like I was waging a war with the aquariums to keep them clean and the fish alive. So I stopped replacing the fish and one by one shut the tanks down, and well I missed having fish I resisted the temptation to get back in the hobby... Until my so called friend casually says in conversation, "my mothers giving away her 56 gallon aquarium with stand and everything, you know anyone who'd want it?"
So here I am after days of scouring the internet for new information... No wonder I gave up on having fish, between the under gravel filters that I was told needed to be strip down and the tank cleaned every few months and the pet stores advice to replace the filters and clean the filter box monthly... I'm amazed I managed to kept the fish alive for the years that I did.
So anyway here I am to pester you all for accurate up to date information on fish keeping.
I'm not sure what all is coming with the tank, (I'm picking it up tomorrow,) But up until a few months ago it was an established saltwater tank with seahorses. So any advice on converting it to fresh water would be helpful. Can any filters and what not be reused or should I just get new ones?
I'm guessing and substrate will need to be replaced, after a bit of research I am leaning towards going with sand versus gravel. Especially as I want cory's again. (Poor little Oscar, why, why did the pet store tell me that all I needed was one Cory to clean the tank, he must have been so lonely.
I've gone to the pet stores a few times with my daughter (want her to learn getting a pet's not an instant thing) to look at fish and have already have somewhat planned out what we'd like. She of course feel in love with the Glofish, I was hesitant as colored fish like that used to be dyed, but after researching them with her and discovering their now born that way I feel better about it. Anyway what I was thinking about stocking the tank with is:
8 or 9 Danio (one of each color GloFish, regular and long finned Zebra, and a pearl danio.)
9 Tetra (One of each color Glofish, a white skirt and regular and long fin black skirt
Them all being Danio and Skirt Tetra they should be happy and school together right? My daughter wants different colored ones so she can tell them apart and each have a name. (Are there any other color variations that will school with them?) and of course Cory's this time a nice little school of them.
1 Albino Cory
1 bronze Cory
1 panda Cory
Are there any other Cory colors that will be happy together? Would ideally like a total of 6 different colored Cory's
Was thinking about getting a male beta for in there as well, as way back when I had one in my large community tank but not sure if that was a fluke and advice on the internet seems to be all over the place.
And not sure what else to put in there, was thinking maybe guppies as they have lots of different colors, but really don't want a bunch of baby fish, and not sure about them if I put a beta in there. Any suggestions?
Okay well this post is long enough, guess I'll go wander around the site, trying to update my decades old fish knowledge.