Cycling period?

[G_Sharky]

This might sound very stupid but i need to know what does the cycling period means? My sister is the one who first bought a tank a small one(5 gallons) and had 2 i.d sharks, and a couple of small cleaning fishes(forgot what they are called)she had this for 3 weeks and when i fell in love with this i got a bigger tank(10 gallons) i had this for about two weeks and change the water twice already and added 2 pleco, 1 zebra pleco, 4 neon tetras, 1 small angel fish, 1 beta shark which died this morning .My question is how often should i clean and change the water, and how to test for ammonia and to now a safe water cond.? BTW am i ovealoading my tank? cause i'm planning to get a couple of small cloan loaches maybe next week? thanks guys

 

[Sasha]

I clean my tank once a week and do about a 15% water change. As for testing Ammonia, all of the pet stores carry some tests to check the levels on all of that stuff.

A ten gallon is too small for an angelfish. They can grow up to 7 inches and they require a larger tank. Clown loaches grow up to 6 inches, but they grow slowly. They need at least a 45 gallon or so. Hope this help!

 

[G_Sharky]

I clean my tank once a week and do about a 15% water change. As for testing Ammonia, all of the pet stores carry some tests to check the levels on all of that stuff.

When u clean it, do u take your fish out of the tank transfer it somewhere else and drain the water? cause for the last two weeks i've done 100% change, is that bad?

 

[De Plano]

Yes, do not change 100% of the water. Change 20-30% at a time

 

[G_Sharky]

How often should i change water? i have a 10 gallon tank

 

[Phantom Thief]

Your tank is way overloaded. I would reccomend the following:

1. Return the 2 plecos (they grow up to 20 inches) and the angelfish (7 inches, eat neons too!). The beta shark and zebra pleco, i dunno. No idea how big they get.
2. Get a big tank ASAP.

In the mean time, do twice weekly changes, until you return the fish. After that, once weekly will do, depending what fish you have. BTW, Sasha, Clown Loaches get to 12 inches, grow slowly, but in a 10g, it'll be too small too soon.

P.T.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

This might sound very stupid but i need to know what does the cycling period means? My sister is the one who first bought a tank a small one(5 gallons) and had 2 i.d sharks, and a couple of small cleaning fishes(forgot what they are called)she had this for 3 weeks and when i fell in love with this i got a bigger tank(10 gallons) i had this for about two weeks and change the water twice already and added 2 pleco, 1 zebra pleco, 4 neon tetras, 1 small angel fish, 1 beta shark which died this morning .My question is how often should i clean and change the water, and how to test for ammonia and to now a safe water cond.? BTW am i ovealoading my tank? cause i'm planning to get a couple of small cloan loaches maybe next week? thanks guys

Yoi have a zebra plec?! wOw! I'd love one of those! They only get to 3 or so inches, just give them places to hide.

Actually, are you sure it's a zebra? I think they are getting pretty rare in the fish trade and very expensive.

Is this yours? http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loric...ancis/168_f.php

If yes, lucky you!! If not, can you put a pic up as we'll need to identify it to know if it'll be ok in your tank.

 

[Sasha]

Thanks for correcting me about Clown Loaches. You don't have to take the fish out when you clean the tank. Never to a 100% water change because it could harm the fish.

 

[G_Sharky]

Thanks for the advise guys, i really appreciate it...

Actually, are you sure it's a zebra? I think they are getting pretty rare in the fish trade and very expensive.

after i saw the pic i think the guy in the LFS must be wrong my plec is brown with black stripe so i assume it might be a zebra similar stripe pattern, my sister said it look more like a leopard than a zebra....

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Does it have just one black stripe? How big is it? If you give me some details I can have a look through planet catfish's cat-eLog for you. Or you can do it http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/index.htm

Do you know if it's an L number?

 

[G_Sharky]

Does it have just one black stripe? How big is it? If you give me some details I can have a look through planet catfish's cat-eLog for you. Or you can do it

it has the black stripes all over his body, actually i found a pic on this website http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loric...ancis/168_f.php
It's the L333, I love this pleco man, he's the coolest fish i have, I hope he doesn't die cause he has ICH all over him now and i'm trying and praying hard to treat it, plus i paid a lot of money for this guy.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Ok,

I have found a little about the L333 - http/www.scotcat.com/loricariidae/peckoltia_sp2.htm

I think your tank maybe to small for him in the long run because of the size (only 6", but that's big in a 10US gallon).

I will have a look for some more info.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Can't really find much. Try asking in planet catfish's plec forum - http/www.forum.planetcatfish.com/viewfor...24eab2fb1425235

 

[G_Sharky]

right now my pleco is about 3" long but i'm upgrading into a much bigger tank soon maybe in a couple of months i've a full size one and it's pretty cool, how long will it take for pleco's to grow more than 5"?