Yup. That's the plan. The water change can have an effect on the cycle for about 2-3 days, so you should see better results soon.
Day 19 Of My Fishless Cycle.
- Thread starter JohnBull
- Start date
The goal is to keep your nitrates no higher than 40ppm above your tap water.
You definitely need to do a massive water change at the end before you add the fish. And yes, 7 days is considered best, but 5 days is the minimum. You might not hit double zeros again tomorrow. It's seems strange, but these are biological processes, more than they are chemical, as much as we are focusing on the chemicals only. They might slow down for a day or so before going back to double zeros. So, if you don't get doubles tomorrow, don't let it bug you.
What is your stocking going to be?
You definitely need to do a massive water change at the end before you add the fish. And yes, 7 days is considered best, but 5 days is the minimum. You might not hit double zeros again tomorrow. It's seems strange, but these are biological processes, more than they are chemical, as much as we are focusing on the chemicals only. They might slow down for a day or so before going back to double zeros. So, if you don't get doubles tomorrow, don't let it bug you.
What is your stocking going to be?
I would say that danios might not be a good choice. A) they are not colorful, B) they are fast swimmers and require a lot of length to swim, C) They are shoalers, and they can be nippers (especially if not kept in proper numbers) - contrary to their peaceful reputation.
Rosie barbs can also be nippers and can actually grow to about 6 inches, which is borderline too big for your tank. Cherry barbs (also very colorful) are not nippy and are smaller.
Your pH though isn't as conducive to these fish - they can be acclimated to it, but may not be as healthy as they would be in neutral to slightly acidic water. (What is the hardness of the water?)
Rosie barbs can also be nippers and can actually grow to about 6 inches, which is borderline too big for your tank. Cherry barbs (also very colorful) are not nippy and are smaller.
Your pH though isn't as conducive to these fish - they can be acclimated to it, but may not be as healthy as they would be in neutral to slightly acidic water. (What is the hardness of the water?)
Tizer
Team TetraTEC
I would suggest getting a list of fish together than you like the look of then posting back on here for the combined advice of several people before you just "go for it" advice from those who work in shops is often bias towards making a sale. good luck.
Hi,
Just returned from LFS.
Kids are getting a list together.
Looks like I need fish for all sections of the tank,including top,mid section and bottom dwellers.
Like the look of Guppies and Tetras.
Also,Coradoras (Sp)...bottom fish I believe ?
Acora fish looked nice,as did Banded Barbs and Swordtails.
Never realised there are so many variations of each species of fish though !
Need to do more homework methinks,its becoming a bit addictive now.
John.
Just returned from LFS.
Kids are getting a list together.
Looks like I need fish for all sections of the tank,including top,mid section and bottom dwellers.
Like the look of Guppies and Tetras.
Also,Coradoras (Sp)...bottom fish I believe ?
Acora fish looked nice,as did Banded Barbs and Swordtails.
Never realised there are so many variations of each species of fish though !
Need to do more homework methinks,its becoming a bit addictive now.
John.
Corydoras are generally bottom dwelling fish, although there are some exceptions. They are great fish - especially the ones that spend the majority of their time on the bottom. I have panda corydoras, but other nice ones are: salt and pepper (smaller variety, sometimes called "dwarf" or "Venezuelan"), peppered, julii, false julli (three-lined), bronze (actually as I start to list them, there aren't any that I don't think are nice!). Beware of the pygmy varieties: C. pygmaeus or hastatus. The hastatus spends MOST of their time in mid-water, and the pygmaeus spend a significant portion in the mid-water. Cories do a little better in softer water, but can be acclimated to harder water and slightly basic water. I recommend you research the drip acclimation process... and take your time with it - about two hours. (If you get the fish from the same store, and they all come from the same water parameters, which they probably will, you can acclimate them all in the same bucket all at the same time.)
You are correct that you are going to want to fill all three levels of your tank.
Guppies are PERFECT for your water. They are also colorful, active fish. They don't shoal, but do best in numbers. If going with a mixed gender group, you need at least 2f (3 might be better) for every male. These are easy to sex, and you should have no trouble at the LFS asking for specific genders. Remember, YOU are the customer and aren't required to buy whatever fish they catch. Take your time and pick out the fish YOU (or your kids) want, not whatever the store offers. Be as specific as you want to be. If they mix their guppies together and you want one with a red tail, and one with a blue - don't accept two reds. If you see any fish that are sluggish, or hanging at the bottom of the tank (or at the extreme top) DON'T ACCEPT that one. These are generally the easiest to catch, but are NOT the ones you want. They are probably suffering from some sort of an ailment.
Swordtails are also awesomely colored fish, and perfectly suited for your water. Again, these guys do best in proper numbers... Personally, if I were you I would get ONLY 1 male or ONLY males and get the number up to about 5 or so. If there are only two males - even with the proper number of females (in that case at least 4, possibly as many as 6) - they may fight each other to establish dominance. With such low numbers of males, there isn't enough to spread the aggression out. That's why either one male, or more like 5 or 6. (Personally, I'd stick to the one male, 2 or 3 female plan. The females are just as colorful as the males, but without the "swordtail".
Which tetras do you like? That's kind of a broad grouping there.
By banded barbs, do you mean five banded barbs?
You are correct that you are going to want to fill all three levels of your tank.
Guppies are PERFECT for your water. They are also colorful, active fish. They don't shoal, but do best in numbers. If going with a mixed gender group, you need at least 2f (3 might be better) for every male. These are easy to sex, and you should have no trouble at the LFS asking for specific genders. Remember, YOU are the customer and aren't required to buy whatever fish they catch. Take your time and pick out the fish YOU (or your kids) want, not whatever the store offers. Be as specific as you want to be. If they mix their guppies together and you want one with a red tail, and one with a blue - don't accept two reds. If you see any fish that are sluggish, or hanging at the bottom of the tank (or at the extreme top) DON'T ACCEPT that one. These are generally the easiest to catch, but are NOT the ones you want. They are probably suffering from some sort of an ailment.
Swordtails are also awesomely colored fish, and perfectly suited for your water. Again, these guys do best in proper numbers... Personally, if I were you I would get ONLY 1 male or ONLY males and get the number up to about 5 or so. If there are only two males - even with the proper number of females (in that case at least 4, possibly as many as 6) - they may fight each other to establish dominance. With such low numbers of males, there isn't enough to spread the aggression out. That's why either one male, or more like 5 or 6. (Personally, I'd stick to the one male, 2 or 3 female plan. The females are just as colorful as the males, but without the "swordtail".
Which tetras do you like? That's kind of a broad grouping there.
By banded barbs, do you mean five banded barbs?
Hi,
Not sure which Tetras to go with. LFS had both Neon and Cardinal Tetra fish plus one which looked nice, but who's name escapes me now. The Barbed fish are superb,we singled out the banded Barb (think it was the five banded type). The Guppys where flame tailed type or something but not sure ?
LFS also said my tank water sample had a slightly high PH,but everything else was OK and not to worry as another water change later on next week or so will sort that out. They also recommended not putting any fish in yet, and complete the cycle properly before doing another water change. Another thing they talked about was plants,basically we dont have any at all apart from plastic stuff the kids bought themselves over the last month. LFS suggested planting a few now in my thick undergravel subtrate to help keep the Nitrate level secure or something ???
Oh yer one last thing regarding fish,is it safe to put ONE Japenese fighting fish into our tank,(not my choice btw ) ?
Over to you again.
John.
Not sure which Tetras to go with. LFS had both Neon and Cardinal Tetra fish plus one which looked nice, but who's name escapes me now. The Barbed fish are superb,we singled out the banded Barb (think it was the five banded type). The Guppys where flame tailed type or something but not sure ?
LFS also said my tank water sample had a slightly high PH,but everything else was OK and not to worry as another water change later on next week or so will sort that out. They also recommended not putting any fish in yet, and complete the cycle properly before doing another water change. Another thing they talked about was plants,basically we dont have any at all apart from plastic stuff the kids bought themselves over the last month. LFS suggested planting a few now in my thick undergravel subtrate to help keep the Nitrate level secure or something ???
Oh yer one last thing regarding fish,is it safe to put ONE Japenese fighting fish into our tank,(not my choice btw ) ?
Over to you again.
John.
I'll try to take this one at a time...
Neons are a little more sensitive about immature tanks. Cardinals grow a little bigger - and need a little more space for swimming. Not sure what the other tetra could be, like I said there is a myriad of options.
Are you sure they are five-banded? A very similar looking (and much more common) fish at a LFS is a tiger barb (four bands). Tigers are far more aggressive than five-banded. You need to be sure which you are looking at. Tigers can be fin nippers and are not suitable for certain other tankmates. Five banded barbs I have none heard of them nipping, but should still be kept in a proper shoal.
Guppies don't really matter which you get, they are all the same in terms of temperment, needs, etc. They just look a little different is all.
It is true that plants can help to keep nitrate levels down - they can also use ammonia from fish directly. The type of plants you get depends on the lighting you have on the tank. This is a question best posed to the folks in the planted section - they are experts. It sounds like you are going low-tech, no fertilizers, no carbon dosing, etc. But, even so, you need to know if your lighting is low, medium or high.
Bettas are a tricky proposition. They are beautiful fish, but they are also very slow swimming, prefer low current and can be quite delicate with other fish - although they are generally hardy by themselves.
Guppies and bettas are a bad mix. The bettas don't like the flowing fins of the guppies and can kill them.
Bettas and most tetras can be a bad mix. Tetras can be fin nippers (as can many barbs, be careful of your selection here as well, see above notes on tigers versus five banded).
In general, unless you are CERTAIN that the betta will be sedate, and that the other fish will leave it alone, the addition of a betta is a bad choice. There are folks in the betta forum who can give you better recommendations on what will and won't work with a betta. The neons and cardinals should be fine. Depending on which other tetras you are looking at, it could be a disaster for the betta. And the guppies and betta just won't work - sorry. There have been successful cases, where the betta was very low-key, but those are the exceptions, not the rule. Bettas don't get along well with fish that have long flowing fins like themselves.
Neons are a little more sensitive about immature tanks. Cardinals grow a little bigger - and need a little more space for swimming. Not sure what the other tetra could be, like I said there is a myriad of options.
Are you sure they are five-banded? A very similar looking (and much more common) fish at a LFS is a tiger barb (four bands). Tigers are far more aggressive than five-banded. You need to be sure which you are looking at. Tigers can be fin nippers and are not suitable for certain other tankmates. Five banded barbs I have none heard of them nipping, but should still be kept in a proper shoal.
Guppies don't really matter which you get, they are all the same in terms of temperment, needs, etc. They just look a little different is all.
It is true that plants can help to keep nitrate levels down - they can also use ammonia from fish directly. The type of plants you get depends on the lighting you have on the tank. This is a question best posed to the folks in the planted section - they are experts. It sounds like you are going low-tech, no fertilizers, no carbon dosing, etc. But, even so, you need to know if your lighting is low, medium or high.
Bettas are a tricky proposition. They are beautiful fish, but they are also very slow swimming, prefer low current and can be quite delicate with other fish - although they are generally hardy by themselves.
Guppies and bettas are a bad mix. The bettas don't like the flowing fins of the guppies and can kill them.
Bettas and most tetras can be a bad mix. Tetras can be fin nippers (as can many barbs, be careful of your selection here as well, see above notes on tigers versus five banded).
In general, unless you are CERTAIN that the betta will be sedate, and that the other fish will leave it alone, the addition of a betta is a bad choice. There are folks in the betta forum who can give you better recommendations on what will and won't work with a betta. The neons and cardinals should be fine. Depending on which other tetras you are looking at, it could be a disaster for the betta. And the guppies and betta just won't work - sorry. There have been successful cases, where the betta was very low-key, but those are the exceptions, not the rule. Bettas don't get along well with fish that have long flowing fins like themselves.
Hi,
I was referring to the less aggressive 5 banded type, and NOT then Tiger Barbs which as you say would be a problem. With regards to the lighting in the tank,the only lighting we have is what came with the Jewel Trigon tank itself. We all agreed on starting a community tank and focusing on avoiding stressing the fish out by poor selection. Like I say,once the cycle has finished,my main priority would then be utilising the tank by introducing fish to fill all 3 levels,fish that are attractive,but also fish get on with each other and create an attractive tank.
Much appreciate your advice and help btw.
DAY 33 - 8.00 am that
AMMONIA 0 ( DOSED WITH 4 ml )
NITRITE 0
NITRATE 80
PH 7.6
John.
I was referring to the less aggressive 5 banded type, and NOT then Tiger Barbs which as you say would be a problem. With regards to the lighting in the tank,the only lighting we have is what came with the Jewel Trigon tank itself. We all agreed on starting a community tank and focusing on avoiding stressing the fish out by poor selection. Like I say,once the cycle has finished,my main priority would then be utilising the tank by introducing fish to fill all 3 levels,fish that are attractive,but also fish get on with each other and create an attractive tank.
Much appreciate your advice and help btw.
DAY 33 - 8.00 am that
AMMONIA 0 ( DOSED WITH 4 ml )
NITRITE 0
NITRATE 80
PH 7.6
John.
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
426 -
207 -
174 -
154 -
149 -
141 -
128 -
127 -
110 -
98 -
98 -
90 -
86 -
75 -
A
64