Doing Fishless Cycle First Time...

[BIGbadJOHN]

Pass on the bamboo shrimp till the tank is established, they're filter feeders, so they won't be able to get enough food right now. Cherry shrimp are a good first fish, but some Bettas may nom them, so amano shrimp might be a better option because they are bigger.

I really would recommend 6-10 dwarf or pygmy Corys of one species as they are fine with Bettas and platys, assuming it's a standard shaped tank because they do need the bottom area.

5 hours at 15W should be enough, it's quite a bit of light!

I could have that many corys in my little ole tank? I think I would stick with maybe 6 though because my driftwood is quite large and I also have some rocks spread around the tank too so it's not just clear sand all around. Can I have the shrimp along with the corys when it's time to get shrimp?

 

[KittyKat]

Pass on the bamboo shrimp till the tank is established, they're filter feeders, so they won't be able to get enough food right now. Cherry shrimp are a good first fish, but some Bettas may nom them, so amano shrimp might be a better option because they are bigger.

I really would recommend 6-10 dwarf or pygmy Corys of one species as they are fine with Bettas and platys, assuming it's a standard shaped tank because they do need the bottom area.

5 hours at 15W should be enough, it's quite a bit of light!

I could have that many corys in my little ole tank? I think I would stick with maybe 6 though because my driftwood is quite large and I also have some rocks spread around the tank too so it's not just clear sand all around. Can I have the shrimp along with the corys when it's time to get shrimp?

What is the bottom area of the tank? Maybe a photo will help too.

If you keep Corys well fed, they shouldn't bother larger shrimp too much (given that those Corys max out at 30 mm, adult cherries would be "larger shrimp" too, for them)

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

It's a basic 10g. I think something like 1 ft by 2 ft. Roughly a 3rd of the bottom is taken up with stones and the driftwood though.

 

[KittyKat]

If it's definitely 2*1 (my 15 gallon is 2*1, which is why I think yours might be smaller), the Corys *should* be ok because the small species are happier to swim mid-water than you'd normally expect from the usual species.

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

If it's definitely 2*1 (my 15 gallon is 2*1, which is why I think yours might be smaller), the Corys *should* be ok because the small species are happier to swim mid-water than you'd normally expect from the usual species.

It's actually 10"x20"....just checked. It was so great watching them when I just got home. I'm so happy we picked the ones we did cause they're really beautiful fish! I'll take a pic and post later tonight.

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

Here's my newly cycled, stocked, and partially setup 10G tank with 3 platys. I like how it is STARTING to look, but I need some more taller planting on the left side. Of course the 2 swords are going to fill in that corner very well, but I think I'd like some vallisneria on that side for some variety. I'd like something to carpet also, but the sand is already so full of rocks and the driftwood that I think I'll pass on some low carpeting grass.

What do you guys think of it?

 

[KittyKat]

Yes, Vallis will look lovely Some Java moss would probably look quite nice on the wood, as well.

Hmm, at that size bottom area, I would probably go for shrimp over Corys... but I'd get the Betta first, picking one with a good temperament, and wait until the plants fill out.

 

[librarygirl]

Congratulations on your cycle and your new fish!

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

Thanks guys! It's kinda bittersweet cause I already want a bigger tank. At least about a 29g.

Kitty, would removing a few of the rocks help me to have some corys? If I do just get shrimp though, could I fit some other fish in here? Maybe a couple of ottos? Or how about 5 or so neons? I didn't even know you could get java moss loose. I only ever see it already growing on rocks you buy. I'll definitely get some though. That would give good contrast to the other plants!

 

[KittyKat]

Thanks guys! It's kinda bittersweet cause I already want a bigger tank. At least about a 29g.

When you upgrade, you either won't need to cycle (if you're breaking down current tank) or can seed the new one while you cycle, to speed it up.

Kitty, would removing a few of the rocks help me to have some corys? If I do just get shrimp though, could I fit some other fish in here? Maybe a couple of ottos? Or how about 5 or so neons? I didn't even know you could get java moss loose. I only ever see it already growing on rocks you buy. I'll definitely get some though. That would give good contrast to the other plants!

I would want the swimming area of 24*12" for the Corys, same for Otos and neons (mine grew to about 5 cm, when I kept them). Also, Otos tend to starve in new aquariums, so wait until you have some algae, before considering them.

Corys and Otos I would only keep in groups of 6+; neons, I would want at least 10 of. With schooling fish, the quantity of 6 I mention, I consider to be an absolute minimum, but most schooling fish do much better in groups of 10-15+ because in the wild, they do live in groups of anywhere from 500 to 25000+, which is very difficult to recreate in a home aquarium.

If you want small schooling fish, I recommend ember tetras, ruby tetras, green rasboras and Boraras species which do not get too large.

Also, keep in mind that platys and tetras/Corys/Otos have quite the opposite water requirements Platys do best in hard, alkaline water, while the others in neutral to soft, acidic water. This doesn't matter *as much* because you're not planning on breeding the platys, but is still something you should keep in mind.

 

[The chilly dipper]

Here are my test results as of 6/16/11 @ 5pm.

pH: 7.4-7.8
ammo: .50 ppm
nitrite: 5.0+ ppm
nitrate: 10-20 ppm

After seeing the results I went ahead and dosed the tank back up to 4 ppm ammonia with the ACE brand ammonia. I checked the ammonia again at 12 am and it had gone down a little to around 3 ppm. I checked the ammonia once again at 9:30 am today and ammonia was at 0. I went ahead and dosed the tank back to 4ppm ammonia and when I got home from work I tested it around 7:30 pm and the ammonia had gone down to 0 ppm once again so I know my ammonia "eating" bacteria are good for being able to convert 4 ppm of ammonia in about 10 hours. Should I be concerned with my nitrites at this point since they are extremely high? It's hard to read the nitrite test chart on the API Master Test Kit since the colors in purple are so close. I am producing a vivid purple though that is very dark, but still able to see the test chart through. I'd say it's at least at 5ppm and would say it might even be over.
My question right now is, do I need to keep dosing my ammonia back up? I'm afraid if I keep dosing up the ammonia that it will just keep my nitrites high and I won't get a reading of 0. Should I do a large water change and start dosing the ammonia from scratch again?
This has nothing to do with my question, but I'd just like to say how lucky I was in getting some prime seed material from, of all places, Petco! I didn't think they'd let me have anything since I used to work for PETsMART and I know how the big chains are in protecting their liabilities. That's what I've heard throughout the net anyways; that fish stores normally don't let you have anything because they don't want you saying their material contaminated your tank. Anyways, I was browsing for a centerpiece and some live plants at Petco and just happened to walk by a bucket with a, still wet, 12"x12" piece of filter floss in all its filthy glory. I didn't figure they'd give it to me even if I'd asked and had kinda given up on the fishless cycle thing since I knew no one who would give me anything from an established tank. But, my wife told me, "Just ask them, all they could say is no." So I went ahead and asked and he made me laugh when he said, "Sure, you can have that....if you want it." HAHA. I told him he didn't know how valuable that piece of filter was and I definitely wanted it. He even put some aquarium water in with it to keep it wet. Anyways, I hope to hear some feedback soon.

hi buddy
where abouts in your tank did you put that precious floss?
Im in a fishless cycle now and i was interested in where you placed it

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

Chilly, I cut a piece out of it to fit in my C2 filter, then I rolled up the rest and put it in a media bag and just set it in the center of the bottom of the tank with a rock on top to keep it from floating.

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

I know I'll get scolded, but we brought back the HiFin platy today and got 2 in his place. I also picked up 4 Julii Corys. I couldn't find any Pygmy Corys in the area. Hopefully the Juliis will do fine in a group of 4. I might add a couple more, I'm just afraid they might be a bit too much. They're not big now, about an inch, but I read they get 2". I also picked up some frozen brine shrimp and some shrimp pellets for them. I feed the platys Aqueon flake food for the time being because that's what came with my tank. I also have some freeze dried blood worms. Any other feeding suggestions?

 

[KittyKat]

You read right about 2", making them far too large for the tank.

Yes, Julii are schooling, just as every other Cory species is.

No, they will not do as well in a small group and in a small tank as they would have done in a large group, in a large tank.

For feeding platys, etc, twice per day as much as they can completely finish in 30 seconds, 1-2 times per week replace dry food with live (including frozen) and one day per week do not feed anything at all. For Corys, feed 1 pellet each per day until adult, then feed 1 every other day once they are adult.. what food do you have for them right now? It is well worth getting the meaty type of pellets for the Corys, not the algae type.

 

[BIGbadJOHN]

You read right about 2", making them far too large for the tank.

Yes, Julii are schooling, just as every other Cory species is.

No, they will not do as well in a small group and in a small tank as they would have done in a large group, in a large tank.

For feeding platys, etc, twice per day as much as they can completely finish in 30 seconds, 1-2 times per week replace dry food with live (including frozen) and one day per week do not feed anything at all. For Corys, feed 1 pellet each per day until adult, then feed 1 every other day once they are adult.. what food do you have for them right now? It is well worth getting the meaty type of pellets for the Corys, not the algae type.

I bought the Omega One Shrimp Pellets because that was all they had. Sorry I didn't follow recommendations. I may get another tank when income tax season comes around, but that's a few months away. What would be the problems caused by having the Juliis, and in a group of only 4? My filter seems to be able to handle the load without any problem. I saw that I had a slight ammonia increase last night after I added them, but this morning my levels are at 0. I have a C2 filter and still have the cycled filter floss I got from PETCO. I plan on keeping that old filter floss in there at least another week or 2. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a little piece in my filter permanently right?

So as far as switching tanks, I would be able to basically break down my 10G and start up my larger tank the same day while using the same filter and wouldn't skip a beat on the cycle? Like I said, I have a Fluval C2. Would I be able to go as large as say a 29 gallon tank with that? Just move the water out of my established tank into the 29, along with my filter and plants and everything?