Even More Questions...

[Betta_Shark5678]

Hi again!!

Well you're probably getting sick of all my questions, but I have my stocking figured out now!
Now I'm just wondering about plants, and sand.

So I decided on 6 Panda corys, 6 Kuhlis, 6 Guppies, 6 Platies, some snails, and my Gourami. I was planning on having Anubias Petite Nana, Wendtii Red/Brown, Java Fern, and Sunset Hygrophila. Do these plants have similar enough needs to be put together? I'm trying for a mix of colors, I don't want just green, so if anyone has any other suggestions that would be helpful, too! Is there a black sand that I can use in my fish tank? I've heard conflicting information. I'll use normal sand, but I'm still going for a different looking aquarium!

I'm getting the tank around June 2nd! I want to have everything ready for when I get the tank, because I have to get it set up and running the day I get it! (Instant cycling, will be testing the water every 12 hours for the first month or so, just to make sure it works!)

Thanks!

 

[OldMan47]

I am certain that most of them are relatively low light plants. That should make your tank fairly care free in terms of plant growth.

I have no idea what you mean by instant cycling but I am going to doubt the sanity of such a concept. Cycling takes some time for the bacterial colonies to develop. There is no such thing as doing that instantly, no matter what you have read in advertising materials.

 

[Betta_Shark5678]

I have to set up the tank quickly, because I don't have anywhere to put the gourami. What I mean by the "instant cycle" is using the water from the tank, and re-adding it after we move it. My friend and I started calling it the "instant cycle" and I guess I didn't even think about what I was calling it when I posted, sorry!

I was looking for easy plants, because I've never done live plants and I'm afraid of killing them. Thanks!!

 

[Man of fish]

What? Water doesn't cycle a tank regardless of what you've read..... What size is this tank? Depending on size is that enough room for 6 pandas AND 6 kuhlis zipping around the bottom? I'd be tempted to do 10-12 of one species if this tank is 20+ gallons, but read up on actual cycling, please.

 

[kcartwright856]

That plant selection sounds great for starters. You shouldn't have any problems with that.

As for the black sand, a lot of folks hit up any place that stocks sand blasting media. There is a product called "Black Diamond" which is black sand blasting sand. Quite popular as it is completely inert and rather inexpensive.

And for the cycling... skip the old water. Your beneficial bacteria resides on decor, inside of your filter, and on the first inch or so of your substrate.

If you are going to transfer the filter, or at least the media, you should be just fine as long as you keep a close eye on the parameters and do a few water changes for the first week or so while your colonies bounce back.

 

[Man of fish]

And for the cycling... skip the old water. Your beneficial bacteria resides on decor, inside of your filter, and on the first inch or so of your substrate.

This is true, but a VERY minute amount of bacteria resides on decor and substrate. Moving the filter media is the only thing that can "instant" cycle a tank.

 

[Betta_Shark5678]

Everything except the plants, sand, and most of the fish come with the tank, so I was planning on just setting it up, and testing the water for the first week (at least, it really depends on the results of the tests obviously) with only the gourami in it.

Would 55 gallons be big enough for 6 corys, and 6 kuhlis? I was really unsure about my stocking plan anyways, my greatest fear right now is overstocking!

Thanks for your help!

 

[Judgejudy]

Your tank is not overstocked. What and how many snails are they? What kind of gourami is it?

 

[Man of fish]

Your tank is not overstocked. What and how many snails are they? What kind of gourami is it?

Snails don't really add to the bioload....

Oh ok in a 55 gallon I'd do 10 of each bottom dweller then up your other areas. You've got plenty of space with a good filter.

 

[Betta_Shark5678]

It's a golden gourami, and I'd like to get Blue Ramshorn snails.

10 of each? Wow, that's a lot more than I thought I could have!

Thanks for all the great answers everyone!

 

[OldMan47]

Moving water will provide almost no benefit. Water can be changed at will with no impact on fish. A cycle takes time to bring a filter along to the point where it can handle the biological load in your tank. Until the filter, not the water, can support your fish, you will be doing huge water changes to control both ammonia and nitrites.
55 gallons is plenty of space for the fish you listed but be careful the first few weeks to measure the water frequently and do as many water changes as it takes to always have ammonia and nitrites stay below 0.25 ppm each. It may be, if your new tank has a properly cycled filter, that things will go just fine with little effort. Equally probable is that you will find yourself doing daily 50% water changes to just control poisons. Since you and I have no real history on the newly purchased filter, neither of us can say what you will find when you start using that old equipment.

 

[Betta_Shark5678]

I decided that I will only have the gourami in the tank for three weeks or so, I'll be keeping a close eye on it. I would be doing a fishless cycle, I was reading a lot about those, but then I realized that I had no where else to put the gourami. I will be getting an extra 10 gallon tank for a hospital tank.

If after three weeks the water tests are okay I will be adding the first group of fish. Which is another question that I forgot about, what order should I add the fish, or does it matter? I was thinking either corys, or kuhlis first. I say three weeks because I am a dancer, and I have a big show coming up and won't be able to buy more fish for the tank for at least that long after I get the tank, I will be able to do water changes, and tests though!

I didn't really understand the filter media thing at first, but now I do, so thanks

 

[OldMan47]

The sequence of adding fish definitely matters. Some fish, like most Corydoras and neons require a very well established tank filter to thrive. Other fish, like bettas, common livebearers and rasboras are tough as nails and will do better in a newly cycled tank than the ones already listed as sensitive. Many fish fall somewhere in between. With your list of fish I would probably start with either the guppies or the platies. The panda cories would be absolutely the last thing that I would add.

 

[Betta_Shark5678]

Okay thanks! I will be able to get guppies easier than I can get the corys anyways, my friend put males and females together, and didn't realize it at first, so I might take a few off her hands.

That explains why I never had problems with my betta tanks and cycling. When I got bettas I had never even heard of cycling, so I have never cycled a betta tank. Luckily I've never had problems, will be cycling from now on!