Free Beer And Chocolate

[Zachary1941]

Hi Guys,
Bet that got your attention lol...Right down to business.. I have a 26 imperial gallon tank.. Now into its 5 th day of a fishless cycle.. (Slight movement on the API colour chart so looks as if the wheels are in motion)Having read the various articles on here regarding the cycle (I am doing the add and wait method) have prepared myself for a long haul.. Hopefully it will go without too many problems and go quicker...I intend to use this time visiting various fish shops, not only check out their tanks and knowledge (If Any) but also to see their fish and the conditions they are kept in, and help me decide which i would like.. However my best source for knowledge is here.(Folks who have been there done that and have the tee shirt so to speak...My plan is First to UNDERSTOCK..would rather have fewer happy fish than loads of unhappy fellas...o.k.. right please advise me from here on .

I would much prefer little fish than dont grow to more than maybe 2 or 3 inches inches.

Going by the 1" per gallon rule that would allow me 26 @1" or 13 @ 2 " etc (Correct me please if i am wrong regarding this rule...


I understand that Tetras should not be added until a tank is well established (Six Months??) these are the little guys i like.

In the meantime could you please point me in the right direction as to what fish i could have until my TANK AND MYSELF are ready for tetras...That have some colour and dont grow too big...and are compatable and good community bed fellows Many Regards Zac

 

[arobinson1984]

Zebra danios are a good one, they are pretty and are quite hardy so would be fine in a newly cycled tank

Andy

 

[GlidergirlUK]

Well you could get some top, middle and bottom fish...sounds like strike it lucky!
I have a tropical tank that has tetras and guppies (only male guppies) these come in many different colours. It really is kind of personal choice as to what you go for though. You could have Honey Gouramis, platys, mollies. Loads out there. You are better of having a look at some tropical fish and then ask whether they will be compatible.

For groud fish I would suggest some Corys..these come in different types, some more colourful than others but have great personalities Or Loaches or even gobys....again loads out there.

 

[arobinson1984]

Yes for the bottom feeders, a nice group of 6 corys, probably peppered or sterbai corys are both nice.

I wouldn't advise guppies in a newly cycled tank, many people do tend to put them in but they are not as hardy as they used to be years ago and can be prone to fin rot in new tanks, I'd personally wait and put the guppies in after 6 months like the neons.

Andy

 

[Miss Wiggle]

not all tetras are super sensitive, some can go into a newly cycled tank, which species do you want?

 

[Zachary1941]

not all tetras are super sensitive, some can go into a newly cycled tank, which species do you want?

Thanks folks for replies.... Species of Tetra i like (Miss Wiggle) Cardinals,Diamonds,Bleeding Heart.Black Phantom....However i like them all, those i mentioned are the ones i would prefer BUT would be happy to keep any type of little fish .. Regards Zac

 

[K-Holed]

The tetra that seems to fair worst in new tanks is the humble neon (which ironically is the one people seem to buy as one of their first fish). When stocking your tank, think of it as a whole picture. If you go and bung in 26" of mid swimming fish, it's quite possible it's going to look crowded. Look to spread the load over top dwellers, mid dwellers and bottom dwellers. This way you'll have a much more balanced and asthetically pleasing aquarium. You might also want to think if you want a feature fish. An aquarium doesn't need these, but sometimes it can add that extra bit of interest and by feature fish, I don't mean that it has to be a huge oscar or birchir, it's just something that everything else works around. Like I said though it's entirely right and propper to just have a nice mix of fish without this.

I know it's hard first time round to have a "final picture" in you mind of how you want your tank to end up and with what inhabitants. There's a world full of fish out there and you might come across one in a few months time that you really want.

Just my thoughts

Kind regards

Jimi

 

[Colin_T]

where's my beer and chocolate?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

not all tetras are super sensitive, some can go into a newly cycled tank, which species do you want?

Thanks folks for replies.... Species of Tetra i like (Miss Wiggle) Cardinals,Diamonds,Bleeding Heart.Black Phantom....However i like them all, those i mentioned are the ones i would prefer BUT would be happy to keep any type of little fish .. Regards Zac

well the cardinals need a mature tank but i think the other three would be fine straight off if you wanted too.

i would definately recommend a shoal of cories to go with them too, they're great fun and most species are hardy enough for a newly cycled tank.

 

[Davo86]

where's my beer and chocolate?

Exactly i'm not helping until i see some

Just to add to whats already been said, the inch per gallon guideline actually goes by the US measurement which would therefore give you 31 gallons and inches, however as said this is only a guideline so after 6 months can be extended.

 

[Zachary1941]

Thanks Guys and Girls,
Gives me a good starting point..(Will now check them wee fella"s out)..The Beer and Chocolate will be sent to you... Just enclose £25 to cover postage and insurance Regards Zac

 

[Colin_T]

Thanks Guys and Girls,
Gives me a good starting point..(Will now check them wee fella"s out)..The Beer and Chocolate will be sent to you... Just enclose £25 to cover postage and insurance Regards Zac

Cheeky bugga, you offered us " Free Beer And Chocolate " read the title
gimme gimme gimme

 

[waterdrop]

not all tetras are super sensitive, some can go into a newly cycled tank, which species do you want?

Thanks folks for replies.... Species of Tetra i like (Miss Wiggle) Cardinals,Diamonds,Bleeding Heart.Black Phantom....However i like them all, those i mentioned are the ones i would prefer BUT would be happy to keep any type of little fish .. Regards Zac

well the cardinals need a mature tank but i think the other three would be fine straight off if you wanted too.

i would definately recommend a shoal of cories to go with them too, they're great fun and most species are hardy enough for a newly cycled tank.

Indeed, I think cardinals/neons are one of the few tetra species which benefit statistically from a tank maturing period. Most of the others are quite hardy up front. Have a look, the Characin fish species list is huge... rummynose, glowlight, head&taillight, blackneons, lemons... I love rasbora heteromorpha and zebra danios as first starters if you like small fish. I agree about a group of cories too. Oh, and there are scissortail rasboras too, right?

One thing to study first about your tetra choices in particular is that some, especially some of the more coin-like body style ones (as opposed to torpedo shaped) can be known fin nippers or just plain mean... surprisingly it can take quite a bit of dialog to get the details of this out of our members cause sometimes its tricky to describe fish personalities.

Maybe some of the members will know some common small fish to mention besides neons/cards as needing a mature tank and also any rankings of "nippyness!"

~~waterdrop~~

 

[LongS]

Hiya Pal just gonna say about White Cloud Mountian Minnows, they are about the size of a neon tetra, Possibly slighty bigger, but are hardy, cheap and nice looking fish. Get around six and they will be great.

Also Cherry Barbs or Golden barbs are a good choice for first tanks. Just might want to check them out incase you like the look of them. They are neither nippy or too big. Would be a good option to have.

 

[Colin_T]

Hey, where's our beer and pizza?

oops, sorry, beer and chocolate