Help Please Just Bought A New Tank.

[Anto]

Hello all

I've just bought a Clear-Seal 119 Petite Hexagon tank I think it's 27 Litre's ? and really need to know a few things to start me off.
What light could you recommend me getting which gravel if it matters to get and which fish would go well in it and how many I should start off with ? And anthing else that will help me on my road to fish heaven !

Cheers

Ant.

 

[Castellop123]

 

[ant0]

you stole my name

27 litres is 7.5US gallons so roughly that's 8" of fish when fully grown. I'd suggest you read up on how to get a tank started (plenty of stuff on this forum) - involving your substrate and how to cycle the tank without using fish (VERY IMPORTANT!!!)

Did it come with a filter and heater too? Both essential, as are water testing kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, PH, hardness

When your tank is cycled, i'd recommend a betta and a few corydoras catfish, although there are plenty of small fish you can add, many good combinations so check out the species index here: here. Before you buy any fish consider the following as a bare minimum:
1.) Fish must get on with each other
2.) Water hardness and PH must be in certain parameters for them to live a healthy and long life
3.) size - what are the dimensions of your tank? I wouldn't put a fish larger than about 1 1/2" in a 7.5gallon, certainly no larger than a betta
4.) Food - catfish will need sinking food, most other fish will take flakes fine. Supplements of live foods is also important now and again.)
5.) Temperature - some fish like it around 28 degrees, some warmer. Others like it in the low 20s degrees C.

Just a few pointers - if you invest some time doing research you'll end up with a tip top tank. Patience is the key

 

[Anto]

You can buy a small over-head light ( does not need to be that powerful... ) There are many types of gravel to choose from, but the fish ( and I'm sure you would also ) prefer natural gravel... Has this tank got a filter or heater ( It's a clearseal - so I guess it doesn't! ) Well... You will need ( if you want to keep tropical fish - because goldfish get too large for a tank of that size ) a heater... A 25w heater.

You will also need a small filter ( a small power filter is probably the best option ). Then, you will need some small necessities... A thermometre, a net and a few very useful test kits; pH, Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia... ( there are many other's, but as a beginner... You don't have to worry about them much !

A first - aid kit: Having some medication's ( for Fungi, white spot and bacteria infections are always useful )

Fish that would be well suited to this setup could include many small shoaling species...With White Cloud Mountain Minnow's, you don't really need a heater ( but just in case! )

Betta's are an obvious choice... and very colourful...

There are so many fish species to choose from...
Neon Tetra's are always a popular choise...Remember to research the fish you want to buy... Don't buy on impulse, mature your tank, carry out frequent water changes ( once a week, 25 - 30% ), be patient and then your pretty much set!

P.S - remember that fish GROW! As long as you research the fish you want to buy, you should be fine...

Thanks mate I bought a little filter in the shop, would you recommend a gravel tray ? I had a pond in my dad's house so I do know that it's hard work cleaning the filters and keeping the water nice and clear.

Thanks a lot for the advice

 

[Anto]

Sorry mate about stealing your name ! Got the filter buying a heater 2moro I've just treated the water with Tetra Aqua AquaSafe for Fish and I'm going to leave the filter on for a few days does that sound correct to you ?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

If you are new to fishkeeping then i would definately advise reading up on the pinned articles in the beginners section of the forum in this link, particularly the Avoiding and Treating New Tank Syndrome article;

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=88643

The beginners section is full of a wealth of good info and advice that is very valuable to any fishkeeper regardless of how experienced they are .

 

[ant0]

yep. Have you got your substrate in there? Gravel is good, sand is better for corydoras catfish and other fish that like to dig but harder to clean. Be sure everything is clean before you put it in. LEave the filter and heater on for a couple of days and let the water clear, then you can begin cycling the tank. This involves adding ammonia to begin with

 

[DiscusAngel]

Leave your filter on 24/7 never turn it off. this is how i work with new tank.

1. get the tank half filled with water
2. put the filter in and get it going(make sure under the water)
3. Choose Gravel/Sand
4. Wash Gravel/sand and put into your tank.
5. get some live plants (helps speed up cycling) (make sure aquatic by seeing if floops out of water. if it floops then its aquatic)
6. Add some other little ornaments etc.
7. Leave for 3 weeks to cycle after 3 weeks check for Ammonia(0) nitrite(0) Ph(Depends on area) and Nitrate(less than 20) if everything in the brackets match with your readings your tank has cycled. you will get a bacterial bloom in your cycling dont worry it will go.
8. after the cycle go to your lfs look at the fish take the name and type into google see how big it gets, what it lives with and how many kept together.
Now you tank is finished!

And on that size tank this is the stocking id go for.

2 Honey gouramis 6 Type of Cardinals or a couple of guppies. then possibly a Oto to keep down the algae.

Also id have alot of live plants. rather than rocks and ornaments etc.

Good luck!!!

 

[Anto]

yep. Have you got your substrate in there? Gravel is good, sand is better for corydoras catfish and other fish that like to dig but harder to clean. Be sure everything is clean before you put it in. LEave the filter and heater on for a couple of days and let the water clear, then you can begin cycling the tank. This involves adding ammonia to begin with

Sorry mate what's substrate ?

Leave your filter on 24/7 never turn it off. this is how i work with new tank.

1. get the tank half filled with water
2. put the filter in and get it going(make sure under the water)
3. Choose Gravel/Sand
4. Wash Gravel/sand and put into your tank.
5. get some live plants (helps speed up cycling) (make sure aquatic by seeing if floops out of water. if it floops then its aquatic)
6. Add some other little ornaments etc.
7. Leave for 3 weeks to cycle after 3 weeks check for Ammonia(0) nitrite(0) Ph(Depends on area) and Nitrate(less than 20) if everything in the brackets match with your readings your tank has cycled. you will get a bacterial bloom in your cycling dont worry it will go.
8. after the cycle go to your lfs look at the fish take the name and type into google see how big it gets, what it lives with and how many kept together.
Now you tank is finished!

And on that size tank this is the stocking id go for.

2 Honey gouramis 6 Type of Cardinals or a couple of guppies. then possibly a Oto to keep down the algae.

Also id have alot of live plants. rather than rocks and ornaments etc.

Good luck!!!

Thanks a lot that's great help