Help With My New Tank Please

[Scott_T_27]

Hi Guys and Gals

Wondering if someone can help please? Apologies for the long first post, before I start!

Think I should have started looking on these forums first before setting up my tank. After reading through some of the posts on here it's seems I have a lot more to learn than I thought! I also seem to have fallen into the "pets at home" trap.

I have been wanting a tank for a while and decided recently I was going to treat myself to one. I purchased a 64 ltr fish-X-box from pets at home which came with an interpet heater, interpet pf2 internal filter, some tap safe treatment and filter start treatment. I also purchased some decorations, sand for the base and a few live plants.
On the day of purchase I had a lengthly discussion with the "aquatic expert" from pets at home who advised me to go home set up my tank and use both the treatments and then leave for 3 days and then I could start adding fish. Happy days I though. The filter start says it helps to quickly mature the filter to help support fish quickly?
I set up the tank, washed tank, washed sand before adding to tank, added sand and then filled tank set up filter and heater and added both treatments. Tank was a little cloudy at first but soon became clear. By day 3 it was very clear so I thought I'm ready for fish!

I went back to pets at home a few days after purchase of the tank and after some advice from another aquatic expert I purchased 2 silver/Bala sharks and 6 glow light tetra's. The expert said that these were "hardy" fish and will be ok in my new tank. So long as I use the filter start treatment as reccomended every 2 days for 7 doses. He then told me to wait a week or two and I could then start adding more fish every couple of weeks.

The fish seem quite happy in the tank but have only been in a couple of days!

So sorry to be a pain but I have a couple of questions,

What should my next step be to ensure the best welfare of my new fish? I was told I should just clean algae once a week or when required, and change 20% water once a month and mix in appropriate amount of tap safe with new water?

Approx how many fish can I safely have in this tank?

What kind of fish will fit in well with the one's I have already, presuming they survive! I am a little concerned now after reading some of posts on here.

I look forward to hearing some expert advice from you guys

Thanks in advance
Scott

 

[kylealastairlove]

hey dude, i have the same tank as you i went the same way about setting up my tank as you, because i was not educated on how it should properly be done, just go onto google and research 'cycling freshwater tank' if you now have fish in your tank you might want to also look up a 'fish in cycle' cycling your tank will basically prepare it to deal with a fish's waste products and break down all the harmful chemicals and waste in your tank. good luck with the cycle, sometimes it can take a while but patience is the key to success

if you look through this forum you'll find plenty of info on everything you need and just keep asking away if you need help i love glowlight tetra's and i think a good begginner fish would be a livebearer like a platy or a guppy, when i started my tank i had a couple of platys and a group of 'lambchop rasbora' these are stunning little fish that look great in large numbers, theyre easy to care for too

also you should do water changes every week, and the amount of fish you can have in your tank will depend on what kind of fish you want and how many you want, bearing in mind the full grown adult size of the fish in particular.

anyways hope i have helped some how

 

[fluttermoth]

to the forum, Scott.

Ok, first thing; cycling. Very few of us here have any faith in any of the instant cycle products, I'm afraid. You really need to buy test kits for ammonia and nitrite, which can build up in the water and poison the fish. I know shops will test it for you, but you don't want to be dragging to the shop every day, and you do need to test the water daily.

For the moment, change nearly all the water every day. Drain the water right down (don't forget to turn your heater and filter off first!), leaving just enough water for the fish to swim upright, before refilling with warmed, dechlorinated water. That'll keep your fish safe for the time being.

If you click on the link in my sig, you'll find some great articles on cycling. Once your tank (well, technically the filter) is cycled, weekly water changes of between 25 and 50%, depending on stocking, will be fine; monthly is too long in most people's opinions. I think shops say things like that so as not to put people off, to be honest

Secondly, stocking. I'm afraid the silver sharks have to go. I am honestly quite shocked they sold you those, for a tank of that size, as they are a shoaling fish (so need to be kept in groups of at least six) and can grow to around a foot long

You don't want to be adding any more fish yet and I wouldn't like to recommend species without knowing the dimensions of the tank (because different fish need different amounts of swimming room) and whether your water is hard or soft, as it's better to keep fish that suit your water, rather than trying to change the water, which is not something for the novice fishkeeper to be doing.

Sorry that doesn't sound very positive! But you're here now and will get loads of help and support from our members; very, very many of us started out exactly as you've done

 

[london_wayne]

i have the same tank its size 60cm w 30cm d 35cm h

 

[Scott_T_27]

Huy guys thanks for the updates. I think pets at home need a serious talking to.

Flutter, where can I get the test kits from that you talk about?
Also will using the tap safe that I have dechlorinate the water?

As Wayne says tank is 60 x 30 x 35cm and holds approx 64 litres.

As for the silver sharks unfortunately when I got up this morning they were both upside down on the bottom of the tank, I'm absolutely gutted, poor things . Do you think I have grounds to go back to pets at home and complain about this and maybe get some replacement fish in the future?

The glowlight tetras seem to fine though, but I will do a water change as you suggest when I get in from work.

One final question. My interpet pf2 internal filter has a Venturi feature on, which I did have on for the first few days but turned off last night after reading on here as it was filling the tank with micro bubbles? I turned this of and pointed the floe to the top of the tank to create a ripple effect. This hasn't had anything to do with the silver sharks passing has it?.

 

[Daveo026]

At the pets at home near me if the fish die within the first couple of weeks they will replace or give you your money back I complained a few times to mine

But they will want a water reading just tell them you followed their advice you should get your money back

I think the pets at home near me is one that they do care about the fish but are very clueless when it comes to knowing about cycling

 

[Peter C]

Id take them back, explain the fella sold you them and told you false information which amounts to obtaining money by deception and see what they say

 

[fluttermoth]

Huy guys thanks for the updates. I think pets at home need a serious talking to.

Yes, it is very poor tbh, though, as I mod, I'd just like to say we have to be very careful about 'naming and shaming' due to possible legal implications

Flutter, where can I get the test kits from that you talk about?

Most fish shops (even P@H!) should do them, or online, they're not difficult to find.

Also will using the tap safe that I have dechlorinate the water?

Yes

As for the silver sharks unfortunately when I got up this morning they were both upside down on the bottom of the tank, I'm absolutely gutted, poor things . Do you think I have grounds to go back to pets at home and complain about this and maybe get some replacement fish in the future?

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. It's worth a try, but they'll probably blame you and poor water

The glowlight tetras seem to fine though, but I will do a water change as you suggest when I get in from work.

Just make sure it's a good big one. Large water changes are not dangerous; you won't interrupt your cycle or stress out the fish (well, perhaps a bit, but not nearly as much as staying in bad water will).

One final question. My interpet pf2 internal filter has a Venturi feature on, which I did have on for the first few days but turned off last night after reading on here as it was filling the tank with micro bubbles? I turned this off and pointed the flow to the top of the tank to create a ripple effect. This hasn't had anything to do with the silver sharks passing has it?.

I doubt it very much, it's probably just that they're more sensitive to ammonia than the glowlights. You don't need any air bubbles running in the tank.

 

[Scott_T_27]

Sorry about the name and shame I was just wasn't in the best mood after finding the sharks this morning as you can imagine. Didn't help that my 3yr old boy found them with me
I'm going to get my self a test kit before the end of the week. And do a few regular water changes.

After talking about this with a friend at work he told me all about his tank and said he is going to change his water this week and I can have the water he takes out as his tanks cycle is well established. Will this help me at all or shall I just stick with the fresh dechlorinated water?

I going to leave it at least a month now before I put any more fish in. I want to make sure the tetras are happy first then think I'm going to add some nice coloured guppies.

What are your thoughts on Japanese fighting fish anyone? I know can only have one in a tank and I think once my tank is well established this is a fish I have always wanted to have. I have been told not to mix with bright coloured fish with floaty fins, so guppies for example as it could mistake them for other fighting fish and become aggressive towards them. Is this the case or would they be ok in the same tank?

Really do appreciate all the help guys

 

[Daveo026]

Ask your friend for some of his mature filter media keep it in his tank water til you get it into your filter. I doubt his water will help you tho but his filter media should.

I think a fighter should be ok with the tetras but I'm not 100%
But don't get him til your water gets better

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh, I'm sorry, that's upsetting for you and your little lad

Daily water changes until you get the test kits

If your friend has a tank that's very handy; the water might help a bit, but what would really, really help would be if he could donate you some of the media from his filter. You can take up to a quarter of the media from an established tank without upsetting their cycle, as long as it's replaced with some new so the bacteria can re-expand. Washings from his filter would also help a bit, but not as much as a piece of actual media, as the bacteria do cling on to surfaces quite strongly.

Bettas and guppies shouldn't be mixed, but they're very easy fish to keep otherwise.

 

[Scott_T_27]

Cheers guys that makes sense actually.

I'll see if I can blag some of his filter media from him

Off to get a test kit tomorrow and I'll crack on with the water changes.

One more question ( you're going to get fed up of me asking lol) I have sand in my tank as substrate. Can you reccomend a good tool I can use to clean the debris from the sand without sucking all the sand out.
Ok maybe more than one question, I ask one it makes me think of another. Once my tank is set up ok at safe levels I want to put in a "clean up crew" what would you reccomend? Something good to look at that will also do a good job

 

[slimeneo]

To clean your sand you can use this: http/www.petco.com/product/114921/Aqueon-Siphon-Vacuum-Aquarium-Gravel-Cleaner.aspx
You can also use it for water changes since it sucks out the water while sucking out the debris.

 

[fluttermoth]

There isn't really any such thing as a 'clean up crew' in freshwater tanks.

I honestly think your tank's too small for any of the suckermouth/plec species; even the smaller ones are either very chunky and create an awful lot more waste than they would ever clean up, or social and need to be kept in groups.

You could look at some freshwater shrimps which are lovely, easy to look after (once your tank is stable; they are sensitive to poor water conditions), have a very low bioload and do help pick up any odd fragments of food that the fish miss. Kids love shrimps too

 

[Scott_T_27]

To clean your sand you can use this: http/www.petco.com/product/114921/Aqueon-Siphon-Vacuum-Aquarium-Gravel-Cleaner.aspx
You can also use it for water changes since it sucks out the water while sucking out the debris.

Cheers dude I'll have a look into this thanks

There isn't really any such thing as a 'clean up crew' in freshwater tanks.

I honestly think your tank's too small for any of the suckermouth/plec species; even the smaller ones are either very chunky and create an awful lot more waste than they would ever clean up, or social and need to be kept in groups.

You could look at some freshwater shrimps which are lovely, easy to look after (once your tank is stable; they are sensitive to poor water conditions), have a very low bioload and do help pick up any odd fragments of food that the fish miss. Kids love shrimps too

Think I'll look into some shrimps, think the little un would like them yeah!
Are there any suitable bottom feeders I could put in?