Hi All - I've Inherited A Fishtank - Any Advice Most Welcome!

[loucd2b]

Hi All,

I have inherited a 4ft fish tank - picking it up later today I am a little concerned as I am a first time tropical fish keeper and really don't want to lose the fish.

The stocks are down in the tank but there are still a number of fish.

I have been conditioning water ready for their arrival (I've tested my water and the only issue was the chlorine 24hours later this level is safe now too) but as they are coming as a job lot I'm worried because I won't have cycled etc - although I'm assuming that keeping the filter and not washing the gravel should help to keep microbe levels high and help the whole process.

Any advice would be gratefully recieved especially around daily, weekly routines.

 

[mike455555]

im not sure how much help this will be but iv just gotten a 2f tank with like 40 guppies in it. the filter's mature... i dident take any water from the original tank (besides that with bagged fish) and just stuck some dechloro water into the tank (at the same temp, used tap safe) stuck the heater and filter it and put the fish in it... so far no deaths

as for routines i feed my fish every 2-3 days some members feed everyday advice... dont over feed, small pinches of food
most members do weekly water changes

what fish are there in the tank =D and id love to see some pics once you got it set up =]

 

[lilfishie]

as long as the filter stays wet and you don't wash it in anything but tank water you should be ok

working out what fish are in there will be fun, have the camera ready

 

[fluttermoth]

The good bacteria (the ones that grow in a cycle) live in the filter, so you can wash the gravel if you want to; it's the filter media (all the sponges and stuff inside it) that's the really important thing. Keep that wet and don't let any chlorinated water come near it and you should be fine

I would very strongly recommend that you buy a proper dechlorinator and don't rely on standing your water. A lot of water suppliers nowadays add chloramine to the water which doesn't gas off like chlorine does.

 

[mike455555]

*or use rain water* ... no one ever advises that...

 

[fluttermoth]

Using rain water can be ok, but it dpends where you live and where the water is collected from. If you live closer than 10 or 15 miles to any industry, or you have any metal guttering it will not be safe to use.

Rain water is very, very soft and can lead to pH crashes if it's not mixed with some tap water, so you still need a dechlorinator.

 

[Far2lively]

20% water changes weekly, feed mine most days apart from sunday which is my water change day, check ammonia nitrate and nitrite levels every now and again, as for stocking it what fish do u have at the moment?? And I'm not 100% on this but even if u keep the same filter and media ect your tank needs at least 2weeks to cycle properly, make sure u post a pic when its done

 

[fluttermoth]

20% water changes weekly, feed mine most days apart from sunday which is my water change day, check ammonia nitrate and nitrite levels every now and again, as for stocking it what fish do u have at the moment?? And I'm not 100% on this but even if u keep the same filter and media ect your tank needs at least 2weeks to cycle properly, make sure u post a pic when its done

Amount of water to do in a weekly water change depends on the stocking, so the OP might need to do more than 20%.

As long as the filter has not been cleaned in tap water, it should already be cycled.

 

[loucd2b]

Well they are here and settled into their new home - 'club tropicana' as I have christened it:

Sadly we lost a clown loach and a golden barb during the move but have 3 clown loaches, a snail eating loach, 2 flying foxes, 6 neons, 6 black striped neons and a beautiful gold sucking loach who is proving to enjoy having his picture taken

and another:

 

[loucd2b]

Can't believe how much activity we have tonight. All the fish have been out playing and smooching around. The tetra are enjoying the bubble curtain using it as a fairground ride

I have found them (in the 24hrs we've had them) most hypnotising and have to say I'm just a tad hooked already

 

[colleen0309]

good morning and welcome to the forum!

 

[loucd2b]

I've been doing lots of research and reading since taking on the tank. The fish are very happy and I have added 4 balloon platies.

I have read some scary things such as "don't buy a chinese algae eater" aka a gold sucking loach (oops have one of them!) and have found lots of conflicting advice from various sources.

That said - I love the tank and the fish