Hi Folks!

[TheJack]

Hi all, I'm Dave!
 
I'll be forty this weekend.

 
Anyway, I have always wanted tropical fish, probably for thirty years. So I went out and got a new tank

. It's this one http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/fish-tanks-404/under-40cm-aquariums-1869/interpet-fish-pod-48-454155.html . I bought it locally and have been getting plenty of advice, hopefully good advice.
 
I guess I would have liked to have gone bigger, but you got to start some where. and it's the right size for where it's located.
 
I stubbled upon this well informed forum just trying to gather some knowlege before I get started. I currently have the tank filled and running between 24 & 25c without the fish. I will get some fish on Sunday and hopefully all will be OK.
 
One thing I have noticed is that after setting it all up on Sunday, yesterday evening the water seems a bit cloudy/milky. You can see it swirling around slightly. From what I have read it should clear up in a day or two.
 
Anyway, I'm sure i'll do plenty reading here and will be checking in to ask for some advice.
 
Cheers

 

[Mikey1]

it is cloudy because your filter has not cycled yet, cycling your filter could take 4-6 weeks and you should not put any fish into the tank during this time,
 
do not buy any fish until you have done alot more research about cycling an aquarium/filter,
 
putting fish into your currently uncycled tank will be a slow and painful death for them,
 
no offense intended but you have lots to learn before you should be buying any fish,
 
welcome to the forum, there is lots of good info here, time to start reading

 

[stanleo]

Set up the whole tank with dechlorinated water and let it run with the filter on, and light on a timer and the heater in there for about four weeks. Plus substrate and décor. Use live plants if you can (you can put those in anytime). Then do a 50% water change and put a couple of real hardy fish in there. I used tetra von rios (5 of them) to cycle my tank. Check the water parameters frequently (every day or every other day) Once you get a consistant reading of Ammonia=0, Nitrites=0, and Nitrates 20ppm or lower and the pH is 6.5-8.5 (depending on what kind of fish you want) you should be okay to start put more fish in. After you add another fish wait a couple days and check the water again. If everything is okay you can keep adding fish. Remember that a decent rule is one inch of adult fish for every gallon of water in the tank. After you have added the starter fish, do a 20% change of water every day or every other day. After water is reading a consistently good rating, you can back off the water changes to once a week. I did this and didn't have any problems. I know it seems frustrating to wait that long but you need that time for the good bacteria to build up. Hope this helps. Another tip I can offer is I got that Freshwater aquariums for dummies book and it helped me out a lot. Good luck with your new tank.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Have a look here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/ paying particular attention to the section on cycling.

 

[stanleo]

Hey yeah definitely go there. Forget what I said LOL that is an awesome resource!

 

[TheJack]

Well it's a good job I made it here then.
 
They said in the shop put in the tap safe, leave it a few days then come back for a few fish!

 

[TheJack]

My tanks been running a week now (no fish) and the ammonia is 4ppm. Do I just wait for it to come down on it's own? (I used Filter Start).
 
Also, the pH is about 8.0, the same as from the main tap. Shouild I bring this down with something?

 

[Blondielovesfish]

It's better to try not to tamper to much with the pH unless you are an experienced aquarists and know what you are doing.
Often those products with "live bacteria" don't really work although it hasn't really been proven whether they work or not, so you may as well add them because they may very well work and you really have nothing to lose if you do add it. If you do add it make sure you shake it before hand, if the stuff does work then that will help.
Personally I would do the fishless cycle which is on the beginners resource that Lunar Jetman linked you to.
You can do either but really the fishless is kinder and often the fish in cycle is looked on as cruel as the fish will likely die (they don't always but about 7/10 do).
Often the fish store will give you wrong advice like telling you to only wait a few days before adding fish, remember to beginner aquarists they will likely not have done research and the fish will be more likely to die, which means the store gets more money, either by you buying more fish or them selling you product/s that they say will work but most likely won't. Not all stores are like that but some are.
 
Before you do anything like buying fish make sure to ask here first, either for information on the fish or whether or not your ready to get some.
Best advice: Ask here first!!!

 

[TallTree01]

Hi Dave!
If you're Dave then why be TheJack?
Why not TheDave?
lol.
Anyway read up on fishless cycling from the link LJ hooked you up with have and you'll have a headscarf on most fish keepers ( not cycling a fish tank well) .
Of course if you're like me and find all that a bit confusing you can just stuff some fish food in a sock and leave it for a few weeks .

Oops, not a headscarf a head start . Lol. Silly spell check

While you're cycling we can discuss what fish you wanna keep!
If it were me I'd do a betta, rasboras and a few shrimp.

 

[TheJack]

Hi thanks for the replies.
 
I thought my cycle had started with the ammonia at 4? Was just going to leave it and monitor it. I bought one of those master test kits.
 
The fish? To start with I was thinking small and more.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

You could look into the different types of tetras, neon or cardinal tetras are nice and colourful and are also rather hardy (always a good thing for a beginner).
If you want your cycle to be faster then you could ask your LFS for some mature filter media or gravel. I'm not quite sure what people views on this are because the LFS might have different water quality to yours.

 

[TheJack]

I was in a rush, but the more I read and advice I get, I am happy to wait now.
 
I would like some of those fish that help keep the tank clean also. i can't remember their name, something beginning with O.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Otocinclus?
If it is Oto's then  they need to be in a group of at least 6 (I think)
If you want to keep your tank clean and mostly algae free then either Otocinclus or Bristlenose catfish/pleco.
There are many other types of catfish/pleco's but the above are the most common and are often recommended for beginners.
Whatever you do DO NOT GET A COMMON PLECO these will grow to about 30cm and will not fit in your tank so its best to avoid them all together!

 

[TallTree01]

Otocinclus?
If it is Oto's then  they need to be in a group of at least 6 (I think)
If you want to keep your tank clean and mostly algae free then either Otocinclus or Bristlenose catfish/pleco.
There are many other types of catfish/pleco's but the above are the most common and are often recommended for beginners.
Whatever you do DO NOT GET A COMMON PLECO these will grow to about 30cm and will not fit in your tank so its best to avoid them all together!

Look at the tank. Neons, cardinals, bristlenose and otocinculus should nt be in a 10 gallon tank.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Oh haha of course! I was just giving general information A single Bristlenose and some neons would be about all I'd have. Remember the general rule of 1 inch of adult fish per us gallon.