Hi Newbie Here :)

wezzle82 · Feb 15, 2012

hi all im wes 29 i live in mangotsfield bristol im a mad fishing nut sea and carp well any sort really !
ive recently purchased a aquastart 500 (recently well today actually )ive gone straight for an upgrade with a heater im going for the natural look a few white rocks and plants no tacky crap like bright gravel, skulls etc...lol i havent got any fish in there yet as i only filled it up this afternoon just letting it filter, its only a 55ltr im looking at stocking it tomorrow but not sure what to put in therei want bright fish up to bout 10 if i can, i dont want fish that will just eat eachother day after day maybe looking at neon tetras etc my friend has told me to go for a pleck for starters to help keep the tank clean ....but im looking for ideas if anyone has any ???please help

wes

TropicalJuwel · Feb 15, 2012

Hi Wes, welcome to the forum.

Please before you think about stocking your tank look in http

/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/ it will help you on getting your tank cycled. The best way to do this is a fishless cycle. All the info you need is there and if there is something your unsure just post a question, someone is sure to have plenty experience on what you need.

You have chosen a great forum.

Happy fish keeping.

fluttermoth · Feb 15, 2012

Hi wes,

to the forum.

As TropicalJuwel says, cycling the filter is an essential part of fishkeeping. We always recommend fishless cylces here, as there is no risk to the fish if it goes wrong. The articles in the beginner's resource centre should help you understand what we're talking about!

It would be a very bad idea to get any fish until you fully understand the nitrogen cycle and cycling the tank :good:

Don't even think about getting a plec! The idea that tanks 'need a plec to keep it clean', is a very old fashioned one, and not one that's correct! Plecs are very messy fish, and produce a lot more poop than anything they might clean up; you're better off doing the cleaning yourself; besides, at 55l, your tank wouldn't be big enough for one, but there are plenty of other lovely fish you can have, when you're ready to stock

Fishy friend2 · Feb 15, 2012

Hello and welcome to the forums! You'll love it here. Everyone is sooo nice and helpfull. I'm happy that I chose this forum

Blubble37 · Feb 16, 2012

wezzle82 · Feb 16, 2012

thanks all ! ive added aquasafe to my tank 1/4 bottle so should be ok according to the aqua centre to add fish

so i went this morning and puchased a white/black angelfish x1
pearl guarami x1
black/white stripey guarami x1

just these for now as i dont want to overstock it straight away also i put a bottle of safestart in, the fish look happy so fingers crossed pics too follow if i can work out how to upload ! :good:

fluttermoth · Feb 16, 2012

Oh dear, I wish you'd asked for more advice before you went ahead and got fish

I'm not sure what the black and white gourami is, but both pearl gourmais and angels grow much too big to live in a 55l. They also don't make very good tankmates, as angels can be quite aggressive.

If you don't have a test kit that tests for ammonia and nitrite, you must do at least a 50% water change every day until you can get one to moniter the levels., and you should seriously think about returning the fish you have.

In the beginner's resource centre (the link is in my sig), there's an article on 'fish in cycling', which you should read ASAP to keep your fish safe while you think what you're going to do.

Aqausafe is just a dechlorinator (which you do need), but it won't do anything to help cycle the tank. Adding a larger dose is unneccessary; it won't do anything other than what it's designed to, which is remove chlorine.

I'm sorry if all that sounds very negative; I only say it because I have the best welfare of the fish as a first priority.

TropicalJuwel · Feb 18, 2012

Have to agree with fluttermouth, you really would have been better with a fish less cycle, now your going to have to keep up daily water changes and believe it or not if you don't keep them up to keep the dangerous ammonia and nitrite then your already over stocked.

As said the angels are not appropriate for that tank and need more height than length.

I would seriously recommend returning the fish as well. Which ever you choose I wish you good luck. keep us posting on how you get on.

Mammabe · Feb 20, 2012

wezzle82 said:
hi all im wes 29 i live in mangotsfield bristol im a mad fishing nut sea and carp well any sort really !
ive recently purchased a aquastart 500 (recently well today actually )ive gone straight for an upgrade with a heater im going for the natural look a few white rocks and plants no tacky crap like bright gravel, skulls etc...lol i havent got any fish in there yet as i only filled it up this afternoon just letting it filter, its only a 55ltr im looking at stocking it tomorrow but not sure what to put in therei want bright fish up to bout 10 if i can, i dont want fish that will just eat eachother day after day maybe looking at neon tetras etc my friend has told me to go for a pleck for starters to help keep the tank clean ....but im looking for ideas if anyone has any ???please help

wes

Hey Wes, Probably not the kind of greeting your were expecting?! :look:

I joined this site, like you, AFTER I set up my tank and added a few fish to it... and my tank was not cycled like everyone recommends. Personally, I must have lived in a cave because I have kept fish all my life but never heard of cycling a tank before I joined this forum. :lol:

Luckily for me, or I should say, my fish, I have never had a problem. I always knew that you had to start slowly by adding 1 or 2 but no more than 3 fish and that is always what I did so in essence, I was doing a fish-in cycle without even knowing it. With the water changes, they should be fine. I have not lost any fish doing it this way, so that's why I say, I guess I've been lucky or the fish have. Anyway, I don't do water changes every week either! :huh:

I do them once per month but again, haven't lost any fish... my tank has been up and running for over a year now with the same fish in it I started with. So, everyone on here is probably wagging their tongues getting ready to take a stip off me! just kidding - tough love but it is love. Take it for what it is worth and hopefully your fish make it through too! Keep me posted, I am curious to know so I won't be the only bad fish keeper on here! :blink: