I Pretty Much Have To Start At The Beginning(again)!

[Angelfish fan]

I have been searching throught the site(I am fairly new) & realized that I don't know much about caring for fish. At least, not as much as I could or should know. Please, help the clueless one(that's me!)!

My filter is starting to die on me(a Whisper one). It doesn't filter well. Mr. Filter & I have had 6 good years, I think it's time to let him go. B) I had a pleco that outgrew my tank, so the pet store owner arranged a meet up with a guy that has a 200 gallon(maybe bigger?) tank for Monstey to go live in. I lost my algae eater. I took in a water sample for the pet store owner to test for me(I have basic test strips but like to have him test my water every 6 months). Apparently my nitrate levels are really high. He suggested that maybe the cause was overstocking due to the size of the pleco. I have been doing 25% water changes every week, & I am due for a total cleaning within the next month(it has been over a year since the last total cleaning). My heater died yesterday so I bought a new one while at the pet store. I have an areator(I cannot spell that) pump with an air stone in my tank.

Now for my questions. There's tons of them, BTW!

1)What is the best areator to use?
2)What is a good algae eater(for after I get my tank in tip top shape)?
3)How can I lower my nitrate levels?
4)Could the nitrate levels cause my plants to die?
5)What is a good filter to buy?
6)What is an the best "soil" for my plants?
7)How many plants can I keep in my tank?
8)Why is there whitish-yellowish crusty stuff on my tank? How can I get it off?
9)I was told to use drinking water or spring water for my tank(our water is unsafe for fish). Are those good waters?

I do have to keep this as cheap as possible. I will be ordering everything online as the pet store near me doesn't carry much in fish supplies. It is a rather tiny pet store. I have been looking at www.drsfosterandsmith.com for doing my shopping from, but where ever is cheapest is best. I am in the US, BTW.


BTW-I have a 20 gallon tank. I have 4 1" Angelfish in it, 1 2" Rosy Barb, 1 1" Red Tetra(I cannot remember for sure what it is), 2 3" Pictus Catfish, & 1 2" striped fish of some sort. The last fish is a bottom feeder with black & white stripes on its body that only comes out at night. I haven't seen him in a week, so I do have to go looking for him to check if he is still alive. Is my tank overstocked? I have basic pink & purple & blue gravel in the bottom of my tank. Can that affect my water?

I cannot tell you how much I would appreciate any advice. I think I have been slacking in caring for my fishies & I need help getting going again. It has been a long time since I have had to buy new supplies.

 

[Durbkat]

Yes you tank is very over stocked, 4 angels need at least a 50 gallon tank so they can have enough room, once you can return the angels because they won't/ aren't happy in such a small tank to the pet store you need to get at least 4 more red eyed tetras since they are schooling fish.

1. A good filter is the best areator
2. There are hardly any algae eater that can fit in a small tank and can't think of which could fit in their at the moment
3. By plenty of vacum cleanings
4. No if you have good enough lighting for plants the plants should remove the nitrates
5. I use a whisper power filter 40 on my long 20g the filter filters 20-40 gallon tanks and I like whisper filters alot
6. Don't know much about real plants so sorry can't help you there
7. As many as you want it depends on how heavily planted you want the tank to be
8. Is it on the lid or out side the tank, if so I have that on my 10g and I think it comes from if water gets splashed on it and you let it dry on it and I usually take the hood off and wipe it off every now and then
9. Who told you your water was un safe for fish? Drinking water would be ok

I'm pretty sure some of your other fish will get to big for the tank but will let someone else let you know.

 

[seanc]

"6)What is an the best "soil" for my plants?"
Laterite is usually a good choice, though many plants don't require much care at all. (eg java moss, java fern, hornwort, japenese moss balls)
The maximum plants will depend on size of tank + carbon dioxide levels: are you planning to use a co2 diffuser?
The rosy barb won't appreciate too many plants though, once full grown (=4-6inches) it will be big and active enough to need alot of swimming room and open spaces. Should really be in a group also as they are sociable fish (3+)

 

[guppymad]

sory durbkat have to dis agree with you ("2. There are hardly any algae eater that can fit in a small tank and can't think of which could fit in their at the moment") otocinclus affinis is a great algae eater and only grows to 4cm

 

[seanc]

ottos are quite sensitive to water quality though so until the high nitrates go down and are stable I wouldn't add any.
Some shrimp would be another option, and most livebearers will nibble at algae depending on the type of course. Another option is to just scrape it off: it is only a cosmetic problem after all. After the tanks planted the algae should lessen as it will have competition.

 

[rdd1952]

1)What is the best areator to use? Any airpump that is quiet is fine

2)What is a good algae eater(for after I get my tank in tip top shape)? I would suggest amano shrimp. They are fun to watch, will keep your tank clean and create very little bioload.

3)How can I lower my nitrate levels? Water changes are the only way to lower nitrates once in the tank. Reducing stock and feeding less are the 2 best ways to prevent nitrates from forming.

4)Could the nitrate levels cause my plants to die? Actually plants feed on nitrate so I don't think nitrate killed them. As already mentioned, poor lighting is probably the cause. Depending on the type plant, you probably need a minimum of 2 watts per gallon and most plants need 3.

5)What is a good filter to buy? Whispers filters are decent filters. Aquaclear are also supposed to be very good in the power filter line. The main thing is that it is rated for at least 5 times the tank volumn which means you would need at least a 100 gallon per hour filter. Since you are overstocked, I would suggest one rated in the 150 to 200 gph range.

6)What is an the best "soil" for my plants? Any substrate will support plants if you add the proper nutrients. Keep in mind that if you want to have bottom feeders like corys, you will need a sandy substrate.

7)How many plants can I keep in my tank? You can put as many as you want. They will help lower your nitrates. Just be sure there is open swimming room as all fish need open spaces as well as the plants for hiding.

8)Why is there whitish-yellowish crusty stuff on my tank? How can I get it off? I'm not sure what that may be unless it's some type of algae.

9)I was told to use drinking water or spring water for my tank(our water is unsafe for fish). Are those good waters? It depends on what your tap water has in it. If it is only chlorine and chloramine, then simple water conditioner like Stress Coat will remove that. Take a sample to the LFS and have them check it for you. If it doesn't have ammonia or nitrite in it, you should be fine. Using bottled water won't be much of a problem other than it's expensive. It also won't have some of the minerals that your tank may need and will have no buffering capacity so any items that can affect pH will have a greater effect.

 

[Durbkat]

sory durbkat have to dis agree with you ("2. There are hardly any algae eater that can fit in a small tank and can't think of which could fit in their at the moment") otocinclus affinis is a great algae eater and only grows to 4cm

Well I said there isn't that many but couldn't think what they were, I didn't say that there wasn't any. But of this person gets ottos the tank will have to have near perfect as for water conditons and they have to watch the ottos at the pet store for 2 weeks since some aren't shipped good and for some reason some don't eat if they get some kind of bacteria inside their body that makes them unable to eat.