Interpet Fish Box 48Litre Help

[willowstwin]

Hi All

So.... I wanted a fish tank but don't have much room, and my "friend" recommended the fishbox 48litre from Pets at Home (UK). I went and had a look, and decided it was a lovely size for the space I have, and it came with everything I needed (filterpump, heater, lights etc), so I went ahead and bought it. I got some lovely black gravel, some cute little ornaments, and after watching some online videos and reading the set up guide, I filled it with water.

Now, I know I have to leave it to cycle (it came with filter start with bacteria and a dechlorinator) so it is currently sat fishless, however, I have a few queries.

The first and most important is the filter... I have the pump on the lowest setting and it still seems too harsh. The tropical tank we have at the school I work at is way bigger and the filter is nowhere near this violent. It's just agitating the top of the water, but the tank is circulating with little bubbles - I've never seen anything like it on videos or in fish shops. I'm guessing it's far too strong for the size of the tank. Any suggestions?

The second problem I have is stocking. I chose this tank because I was undecided as to whether I wanted a tropical or a coldwater, and this kit came with the heater and states on the box "Ideal for a tropical aquarium or a goldfish aquarium".... Have I made a noob mistake? After looking at compatibility and also (lets face it, this is part of owning an aquarium) the looks of fish, I decided there was more variety to be had in a tropical tank rather than a couple of shubunkins and orandas. But now I'm thinking it's not possible unless I have only a couple of mid-sized trops. I wanted some neon tetras and rummy nosed tetras, but I don't think I have the space for a shoal of either, nevermind both... Can anyone please help me out with stocking suggestions. Mainly, a) is it possible to have a 48 litre trop tank, and b) could I safely have a shoal of tetras, and how many is a safe number in this sized tank?

I know I'm a pain and I should have done WAY more research before I bought the tank, but it's here it's starting a nice cycle (quick too with the filter start giving it a boost) and even if I end up with a couple of shubunkins (again, suggestions on coldwater stocking of a 48 litre would be appreciated) I'll be happy owning fishies.

I would go to pets at home, but for a place which ignores you when you say there are 2 rotting dead fish in one tank and a poor pleco, dead and dried up on the OUTSIDE of another tank, it kinda puts you off asking them for advice...

I know, I'm a noob! Feel free to e-slap me by the way, I said "friend" at the beginning, because since I bought the tank he's avoided helping me... *sad panda face* so I'm in a bit of a tizz as I don't want be ignorant and overstock, I don't want the fish getting thrown about in currents, but I also don't want a sparse tank.

Willow

 

[fluttermoth]

Don't worry about being a noob; we ll have to start somewhere and loads of people have started off after being given bad advice!

For a start, I'd recommend you have a read of the articles in our beginner's resource centre (link is in my sig) which will explain cycling and the nitrogen cycle and all those things you need to know (it's not as hard as it might first appear), honestly.

Thoe small tanks are not suitable for goldfish, which need a 100l minimum, but you can have a few small, pretty tropicals in there, so all is not lost; at least you haven't got 'a couple of shubunkins and orandas' in there already, so that's a great start!

Have a read of those articles and a look round the site and post back with your next lot of questions

 

[willowstwin]

oooh what wonderful articles!

Right, here come the other noob q's

Do different types of tetras mix? For example, I've worked out I could have 4 neon tetras and 4 cardinal tetras, however it recommends they should be in shoals of 6+... Would 2 different types of tetras shoal together?

At work we have 2 shoals of 5 each, rummy nose tetras and harlequin rasboras. Very pretty and they love to shoal together.

I also like guppies...

I'm just worried I'll not get the right type of fish... also worried about introduction of fish, as I've read in numerous places to add a couple of fish at a time... If I'm buying tetras, won't this be a problem for them as shoaling fish?

 

[willowstwin]

hows about this...

2 male guppies
5 spotted rasboras or neon tetras
1 honey gourami

 

[Miles_hot]

Make sure you add some ammonia to the tank to feed any bacteria in your filter

 

[willowstwin]

hmmm yesterday morning, woke up and water was cloudy, today it's worse. Been told it's bacterial bloom... any tips on how to get rid of this?

 

[Miles_hot]

just wait - it'll sort itself out in a few days; no need to actually do anything.

 

[willowstwin]

not even a water change?

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd do a water change because cloudy water irritates me no end!

just to quickly answer your other questions; yes, different kinds of tetra will shoal together, but only if they have to because there aren't enough of their own species.

Keeping more of one species is always better than smaller amounts of different ones; the fish will look more natural and be 'happier' (as far as it's able to tell).

It is always a bit of a judgement call when adding shoals to small tanks! In a 55 gallon, you could add a dozen with no real affect on stats, but in a smaller tank it's not so easy. I'd start off with three and add another three the week after if everything's stable. It won't be ideal for the fish, but as long as they have some company of their own kind they'll be ok for a few days