Looking For Suggestions, New Korall 60

[josef]

Hi all,

Have been given a brand new Korall 60 tropical tank for Christmas, was given it a couple of weeks before though in order to get it cycling and start filling with plants and fish.

Im looking for scaping suggestions, ive got two plants in there at the minute, not entirely sure of their names, but the left one was in a small pot with wool etc, which has been taken out and secured to the bogwood and the one on the right doesnt have roots, its just attached in a weighted base. The large stones are some type of volcanic rock which have bright flecks of stone in them, given to me from a friends tank.

Any ideas on what else i could buy decor & fish-wise? I can get my hands on some slate to build some caves to replace the PVC pipe tunnel thats buried under the white gravel.

Stock:

1 x Male Betta
1 x Male Red Fin Shark
1 x Male & 1 x Female Danios
3 x Neon Tetra

(The red fin & the betta get along surprisingly well, the shark seems to have made the pipe & underneath the filter his territory and the betta lives within the left plant, they stay well away from each other and if they do cross paths, they just seem curious)


Thanks!

 

[Wills]

Ah this does not look great Im sorry to say....

When you say you cycled the tank how did you do it?

Think this section might be a good start for you to read through on a few articles - in particular the fishless cycle, the fish in cycle and the nitrogen cycle articles.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

As for the fish in there.

I think the tank is too small for the Red Tailed Shark - they are big fish as adults. And the Danios, they dont work as male and female they are a schooling fish and need to be in bigger groups - 6 as a minimum but more is always better. Same for the Neons. Danios also dont do great in small tanks, for all they are small fish they are very active and often need big long tanks to thrive - they will do okay but not going to do their best where as a larger group of your neons would thrive in this tank as they are a little more sedate

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news But it does happen to us all, my first tank was a 48 liter with 8 goldfish in

Wills

 

[sadguppy]

Hi and welcome

Your tank looks very nice and you have come to the right place for advice.

Unfortunately, I am only going to echo exactly what Wills says above.

Firstly, look into the cycling process. secondly, take the shark back as he is not suitable. You may consider taking the other fish back and completing a fishless cycle. I would also warn against danios and maybe get more neons instead, however they are not a good choice for a new tank. You can safely add neons after your tank has been set up and cycled for a few months.

whatever you do, don't give up, it will all be worth it I promise!

 

[josef]

Thanks for your advice, I completely understand about the shark, probably more of an impulse buy more than anything. Ill consider taking him back.

I cycled the tank fish-less, using mature media from my cold water tank for about 2 weeks until ammonia & nitrite are reading at 0.

Danios came from a smaller tank where they have lived for about 2 months. They were amongst 2 goldfish in a cold water tank and I slowly acclimated them over about 6 hours into the new tropical tank where they seem far more lively and happy.

 

[sadguppy]

That is good to hear. And please, forgive me for jumping to conclusions - hardly any new posters have heard of fishless cycling (I certainly hadn't when I came here!). It means your only real problem is that shark. I would guess that the harmonious living won't last too long, but if it does he will soon outgrow the tank sadly. You are not the first person to impulse buy an incompatable fish, and certainly not the first to not want to give them up (I have a whole tank set up for a krib who was sold to me as a community fish but tried to herd and eat everyone! I know I should take he back to the store but she's so pretty...). However unless you have a bigger tank in mind, it really isn't fair to keep him.

Yes your danios are probably a lot happier - they really aren't compatable with the bigger, dirtier goldies. However when you say that they lived with goldfish in a smaller tank - hw small exactly? I ask because goldfish are one of those species that need a huge tank (well, a pond really!) and although sold as starter fish to many unsuspecting hobbyists, they need about 100l for the first fish and then i'd guess 50l for each of the subsequent fish. I wouls warn anyone and everyone against keeping common goldies in tanks when the addition of a heater can bring infinitely more colour and personality to your living room!

 

[josef]

Shark was taken back today, shop swapped him for 2 platies which should add some colour to the tank!

 

[sadguppy]

Glad to hear it, I am a big fan of platies and if your betta is friendly towards them, which would be my ownly minor concern, then you will be so glad you made the swap. Can we get some update pictures?