Main Things To Do And Not To Do With A Fish Tank

[minnnt]

Research everything (as you're doing )

Always use dechlorinator

Never rinse filter media in tap water

Try and keep tank lights on for 8 hours a day maximum

Don't over feed

Always have a spare heater and filter in the cupboard

Buy a liquid test kit

Try and get yourself a hospital tank in case of emergencies.

 

[rolltide101x]

If tap water is what comes to my house how would I not rinse it in tap?

Ive been keeping the light on for about 10-12 hours a day (brochure at Petsmart I read said that) So I assume I should turn it off earlier for now on?

Im getting a heater very soon. I will also get a spare soon.

I have been overfeeding but I will work on doing it better for now on. Any advice on knowing how much to put? Ive been putting pinches at a time in lately as to not overfeed.

Is it better to feed my fish "fish flakes" or a mixture of veggies and meat (I was thinking bloodworms for protein)


One more question. How do you know if fish that tend to stay at the bottom are getting enough food? My Red Fins stay at the bottom and I rarely see them eat. I worry about them starving alot. Would they come up to get their food if they got hungry or do I need to do something special for them

 

[minnnt]

If tap water is what comes to my house how would I not rinse it in tap?
Use old tank water when doing water changes
Ive been keeping the light on for about 10-12 hours a day (brochure at Petsmart I read said that) So I assume I should turn it off earlier for now on?
8 hours max will help control any algae issues
Im getting a heater very soon. I will also get a spare soon.

I have been overfeeding but I will work on doing it better for now on. Any advice on knowing how much to put? Ive been putting pinches at a time in lately as to not overfeed.
I would feed them once a day
One more question. Is it better to feed my fish "fish flakes" or a mixture of veggies and meat (I was thinking bloodworms for protein)

Try and use a complete food such as a well known brand. If you have Tetra in the states then use Prima. It sinks after a couple of seconds which benefits some fish as not all feed from the surface. I would add a frozen cube of live food once a week but don't feed the flake/pellet on that day.

 

[rolltide101x]

This
http/www.amazon.com/TetraColor-Tropical-Flakes-Tetra-Fish/dp/B001D6W562

and bloodworms here and there is what I have been feeding them.

Is this ok?

When you say "live food" what would you reccommend? I cant think of any live food small enough besides maybe crickets.

 

[minnnt]

Should be fine. I would purchase some Prima made by Tetra too then alternate it day by day to ensure all fish are getting everything they need. When i say live food i mean Bloodworm, Daphnia, Infusoria. Usually available in blister packs ready frozen. Just get one out once a week, let it thaw then chuck it in. Your fish will go mad for it. Your Cory maybe hungry if all the flake it being eaten before it finally sinks hence me suggesting the Prima which sinks slowly. Any uneaten pieces will be consumed by the Cory and the Plec.

 

[rolltide101x]

Sorry to keep asking questions...

But before you said to try to have 1 watt per liter. My tank is 10 gallons or 37.85 liters. Aquarium heaters seem to mainly come in 25w or 50w (I dont see anything inbetween on Amazon) if I had to pick between those which is the better one to get?

 

[minnnt]

50W for sure.

 

[CrazyCichlaMomma]

If tap water is what comes to my house how would I not rinse it in tap?

Ive been keeping the light on for about 10-12 hours a day (brochure at Petsmart I read said that) So I assume I should turn it off earlier for now on?

One more question. How do you know if fish that tend to stay at the bottom are getting enough food? My Red Fins stay at the bottom and I rarely see them eat. I worry about them starving alot. Would they come up to get their food if they got hungry or do I need to do something special for them

always rinse filter media (sponges, filter pads, etc.) in used tank water. when you do your routine water changes, squeeze out the filter media in the water that you have removed from the tank, i drain part of my water change into a 5 gallon bucket when i need to rinse out the foam/sponge filters.

even with only giving a pinch a day you could still be overfeeding your tank. more fish die in aquariums from overfeeding than starvation. and bottom feeders are there specifically to clean up after the messy mid tank crew.. what falls to them will be enough, and if it's not they will come up to eat with the other fish. THAT would be a sign that your pinch a day isn't quite enough.

i am reluctant to feed fish flakes or fish kibble. i do, but only as a way to keep the fish food bill under control. since you don't have huge fish to feed, feeding real food shouldn't be a break the bank proposition. you can get frozen sheets of brine shrimp and blood worms that you just break off tiny pieces for the fish. they also come in cubes, but some of the cubes are quite large, i wouldn't put a whole one in a 10 gallon tank. they sell baby brine shrimp and daphnia in tiny cubes that might be a more appropriate size for the fish in your tank.

 

[fluttermoth]

and bottom feeders are there specifically to clean up after the messy mid tank crew.. what falls to them will be enough, and if it's not they will come up to eat with the other fish.

I'm sorry, but I disagree. Bottom feders can't surive just on what falls to the bottom; they need their own food too.

OP; try adding flake and the pellets at the sam time; the flake should keep the rainbows busy while the pellets sink for your other fish

 

[KISSfn]

Please also follow the advice given in the "Fish In Cycling" link under my tank pic. Also the "Beginners Resource Center" link has a lot of great advice.