More Fish Questions

[StarOrbs]

I just have a couple more questions, the first being would it be a good idea if cycling with fish to use danios I've heard they are the best to do this with. Also after I put a few danios in the tank, after a week or so would it be alright to slowly keep adding fish to the tank Like danios, tetras, guppies, platies? Also what order would be best to introduce them into the tank. Also what types of plants would be good to start off with?

I appreicate your patience, I've been asking a lot of questions I just want to make sure I get this right. I haven't had an aquarium in a while. Thanks.

-- 30 Gallon Tank

 

[sylvia]

What size tank? If it's over 20 gallons zebra danios are ideal but you'll have to wait a full 6 weeks before adding the rest of the fish, 2 at a time, every week after the 6 have gone by. Read the link in my sig.

If the tank is less than 20 gallons, use a couple of platies (males prefferably as there's no risk of breeding = over-stocking) and again wait the full 6 weeks.

Either way, do water changes every other day for the first 2 weeks and then every 3 days for the 3rd week and then once a week from then on. That's what worked for me. However, testing your water for ammonia/nitrItes and making sure these don't get too high using partial water changes with de-chlorinated water is better.

As for the order, add the hardiest first so it would be danios then platies, followed by guppies and last the tetras which usualy require a relatively mature tank.

Read the link in my sig. to help you avoid new tank syndrome and unecessary deaths - fishless cycling is best.

 

[kev_kb]

Danios would be a good fish to start the cycle. Put them in then wait for the Ammonia spike followed by the Nitrite spike. I would do as many water changes as need keep the spike at 0.5ppm max. After around 4 weeks your cycle will be done when you have 0ppm for Ammonia & Nitrite and readable Nitrates. Then you can start adding fish slowly to the tank, monitering the levels to ensure you have 0ppm Ammonia & Nitrite before adding anymore fish.

The plants will depend on what lighting you have, checkout the plants section of the forum.

Also Danios may not be suitable for your tank as its a hex, but then it is 30g so maybe it is, I'm sure someone who knows more about Danios will post, I know they like a lot of swimming space.

 

[sylvia]

I'd say you're better off skipping the danios if it's a hex. Go for the platies instead. But read that link in my sig. as doing a fishless cycle is better and it'll tell you about measuring ammonia/nitrItes and nitrAtes and when you're ready for more fish etc.

 

[StarOrbs]

Thats like the sixth or seven time you've told me to read that link, and I've read it already.. lol.. it's a good thread though.. heh Well now that I've got a good idea on what to do with fish. Any idea what plants would be ideal for a 30 gallon hex tank with the fish that were named in this thread, like Platies, etc...

 

[sylvia]

LOL! I know - it's just that usualy people forget to read it and they miss out on a lot

If you're looking for realy easy low-light plants you can try hornwart... I think java fern and java moss as well as amazon sword is supposed to be relatively easy to keep alive. Personaly I like duckweed cause it never dies but most people hate it cause it's impossible to get rid of - I use it in breeding tanks cause it's floating so is ideal for gouramies. Plus I don't have lights on my breeding tanks so I need something that doesn't die.

BTW, your tank is quite large and you aren't planning on too many fish at the moment so have you considered gouramies ? Honeys or a pearl, thick-lipped or banded/giant/indian would all be nice. Dwarfs are cool too but more fragile... Huge selection that's ideal, beautiful and would work great in your tank as they are mainly top dwellers and most are peaceful

 

[StarOrbs]

BTW, your tank is quite large and you aren't planning on too many fish at the moment so have you considered gouramies ? Honeys or a pearl, thick-lipped or banded/giant/indian would all be nice. Dwarfs are cool too but more fragile... Huge selection that's ideal, beautiful and would work great in your tank as they are mainly top dwellers and most are peaceful

Those gouramies are cool looking, neat colors.. so in addition to the other fish I could put a few of these in the tank because they dwell at the top of the tank?

 

[sylvia]

Well it's cause the fish you want aren't large and they'll swim in the middle layers - well everywhere basicaly - so they won't compete for space with gouramies. Provided you don't over-stock the tank you can have a couple of gouramies (depending on the species you go with) without problems.

 

[StarOrbs]

I usually like go well under the amount of fish I can put into a tank just to be sure at least for now. So maybe 2-3 platies to start off, perhaps 3-4 guppies, a couple gouramies and I don't know what else thats my current list at the moment.

 

[sylvia]

Aren't you getting tetras then? Otos are nice bottom-dwellers and will eat algae. However, you'll need to wait for your tank to establish as they need excellent water quality. Corydoras catfish are also wonderful. A small shoal of at least 4 would be ideal and would add activity to the lowest levels. Just some suggestions How wide/tall is the tank?

 

[StarOrbs]

Perhaps I should get a few tetras, umm lets see the width is 19in(48cm) and the height is 24in(59cm). By the way thanks for all the suggestions. Also what numbers of each fish would you suggest I have. Like number of tetras, cory, etc, of course this is when cycling is complete.

 

[sylvia]

With the livebearers (platies, guppies etc.) you need to keep them at a ratio of at least 2 females to every male or go for fish of only one sex. This is because they are ridiculous breeders and the males will harass the females often to death. 6 tetras is the minnimum you can keep as they are shoaling fish. I'd say 7 is enough to add some schooling activity without taking up or needing too much space. With cories the more the better 4 is the minnimum but I would suggest at least 6 as they are much more entertaining and happy in larger groups (in the wild they go around in shoals of over 100!). Otos which I mentioned before need companions but can be kept in pairs quite happily - 3 or more is better but may not be practical. With gouramies it depends on the species as they are territorial and some are more aggressive (only towards each other - very good with other fish) than others. Most can also be kept alone. It also depends greatly on the individual fish as you'll find different gouramies have very different and varying characters and some may be more suited to you and your tank than others of the same species.

 

[StarOrbs]

How does this sound 7 tetras, 5 cories, 3-5 gouramies, a few platies (the ones to start off with) and a few guppies. Sound about right? If this won't work then please tell me what I could correct with this group.

 

[sylvia]

Well the 7 tetras and 5 cories would work fine. Then I'd suggest 3 platies and 3 guppies (1 male and 2 females in each case - they'll breed and you'll end up with more so it's best to leave room for the grown up fry ) ...
...and as for gouramies - what type would you like? If you go for honeys you could get 2 males and 3 females, dwarfs you could keep 2 males (females are rare), pearls you could keep 2 but they are larger so a male and female would be best and the thick-lipped and banded/indian/giant gouramies need to be kept either one male and 2 females or just one male or just 2 females. You'd only be able to have one of those species though so depending on what you choose you could get that number of them. I'd reccomend honeys or pearls as they are the most peaceful.

 

[StarOrbs]

Heh, they all look cool.. Although I think the dwarf, honey, and pearl one's look the best. Is there somewhere I can see pics of all them? But I'd have to see what the store has so that has some determination in it. I know they have tetras, and guppies, I haven't checked in a while...