My First Deecnt Tank

[Carlovel1]

All I'm saying is that Cardinal Tetras wont exactly thrive in a newly set up aquarium, in my experiance and that of other people's, they won't even make it. I don't agree with you naming my advice rubbish, simply because you dont agree with it and because you seem to think I have nothing to back it up with!
Basically, IMO a matured tank is much better for Cardinals. A newly setup tank may have all sorts of diseases and at anytime, the nitrates, nitrites, pH, KH, GH, Ammonia... may jump up and unexpectedly kill your fish.Those are the thing you want to get eradicate before adding Cardinals. Matured tanks are much more stable and gives your Cardinals a much better chance of surviving, and that is what I recommend. But you could always experiment...
Regards, Carl

 

[ian]

I have not said you advice is 'rubbish' read the thread back. It's just not true advice. I totally agree with you with the Neons, it's just not true with Cardinals. The thing is if you're giving advice, in every walk of life every now and again someone will want you to back it up with eveidence. As with your cardinal theory there is no evidence. Only what a couple hap hazard fish keepers have written on the net, they have probably floated the bag for 10 mins added a few scoops of tank water and bang staright in the tank, you will lose Cards if done like this. I know plenty of people on this forum, like the Discus keeper eg, Mark and his fish who add the Cards first into there new tank without casualties. Another is Tom Barr, have a look at this... http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/278474-1600-gallon-ei-dosed-discus-tank/page__p__2311030& theres about 500 cards in this 'newly' planted tank, guess what the nitrates were doesed at about 100ppm with no Card deaths.

Like i said before, i'm not getting at you, i will take people opinions on board, if they can back things up.

 

[Assaye]

All I'm saying is that Cardinal Tetras wont exactly thrive in a newly set up aquarium, in my experiance and that of other people's, they won't even make it. I don't agree with you naming my advice rubbish, simply because you dont agree with it and because you seem to think I have nothing to back it up with!
Basically, IMO a matured tank is much better for Cardinals. A newly setup tank may have all sorts of diseases and at anytime, the nitrates, pH... may jump up and unexpectedly kill your fish.Those are the thing you want to get eradicate before adding Cardinals. Matured tanks are much more stable and gives your Cardinals a much better chance of surviving, and that is what I recommend. But you could always experiment...
Regards, Carl

But those are things you want for all fish.

The "don't add neons early" rule isn't really about pH, nitrates, etc. It's about how mature the system is and how much microscopic life and untested chemicals are in the tank - bacially the things we don't yet fully understand or test for. pH jumps will affect all fish - cardinals are not especially sensitive. A cycled tank and a mature tank are two very different but often confused things.

 

[ian]

.......

 

[Carlovel1]

.......

???

If a tank nitrates were doesed at about 100ppm and the Cardinals survived, do you think they were thriving.
Surviving is not thriving

 

[ian]

lol, tell tom barr that!

this is the working of a planted tank, Carl. My tank is currently at 40-60 ppm. Again its been researched that Nitrates upto 300ppm had no effect on fish in the short term (i think it was over a month or so), inverts were effected. I'll dig out the research and PM it to you.

 

[Assaye]

.......

???

If a tank nitrates were doesed at about 100ppm and the Cardinals survived, do you think they were thriving.
Surviving is not thriving

I would wager that Tom Barr knows a #41#### sight more than you about the nitrate tolerance of the fish he works with due to his preferred fert methods. He is being paid big money to make big, spectacular tanks with lots of expensive fish and plants. If the fish don't thrive I doubt he'd have the excellent reputation he does.

I've not seen the tank in person (who here has, apart from TB himself) but by all accounts the fish are absolutely thriving. Aside from the fact that the discus and angels ate them, of course.

I've been guilty of it myself at times but it sounds like you are regurgitating the aged wisdom of the hobby with little personal understanding or experience. Do you have any reason other than "high nitrates must be bad" to think that those cardinals did not thrive? I'll always advise a newbie to keep nitrates low as that is a good measure of an effective maintainence schedule in many low tech tanks but that doesn't mean I can't be pursuaded that other methods can work with the right knowledge and skills.

.......

I can never tell if that means "I can't believe you're so silly" or "I agree", lol.

If I've just said something moronic, please let me know, even if it is by PM.

 

[ian]

lol, tell tom barr that!

this is the working of a planted tank, Carl. My tank is currently at 40-60 ppm. Again its been researched that Nitrates upto 300ppm had no effect on fish in the short term (i think it was over a month or so), inverts were effected. I'll dig out the research and PM it to you.

PM'ed as this thread has gone slightly off track lol. Sorry Assaye, i had writted about nitrates being mentioned earlier as i thought you'd quoted me. Sorry, my fault.

 

[Assaye]

lol, tell tom barr that!

this is the working of a planted tank, Carl. My tank is currently at 40-60 ppm. Again its been researched that Nitrates upto 300ppm had no effect on fish in the short term (i think it was over a month or so), inverts were effected. I'll dig out the research and PM it to you.

PM'ed as this thread has gone slightly off track lol. Sorry Assaye, i had writted about nitrates being mentioned earlier as i thought you'd quoted me. Sorry, my fault.

Gotcha now you had me confused. I was like "is that aimed at me? Did I say something stupid? Arg!?"

I'll go crawl back under my rock now.

 

[Sweeden]

Hahaha well ive enjoyed reading your little squabbling sessions, i will however give a little bit more research into the fish but i'm kind of still set on cardinals which i think is ok after reading through all your replies.

Well tested my tank again this morning and the Ammonia has dropped down to 4-2ppm so hopefully by the end of the week i'll feel like im getting somewhere.

I have also gained some green algae on the front of the tank is this ok??

 

[Assaye]

Hahaha well ive enjoyed reading your little squabbling sessions, i will however give a little bit more research into the fish but i'm kind of still set on cardinals which i think is ok after reading through all your replies.

Well tested my tank again this morning and the Ammonia has dropped down to 4-2ppm so hopefully by the end of the week i'll feel like im getting somewhere.

I have also gained some green algae on the front of the tank is this ok??

Green algae often happens during the cycle as the ammonia helps feed it. Try keeping the tank blacked out with a blanket when you are not testing the water. This won't work if you have put live plants in, though, as the plants need light.

If it's not too bad, just wipe it off.

 

[Sweeden]

Green algae often happens during the cycle as the ammonia helps feed it. Try keeping the tank blacked out with a blanket when you are not testing the water. This won't work if you have put live plants in, though, as the plants need light.

If it's not too bad, just wipe it off.

Well i just wiped it off

 

[Sweeden]

Quick update: Last night got home after being at uni for 2 days, tested my ammonia which was nil so topped it up to ~4ppm and tested it this morning and the test showed 0.50ppmso im going to give it a top up later and leave till morning again. is this right?

 

[walkers101]

Cardinals are fine in new tanks so if your heart is set on them go for it

 

[Sweeden]

Cardinals are fine in new tanks so if your heart is set on them go for it

so I'm looking to be ready for my fish quite soon and i have one question if my tank is 10G tank how many cardinals can i put in there? A friend of mine thinks that its 1inch to every litre but 55 1inch fish seems rediculous