My First Fish - 120L Tank

[EX1EY]

So went to abyss aquatics in Stockport yesterday for my first fish, and under the advice of the staff there, I came away with 8 cardinal tetras and a pair of rainbow gouramis. What do people think about these as the first fish to go into my 120L aquarum? good or bad choice? The male rainbow gouramis is a beautiful fish!

 

[thereverendturtle]

Cardinals are very sensitive to poor water conditions, which you will experience during your cycle. I think the gouramis will be fine as they can withstand some abuse. I don't think the shop should have sold you the cardinals, but now you have them, so keep up on the water chemistry. They might all make it. Good luck!

 

[Jay1983]

I may be wrong but I wouldn't have thought Cardinals would be ideal first fish in a new tank. They can be very sensitive, ammonia and nitrite above o.25 will effect all fish, Cardinals are also very sensitive to nitrate which most other fish can tolerate to a point. Keeping on top of water changes with Cardinals is essential. Can I ask you how you cycled your tank before adding the fish?

Other more experienced members will chip in and correct me if i'm wrong on the Cardinals. I don't know about the Gouramis sorry but would imagine them to be highly sensitive too.

Jay

Above poster beat me too it!

 

[EX1EY]

To be honest I went to the fish shop to buy ornaments, a heater and various other accessories and came out with the accessories plus 10 fish.

I told the guy in the shop that I hadnt cycled my tank and he said 'you can't cycle it without fish'. His exact words. He basically said all this fishless cycling stuff is jsut polluting the tank.

I asked about guppies, and he said they were temperamental in new tanks.

Im basically at a point now then where it looks as if Ive got a completely uncycled tanks with 8 cardinals and two rainbow gourami.

Ive got some water conditioner and some other stuff which is supposed to kick start the bacteria.

Is this bad news?!

 

[lloyd]

to be honest i kind of agree with the guy when he said about fishless cycling. i no some people will think im wrong but in all my experiances it cycles the tank much more effectivly and faster and in my opinion a tank cant be cycled until it has fish in it. the problem is the fish suffer and may die and you have to use EXTREMELY HARDY FISH definatly not cardinals or any type of small characin. . . . but that is only my opinion based on a few internet articles and my own tests.

 

[Jay1983]

To be honest I went to the fish shop to buy ornaments, a heater and various other accessories and came out with the accessories plus 10 fish.

I told the guy in the shop that I hadnt cycled my tank and he said 'you can't cycle it without fish'. His exact words. He basically said all this fishless cycling stuff is jsut polluting the tank.

I asked about guppies, and he said they were temperamental in new tanks.

Im basically at a point now then where it looks as if Ive got a completely uncycled tanks with 8 cardinals and two rainbow gourami.

Ive got some water conditioner and some other stuff which is supposed to kick start the bacteria.

Is this bad news?!

Well it's not the best of news! you are now in a fish in cycle which isn't ideal. Do you have a test kit? you will need one if you don't have one ( a liquid one not paper strip one). You will need to test the water everyday and do big water changes probably atleast 50% everday maybe more. The test kit will effectively show you how much water you need to change. What water conditioner do you have? i'd recommend using seachem prime. The bottled bacteria according to many on here doesn't work and will not aid with the cycle, i've had no experience with it so cannot add to that.

Do you know anyone who keeps fish? if so you maybe able to get some "mature" media from 1 of there filters which would help massively with cycling the tank

Jay

 

[lloyd]

it might even by an isea demanding some used media at the shop you brought them from as it is pretty out of order what they did

 

[EX1EY]

So basically im stuffed a little. I dont have a test kit be ause by the time i had bought, water conditioner, ornaments, a heater, accessories, plants and gish id spent nearly £100 and i didnt have my debit card. I'll go back to the shop tomorrow and get one.

I had a feeling the guy in the shop wasnt entirely clued in, he was only young. Its just im a beginner and i didnt want to question an 'expert' in the middle of the shop when im not entirely clued up myself!!

 

[Jay1983]

Everyone makes mistakes don't be hard on yourself about it. See if you can get an API master test kit they are pretty good, you could probably pic it up cheaper online than in the store. If you do big water changes then you have every chance of success but you will need to do them everyday for a while. Also when you change the water try to get the temperature as near to the tank water as poss and also add the conditioner to the water before you add to the tank.

For more info go to

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

This will explain things alot better and more in depth... it has all about the fish in cycle.

Jay

 

[Aqua Tom]

Cardinals are a lot tougher than Neons, which a lot of people confuse them with.


Tom

 

[thereverendturtle]

Cardinals are a lot tougher than Neons, which a lot of people confuse them with.


Tom

Tougher yes. Good for a brand new tank no.

 

[Nick217]

Where abouts are you baised?
You could do with some used media to kick start your cycle and maby a home for your weaker fish while your tank cycles?

 

[EX1EY]

Where abouts are you baised?
You could do with some used media to kick start your cycle and maby a home for your weaker fish while your tank cycles?

Im in Salford, Manchester.

Got home from work and they're all fine at the minute. In fact they seem to have settled in great, even the female gourami, who hid under the filter all yesterday has made a home in some of the plants and came straight out at feeding time! Test kit getting purchased tomorrow

 

[Nick217]

okay no worrys.
A bit too far to come help