New Fish Keeper

[TarkMalbot]

Hi all. Just got my first real aquarium. Got an Aqua One 850 and cabinate and just getting into the swing of things. Have been doing a lot of research online and come across a lot of different opinions. I thought I would join a forum so that I can ask questions as I go along.

Mark.

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Mark,

Welcome to TFF.

If you don't have any fish yet, please consider the 'fishless cycle'. You can read about it in the link in my signature below.

Too many people take bad advice from their LFS and add fish to the tank before cycling the filter, which usually ends in unnecessary deaths.

Any questions, just ask.

Backtotropical

 

[TarkMalbot]

If I only had this information about 2 weeks ago...

Please see other topic:
[topic="0"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...p;#entry1829767[/topic]

 

[PoptartShop]

Welcome to TFF!

 

[Tolak]

You have a couple of options. Return all the fish for credit, and do a fishless cycle. This will prevent any more fish deaths. The other option is to keep some of the more hardy fish, and do a traditional cycle with fish. The ratio of fish to water that seems to work best is one inch of hardy fish for every 5 gallons of water. This means, from your previous posts, that the 4 mollys are probably the best ones to keep, and will be plenty of fish for a cycling tank.

Be aware that you will be doing daily water changes for a while, if you can get some mature filter media it will speed up the cycling process. There is a list of members willing to donate media here; [URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...ia-To-Newbies-/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...ia-To-Newbies-/[/URL]

If you have a supplier that is giving you funny looks or doesn't understand why you are having problems it's time to find another shop. Much of the info you have been given is basic general knowledge among aquarists, and many shops are about 20 years behind, due to their inability or lack of desire to utilize the internet. Most shops have never heard of fishless cycling, or if they have they see it as a cycling method that keeps them from selling fish. The shame of this is thay most shops care more about money than the welfare of the fish they sell.

Not a single person helping you here makes a single cent by helping you, we just like to see folks have as enjoyable an experience with aquatics as we are having.

 

[adamgreen240]

welcome!!

 

[TarkMalbot]

Thanks for the welcomes. One thing I have noticed is that the site is very vast with lots of forums and seems there is the same sub forums within forums and seems a little confusing. Or is this just me?

 

[Squidman]

Welcome to TFF! Im sure you will get all the help you need here.