New Hobby

[simon271067]

I have just purchased a Juwel Rekord 800 tank and wondered what fish would be a good starting point for a community fish tank (tropical)

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi Simon, to the forum.

First of all, before you even think about fish, you have to think about bacteria (yes, really, I'm not mad!). The bacteria will live in your filter and, just like in a sewage farm, they'll eat the fish's wastes and stop them poisoning the water.

Growing these bacteria, before you add fish is called 'fishless cycling' and is the best and safest way to start out. If you click on the 'Beginner's Resource Centre' link, which is in my sig, you'll find lots of interesting articles on cycling to start you off.

Once you're cycled, the fish you chose will depend on a few things; the dimensions of the tank (because some fish like to swim far and fast while others hover or dart), the hardness of your local water (because it's better to get fish that like the water you have, rather than try and change it) and what fish you like; lots of smaller ones or fewer, larger ones.

Hope that helps!

 

[simon271067]

Thanks. I will be conditioning the water for the bacteria to grow in the filter 3 - 4 days before adding any fish but will get the water tested first anyway. the tank is 80 x 36 x 50 and holds aprox 110 Ltr. I wanted to try and find some pretty but friendly fish to set up as a community tank ?

 

[SandraNewbie]

I have just purchased a Juwel Rekord 800 tank and wondered what fish would be a good starting point for a community fish tank (tropical)

That's a reasonable 100L tank (it's actually a little over but for stocking I round down). with a reasonable surface area. and good swimming length.

Using the 31cm2 per cm of adult fish would allow you 94cm of adult fish
Using the 2cm per 3l of fish rule allows around 70cm of adult fish.

but these are just guides

Guppies are very friendly live bearers that are incredibly easy to keep and I would wax lyrical about them for days.
I've also grown to quite like cherry shrimp as filter feeders.

The best advice I can give is to look round your LFs (Local Fish Shop) and write down the names of fish you like the look of and then research them.

Thanks. I will be conditioning the water for the bacteria to grow in the filter 3 - 4 days before adding any fish but will get the water tested first anyway. the tank is 80 x 36 x 50 and holds aprox 110 Ltr. I wanted to try and find some pretty but friendly fish to set up as a community tank ?

It'll take more than 3 or 4 days to get a new filter up and running. There are some great article on fishless cycling in the help section of this site.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Definitely recommend a fishless cycle of your new tank, if you are willing to take the time. Can reduce a lot of headaches for you later on.

Welcome to the forum!!!

 

[Essjay]

Thanks. I will be conditioning the water for the bacteria to grow in the filter 3 - 4 days before adding any fish but will get the water tested first anyway.

If you do this, the water will show as perfect because all you will be testing is tapwater. As soon as you add fish, they will be excreting ammonia and within a few hours your water will not be perfect, but beoming rapidly more and more toxic. Growing the bacteria takes several weeks once a source of ammonia (ammonia itself or fish) has been added to the tank.

As the others have said, the safest way to get a tank ready is to do a fishless cycle using ammonia. The method is in the beginners' resource centre. The idea behind it is that you add ammonia to simulate fish waste so the bacteria grow before you put any fish in the tank. The other way is to get a few fish, check the ammonia and nitrite levels twice a day and do a water change every time you see either of them. This could mean water changes at least once a day for several weeks. Again, details on this method are in the brc.

If you have been sold a bottle of bacteria, you need to be aware that the majority of them don't work. Use one to supplement a fishless cycle by all means - you might even strike lucky and find one that speeds things up a bit.

 

[fluttermoth]

Good advice, as always, form essjay.

You could also get a donation of already mature media that you can put in your filter, which will give your cycle a really big headstart.