New Member & Brand New To Tropical Fish Keeping...be Gentle!

[fm1978]

Hello everyone! My name's Frank and I'm from Scotland, just outside Glasgow. I'm very new to fish keeping of any kind - had a goldfish when I was very young but I'm not sure that counts, I wasn't even big enough to reach the tank on the counter!
 
Anyway, I just recently bought a Juwel Rekord 600, which I really like already! And I know I've added fish far too soon but unfortunately I didn't happen upon this very forum until after I got my wee fish! So, yes, I'm admitting right at the outset that I've got off to a bad start! However, my 2 dwarf gourami, 2 sterby and 3 bandit cory seem to be doing very well indeed despite my lack of patience (and knowledge). One of the dwarfs, Stumpy, is getting on so well that his right feeler is growing back very very quickly - I presume this is a sign of good health? He lost more than half of his feeler presumably in the net catching process in the shop - I only noticed it when I got him home.
 
As a result of now knowing I have made a school-boy error, I am watching the water parameters very closely and keeping a daily diary of everything that the API master test kit allows me test, as well as temperature.
 
My water at the moment is a bit on the yellow side, however, I'm 99% sure that this is down to the tannins released by the bogwood in the tank, again, I didn't know to steep this before adding to the tank. However, I believe the release of the tannic acid has actually helped lower the pH, which I understand to be a good thing as it started relatively high, around 7.8 - 8.0. Please be assured, I did know just enough to NOT add fish at this point, I did have the common sense to allow the water temp to settle AND allow the pH to come down to 6.4 - 6.8.
 
I'll leave it there for now and if anyone has any advice at all - (constructive) criticism is also very welcome!
 
Thank you for having me and thanks for all who have posted the beginner info of which I will now take heed!!!
 
Frank
 
 

 

[the_lock_man]

Hi Frank, I didn't realise Scotland was just outside Glasgow....
 
Have a read of the link in my signature area about how to keep fish healthy during a fish-in cycle. Basically, it says keep the ammonia and nitrite levels below 0.25ppm at all times.
 
It would be useful for you to know what your natural pH is - the water companies have concerns about the old lead pipes, so they add carbon dioxide to artificially raise the pH of the tapwater. This will dissipate off over 24 hours, so it would be sensible to leave a glass out, and test its pH 24 hours later, to see what that is.
 
There is nothing wrong with a pH of 7.8 per se, I have that in my tanks. It may well be that the tannins have lowered the pH, assuming the water is relatively soft (you can have softwater with a high pH), but that won't last, as the tannins stop being released, the pH will drift up again.
 
My biggest piece of advice currently is not to get too hung up over the pH - let it do its thing, else you'll end up with massive pH swings, which can be disasterous for the fish.

 

[fm1978]

Hiya the_lock_man, 
 
Thanks for your comments and suggestions! Yes, Scotland is, in fact, just outside Glasgow, I assumed someone of your calibre would already have known that! But, seriously, I can deduce from your sub-title 'The Apostrophe Police' that you're the type who lets very little slip by in the way of grammatical or syntactical errors, so I'll consider myself told on that one. Of course, I merely meant that I live in Scotland in an area just outside Glasgow! Apologies if you got confused!

 
I had assumed that all water parameters were of equal import, save for the ammonia which is the one thing in particular to watch out for. All of my tests have been well within these limits, I've not yet had a clear and positive reading suggestion even 0.25ppm ammonia...am I, by luck, doing something right?
 
Here's a wee pic just for starters...
 

 

[Rosewater]

What a lovely picture, but I can't see any fish?
 
I am new here too and made a lot of mistakes with my good intentions, wish I had found this place first too.
 
Good luck
 
Rose

 

[eaglesaquarium]

TLM is pretty lenient on grammar, most of the time.  It's the improper use of apostrophes that really bothers him.  
 
 
I'm from the US, just outside Philadelphia!  
 
Good to have you on board.
 
1 - The yellow water is from the release of tannins.  This will slowly be unnoticeable between water changes, as the wood slows its release until it basically ends.
 
2 - As TLM points out, it would be good to know what your tap water pH is.  Just leave a sample sit out for 24 hours, then test it.  Post that here, and we can help you better.
 
3 - Being from the US, it took me a bit to determine the size of your tank, but it appears to be a bit shy of 80 liters.  That size tank is too small for two male DGs.  They are territorial and can fight each other for their space.  I'd suggest returning one of them.  Its also a bit small for two properly sized corydoras shoals.  You and your fish would be better off with only one shoal of cories, in the range of 6-9 individuals.
 
 
4 - Keep a close eye on your ammonia and more importantly nitrite.  At your pH, the ammonia will be less toxic, but the nitrite isn't affected by pH like that.  If you have PRIME, that's the best dechlorinator for cycling - as it can detoxify the ammonia and nitrite and help your fish survive the process.
 
 
Keep us posted.
 
 
 
(And welcome to you too, Rose!)

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Sorry, I missed these statements/questions:
 

 
I had assumed that all water parameters were of equal import, save for the ammonia which is the one thing in particular to watch out for. All of my tests have been well within these limits, I've not yet had a clear and positive reading suggestion even 0.25ppm ammonia...am I, by luck, doing something right?
 

 
No.  They are not of equal importance.  

• With pH it is most important that it is stable.  As long as you are within a reasonable range (6.5-7.5) most fish in the trade will be fine with that.  There are exceptions, of course, but none of the fish you mentioned owning would be tragically affected by a pH in the range of 7.5.
• Ammonia and nitrite are HIGHLY poisonous.  In a fully cycled tank, these will always read "ZERO" and never fluctuate from that.  Ammonia is continually produced by the fish, in part by their waste and any leftover food, but primarily from their gills.
• Nitrate is the final product of the nitrogen cycle.  This is also problematic, but at much higher concentrations.  This is removed by the fishkeeper through regular water changes.  You can lower the amount that the nitrate rises by having live plants in the tank.  They require nitrogen and will take it up as either ammonia or nitrate, depending on a few different factors.

 
As to whether you are doing something right: You aren't doing something wrong.  It takes a bit of time before your test kit can actually register ammonia.  The fish are producing it, and undoubtedly, the bacteria in the tank aren't there in sufficient number to be able to deal with it yet.  But, the amount isn't enough to register.  IT WILL HAPPEN!  
 
You would really help yourself and, more importantly, your fish if you could get your hands on some mature filter media.  This would hold the bacteria you need to cultivate, and would drastically reduce (not eliminate) the cycling period.  A friend who has a tank, sometimes a (friendly) LFS or even a member on here can donate the media.  If you lived closer, I would certainly give you a few bits.  
 
(I hope you can make sense of that... if not, have a read through the Beginner's Resource Center and it should become more clear.)

 

[fm1978]

It does make sense, Mr eaglesaquarium, and I take on board all of your points! Having found this forum (eventually), I have now read through quite a bit of info on the Nitrogen Cycle and on Cycling and as per your suggestion, I'll visit an LFS this weekend and ask if I can either have or buy some mature media. 
 
I'll also do as suggested with the sample of tap water and leave it for 24 Hrs to test the pH. As for your suggestion of taking one of my dwarfs back, I don't think I have the heart now, I've become quite attached. I could swear I read that a minimum tank size for a DG was 50L; I have 63L. They do show some competing behavior and 'show' to each other a lot, but it's not aggressive. It appears actually quite playful. Is 5 corydoras too many do you think?
 
Of course, I will keep an eye on the NH3/NH4 and Nitrate daily, as I have been doing and if I have any issues, I'll be sure to ask!
 
Thanks again for all the suggestions and welcomes.
 
Rose, thank you for your comments and good luck! I hadn't added any fish at that point, that was me just being proud of my beginner aquascaping skills and letting the water temp settle. Best of luck to you too! I can't imagine there would be any better place to ask a question about fishy type things than here, so I'll certainly be keeping an eye on any new info - Frank!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Your tank size is fine for A dwarf gourami.  The issue, as I see it, is with the second.  As they mature, this 'playful' behavior may turn less than playful.  I understand your attachment to both of them, but if you really care about them, you may need to choose.  Sorry.
 
At the very least, you will need to increase the amount of cover for the least dominant of the DGs to be able to retreat to when the more dominant gets too bullying.
 
5 cories is not too many, but they do best in large groups, and your tank wouldn't be big enough for a group of 12 - 6 of each.  So, I'd suggest choosing just a single specie of corydoras and increase the number to 6 of them.

 

[Noahsfish]

Nice looking tank! Glad you're very aware that you need to do water changes daily, more than I can say when I started. As said you should rehome one of the dwarf gouramis, it's not an overnight threat, more of a..... ticking time bomb. Oh, and by the way, your tank looks great, you should look into live plants. They add a natural effect to aquariums, as well as helping keep the water clean, and imitating a natural environment for your fish. As a whole your tank and setup sounds good, and with a few minor tweaks you'll have some very healthy and happy fish!

 

[the_lock_man]

Hiya the_lock_man, 
 
Thanks for your comments and suggestions! Yes, Scotland is, in fact, just outside Glasgow, I assumed someone of your calibre would already have known that! But, seriously, I can deduce from your sub-title 'The Apostrophe Police' that you're the type who lets very little slip by in the way of grammatical or syntactical errors, so I'll consider myself told on that one. Of course, I merely meant that I live in Scotland in an area just outside Glasgow! Apologies if you got confused!

 

 
You got me pegged pretty much straight away - but it's all light-hearted.

 

[fm1978]

Nice looking tank! Glad you're very aware that you need to do water changes daily, more than I can say when I started. As said you should rehome one of the dwarf gouramis, it's not an overnight threat, more of a..... ticking time bomb. Oh, and by the way, your tank looks great, you should look into live plants. They add a natural effect to aquariums, as well as helping keep the water clean, and imitating a natural environment for your fish. As a whole your tank and setup sounds good, and with a few minor tweaks you'll have some very healthy and happy fish!

Thanks very much Noahsfish!
 
That's very much noted on re-homing the DG - I think I'll talk the missus into getting either another tank for him or getting a much larger tank with many more hidey holes!
 
I do have real plants in there! Only the dark green fern-like things are fake. I've got some Hemianthus, Riccia and Nymphoides. More recently I got 6 Marimo Moss Balls as well. I intend to get some Amano shrimp when cycling is complete and I had read that shrimp quite like these moss balls. I'll get a more recent picture and you can see how well the real plants are doing!