New Tank Lover!

[LiQuiD_SmoKe]

Hi Everyone!
 
I've been reading advice on this forum for a while now, so I thought it was time I joined in.  I got my tank last July and instantly became a N.T.S. victim (New Tank Syndrome), thanks to not doing research and trying to please my 4 year old daughter. I had to cycle my tank the hard way, and had a few casualties along the way, but have learned a tremendous amount about this new hobby of mine and have a great tank now.  I started trying to have a basic communal tank, but after losing a few along the way, I have started shifting my stock to more semi-aggressive.  I just recently purchased a 55 gallon to now move some of my fish over, and start doing more of a natural aquascape with live plants.  I am fully addicted!!! 

 
My Tanks: Marineland 20 Gallon w/ Aquaclear 70 Filter & Aqueon 55 Gallon Long with Aquaclear 110
*Upgraded the filter to an Aquaclear 70 after not being satisfied with the stock filter it came with. Very happy now.
 
My Total Stock: 4 Neon Tetra, 2 Male Guppies, 2 Angles, 2 Electric Blue Rams, 1 German Blue Ram, 2 Albino Tiger Barbs, 1 Cory Catfish, 1 Yoyo Loach, 2 Mystery Snails (Black & Ivory)
*The Tiger barbs and german blue ram are in the 55 gallon now. Ill be moving the angels shortly.
 
Few Questions for the Group
 
1) Feeding: I have heard many different things from many different people, so I want to see what other aquarist are doing, and go from there. I am feeding my fish every other day. I feed a few pinches of flakes, a couple of small shrimp pellets, and a couple of algae wafers. Some people have said feed every day, or multiple times a day, or every other day. Thoughts?
 
2) Mystery Snails: Anyone else snail fans?  Curious if mystery snails get territorial or fight each other.  I had one snail (gary) thrive in my tank, so I got him a buddy (shelly). As soon as I introduced Shelly on the scene, Gary was always on top on her/him. (not sure of their sex) Anyway, a few days of this and suddenly Shelly was dead.  I picked up another snail, and the same thing happened, but this new Shelly lasted longer.  Last week, Gary passed away and im thinking it was natural causes. He was HUGE, so no one picked on him. Also, are the things im feeding enough for them to thrive?
 
3) Gravel Syphoning / Water Changes: I am cleaning my tank a little over once a month.  I use a tank brush and scraper, and will remove the plastic plants and rocks and clean them off as well. My tank does get quite dirty.  I then syphon the gravel until about 20-25% of the water is out, then add a tiny bit of conditioner and refill with the fresh water.  Does any of this cleaning sound excessive?  I like my tank to be clean!
 
Thanks in advanced!
 
My 20

 
My 55 W.I.P

 

 

[LyraGuppi]

1) Feeding: I feed about a pinch or food per day, switching it up every day and starving them some days. Perhaps a wafer once in a while for your snails.
 
2) Mystery Snails: Shelly and Gary were most likely mating, but otherwise I couldn't tell you much more.
 
3) Gravel Syphoning / Water Changes: Actually, it looks like you are under cleaning! Leave the decor be...bacteria (the good stuff) sticks to it. Do a 25% water change every week with a gravel vac, and refill it with clean water.

 

[Antinerf]

First of all, hello there and welcome! I'm new myself (to the forums), but I have had around a year of experience in maintaining a 36 gal tank.

Feeding: For food, I primarily feed my fish with flakes, but that is because I only have swordtails and platies. I have heard that for species such as cichlids, pellets are also a good option. I used to feed my fish twice a day, but then I began to have problems with too much waste in the tank. Now, I feed them once a day. I usually associate this with a cue to come eat (such as turning the aquarium lights on) so that if I need to be away all I need to do is time the feeder up with an automatic clock I have set for the lights With that said, I usually feed my fish what they can eat in about two minutes or so. If I see that they are consistently spitting out their food then I will scale it back, however I have never had to have the entire tank skip a meal thus far.

Those snails: Regrettably, I do not have any experience with snails but I could guess that the snails themselves are stressed out, possibly due to the perceived dangers of a new tank. In either of your tanks, I also do not see a whole lot of cover, which can be immensely helpful in reducing stress. I believe that pellets are fine but I have also heard that they are very resourceful.

Water changes: The cleaning cycle you mentioned is not at all obsessive- in fact, the timing is very similar to my own water changes. However, I would caution against removing all the decor of the aquarium unless it is harmful to the fish- this both causes the fish a lot of stress and may kick up garbage lying in the substrate. The conditioner part is necessary- I tend to use either Seachem Prime or Tetra Aquasafe.

Best of luck,
Antinerf

 

[the_lock_man]

1) I would say you are overfeeding. You need to feed a varied diet, so flake for a couple of days, then a wafer or two, then maybe some veggies. Give them a treat of live food every week or two. A lot of people recommend fasting them one day per week. I personally try to mimic the wild a little by fasting them for 2 or 3 days every now and then. Remember that fish are perfectly able to go for well over a week without being fed.
 
2) Dunno, tbh
 
3) I would suggest weekly water changes, 30% or thereabouts. Don't bother about scrubbing the decor constantly unless it gets covered in algae.

 

[Lillefishy]

No one has mentioned your stocking, the tetras, barbs & corys are schooling/shoaling fish & as such should be kept in groups of at least 6.
Tiger barbs can be very nippy & I wouldn't keep them with angels as their fins could be a target.
Loaches are a social fish & again should be kept in groups