New To Hobby, I Just Inherited An Aquarium

[big_fire]

My brother left his 30gal. tank in my care while he goes back to school and gets his master's deg. I've got some questions that he doesn't know how to answer and would like some help with. There are 3 zebra danios, 5 serpae tetras, and a chinese algae eater in the tank, (I had to look up what they were, he didn't know.)

The first problem is that the fins of the serpae are ragged and one poor fish's fins are nearly gone. I haven't seen any nipping, but I think this must be what's happening. There is some white stuff growing on one of the big ornamental rocks, but not on anything else. Is this cause for concern? The underwater heater keeps coming off the side of the aquarium. The suction cups stay on the wall for about an hour only. Finally, I couldn't get a straight answer on how often to feed the fish and when I do, it seems like the danios just eat everything, leaving nothing for the serpae.

Thanks for any help you can give. I was a bit ambivient about taking the tank, but it now that it is in my living room, I find I am really enjoying it. I want to take care of it well.

 

[celaeno]

first thing to do would be to rehome the chinese algae eater (cae), especially if they're old specimens, as they get aggressive and may start feeding off the slimecoat of your other fish. your cae may be the fin nipper, although it can also be the zebra danios.

if it's the zebra danios, it's probably because there are only 3 of them and they prefer a school of at least 5-6 fish. this allows for aggression to be dispersed among the group.

i would wash the ornamental rock, rinsing it in warm water. i would also get new suction cups for the heater.

you should feed the fish twice a day. i feed mine shortly after lights on and before lights out.

i would try to feed a food that the danios don't like but the serpae do. you can also try feeding at opposite sides of the tank, putting a pinch on the right and a second pinch on the left.

 

[big_fire]

But if CAE are lousy fish, who would take it? It's only about 6cm at the moment. I wouldn't mind replacing the Dainos (8cm) for something more mellow as well.

When washing the rock, I assume that's with water only, not using any soap?

Can anyone recommend a good fish store in the Phoenix/Mesa Arizona area?

Thanks for the help.

 

[lilfishie]

as for feeding, you could get some sinking pellets for the tetras, and i feed my fish everyother day

 

[martyn21uk]

No definately do not use soap!!!
Under tap water will be fine or in the old water when you do a water change.