Newbie With Questions

[Lisa1981]

Hello, I'm new to this fish keeping malarky and I can honestly admit that I don't know that much apart from the stuff I've learnt over the past month or so by reading up as much as I can. Tonight we bought a 2nd hand Juwel Vision 180. We were planning on getting a custom built tank but decided at the last minute to buy 2nd hand. The tank has been empty since earlier today which I know isn't ideal but most of its still damp i.e. filter, gravel etc. Is this beneficial or will I still need to do a fishless cycle as if I'm starting a fresh?

 

[greenscooby]

Be on the safe side, do a fishless cycle.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Agreed^^

If you are starting out new, a fishless cycle is the way to go.

If you do a fish-in cycle, you will be putting a lot of stress on the fish.

So, like stated above, a fishless cycle is the way to go!

-FHM

 

[Lisa1981]

Thanks very much for that, I kinda thought that would be the answer I got but just wanted to check. I'm not too sure what to buy with regards to plants. Plastic/silk sounds like the easy option but I'm quite interested in having live plants too. I never realised that it could be the complex. I have been looking around at fish, even though I know its gonna be a while before I'll be buying any.

The ones I'm really keen on so far are:
Red fin sharks
Dalmation mollies
Yellow Labidochromis
Spotted Pictus

Was wondering if anyone could tell me if these fish would be ok together or if I'm totally off the mark?

 

[fatheadminnow]

I am not sure about the other fish, but the Yellow Labidochromis will not be okay with the fish you have. The Yellow Labidochromis should only be kept with other Cichlids of its kind, and in a bare minimum size tank of 30 gallons. Preferable 55 gallons and up for these kinds of fish if you want to do it properly.

I would go with fake plants for now, unless you want to enter the world of how to become successful with having plants in your aquarium.

-FHM

 

[stang1]

Yellow Labs are Malawi Cichlids and can only be kept with other Malawi Cichlids.
Pictus Catfish are great characters, need to be kept in a group but are predaory with small fish.
Dalmation Mollies are a great fish and you are best keeping at least 3 females to each male.
Red Fin Sharks can be very temperamental and are quite often too aggressive for community tanks.

 

[Lisa1981]

Thanks very much for the replies, I really appreciate the info. I feel like I've been reading for weeks and weeks but don't seem to be taking in that much. I'm going to visit a few of my LFS over the next few days so I can get some idea's of what I'd like.

 

[OldMan47]

Lisa, there is a good chance that you will start a fishless cycle only to find out that you are well into the finishing stages. If the filter media stayed damp, the bacteria may well have survived the few hours. You may need to do little more than a qualifying week of making sure that the media is still alive. It is worth doing but don't be too surprised if you are ready for fish very quickly.

 

[Lisa1981]

Although the tank was setup a few days ago, I didn't get the testing kits till yesterday and I don't think I have the right ones. I've only got PH kit and Nitrite Kit. I am going to order a master testing kit today though, well I'm not sure whether to order it online or if it would be better for my to buy one asap from LFS, what do you think?

After 2 tests yesterday and today my PH shows as 6.5 and nitrite as O. Is this what I should be expecting?

 

[OldMan47]

I don't see any mention of adding ammonia to the tank so it had better be free of nitrites. Raw tap water on an uncycled tank usually looks great for fish until the ammonia starts going into the water from the fish's biological processes. At that point you get ammonia that is not being removed and things start to go bad. The reason we cycle a tank is to get past the bad part and give the fish a chance to have clean water from the start.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with OM47, not clear here whether the basics of fishless cycling (ie. finding the correct ammonia etc.) have been communicated to Lisa. Lisa, where are you on these ammonia questions?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Lisa1981]

Yes, agree with OM47, not clear here whether the basics of fishless cycling (ie. finding the correct ammonia etc.) have been communicated to Lisa. Lisa, where are you on these ammonia questions?

~~waterdrop~~

Sorry its taken me so long to reply, I didn't notice this post. I did add ammonia and went through the fishless cycle, after a week I was showing no amonia, nitrite and very low nitrate. I got 3 speckled mollies at the weekend and I'm going to slowly at more fish over the next few months. Anyone have any idea's of what to add next? I have no set idea's about what I'd like although I'd like a plec but something with a bit of colour and something that won't get too large. Also quite like the look of Dwarf Gourami's.

 

[waterdrop]

I've always liked DwarfGs a lot, usually had them in pairs, the males are alternating red/blue stripes, the females more blue/silver, assuming you've found DGs of the original color variations. Its fun to watch them build bubble nests, especially if you have some floating plants.

These gouramis are subject to a disease/problem that has so largely hit this type of fish that some just say they won't buy them anymore. I personally think of it just as a hit or miss type of thing so I would still give it a try myself and just realize if you lose them that its probably not your fault.

DGs are very good tankmates in the sense that they rarely bother other fish, much less so than some other G types. They also do not grow as large as many other types of Gs and thus are better for smaller community tanks.

I'm surprised you found your tank cycled after only a week of adding ammonia. Did you add some "mature media" from another tank or the store?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Lisa1981]

I'm surprised you found your tank cycled after only a week of adding ammonia. Did you add some "mature media" from another tank or the store?

~~waterdrop~~

It was a second hand tank so had mature media already.

I have ready alot about the DG and know that it might be a hit or a miss with them thats why I'm asking to see if anyone has any suggestions.