Platies Introduced

[poveyt]

We added three platies at the weekend (and almost lost a neon when it made a bid for freedom as I took the lid off!!!!). They straight away attacked the green algae (I see what people mean about eating all the time). My question relates to this - we have noticed that they, em, produce a lot of waste (as my daughter is pointing out to all visitors!). How often should I be cleaning (daily!) and how (without water changes) should I clean? Oh, and is this normal?

The kids are really getting into it now with these great fish! They keep asking if they will have babies - having to explain that they might not all survive!!!

 

[WILDER]

How long has the tank been set up, and do you have water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, how many gallons is the tank or litres, and how many fish and which type.

 

[poveyt]

How long has the tank been set up, and do you have water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, how many gallons is the tank or litres, and how many fish and which type.

Tanks been up and running a little over a month. Water stats before they went in were:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10(ish)ppm
PH: 8-8.1

Did another test 24 hours later, and no noticeable change (a little pinkish on the nitrite, so maybe 0.25ppm). Will test again.

It is a 10 US gal tank - 3 neons (at the moment, hope to take this up to 6) and the 3 platies. All look happy.

 

[WILDER]

Neons wasn't a good choice as they need mature tanks, and they are very sensitive to water quality, so don't add anymore fish till the tank has cycled.
Did you do a fishless cycle.

 

[poveyt]

Neons wasn't a good choice as they need mature tanks, and they are very sensitive to water quality, so don't add anymore fish till the tank has cycled.
Did you do a fishless cycle.

Sorry - this was covered in some of my earlier posts, but no. History was that this was a present for my daughter (fron grand parents), and included the three neons (in fact 4). Found this place which helped me get them through the first few weeks!

On not being cycled, what did you mean? Stats have held at 0 and 0 for some time - I thought that meant it was cycled? If not, why not?

 

[WILDER]

Thats ok then.
You do a gravel vac once a week with a 20% water change, rinse the filter floss and that if for now.

 

[poveyt]

Thats ok then.
You do a gravel vac once a week with a 20% water change, rinse the filter floss and that if for now.

Thanks for this. On the filter floss - sorry but really stupid question: what is it? I assume it is the plastic cover that acts as the inlet to the sponge, but can you confirm? Someone advised to leave the sponge alone until it got really blocked (every few months?)

Cheers again for all your help.

 

[dwarfgourami]

As Wilder says, weekly water change should be quite enough; you don't need to clean up their mess every day. Don't be taken in by their pleading ways though; these fish are consummate beggars and will do their utmost to convince you that they're starving to death any time you happen to be passing.

 

[WILDER]

No your'e right don't touch the sponges, it just a white bit of matting that goes on top of the sponges, it catches fine particles that keep the water clear.