Questions About A New Tank

[New-FishBoy]

Just recently I set up a new 55 gallon tank with an Eheim Ecco pro 300 canister filter (fit for an 80 gallon tank it said on the box). I have started the cycling process with 6 zebra danios and 5 platies. I know it will be a while until I can add more fish, but I've been making a list about potential tank mates for the fish I already have. In the end, I was hoping to get altogether 8 zebra danios, 5 platies, 5 kuhli loaches, 10 cardinal tetras, 3 oto cats, 2 dwarf gouramis, 6 salt and pepper cories, and some (how many?) Amano shrimp for the seven plants in the tank. Would all these fish work? Could I also add 3 black mollies as well?

Also, my platies have been nibbling at one of the plants in the tank. How could I stop this? I'm hesitant to feed them more because the shopkeeper at the aquarium store I go to said not to feed the fish too much during the cycling period.

 

[Axyadbad]

If it is possible I would return the fish and do a fishless cycle, otherwise (and I hate to say it) you are very likely to lose most, if not all your fish. Click on the Beginner resource centre link at the bottom of this reply and you'll see what you need to do. I'm new to Fish so I can't advise on stocking. But it'll be a while before you'll be able to fully stock your tank, half a year maybe!?

Hope this helps, if at all and Good luck!

 

[turtlegirl]

Just recently I set up a new 55 gallon tank with an Eheim Ecco pro 300 canister filter (fit for an 80 gallon tank it said on the box). I have started the cycling process with 6 zebra danios and 5 platies. I know it will be a while until I can add more fish, but I've been making a list about potential tank mates for the fish I already have. In the end, I was hoping to get altogether 8 zebra danios, 5 platies, 5 kuhli loaches, 10 cardinal tetras, 3 oto cats, 2 dwarf gouramis, 6 salt and pepper cories, and some (how many?) Amano shrimp for the seven plants in the tank. Would all these fish work? Could I also add 3 black mollies as well?

Also, my platies have been nibbling at one of the plants in the tank. How could I stop this? I'm hesitant to feed them more because the shopkeeper at the aquarium store I go to said not to feed the fish too much during the cycling period.

I agree with the poster above, return the fish and do a fishless cycle, it's far more humane. As for tankmates, I'd focus on getting your tank cycled for a few weeks and very stable before adding fish of any type. Getting fish to stop nibbling at plants is next to impossible - cope or get plastic. Fish nibble at live plants, it's one of the positives of having live plants in the tank. To help us figure out your tank and how it's doing, what are your current water stats and how often are you changing the water?

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Yep... i agree also. This day in age there really is no need to cycle your filter using live fish, using household ammonia with a fishless cycle is far more humane, safer and not to mention easier... you really are going to have to keep up with your water changes now, sometimes twice a day, as and when your test results tell you to.

Terry.

 

[New-FishBoy]

Thanks for the replies. I just checked the water parameters, and after 4 days of the fish being here ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are all still zero. Is this normal? Also, I was planning on doing the fishless cycle because all the fish I was thinking of getting weren't very hardy, but then one of the people at the store convinced me to start with fish, and the danios and platies looked very appealing to me.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Those readings are ok for your fish at the moment...but soon enough Ammonia is going to build up, then NitrItes will. The end result is NitrAte, so until you see those appearing you are still cycling.
Fish stores will usually try and sell you fish... when they die you go back and buy more, harsh i know but we do live in a consumer world!
Do you know of anyone with a fully matured, healthy fish tank and filter? If so you could ask for a 'media donation' from them, which will make your cycle alot quicker and alot safer for your fish.

Terry.

 

[New-FishBoy]

Would gravel from a 10 gallon tank with only a Betta Splendens or a danio have enough bacteria to do anything? I'll look around to find something else though, too. Thanks for the advice. How would I insert the gravel into my filter? Do I just put it into a media compartment and take out some of the non-bacterial media to make room?

Also I put a sponge filter in my goldfish tank for a day before I gave them away and I put that filter in my big tank. Is that gonna do anything?

 

[turtlegirl]

Would gravel from a 10 gallon tank with only a Betta Splendens or a danio have enough bacteria to do anything? I'll look around to find something else though, too. Thanks for the advice. How would I insert the gravel into my filter? Do I just put it into a media compartment and take out some of the non-bacterial media to make room?

Also I put a sponge filter in my goldfish tank for a day before I gave them away and I put that filter in my big tank. Is that gonna do anything?

The gravel might help a tiny bit. As for the sponge from your goldfish tank. No it takes a few weeks for bacteria to establish.