Reading, Testing And Still Puzzled- Newbie And New Tank Of Course.

[MJM966]

Have had my tank set up for nearly 3 weeks now (no fish- just gravel, lots of plants and bogwood).

Put in Nutrafin Cycle as directed and added fish food every couple of days for a week. Based on reading was expecting an ammonia spike at 9 days- at 10 days: I got 0.25ppm, but for the last week it has been zero. Ph has moved from 7.0 (no wood in tank at time) to 7.4 and has stayed there. Nitrite peaked at day 10 (0.50ppm) and has been 0 for a week, and nitrate has been sitting at 5ppm for a week now too?

Has my tank cycled? Seems a bit quick and readings seem low. Do I have to do more to produce higher readings?

Filter is media is well established with bacteria. Plants seem to be thriving and there's a thin film of algae on the glass. Any advice?

 

[diademhill]

Sounds like you have a cycled tank there.

The plants will have used some of the nitrites though so the filter will support less fish than needed to eat the amount of food you were adding.
Plants will explain the lack of nitrates too.

It is ready for a few fish but not a full stock load.

What fish are you planning?

 

[MJM966]

Tank measures 81cm long by 35cm wide by 45cm deep. Think it can support the following eventually (introducing gradually).

2 bristlenose catfish- some books suggest a 90cm tank for 1 pair. What do you think? I'm not that keen on the suckers/ appearance, but understand that they are keen on algae (with other green foods over and above that).
2 peppered or zebra corydoras
4 guppies
2 cherry barbs
2 honey dwarf gouramis
2 platys
1 siamese fighter (much later on - a bit worried that he will nip at the guppies)

Is this too many fish? Have been sitting with a calculator and reference books for weeks now!!
Is this a good combination?
What do you suggest first?
Which order, and how much time in between?

I'm quite happy to take my time. Want healthy happy fish.

 

[diademhill]

Tank measures 81cm long by 35cm wide by 45cm deep. Think it can support the following eventually (introducing gradually).

2 bristlenose catfish- some books suggest a 90cm tank for 1 pair. What do you think? I'm not that keen on the suckers/ appearance, but understand that they are keen on algae (with other green foods over and above that).
2 peppered or zebra corydoras
4 guppies
2 cherry barbs
2 honey dwarf gouramis
2 platys
1 siamese fighter (much later on - a bit worried that he will nip at the guppies)

Is this too many fish? Have been sitting with a calculator and reference books for weeks now!!
Is this a good combination?
What do you suggest first?
Which order, and how much time in between?

I'm quite happy to take my time. Want healthy happy fish.

I make that 32"x18"x14" holding about 25 Imperial gallons or 115 litres.

It could hold the bristlenoses but they would take up a third of your stocking capacity.

Your choices all fit on paper but you have the groupings wrong.
Corys need to be in groups, not less than three but five is better.
Peppered are one of the larger species so I wouldn't recommend them & "zebra cory "doesn't exist. I would suggest trilineatus or similar - grow to 2" - so a group of five only take up the tank space of three peppereds.
Two cherry barbs are ok - stay near the bottom.
Honey gouramis are ok but not with a Betta.
Platys are fine but two males will squabble, females wil breed - guppies are also livebearers & if you want just males get five or more to prevent squabbling.
You have top & bottom swimmers & nothing in the middle!

I would suggest replacing the cherry barbs with 4 pentazona barbs or five pristella tetras as your initial fish.
Then, after at least three weeks, when you see male guppies you really like get five.
Another few weeks & you can get either the cories or gouramis, then get the other set a month along.

This leaves space for a female (stays smaller) bristlenose or a trio of otos and a shoal of fish that you don't know you want yet

HTH
Sue

 

[MJM966]

Thanks for reply.

Plenty to think about. Off to the lfs tomorrow for a look...

The 'zebra' corys were in fact the trilineatus that you mentioned. See, definitely a newbie...

 

[diademhill]

One of the first things to learn is don't believe what the LFS say if they are trying to sell something
They have a living to make but the good ones do care about the stock they sell - unfortunately not all shops are good.

The more you look & more patience you have at the stage the more rewarding the hobby will be. If you see a fish you fancy just ask if anyone has knowledge of them.

Have fun looking & don't forget to keep feeding the tank until you get fish.
Sue