tallsmartman
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- May 17, 2010
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Hey, I'm in the process of planning out my first tank. (Since I was a kid anyway)
Any help on these questions would be greatly appreciated.
1. I understand that I need to have a tank "cycled" before I fully stock it, so the appropriate amount of bacteria is there. I have read up on the fish-less cycling and the cycling with a couple "sacrificial fish." Since I am not experienced, I am not sure which is the best way to do it. However, while skimming through the forums I have found people recommending "BIO-Spira." Is Bio-Spira a fish-less cycle that doesn't require putting ammonia in the water?
2. When I do get my tank cycled, I read you are supposed to do a 25% water change every week. Do you leave the fish in the tank for this? And how do you treat the water you are about to introduce into the tank? Do you just make sure its a similar temperature and treat it for chlorine and hardness? Or do I need to do something similar to the cycling process?
3. The tank I will be working with will be 20g. I would like about 3 or 4 mollies to be what I build the tank around, but I would like some other fish to add some variety (Maybe some neon tetras and a couple of platys). I found a website http/www.elmersaquarium.com/c106community3livebearer.htm where it lists some good compatible fish for different communities. I was wondering if you experts here feel this is a correct list?
Like I said, I would like to have 3 or 4 mollies to be the main fish, but I would love to have like 5 to 7 little neon tetras as well. Does this leave room for 1 or 2 platys with out overstocking it? Is 3 mollies with 7 neon tetras already overstocked for a 20 gallon tank? I have read the 1 inch per gallon rule, but I want to be sure. On one hand its a nice visual to have a full tank but the fishes health of course comes first. And I do realize that there should be brackish water for the mollies. Ive heard 2 tablespoons every five gallons, and Ive heard there should be more?
Anyways, sorry for being long winded, any help would be greatly appreciated, if any of these questions seem dumb or obvious, realize that I am a beginner
-MW
Any help on these questions would be greatly appreciated.
1. I understand that I need to have a tank "cycled" before I fully stock it, so the appropriate amount of bacteria is there. I have read up on the fish-less cycling and the cycling with a couple "sacrificial fish." Since I am not experienced, I am not sure which is the best way to do it. However, while skimming through the forums I have found people recommending "BIO-Spira." Is Bio-Spira a fish-less cycle that doesn't require putting ammonia in the water?
2. When I do get my tank cycled, I read you are supposed to do a 25% water change every week. Do you leave the fish in the tank for this? And how do you treat the water you are about to introduce into the tank? Do you just make sure its a similar temperature and treat it for chlorine and hardness? Or do I need to do something similar to the cycling process?
3. The tank I will be working with will be 20g. I would like about 3 or 4 mollies to be what I build the tank around, but I would like some other fish to add some variety (Maybe some neon tetras and a couple of platys). I found a website http/www.elmersaquarium.com/c106community3livebearer.htm where it lists some good compatible fish for different communities. I was wondering if you experts here feel this is a correct list?
Like I said, I would like to have 3 or 4 mollies to be the main fish, but I would love to have like 5 to 7 little neon tetras as well. Does this leave room for 1 or 2 platys with out overstocking it? Is 3 mollies with 7 neon tetras already overstocked for a 20 gallon tank? I have read the 1 inch per gallon rule, but I want to be sure. On one hand its a nice visual to have a full tank but the fishes health of course comes first. And I do realize that there should be brackish water for the mollies. Ive heard 2 tablespoons every five gallons, and Ive heard there should be more?
Anyways, sorry for being long winded, any help would be greatly appreciated, if any of these questions seem dumb or obvious, realize that I am a beginner
-MW