Some Rookie Questions

[jusk00l]

First I would like to thank everyone on this site for sharing their knowledge. It has really helped me get off the ground.

Timelines:

Friday 10/2/09 purchased 29 gallon Tetra aquarium kit from craigslist (tank, filter, heater, hood and light
Tuesday 10/6/09 purchased 30" stand and hood from craigslist.
----------"--------- went to pet store bought natural gravel, 2 rocks and water conditioner.
----------"--------- setup tank with gravel, rocks, filter and heater also conditioned water.
Thursday 10/8/09 had PH tested 7.2, added two plants.
Today went to the farm bought some live plants, driftwood and some fish came home, setup the driftwood and plants, had fish get aclimatized and transferred them to the tank. It is just beautiful.

Fish List: 2 Blue Gouramis, 2 Rosy Barbs, 2 Angelfish, 1 Rainbow Shark.

Queston time

1) How much below the top of the tank should the water level be?
2) How much food should I be giving the fish?
3) How do I test the ammonia level and how often should I test?
4) Is the Whisper EX30 filter sufficient?
5) What is the best way to tie plants to the driftwood?
6) To add water to the tank, should I let the tap water sit for 2 day. with water conditioner?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[drobbyb]

jusk00l, did you cycle the tank first? It takes many weeks to prepare your tank to house fish. Fish need more attention that just filling a container full of water and adding fish.

You can read more about cycling your tank here.

You are in a fish in cycling situation that requires changing the water in your tank up to several times a day. If you don't want to do all the work involved with a fish in cycling siuation, take your fish back and do a proper fishless cyce.

 

[natalie265]

1-I keep mine several inches below the top of the tank, but this is a personal preferance. You can fill it all the way up to within an inch or two.

2-Probably less than you think. To put it in perspective, someone once said to imagine that their stomaches are about the size of their eye.

3-People on this forum usually recommend a liquid API test. I'm still using the test strips, which i hear aren't as accurate, but my LFS just recommended a brand that they say is really good, and i though i don't trust most fish stores, i trust this one.

4-?

5-I use dental floss Fishing line would probably work too

6-If you use a water conditioner that includes a dechlorinator, you don't need to let it sit.

Good luck. Also, since you have live plants, you may want to read this link on cycling a planted tank. cycling a planted tank

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Jusk00l.
Fill level is your choice, I fill mine enough to let the top frame hide the actual water level but it never stays that full for long.
Minimize the food that you give the fish. Once a day is enough and only feed what the fish will actually eat in a minute or so. Any more than that and you will need to do even more water changes during the fish-in cycle.
You will be testing ammonia and nitrite levels every day now using a liquid test kit like the API master test kit. A fish-in cycle demands it.
The EX30 is intended to be big enough for a nominal 30 gallon tank so it will be just barely enough filter once it has cycled.
I use fishing line to tie plants like anubias and java fern to driftwood.
If you are using a proper dechlorinator, you need to let the water sit for at least 10 seconds. It will take that long to walk to the tank.

 

[rebrn]

Hello and welcome to the fourm. First off I would advise you to read the beginner's resource center (Drobbyb has linked it in his post), it is fishkeeping 101 great for beginners - I lived in that section for quite a while. Espically read the section of cycling a tank, it sounds as though you are in a Fish-In cycle, which means a lot of water changes and tank managment. If you can return your fish that would be the best and complete a fishless cycle - a lot less work. Also invest in a liquid test kit. I use API master kit around $30 but well worth it. The strips are just not accurate, trust me I made that mistake when I first started, it is not worth the hassel just get a liquid test kit. As for your questions:

1) How much below the top of the tank should the water level be?

This is some what personal preference. For my Betta tank I fill the tank almost to the top because I find it slows the current of the filter which is better for the Betta. For my other tank I fill
it a litter lower, the current from the filter is a little stronger with the water a little lower, my danios just love to play in the current

2) How much food should I be giving the fish?

I was told feed only as much as they will eat in a 2 minute span then remove any uneaten food. Do this twice a day ... this seems to work great for me.

3) How do I test the ammonia level and how often should I test?

Best way is with a liquid test kit. Once your tank is fully cycled and established I think once or twice a week would be fine. But for right now with you being in a fish-in cycle you want to test
at MINIMUM once a day ... but really should be roughly every 12 hours. You also want to test for nitrite, nitrate and pH using the same schedule. All these tests are available in the API
master test kit.


4) Is the Whisper EX30 filter sufficient?

Sufficient ... yes for your tank size the EX30 will filter upto a 30 gallon tank. Filters are really personal preference. For me I don't like those filters because there is only one filter cartridge and you really don't have a lot of space to adjust (change/add) your filter media for your tanks requirements. Also I don't find that they have great biological filter media. Everyone I know who has had a tetra whisper filter, including my self has returned it. You may want to look into an Aquaclear 30 (the model you would need for your tank). The media goes into a basket so you have total control of what type of filter media you use. Also you can make your own filter media bags for very cheap, but the replacement filter media bags and sponges made by AquaClear are very inexpensive - around $5 for 3 replacement carbon bags - so essentially filter maintance is very inexpensive and you can adjust you media to your tank requirements. Also it has a separate biological media bag - again you can use what comes with the filter or you can use a different type of biological media depending on your preference. The initial cost of the filter is a little more but the inexpensive maintaince and freedom to control your media more than makes up for it. It also has adjustable output flow, so you can decrease it if it is too strong for your fish. The AquaClear 30 (for a 20 to 30 US gallon tank) is approximately $30 US. Again this is just my personal opinon I have the AquaClear 20 for my 5 gallon tank (just upgraded a few days ago) and I love it. But read up on filters on-line and find one that you and your fish like. In the meantime the Whisper EX30 is fine for your tank, just as you get more experienced you may want more freedom with your filter media.

5) What is the best way to tie plants to the driftwood?

This I don't have an answer for as I don't use driftwood, but the previous suggestion of dental floss or fishing line seems good. Just if you use dental floss make sure it is unflavored and undyed and they don't use chlorine to bleach the material as this will certainly cause problems in your tank. If it was me I would just go with fishing line.

6) To add water to the tank, should I let the tap water sit for 2 day. with water conditioner?

You should use a dechlorinator/conditioner with your water. If you use it you don't have to let it sit for 2 days, but read the instructions to make sure you dose correctly. For me I always have 6 gallons of treated (dechlorinated) water on hand for emergency water changes. So I do let mine sit in the water dispensers. Walmart sells 3 gallon water dispenseres that work great they even have a spout for easy dispensing. But if you are using a dechlorinator/conditioner you don't have to let it sit, just make sure you treat the water before adding to your tank, and only treat the amount of water you are adding to your tank, ie. if you are adding 1 gallon of water treat the 1 gallon then add.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[drobbyb]

For question number 5, I use plain black cotton thread. It will rot away on it's own without fouling the water.