Suggestions For A Begineer

[dwarfgourami]

Okay, I understand about the Betta now. Thanks for explaining that.

Im planning to keep the tank in my bedroom, do you think it might be too noisy? what could I do about it?

Sorry about all the questions!

I've got one tank in my bedroom- hasn't got a chance to compete against my husband's snoring! Actually, the first night I did notice it and got worried that it would keep me awake, but after that I stopped hearing it. Hasn't worked for the snoring though

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Alex1110

Welcome to the forum!

Fishkeeping is a wonderful hobby which will never get boring. even if you do it your entire life. There is always something new to learn or a new fish to look for. It's great fun that can be shared with the entire family too. I'm sure the research you are doing now will get you off to a fine start!

It sounds like what you have in mind is called a "Peaceful Community Tank." If you use that term everyone will know what kind of fish you are looking for.

A sad but true fact about the hobby is that many of the lfs (local fish stores) are staffed with people who actually know little about the fish they are selling. It will be well worth your while if you seek out the independently owned stores that specialize in fish. Here you will be more likely to find experienced fishkeepers who will go out of their way to be helpful. They will usually have a better variety of fish too and will often special order merchandise you might need.

Female gouramis are much less likely to be aggressive than males and if you like them, that's something to consider. One or two females can be very nice in a community tank. Just be sure you can tell the difference before you buy them. These fish are air breathers and spend a lot of time near the top of the tank.

Corydoras are excellent fish and should be kept in schools. I recommend either the bronze or albino C. aeneus to start with. While there might be more colorful corys, these are the most popular because they are so active and interesting. They can be found everywhere. Because they are the same species, three of the albino and three of the bronze would be good to start. These fish will add interest to the bottom of the tank.

Platies and guppies are colorful fish that are easy to keep and swim mostly in the center of the tank. These, and various tetras will fill out your population.

There are other fish too that will work well in your tank, provided you have the space, but the ones I've mentioned are good to give you the feel of the hobby.

Here's one more term you will see on the forum: MTS or Multiple Tank Syndrome. It's what many of us get once we have had success keeping out first tank and start seeing all the other beautiful fish on the market.

Good luck with your new hobby!

 

[Alex1110]

Thanks for the replies.

I was reading about the blue gourami, it says it eats smaller fish. What is a 'smaller fish'? do platies, cardenals and cories fall into this category?

Do you recommend fishless cycling? I have a question about it. My understanding of cycling is that the fish produce ammonia, and the bacteria grow to convert the ammonia into nitrites and then other bacteria form to convert nitrites into nitrates. So with fishless cycling, where does the ammoina come from if there arnt any fish to start the cycle?

 

[blue_soda025]

About fishless cycling, you have to get a source of ammonia. Most people use pure ammonia. You can use household ammonia for this, but it shouldn't have any scents or other additives. The ingredients should only have water and ammonia and maybe a chelating agent. If it foams, it will not work.
I would recommend fishless cycling. It saves you from having to do constant water changes like you would have to if cycling with fish. Not to mention, you don't have to worry about losing any fish or putting them through stress. And it's often quicker than cycling with fish.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Okay, I understand about the Betta now. Thanks for explaining that.

Im planning to keep the tank in my bedroom, do you think it might be too noisy? what could I do about it?

Sorry about all the questions!

I've got one tank in my bedroom- hasn't got a chance to compete against my husband's snoring! Actually, the first night I did notice it and got worried that it would keep me awake, but after that I stopped hearing it. Hasn't worked for the snoring though

snap! well except he's not my husband but none the less

we've 3 tanks in the bed room, including one on each bedside table, they don't keep me awake.

Yeah dwarf gourami's although they are great little fish thye can be quite weak. I would recommend leaving them for now, when you've a bit more experience then you'll be able to spot the stronger specimin's (if there are any) in the shop and then you'll be less likely to have losses. Same goes for guppies.

I personally would never put ramshorn's in my tank out of choice! I'm trying to get shot of them from one of my tanks! Apple snails are cool though but they're a little sensitive to the hardness of your water. Can't remember if it's soft/hard that they like but it's worth looking it up and finding out what your water is before getting one. We didn't and basically it dissolved

Cory's are a great starter fish, I'd recommend using sand as your substrate if your gonna have them, they really prefer it. And you also need to make sure your substrate is kept clean as they can pick up infections from rooting through it.

If you look at the top of this page there's a pinned topic with a list of members who will donate mature filter media to start your fishless cycle. This will make it much easier and quicker for you so have a look if there's anyone local.

The bigger gourami's are (generally) more hardy than dwarfs... but they can be agressive so you do need to be careful. That being said I've kept a pair of opaline gourami's in community set up's for 5 yrs now with no issues. They sometimes have a pop at each other but never any other fish. They're also great for keeping pests like bad snails and hydra down as they eat them.

 

[Alex1110]

I beleive the blue gourami is the same as the opaline gourami? What do you have in your tank with them?

And about the substrate, i like the idea of have black substrate, will the cories not like this?

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

Depends what kind of substrate. Cories need very smooth, finer gravel or sand. I believe ideally it would be sand, but we have ours with very fine very smooth polished gravel and they are just fine. Anything jagged or sharp and they don't like it too much.

 

[Alex1110]

I just went to another fish store, and was told not to do fishless cycling. I was told i could have an african cichlid tank. I have some questions, first about african cichlids.

1. Could I, as a beginner, have an african cichlid tank?

2. The fish guy told me that I should cycle the tank with electric yellows, and eventually, put electric blues in and keep it at that for a while. He said other fish are teritorial and i should wait for that till i have more experience.

3. Could I have catfish or snails in a african cichlid tank?

4. Do african ciclids require more attension?

Now some questions about community tanks.

5. Can i mix types of gouramis?

6. Will gouramis eat platies?

7. How many plants would i need in a 3 foot tank, 14 inches wide? I found a formula that i think is full of it. From talking to the fish guy id say about 8? Im not after the equivelent of a picasso painting.

8. Do i need fertilizer for my plants?

9. Can i just use gravel for my plants?


Sorry if i these questions have been answered, i am just getting an idea of what im looking for and have been reading heaps of information.

Thanks (again)

 

[blue_soda025]

What reason did they give that you should not do a fishless cycle? I personally don't see any reason not to, except for not being able to see fish in your tank right away. As already mentioned, you should really take what the employees at the fish stores say with a grain of salt.

 

[Silverlady]

Fish shop employees have one mission in life and that is to sell their fish and make lots of money, when you return to buy more because the first lot they sold you have died!

 

[dwarfgourami]

I just went to another fish store, and was told not to do fishless cycling.

This is typical. Fish store employees on the whole tend to not to know about fishless cycling, as it is not required in the shop, it is a fairly new technique and they are paid to sell various "cycling" chemicals of dubious efficacity. The ones that know about it are the ones that keep fish at home and frequent the internet (I am hesitant to knock all fish shop employees as I know that a fair few of our most knowledgeable members do also happen to work in fish shops). It is not something that you would pick up working in a store.

1. Could I, as a beginner, have an african cichlid tank?

I would do a lot of reading up first if you go for this one. Remember you will be confined to African cichlids, from one of the lakes and the sort of biotope they like (rocks, sand, hard water and high ph). This is not a tank in which you can then go adding ordinary tropical fish.

2. The fish guy told me that I should cycle the tank with electric yellows, and eventually, put electric blues in and keep it at that for a while. He said other fish are teritorial and i should wait for that till i have more experience.

Ask in the African cichlids forum. My understanding is that yellow labs are also territorial, just not as aggressive as some of the others.

3. Could I have catfish or snails in a african cichlid tank?

I believe synodontis cats work well in this sort of setup; though plecs might also be a possibility if the tank is big enough. Corydoras would be a big no-no.

4. Do african ciclids require more attension?

well, they need the right sort of setup and careful attention paid to the mix of fish- I'd go to the African cichlids forum


Now some questions about community tanks.

5. Can i mix types of gouramis?

What you need to know about gouramis is that they are territorial, so it is best not to keep two males in the same tank unles you have a very big tank, visually broken up by plants or ornaments, to allow for separate territories. Otherwise, you can keep a gourami on its own (they don't get lonely) or a male with a little harem of 2 females or so. Pearl/Lace gouramis are usually considered the most peaceful, but are a little bit bigger than dwarfs or honeys.

6. Will gouramis eat platies?

Not unless you get a giant gourami.

7. How many plants would i need in a 3 foot tank, 14 inches wide? I found a formula that i think is full of it. From talking to the fish guy id say about 8? Im not after the equivelent of a picasso painting.

hard to tell, depends on the plants, and the sort of look you are after,

8. Do i need fertilizer for my plants?

the fish will fertilise, but you will probably want to add iron and potassium- there are plant foods in the lfs

9. Can i just use gravel for my plants?

yes, that's fine if you go for basic and easy plants. some, like Java fern, can also be tied to pieces of bogwood or ornaments; the roots get their nourishment from the water, not from the substrate

Sorry if i these questions have been answered, i am just getting an idea of what im looking for and have been reading heaps of information.

Thanks (again)

 

[Alex1110]

Thanks for the answers dwarfgourami, you have been very helpful. I am going to the african cichlids forum, didnt even know it was there. Thanks again.