mbrigha1

I just started my 20 gallon tank last Sunday. I waited until yesterday to get some fish and bought 3 longfin blue danios. I was wondering:
1. What kind of cleaning schedule I should use?
2. How often I should be testing the water?
3. How long until I can put more fish in the tank?
4. What are good fish to add to my tank with the danios?
-Also, I want to get a fish that will clean the food scraps off the bottom of the tank, any suggestions?
5. Is it necessary to have some addition aeration in addition to the Whisper 20 filter that came with the tank?

Thanks so much for all the advice, this site is a great tool to a newbie like me!

Kevin

1. once every 5-6 days
2. every other day for the first 3-4 weeks
3. wait until your cycle has finished
4. i'll let others help w/ this one, i don't know much about danios
5. not necessary...but useful to have extra

Amnagrla

Hello! :-) this place is a great resource. I suggest you read all the articles (I have soo many times) on fishlore.com about the nitrogen cycle, freshwater beginners, cleaning the tank.. etc. Just read as much as you can and it will help you feel more comfortable!

1) I clean my tank every Sunday. Just makes it easy. I do about a 20% water change, scrape any algae, and vacuum the gravel. However, that's after your tank is all set with the cycle. I would test more frequent than that to make sure the levels are okay. You may need to do water changes almost every day if your ammonia levels get too high. It'll be a pain for a little while but might save your fish.
2) Since I clean the tank every week, I test it right before I clean the water.
3) I did the same thing you did on the advice of my local pet shop. I bought the tank, ran it for a week, and bought fish. They all eventually died from ammonia poisoning because the nitrogen cycle hadn't even started yet! I would keep an eye on the tests and wait at least a few weeks until you can tell the levels are regulating.
4) look here: http://www.peteducation.com/article....articleid=3284 This is good for the future. It's a compatibility chart for freshwater fish. For danios it says you can have angelfish and bettas..... HOWEVER... I would not recommend a betta in your tank.. and someone else has to give advice on the angelfish, I don't have too much experience with them.
- maybe a ghost shrimp!
5) I have a whisper, too. I bought another pump and plugged in a clam that bubbles lol, and a bubble wand to go across the back. Not only will it help the fish, but it looks pretty! :-)

I hope this helped...

cress10

1. Your tank is most likely still cycling. I would every 3 days.
2. Every other day.
3. Be patient with this. Wait until fully cycle. Being overly anxious with this will kill your fish. I am speaking by experience here.
4. Don't know.
5. Doesn't hurt!

COBettaCouple

welcome to fishlore!

1. we clean our tanks once a week, with a 25% water change.
2. we test the tanks weekly also, 2 days after the cleaning day with our api master freshwater kit.
3. it's best to wait until you are cycled on the tank but if you add them sooner, clean and test more frequently, like every 2 days.
4. as long as you have 6 danios, they tend to leave other fish alone, but they take up 12 of your 20 gallons and a couple corys to clean the food scraps will take up 4 more, leaving you with 4" of fish left. (Using the 1" of adult size per gallon guideline). a few neon tetras could fit into the tank.
5. i'd highly, extremely recommend a good air stone or 2 - the fish benefit from it and sometimes will find the bubbles a source of playfulness.

Check this document on the cycle for the best way to get your fishless tank cycled: http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm. When we cycle a tank fishless, i add flakes every 12 hours and test every 2-3 days and usually don't change the water until the tank is showing 0 for ammonia and nitrites. Then i will clean the tank (keeping the filter sponge and substrata wet), put new treated tap water in and do 25% water changes every 2 days until the nitrates are 10 or lower. Then it's time to add fish.

mirna

I'm not an expert but the following is what I learned when I started my 20g tank 3 months ago.

1. If your tank is not cycled (within water perimeters), I would not clean the tank and only do 25% water changes. There is good bacteria building in your gravel, plants etc.. that is needed. If you clean gravel you will disturb that good bacteria building. It's best that you try not to disturb the tank as much as possible while the cycle is completed. My tank took 6 weeks to complete the cycle.
2. Test the water every other day until your water perimeters are right. Do 25% water changes after testing if the water perimeters are not right. Don't let the ammonia readings go up because this will get your fish sick or will kill them. I learned this the hard way. My ammonia readings went up as high as 8.0 and got my fish sick.
3. Do not put any more fish until your tank is fully cycled and water perimeters are good.
4. Read up on the fish profiles provided in this site to find companions for your danios. It is very important that you get as much information possible on your fish before you purchase. I have ghost shrimp to clean the bottom of my tank. They are interesting to watch and do a good job.
5. I would definitely get additional aeration for your tank. It is healthy for your fish and will improve the amount of oxygen in the water.