oneidkat

This is going to be a big post with many questions but I would dearly appreciate any and all help you can provide. I am giving some serious consideration to buying a new tank and would really like some suggestions on what I might place in it. The one I am looking at is approximately 56 UK gals or 63 US gals (when talking in gals should be be UK or US?) and I have read that a larger tank allows for a larger margin of error with the water conditions. Currently we've a 15 US gal tank which belongs to my son but it's recently fallen to me to care for them since I have taken an interest. We've 4 White skirt tetras, 12 Neon tetras and a shark which my son swears is a BLACK rainbow shark.

I test the ph level every second day and adjust when needed (we have hard water here). I also take a water sample for testing to the local fish shop weekly... I don't test this my self because I don't feel confidant enough and if I go to the fish store he will work out what needs to be added and measure it off for me so all I need do is add the product. Needless to say I believe I have the water parameters covered. Anyway I saw a gorgeous Giant Gourami in our local fish shop and it got me thinking... Could I own a big fish? Bigger fish seem to have quite big personalities and that is what I am looking for. Obviously I need to purchase the tank and cycle it before I can even begin thinking to purchase fish but I'd like to plan this carefully and in advance. Is it possible to have a larger fish in a community tank? What is the most appropriate? Is live food a necessity (weak stomach-it's going to take a bit of acclimatising if I have to feed them live fish but I can do it!!!) Ohh and do they bite when you place your hand in the tank when you're cleaning it?

Oscars seem to be a hardy fish as do Jack Dempseys and Convict Cichlids but I read they can't be housed with other fish easily. Oscars get pretty big though don't they? I am leaning towards either a JD or the convict cichlid but the more I read about the JD the stronger I feel about owning one. They seem like a gregarious fish. I am willing to forgo the community and stick with one fish or perhaps a pair... What I want most is a fish that is friendly and is hardy! HARDY HARDY HARDY! This way I will feel a bit more confidant because I still consider myself quite the noob. Once again thanks for your time in reading this exhaustive post.

angelfish220

First of all I would suggest not messing with your pH. Most fish can acclimate will to a wide range of pHs and using a chemical to change it will make your tank prone to swings, which are deadly.

Next, I would get your own API test kit. They are very accurate and easy to use.

if your tank is cycled properly than you shouldn't need to add any products, except water treatment and occasionaly some stress coat.

The gourami you were looking at more than likely would be able to be kept in your 63 gal but it would probably be there on its own, they can get up to 16 inches long!

When you say friendly do you mean to humans? if so then I can recommend 3 different fish... bettas, dwarf puffers, and oscars though the page where I found the giant gourami info said they had great personalities as well.

Blub

Neville

Hey oneidkat! welcome!!!!!

i'm an oscar enthusiast, as u r a beginner i would ask u to read the oscar care sheet in the Oscar forum of this site; u'll find it in the cichlid section, it is very helpful for beginners!

Oscars r hardy fish, this is why people often keep them in bad water condition, this is not right, they may get sick and get a disease called Hole in the Head, which is fatal.

55 g tank is enough for only one oscar, they gorw up to 1" per month; and can reach the size of 14-18"! they will deffinitely eat small fish and will fight with Jack dempseys! u can keep silver dollars, balas, tinfoil barbs, green severums and plecos with them. they r carnivore and will eat worms, shrimps, insects, small fish and pellets.

Oscars have great personality like a puppy; and u'll love them, they r better than any other freshwater fish.
Good Luck

oneidkat

It was the giant gourami that got me thinking, I don't think I'll own one as the one I met was exceptionally aggressive. Mind you his personality really did spark my interest. I feel a right idiot over stocking my tank but the neons were a gift from my Father in law to my son after his black widow died (5 yrs old so maybe age killed him rather than anything we did) ) I can't exactly return the neons because of this. How dangerous is it to continue these conditions until I can get another tank? We've also got three snails so I am mightily concerned about this!

Angelfish220 I was recently looking at & reading about dwarf puffers but I am concerned about having the fish puff up with air. I know this will be RARE and if I am a good fish keeper it shouldn't happen, however the slim chance is enough to scare me. I SOOOO don't want a fish that might just need me to touch it! Betas are really nice looking fish, I had some as a kid, two males, needless to say tragedy followed.

I know that changes in ph are really bad for fish and when ever I do a water change my ph jumps from 7.0 to as high as 8. I was told anything over a .2 difference will kill the fish but I doubt that because I used to do 90% water changes once upon a time... I believed it was healthier, now I know better and limit it to 1 bucket each week... When I plan a water change I get a bucket of water, condition it and add a little ph down, cover it with mesh and add a air stone (not sure if leaving the water without an air stone will reduce its quality)... 24 hours later I add the water to my tank... Since I started this my ph has stayed within the 7.0-7.2 range. Prior to my awareness of the importance of ph our fish must have been through some pretty major swings. Do you think what I'm doing now with water changes is ok?

I don't have an API test kit but I will get one, I take my water for testing frequently and have never had a drama but should it ever occur I wouldn't want to mess it up so I find having professional advice a huge releif. It all comes down to confidance rather than laziness. Right now I will concentrate on housing my existing fish correctly and will leave the bigger fish until a little later... Thanks so MUCH to everyone who helped me on this.

30yrfishguy

giving my own experience in this matter, i would have to say bigger is better. larger volume tanks are much more forgiving than small ones. regardless, i thinkthe 2 key factors in the investment you are about to make are a] can you spare the hour or so a week to do your water changes. b] RESEARCH. research the type of fish you will truly enjoy and see what size tank is recommended for that species. dont forget a big tank is immovable so it would be smart to locate it near a water source. ciclids are awesome, but all fish can be hardy provided you adhere to part a. maintainance is the key. the other is research. for instance ciclids are awesome but require very good filtration as they produce tremendous amonts of waste. most professionals would recomend a canister filter and an undergravel filter driven by powerheads. most live plants wont do well with them either, for ciclids like to "redesign" their tanks regularly. a 60 gallon comunity tank could hold a very nice asst. of colorful and interesting fish...but hey the choice is yours. remember research and maintainance are key. by the way sounds like you have a good relationship with your pet supplier so when and if you do set up your new tank ask him for a few tablespoons of gravel from an established tank and add them to your filter after you have declorinated your new water, this will help your new tank cycle faster because it will contain both types of bacteria necessary. good luck

angelfish220

there is an easy way to keep a puffer from puffing air. Instead of using a net use a plasic cup. thats it. Whenever and if you ever need to catch it then it cant puff air because it wasnt exposed to it.

Blub

oneidkat

What is MTS I have seen that posted a few times but have NO idea what it is! As I said Hatchethaven I intend to correct the housing for my fish BEFORE I entertain any owning any more fish... That is definately my primary concern! After a bit of research I have rethought owning a bigger fish because it will take a minimum of 55gal and I am not sure I have room for a bigger tank than 55gals... Thanks for the advice on the 50% water change I'll take your advice but for now I am off to my fish shop to price a tank appropriate for my current babies. Thanks again!

Shaina

Depending on context,

MTS = Multiple tank syndrome (fish hobbyist's insatiable urge to try new fish and setups, and thus get more and more tanks)

or

MTS = Malaysian Trumpet Snails

(here it's the first one)

oneidkat

Ahhhhh I see, suddenly everything becomes clearer! Thanks Shania

oneidkat

Hatchethaven, I am just a little worried about doing 50% water changes as I worry I'll goof up the ph level... I was wondering what if I did a 25% twice a week or 10% 5 times a week? Would that be better or worse? Oh and I really do appreciate your advice so please accept my thanks

Blub

oneidkat

I didn't know it stressed them, our fish get really active after a water change so I assumed they loved it... Maybe it makes them skittish which is why they're so active... I'll go with 2 25% changes in the meantime... I took your advice and looked at CraigsList... It seems it's still yet to really take off in my area coz there was very little for sale and no tanks but I am checking ebay... Oh and I will definately take you up on your offer to help with suggestions for fish to go into the larger tank... With the ones we have of course... Thanks heaps Hatchet

Blub