Awsome22

Hello every one,
I just got my first fish tank and was wondering how to stock it. Its a 16 gallon bow front tank. I really want to get Platies, guppies and maybe cherry barbs i've been doing research here and there but was still wondering if anyone had any tips or what not any help you could give me would be really appriciated.

Also I was wondering about all this water conditioning and what not. I want to learn as much as possible about all it before I start (right now the aquarium is sitting totally empty on its stand [not even water]). I currently have 1heater, 1 thermomiter (pardon my spelling), 1 air pump, 25' of tubing, 2 small air/bubble stones, a filter, and a light with full hood that came with the tank. Oh I also have one small trial size packet of Aquasafe by TetraAqua whitch is supposed to get rid of chlorine and chloramine and other harmfull metals. again I know this is a lot of information to ask for but any help would be appriciated,
Thanks

Fishlover01

If you decide to go with the platties, guppys, and cherry barbs, make sure you have two females for every male. Males get very aggressive if there arent any females. I experienced that when I got two male guppys. They kept picking on the platties. Any way, for the water conditioner, aquasafe is a good conditioner to use and add one teaspoon for every ten gallons, so for you id use a little more than a teaspoon and a half. Temperature wise 78 to 82 degrees is a good temperature for the platies etc. so set ur heater at that. When you add water and decor, make sure you rinse your decorations out thoroughly and when adding gravel, do the same. Id add gravel first, then place a disk on bottom of tank and fill 25 percent with water. Try to add an even amount of both cool and warm water. After filling 25 percent, add decorations, then fill till full. Make sure you let your tank cycle for at least a couple days with filter and heater before adding fish. Lastly, id use conditioning salt as well, those fish like a little salt in the water. For 16 gal id use about three tablespoons of conditioning salt by TopFin. I have a tank with mostly the same fish you want to add and theyre doing great and i did all what i told you. I wish u the best luck!]

Fishlover01

*actually let ur tank cycle for at least a week.

Awsome22

Wow Thanks a ton I'll get to that ASAP

mrsmuffin

Actually - you need to learn about the nitrogen cycle first, you can do so here: http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

And there is tons more information for beginners here: http://www.fishlore.com/FirstTankSetup.htm

Please read all of this information and consider cycling fishless. Fishkeeping is a great joy, but can be frustrating if you don't learn all you can before you start.

Shawnie

cant wait to see it all set up!! id get an api liquid master test kit asap to help you get the correct readings for your cycleing process...it could take weeks so be prepared..once you have it set up, which the way fishlover suggested is perfect, make sure you either feed the tank every 12 hours with a bit of fish food, or put a small piece of raw shrimp in the tank to get the cycle process going...then when you have 0 ammonia and nitrites, and under 20 nitrates, you are cycled and can add fish!!! do not take the LFS advice and cycle with fish, as its very dangerous and they will suggest it for sure...goodluck and keep us informed

Alessa

Actaully... one week is not nearly enough for a tank to cycle, sorry.
but yes, if youre actually going to cycle with fish you cannot add more than 2-3. I do not recommend that method.

Do you really know how the nitrogen cycle works? the fishless method for cycling?
if not there it is: http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

even if you do know but havent read this article, i would recommend reading it and making sure you understand it.

and yes, male livebearers can become agressive, but if you get females the tank will probably become overpopulated.

welcome to fishlore

Awsome22

Thanks, for the advice every one, I have read a couple articles on the nitrogyn cycle and actually worked with it in a highschool class using fishless tanks. although It cant hurt to learn more now can it Oh, I've heard/read a lot about this Bio-Spira stuff and was wondering about it and about how much does a water testing kit go for and would my LFS have them?

Shawnie

heres a link for bio spira which is very expensive but saves on patience http://www.aquariumplants.com/Bio_Spira_s/47.htm

and drfosters has the test kits on sale here http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=4454

but yes some LFS sells the kits so just compare prices...

Awsome22

Again thanks a ton for the help

Shawnie

anytime ...I hope everything goes well!

Awsome22

Hi I have a couple more questions for you guys Um would 10 Lbs. of gravel be enough for my tank do you think?

And, I want to get guppies, platys and cherry barbs but they are all schooling fish I think, I do want to get a slightly smaller tank too so I can try my hand at breeding if i can make a deal with a friend or my LFS what do you think?

And finally.... for now, What does a 25% water change involve i mean do I just syphen it out and replace it with tap water direct from my sink or what?

Thanks again

Alessa

No! you need to use a water conditioner to add to your tap water, otherwise chlorhine and chlorhamines will kill your fish.

the best one around in my oppinion is Prime by Seachem but if you use biospira you have to use something like Aqua Plus by Hagen. The reason for that is Prime will lock up ammonia needed for the cycle sending the biospira to the garbage can because the bacteria will starve. Aqua plus does not do that.

gravel is usually 2 pounds per gallon...


and the breeding... Ok, if youre gonna have the smaller tank as an extra only for a breeding pair in think it is ok (i dont really know if a smaller tank would be too small, nothing less than 10 gal) but oterwise no, not even a 16 gal would be enough as livebearers produce tons of offspring.

I really have no experience in the breeding part so... I'll let someone else with more experience help with that one.

Awsome22

Thank you I knew strait tap just didnt sound right

Lucy

Hey Awesome, congrats on being so patient and not jumping in too fast. It will pay off in the long run.

I have to respectfully disagree with Fishlover, unless you use Bio Spira (No personal experience with it) or borrow some used filer media from an established tank (I've cycled 2 this way), it takes longer than a week to cycle a tank.

Please cycle without fish then you don't have to do daily water changes, that's one of the perks about it. That and no fish are harmed and you have less stress because you're fish are ill.

After your tank has fully cycled....tests show 0 for both ammonia and nitrites with some nitrates showing, You'll be ready to add fish.
You'll do 25% water changes weekly to maintain your cycle and keep your water healthy.
You can syphon the water out using a gravel vacuum and replace with with conditioned tap water that's as close to the tank temperature as you can get.

Good luck

Awsome22

Thanks Lucy, I really dont want end up killin off the little guys So i think I'll go with the fishless cycle, is that with Bio-Spira or do i just add 100% ammonia at the beginning and how do I get and keep the cycle going I've read articles about it but im a bit foggy still.

Lucy

When I first started out, I read it three times and still didn't get it! lol
I asked a lot of questions.
I don't have personal experience with Bio Spira, but from what I've learned from my friends here, it contains the benefical bacteria needed to 'eat' the ammonia created by your fish's waste.
So, you add your fish when you add the bio spira.

I copied the following from the link I gave you....I tend to ramble to where it doesn't make sense lol
"Option 3:
Use 100% pure ammonia.
Using a dropper, add 5 drops of ammonia per 10 gallons of aquarium water. If you don't get an ammonia reading with your test kit, add some more drops until you start to see an ammonia reading. Keep track of how many drops you've used so you can repeat this process daily. Continue to dose the tank with ammonia until you start to get nitrite readings with your test kit. Once you can detect nitrites you should only add 3 drops of ammonia per 10 gallons of aquarium water, or if you added more drops originally to get an ammonia reading cut the amount of drops used in half. Continue this process daily until you get nitrate readings with your test kit. Do a 30% water change and your tank is ready."

At that point, you can begin to add fish. Their waste will create enough ammonia to keep the bacteria alive and keep the cycle going.

I hope that helped.

Edit: One other thing, if you use used filter media (That's been in an established tank at least 2 weeks), it will contain bacteria needed to convert the ammonia you add so the cycle will go a lot quicker)

Awsome22

Thanks a ton again, lol i feel like im asking too many questions and sorry for it but do you mean keep adding 5 drops of ammonia each day till i see nitrites or add 5 drops check it add another 5 drops then check then add 5 drops and check again. I know probably a silly question but better safe than sorry lol.


and oh, i have slightly sensitive skin on my hands so my friend suggested latex gloves but i would think exposing fishies to latex would be bad am I wrong...?


Thanks again lol, I hope the same ppl dont feel as though they needto answer i just want to be safe and ready for fishies before hand