Nexxorcist

Hey everybody!! I'm super excited to hop into this awesome hobby, and just like everything else, when I make a commitment like this, I do as much research as humanly possible. I read a lot of the great articles on fish lore (beginner article, nitrogen cycle) and the throrough list of what you need to own, as well as other random articles on here... twice.

I'm pretty excited but I think reading all of this stuff without even owning anything yet has definitely got me very mixed up. Can anybody break it down in more laymans terms of what I need to get started (probably not a 3-way air valve... yet ), or at least point me in the right direction?

I'm still a lil confused on the nitrogen cycle as well. I was going to just go ahead and give safestart a shot, but reading the comments on the forum have got me thinking other wise. I also read that cycling a tank with fish food isn't neccessarily the best idea either. What way should I start?

Also, I'm slightly confused on how I should be vacuuming a tank.

If anyone can help, or point me in the right directions (I've already read a lot of the good articles on fish lore, but I'm still confused) then that'd be super appreciated!

Really lookin forward to diving in (pun intended, hehe)
---Jimmy

Steen16

Welcome to Fishlore!!

If you are using a syphon vacuum all u need is a 5g/20litre bucket
stick the plastic tube part in the tank and start the syphon !
it all seems like lots of stuff to learn but you will get used to it in no time, im actualy quite new to the fish seen aswel.. but just couldnt get enuf of them now i have 4 tanks in my tiny bedroom lol

best of luck with your new tank, your in the best site for info they are great!

Lucy

Hi Nexxorcist welcome to Fish Lore

Congrats on doing some research first. Hopefully it'll help avoid some mistakes.

Briefly, this is the nitrogen cycle:

First you'll see ammonia levels rise.
A few weeks later your nitrite levels will rise and the ammonia levels will drop.
After a few more weeks you should see the nitrate levels rise and the nitrite levels dropping.
When ammonia and nitrites drop to 0 and you have some nitrates showing, your tank will be cycled.

The source of ammonia would be up to you. I've used pure ammonia on one tank and used filter media from my established tank for my other tanks.
If you know anyone with an established aquarium, you can ask them if you can have a handful of gravel, place it in a stocking and put that in your tank to seed the bacteria.

This video will show you how to use a gravel vacuum:
1-2-3 easy aquarium siphon instructions - video

Good luck, I'm sure you'll enjoy this wonderful hobby.

Red1313

Well since this is the only part of your question that hasn't been answered I'll give it a shot.
To get started what you'll need is:
- Tank: What size you get will be dictated by how much room you have and how much $$ you're willing to invest in. The standing advice is to go with the largest tank that you can afford. Usually I'm told that a 20 gal is probably the best to go with. (This is a quote from my LFS.)
- Hood/Canopy: To keep suicidal fish in the tank. I'd recomend a hood since they usually come with a lighting strip as well.
- Gravel
- Filter: Which one you use is your choice there's lots of threads about them.
- Heater: If you choose to go to tropical.
- Thermometer: To make sure that you're tanks at a steady tempature.
- Water test kit: To keep an eye on your water chemestry.
- Decor/Plants: Real or fake your fish usually don't care so it's up to you.
- Water contioner
- Fish net

Extra's: You'll need them but not at day one
- Algae brush
- Water shipon
- Buckets and Buckets
- Aquarium bible.
- Extra filter media: To have ready for when your filter's falling apart, and also to have cycling in case of MTS.

Fun Extra's:
- Air stone: Puts more oxygen into the water for your fish and increases gas exchange at the surface. Not nessecary if your filter disturbes the water surface/ airrates the water.

That's the most complete list I can think of right now. Your best bet if you don't already have a tank. Is to buy a tank kit since they tend to have everything you need to get started in them already.

Good Luck!!!

pinkfloydpuffer

Welcome to Fishlore!

Have fun setting up your tank!

SkyCrystal

Welcome to Fishlore!

Well, it looks like all your questions are pretty much answered! I just wanted to wish you good luck with your first fish tank! I think you'll have a great time with this hobby... most people do. Make sure to start out with easy to take care of fish (Also make sure that they're hardy incase you make a mistake). I suggest Zebra Danios.

The 10 gallon kits at Wal-mart (In my area at least) are about 50$. The 20 gallons are much more though.

-SkyCrystal

Nexxorcist

wow, everybodys so helpful on here! it's awesome! thanks!! I have everything practically answered.

I was thinking of actually getting a 10 gallon kit, so I'm glad you guys mentioned that kits would be a good place to start. As of right now I'm trying to figure out where to put the place, and what furniture I can buy to put the tank on. Originally I was gonna put it a 10 gallon tank in a book shelf, but then I realized it's probably not the safest bet, and I'm not exactly proficient in keepin a smaller tank.

One other qustion I wanted to ask, would it be okay to start off with a fish like Cardinal or Neon Tetras? And also, I know it's mentioned on FishLore that I should introduce 1-2 fish at a time. Would it be okay tho, since the cardinal or neon tetra are so small (they're like less than an inch at the place that's selling them) to actually introduce a group of 6 of them at once when the cycle is complete?

super thanks again everybody!!

SkyCrystal

Hmm... I think it would be OK. I would do it. () Make sure that the tank is cycled first though. If you don't have the money for a test kit (like me) then most LFS should test your water for free. Another benefit of getting your water tested at a decent LFS, is the employees (assuming they know something about fish) advice you on what you should do about the conditions. And just a random piece of advice: don't forget to condition the water BEFORE you put it in tank if you have fish in there.

-SkyCrystal

Red1313

Hmm... I think that if you're going to do that you could try using a product like tetra safe start of bio-spira. Give an extra large dose and add all your fish and you might be ok. I'm not an expert. If you'd rather go fishless, then just cycle your tank with a really large does of amonia to ensure that you've got more then enough bacteria to handel the bio load.
Good Luck!!

SkyCrystal

Oh, I think I misunderstood. Are you cycling first before you add fish? I made the mistake of adding fish in a non-cycled tank before. That didn't end pretty. I recommend Bio-Spira and a fishless cycle. But I can't make up your mind for you. If you really want to add fish, then a school of tetras (Cardinal, Glowlight, or Neon) or Zebra Danios. Some people say that Zebra Danios "could live in a cup of coffee"! They're really hardy fish and are great for beginners. Again, I can't make up your mind for you. Do whatever you want!

-SkyCrystal

mitch

The best advice is don't be in a hurry to put fish in. First set up the tank with decerations and let it run. It's easier to change around with no fish, and we allways do.
also the water will have time to cycle and if you have problems, you won't kill your fish.
Its not hard, good luck and welcome

Nexxorcist

hey everybody! so I actually went and had a talk with my friend who has a 50 gallon, and a 10 gallon, and he said he'd help me out by giving me a cycled filter! sweet.

so i think im gonna set it up, run it with the cycled filter (thanks to my friend), fishless, and when it's ready to go, im gonna put some tetras in there!

thanks again for the help and the welcomes to the forum!

i hope to be puttin up a few pix in a couple o weeks with fish!

Steen16

if your doing fishless with a established filter i found it best to feed your tank flakes, when the flakes breakdown it releases ammonia wich will feed the bacteria in ur filter. wich will speed up the process of seeding the tank and substrate with bacteria

morganrules

i personally did the shrimp chunk for my cycle and it did awesome i also was trying stress zyme to and it worked out well. but anyway welcome to fishlore. and good luck with your tank, also dont feel afraid to ask questions

Nexxorcist

awesome! thanks for the advice!

Red1313

I may be wrong here but a mature filter should cycle your tank instantly since most of the bacteria in your tank live in it anyway. Good LUck!

Lucy

A mature filter, that's the best way to cycle IMO.

I agree Red, with a cycled filter, you should be able to add the fish right away.
That's what i did.
Just keep your eye on the water parameters for a while and if need be, start water changes.

Jess

I also seeded with a mature filter. Best way to go. Good luck.

Blub

A word of warning about already cycled filter pads: I once used one to cycle a tank 'instantly', but lost the betta it was for because there was not enough bacteria in the gravel and all. It really speeds things, but make sure youreally are ready first so you don't go through what I went through!

Nexxorcist

Would I be over doing it if I cycled with an already cycled filter pad, as well as using Safe Start?

Also, I've been reading about neon/cardinal tetras, and they say that they enjoy live plants. Definitely need to do some research on that, but if anybodys got any pointers, lemme know!

Also, when they mention that they like the water slightly acidic... I'm not sure what that really means... Is that separate from Amonia/Nitrite/Nitrate? Does it have more to do with how much chlorine is in my water? Or is it it's own category now, as well?

I should be gettin my tank I ordered at the end of the week, so I'm super pumped about this weekend!! woo hoo!!

jdhef

A water's pH is a measure of it's acidity.

A ph reading of 7 is neutral. Below a ph of 7 is said to be acidic, above 7 is said to be more alkaline (caustic). Most fish prefer a ph somewhere between 6 and 8 depending on the fish. Exact ph is not as important as a constant ph level. Generally fish will adapt to the ph of your water. Using chemicals to adjust your ph, usually leads to swings in ph levels which is far more dangerous to your fish.

Lucy

Good warning, Hatchet. Everyone should remember to keep a close eye on their parameters for a while after seeding a tank this way.

Jess

Nexxorcist, my Cardinals seem to enjoy the protection of Cyperus helferi (tall flowing green plant) Its fun to check on them at night as they snuggle into it. Possibly to keep hidden from the discus. I also think it reduces currents created by filters and bubblers and gives them a chance to relax in the safety of the plant. This Cyperus helferi is noted to be a more difficult plant to keep, but it seems to be surviving in my tank ok. Also the color of the cardinals against a green plant is pretty amazing.

Blub

The acidity thing is something called pH. It's a measure of how acid or alkaline the water is. Most commercially bred fish can adjust to a pH of about 7.5 (pretty typical tap water pH, but it varies) but wild caught fish like Cardinals will require a pH closer to their natural range. A fluctuating pH however is worse than an un natural - so don't use a pH lowering chemical because it will cause a fluctuating pH.

Jess

To add to HatchetHavens advice about pH. . .you can slowly lower the pH by adding driftwood and peatmoss if needed. The cardinals prefer a more acidic pH. For instance my tap water is a neutral 7. When driftwood and 2 small bags of peatmoss are added, it lowers it to 6.4. (I place the peatmoss in small mesh bags in the filter, the last layer before water spills back into the tank.) Since my goal was keeping discus, fish that in natural habitat like acidic water. I was careful to select other species (cardinals) that also preferred the same conditions and try to create that safely so as not to add stress with fluctuating pH. (a bad thing)