tbone

HI, my daughter has autism. When we go to into stores she stops and stares at the fish. I decided to get her a small ten gallon tank which is now running with water and plants only. I understand that I will not be able to put many fish in there. I have a couple of questions I was hoping someone could help me out with.
I went to meijers today and picked up some ammonia to get me through the cycle. I am worried if its the right stuff or not. It just says clear ammonia on the bottle. Its meijer brand. It also says contains no phosphorus. The only thing listed under ingredients ammonium hydroxide. Will this stuff work to get the nitrogen cylce going or do I need something else.
Also if anyone could recomend a water test kit(dont know what im looking for) I would like to buy one package that tests for all the stuff ill need to. Meijers did not have one kit that would test for ammonia nitrite and nitrate so im still looking.
Last if anyone has any recomendations on a few fish I could put in there. I think my daughter enjoys watching them swim so an active fish would be good. Remember its only a ten gallon though so fish need to stay little fish and not grow to be big fish:-)
thanks for any help or input

Lucy

Welcome to Fish Lore
Your daughter will love the fish.
I'm really glad to hear you've decided to cycle fish less. Less work for you and no fish are harmed.
It sounds like the right ammonia. Shake the bottle, if it doesn't foam, that's the right stuff.

I like the API master kit. It's a bit pricey but lasts a long time and is more reliable than the strips.

If she likes active colorful ones, how about glo-fish? They come in yellow, pink.....ummm, I forget what other colors. You could have about 5 in a 10g.

Good luck and have fun with your new tank

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!!!

I think the ammonia you have will be fine...
an api liquid master test kit is the best and has everything you need for it......
I think a school of neon tetras would be fun for her..or even some glolights ...

Congrats to you both and your adventure!

by lucy...but I love her so its ok!!!!! LOL

heres some pics of each

neons neon_tetra-16.jpg

glo fish images.jpeg

Angela_96

Ahhh just how my MTS started!! My 3 year old was obsessed with fish, and still is....

pinkfloydpuffer

Welcome!
I agree with what everyone's said. Glofish and neons would be great in there. I think guppies would be good too, if you just stuck to males. They have pretty tails.

tbone

Thanks for quick replys. Right now she is already enjoying looking in the tank(especially with light on). Looking forward to putting fish in there for her to watch swim around. Guppys or neons would both be really cool I have seen those in the store and they are very pretty fish. Have not heard of glofish but will try to check those out. The pictures in the link look really cool.

Of the fish suggested or guppys the only ones that i would have to worry about having babies? That would be something i would prefer not to deal with being new to this.

MissMTS

Good luck with the tank. It sounds like you are started on the right track. I like the API Liquid Test Kit also. You can find them at Petco and Petsmart. All of the suggestions that people have given you as far as fish are great. You could also put a few Platies in the tank (about 4). They are colorful fish and I think they are adorable Just make sure that you get all males so that you don't have to deal with the babies.

Shawnie

the glo fish and neons arent likely to have babies like the guppies and platies...although all are nice fish...if you went with guppies or platies, just get males like others have said...

agabr123

there are a lot of things that you can do with a ten gallon

1. six neons
2. six glofish
3. one betta (or two if you get a divider )
4. three male guppies and three corycats
5. five male guppies

you can let your daughter look at pictures of those different fish and decide which ones she likes best. i used to work with kids with autism and they absolutely loved when we took them to aquariums to see the fish

DE88ROX

I went to my local Meijer as well and did not find the right ammonia. I remembered reading on here about it foaming up if shaken. It did that so I put it back. I did, however, find some at my local Ace Hardware in the 'household cleaning" aisle. It just your basic generic Ace brand and was around $2.30 for a 32oz bottle.

Another tip I have learned from this site. (there are many) is that I use a plastic drinking straw to drop the ammonia in the tank. I like using that because that way I know im not contaminating the dropper I use for my water test kit and givving me false NH3 readings.

Speaking of test kits. Do what others here advised. By the API Master Test Kit. It has everything you need. Might be a little pricey. ( i paid about 25 bucks for mine) but it's still cheaper than if you went out and bought each test individually.

I know the cycle can take some time but stick with it. I did, and now my levels are starting to drop like they should and when they should and im all giddy!!! I know im almost there and can't wait to get some little fellars in the tank!

Good luck!! I know your Daughter will enjoy the tank. Something tells me you will as well. :-)