Abby

Hi there!

My name is Abby (if that isnt obvious by my username! ), and I live on a small farm in Michigan. I found this forum through Google.

I have one year old 29 gallon fishtank, with 20something assorted platies (red wag, pink dalmation, black tuxedo, orange mickey mouse, and mixes of all of these) and 3 corydoras catfish (2 peppered, 1 panda). I figured since I have mostly platies, I'll post mostly in the platy forum. My tank has easy plants; elodea and dwarf amazon sword. It also has 2 small driftwoods. I know that they arent the best for livebearers, but my platies seem to be er, 'bearing' as well as ever.

I like fish because it is facinating to watch them, and to be able to control almost every aspect of the little animals lives. Platies are a favorite because of their bright colors, happy personalities, and breeding habits. I try to give my fish good care. I clean the tank once a week or 2 weeks by siphoning 25 percent or less of the water out from the bottom. I also scrape algae and prune plants when needed, of course. I change the filter material alternately every 3-4 months.

Anyway, that's enough about me.

Bye!

susitna-flower

Hi Abby, WELCOME to FISHLORE !

Sounds like you are not having too many problems at this point, but THAT isn't the only reason to join us here, and you are welcome to post in any area you wish to.....Expand your interests, and hopefully we can encourage you in your MTS quest... Most here suffer from this, Multiple Tank Syndrome.....and won't be happy till you join us!

What type of filter do you use on your tank? Sometimes when you completely change filter material, it wipes out so much of the bacteria needed to complete the nitrogen cycle, that it can put your tank into a "mini cycle", this is stressful on your fish. An alternative is to rinse your material in used tank water. This can be done every week as you are doing your water change.

As you become more comfortable with your tank, you will realize the filter material is more flexible than most store employees would want you to know.....You don't REALLY have to buy carbon filters to run all the time, which need to be changed out, you shouldn't use ammonia remover media, and other such things that are more about SELLING you things, than the health of your tank.

Carbon is good to use ONLY after using medications, it removes the medication and you should discard after using it 24 hours....

Any of the "chemical filtration" media have a certain capacity for taking things out of your tank, when that capacity is exceeded, it then releases these chemicals back into your tank. This can have fatal consequences. Much better NOT to use them at all. This gives you more room for using more biological / mechanical media. Most filters only have so much space, and the more media you can use like sponges, biomax, filter floss, etc., the more room for bacteria to grow, and the better job they can do in the nitrogen cycle!

OK, OK , I'll get off my soap box....sorry, Glad you joined us, post often, and I hope we can be helpful if you have any questions.

finmama

Hi I have a related question...sorry to butt in... can doing a gravel cleaning and water change and rinsing filter media (in removed water of course) on the same day cause a mini-cycle?

susitna-flower

Cleaning decorations, filter materials, vacuuming and water changing should be split up over several days. A good plan is to do 1/2 of the tank each week. The bacteria do not just "float" in the water, so water changes don't usually affect the cycle.

Just swishing filter material in used tank water shouldn't hurt, but DON'T use untreated tap water, or water that is too hot or cold as this will kill bacteria.

It is always a good idea to test your water after a vigorous cleaning to know for sure. Any rise in ammonia or nitrite, and you can do small water changes every day until it stabilizes.

zpecialt

Hi Abby! Nice to meet you. It sounds like you have a lovely little setup. Platies are such adorable little fish. I'm in the process of setting up a second tank with livebearers and would love to see your setup if you are able to post pics sometime.

Chief_waterchanger

Welcome to Fishlore, Abby. I hope you find this place as enjoyable as the rest of us.

Dino

Pleasure to have you with us!!

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore. I moved your post to the welcome forum (more traffic). Platys are fun little fish and we love them.

I clean our tanks & do water changes the same day and they don't mini-cycle on me. I would recommend about 40% weekly though, especially with a tank that's overstocked.

The general guideline with small freshwater fish is 1 gallon per adult inch of fish and at 2" per fish, you're looking at needing a 55g for all of them. They are little pooping stomachs with fins.

Bonochick

Welcome, Abby! I'm also in Michigan, and I also have a 29 gallon that's about a year old.

chickadee

Welcome and I hope you enjoy it here. We would like you to browse and enjoy any part of the forum you feel comfortable joining into and thank you for joining us.

Rose

≈ D ≈

Abby

Thanks for the welcome!

Susnita Sunflower, I just want you to know and not worry, that I dont change both the carbon and the floss at the same time. This seems to have left enough bacteria to not kill the fish the times that I've done it. And if it does take out too much bacteria, then I figure the gravel still has alot. No?

I though carbon helped keep the water clear? Thats why I use it.

I have an AquaClear 50 filter. It was on sale! But it seems to have done the job.

I dont use ammonia removing agents, so I guess I dont have to worry about that. But I do add a bit of StressCoat to the water changes because we have copper water pipes in our house and StressCoat is advertised to detoxify that sort of thing. If I dont have to use it, though, let me know so that I dont have to buy that stuff anymore! $$$

I'd gladly post some pictures! We just got a new camera that actually works for stuff like fish.
BTW, to post them do you post the IMG on photobucket?

Ciao, and thanks again!

Abby

Bonochick; we seem to be similar people. Michigan, same size tank, tank is the same age.. spooky.
Where is Salem MI? I've never heard of it. North? South? Im in the mid LP.

susitna-flower

Abby, I was rambling....sorry. Mostly I just meant in your first post you said you "change the filter material alternately every 3 or 4 months". I was trying to steer you away from using the type of filter material that HAS to be changed out, like carbon or ammonia removal materials, and changing to the materials like floss, sponges, or ceramic (many different shapes here), which are either exclusively for bacterial colonization, or to help "strain" particles but also provide a place for bacteria to grow.

The only thing you do with these filter materials is to swish them in discarded tank water, you don't "replace them".

You are right, there is also bacteria in the gravel, and if you don't have an overcrowded tank, the bacteria left even after a radical cleaning may be enough to keep the tank healthy, but there is always a chance you can send your tank into a mini-cycle, which will result in an ammonia spike, and dead fish.

chickadee

Hi and welcome

To post pictures you just scroll down from the post you write and get to a button that reads "Manage Attachments" and when you press it with your pointer a pop-up will come up with space for you to "Browse" for 5 photos in your files and attach them to the post as long as they are within the size limits of the photos allowed. Sometimes they need to be sized and if the program will not take them just contact me by e-mail at chickadee_1@charter.net and I will be glad to resize them for you to be posted.

Rose