Complete beginner questions about tank set up

HI there. So my fiancee is a big fish fan and has wanted an aquarium for a while now. As we are on a budget we got the tank with fish already in it off their previous owner who had has the tank for a number of years.

We have a 60 litre tank with 1 honey gourami who is a 3 year old male. And about 5 neon tetras.

The tank came with everything the previous owner had. It has a little section vuild into tank that hold the thermometer, the filter and something else I'm not sure what it is but it makes bubbles, not sure If it's a thing that has something to do with oxygen I think that's what the previous owner said.

We also have an algae scraper, nets, gravel and two fake plants as well as a big log and a small log (big log is not in tank as it's too big. I feel it crowds the tank but if you guys suggest putting it in I will certainly do it.

We didn't know about doing cycles or about treating the water and we bought more fish to add, we were told they were fine to add, bought a molly and a glowlight tetra to add to our tank as well as 4 neons add to our two neons and honey gourami.

The molly to died quite quickly and so did one of our neons and another two neons went later.

We were told to place them in bag in water for twenty mins before introduction into tank only found out later that you werewill supposed to add water in gradually to them before placing in tank.

I feel so bad as our lack of info and carrying out things properly has ended in our beautiful fishes deaths.

We have treated our water now to remove chlorine but I am unsure how to do a cycle, especially with fish in it, and unsure what type of tank I have so not sure how to work filter and things

I'm so sorry for the trouble but I'd like to prevent any more deaths to the fish and inform myself to take the best care of them I can. Oh we also have an air stone but unsure how to use.

If someone could help I'd be so greatful thanks!

 

Welcome to fishlore!
As far as stocking goes, neons and glowlights need groups of 6+ of their own species (so 6 neons and 6 glowlights), however, this would be too much for this size tank. Rehome the one glowlight and up the school of neons to 10. Don't add another molly as they need a 30 gallon minimum.

Do you know how to test your water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? Do you know the nitrogen cycle?

 

Welcome to fishlore!
As far as stocking goes, neons and glowlights need groups of 6+ of their own species (so 6 neons and 6 glowlights), however, this would be too much for this size tank. Rehome the one glowlight and up the school of neons to 10. Don't add another molly as they need a 30 gallon minimum.

Do you know how to test your water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? Do you know the nitrogen cycle?

Unfortunately our molly, one neon and our only glowlight tetra all died. We now have 1 honey gourami and 5 neon tetras. 60 litre tank so not huge. I know about the nitrogen cycle and how to test for certain things yes. I know you need to filter the water and do a partial water chance every so often too. We are hoping to upgrade to a much bigger tank when possible in future so would be hoping to use this tank as a quarantine tank in future but it's their tank for now. We didn't do any cycles before getting the tank as the previous owner when he gave us the tank have us the tank complete with everything in it still including some water and the fish too.

What can I do to make sure this tank is the best condition for my fish to live in?

 

Do you have a test kit, and do you know your tanks parameters?
Sorry for your losses.

 

I don't have a test kit no but that's number 1 on my list of priorities at the moment. I am not sure of tank parameters no. Yes we only had them for a day but I was quite upset when I found they had died and It wasn't even going to be my fish tank originally but I've fallen in love with this hobby and want to do my best to have happy fish in a good tank

 

Once you get one, I can better help you with your tank, as it will tell me if your tank is cycled or not. Make sure to get a liquid test kit, as strips are inaccurate.

 

Welcome to fishlore!
As far as stocking goes, neons and glowlights need groups of 6+ of their own species (so 6 neons and 6 glowlights), however, this would be too much for this size tank. Rehome the one glowlight and up the school of neons to 10. Don't add another molly as they need a 30 gallon minimum.

Do you know how to test your water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? Do you know the nitrogen cycle?

Unfortunately our molly, one neon and our only glowlight tetra all died. We now have 1 honey gourami and 5 neon tetras. 60 litre tank so not huge. I know about the nitrogen cycle and how to test for certain things yes. I know you need to filter the water and do a partial water chance every so often too. We are hoping to upgrade to a much bigger tank when possible in future so would be hoping to use this tank as a quarantine tank in future but it's their tank for now. We didn't do any cycles before getting the tank as the previous owner when he gave us the tank have us the tank complete with everything in it still including some water and the fish too.

What can I do to make sure this tank is the best condition for my fish to live in?

Okay I will get a liquid test kit thank you is there any you recommend?

 

Do you have the API master test kit where you live? (Are you in Scotland?)

 

Welcome to fishlore!
As far as stocking goes, neons and glowlights need groups of 6+ of their own species (so 6 neons and 6 glowlights), however, this would be too much for this size tank. Rehome the one glowlight and up the school of neons to 10. Don't add another molly as they need a 30 gallon minimum.

Do you know how to test your water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? Do you know the nitrogen cycle?

Unfortunately our molly, one neon and our only glowlight tetra all died. We now have 1 honey gourami and 5 neon tetras. 60 litre tank so not huge. I know about the nitrogen cycle and how to test for certain things yes. I know you need to filter the water and do a partial water chance every so often too. We are hoping to upgrade to a much bigger tank when possible in future so would be hoping to use this tank as a quarantine tank in future but it's their tank for now. We didn't do any cycles before getting the tank as the previous owner when he gave us the tank have us the tank complete with everything in it still including some water and the fish too.

What can I do to make sure this tank is the best condition for my fish to live in?

I live in Scotland yes. I think we do have the master kit here yes I'm sure I recall seeing it in one of the shops here. If not would it be okay to order online? Also, I have a resun sunlike 50w thermostat is that adequate for my tank size?

 

Yes, that's fine your tank size, and yes, you can order online.

 

I'm also not sure about certain things in my tank. I have a sponge like item which I assume is a sponge filter but it is not attached to anything I don't think and there is also anot item which has water coming out of it and is creating bubbles in the tank. Am I right in assuming that is the filter part? The previous owner did say that there was a filter and heater in the tank.

 

95% of the members on this forum are in agreement that the API Master Test Kit is the most accurate. You can get it for around $30 and it will last quite a long time. I have several tanks and the kit has already lasted seven months.

 

That looks like the one I will get then. I'd there anything else I should know about? As I'm a complete newbie at this and want to prevent any more fish dying !

 

Can you get Seachem Prime water conditioner over there?

 

WELCOME to Fishlore!!!
Good luck! Do you have a picture of your tank?

 

Sorry for late reply everybody I just seen these replies yes I have a few pictures of my tank and I can get seachem prime conditioner on amazon delivered not sure if they have it in stores here.

This is front view of my tank before I added some more fish in

 

Did you decide on what to stock the tank with?

Here's the list for the only fish that you can stock in a 10 gallon: https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/stocking-list-for-10-gallons.207629/

 

First stocked with more neon tetras and a molly and glowlight tetra but my molly and glowlight tetra died as well as one of my neons. So we then bought 2 guppies (male) 1 dalmation molly 2 electrich blue tetras and 4 more neon tetras. One of my male guppies just died though. No idea why! We found him and when we picked him up and put him into a container we saw his neck was like curved as if it looks broken...very sad about that.

 

What do you have in the tank now?

Not sure if this was mentioned but neons shouldn't be housed in a 10 gallon. 20 gallon is minimum for most fish that you see in the pet store. The minimum tank size for mollies is a 29 gallon aquarium. Short fin mollies get 4 inches while sailfin mollies get 6 inches! That is why a 29 gallon is recommended

 

Oh right I knew my tank was a bit on the small side but I didn't know that it was that bad for them. My molly has been acting erratic since we put her in there. She was banging her body off the sides of tank and hiding in corner. She seemed very reserved not active at all. Now she's lethargic. Still upright but hardly moving. She sometimes gets bursts of energy and moves around but sadly missed she keeps sinking and floating, seems like she's trying so hard just to stay afloat. Her wee mouth is moving and she's eight st the top and middle of the tank. I'm really worried about her I feel like I'm losing her and do not want that to happen. She's not been acting right since we got her. I've grown so attack to herm I dot have water test kit and have no idea what ithe was when it was with the previous owners so I'm worried there's something in there killing her as if she goes this will be our 5th fish to die and I just can't get the port things knowing they might die because of my tank set up.

 

I suggest trying to give her away either to someone you know or the pet stores. Otherwise I suggest buying a 29 gallon aquarium! Do you know what your water parameters are?

 

I got a test kit it it doesn't test for ammonia. Apart from thathe, gh and kh is showing up as 0 n02 is at 0.5 and n03 is at 0 I should be getting another tank asap.

 

What type of test kit is it? A strip or liquid test? Sounds like you got a strip test to me, if it doesn't have an ammonia test. They're inaccurate. Get a liquid test kit.

 

It seemed like a good kit It cost me a small fortune especially to get it delivered. Ah I guess I'll just get the 25 pound master test kit things from apI if that seemed the best?

 

Yeah, it is. It may seem more expensive at first, but it lasts a lot longer and strips are more expensive to use in the long run.

 

Okay that's fine might just have to wait as I don't have the money right now. But will definitely when I have money