Need Some Advice....

hI guys,

I Have 14 gallon tank with 2gourami, 3 platy & 10 neon tetras.....

ISSUE 1: I am lil confused about the gravel vaccum.....I need to know that how often should I vacuum the gravel as these fishes poop a lot....say once in a week or two days...????

ISSUE 2: I have an external water filter do I also need any air pump to pump air inside the water???? or they both serve the same purpose of filtering water + adding oxygen....

 

Hi!

First - that tank is overstocked and if you don't know about the Nitrogen cycle then you need to learn about it. Go to the forum' Aquarium nitrogen cycle' and click the link the the Nitrogen cycle article.

1) Every day. If the tank is overstocked and uncycled then it's a problem.
2) It's best to have an airstone.

 

good morning. ;D
I believe you are over stocked with the fish you have in that 14g tank. Are the gourami's in your tank dwarfs? If they are not, I would, if it were me, return them to the LFS.

question 1: IMO, Every time you do a water change you should vacuum about half the gravel, and do the other half at the next water change. Not all at once. Or at least a third of the tank at each water change. guess it also depends on your water change schedule? How often do you change water?

question 2: Your external filter is a hang on the back kind? If it is and you have water falling over the surface and showing movement and bubbles you should be ok. But, most folks do use the air tubes, air stones or wand w/pump. It helps to oxygenate the water and is beneficial for the fish. Especially if they have a larger tank.

~ kate

 

With the tank stocked almost 200%, I'd recommend 25-40% water changes twice a week and cleaning the tank once a week.


An air pump isn't 100% necessary, but the bubbles are fun for fish and we run air into every tank.

 

What is the guideline for vacuuming a still-cycling tank? amolnsys says tank age is "today" - therefore, I will guess that the tank is not cycled yet. Should (s)he wait until the tank is fully cycled before vacuuming so as not to disturb the developing bacteria in the substrate?

I am using question marks because I too would like to know, but they seem logical from what I have learned here. My tank was cycled (0,0,5) until I vacuumed 50% of the gravel, did 25% WC and changed the filter floss (not the bio-fiber, just the floss) all at the same time. Since then (3 weeks) my water has been very cloudy and my readings are .25, 0, 0. Could this be a really long mini-cycle?

 

What is the guideline for vacuuming a still-cycling tank? amolnsys says tank age is "today" - therefore, I will guess that the tank is not cycled yet. Should (s)he wait until the tank is fully cycled before vacuuming so as not to disturb the developing bacteria in the substrate?

Hi!

Since she wrote that, her tank has cycled. No, when you cycle never vacuum unless your cycling with fish.