Newbie w/ question

Hello..I just purchased an eclipse 12 gallon. I wanted something bigger but..that will have to wait till next year. I may be moving so...didnt want something too big. Anyway...is this eclipse decent? Ive read alot..researched..seems the BIO wheel does a great job. I really like tetras and just wanted to keep it a tetra tank. I will start cycling it tomorrow. I wanted a few live plants and a school of just one species of tetra. I love the cardinals(though they seem a little "tougher" to acclimate) and love the black neons. I have a real good local fish store so..the quality of fish won't be a problem. Any reccomendations for a single tetra species? Thanks.

 

1 word of advice let the tank cycle first

if u want some tetra some columbian tertas a nice small schooling fish is any kind of cory cat or some harequin rasboras

Peace Out Callum!

 

Yes I start cycling tomorrow. I bouth the "stuff" that speeds up the process. I will also get a danio. About how many tetras can I keep in there.

 

have u got some kind of test kit or can get it tested? because I still would give it a week or 2

Peace Out Callum!

 

Yes...that is the plan for two weeks at least I will buy a test kit.

 

ok cool sounds good

Peace Out Callum!

 

So about how many neon tetras can be happy in there?

 

Yes I start cycling tomorrow. I bouth the "stuff" that speeds up the process. I will also get a danio. About how many tetras can I keep in there.

What "stuff" did you get? The consensus around here is that there is only one brand that works, the others just use smoke and mirrors to make it look like they're working.
Bio-Spira is the brand that actually works. The other ones use similar bacteria that are non-aquatic (the terrestrial versions build spores, which means they have a longer shelf life and don't need to be refrigerated). They work for a little while, but they eventually die out, releasing the ammonia back into the water.
I've used the "others" before, and they don't work in the long run.

I wouldn't get a danio for cycling. I personally believe it is cruel to the fish. Just because it can survive it, doesn't mean it will like it. Plus, once you're done cycling, you've got a fish that you didn't necessarily want in your tank. Honestly, unless you have bio-spira, I would go the liquid ammonia or the raw fish route.
If, on the other hand, you do have bio-spira, you should be able to put some fish in right away. In the end, you could have 9 or so neons, but you probably want to start with fewer and build up to a full school (I'd go with three a week for three weeks)

 

Thanks for the reply. Its not the one you described...its the blue bottle one w/ two arrows on it. I got at petsmart. I have not opened it. I gues ill bring it back and get the other one.

 

sounds like stabilaty from seachem.

 

yes, that is what I have. Is this any good....or should I get the other one?

 

Studies showed that it wasn't the right bacteria for aquariums. It won't hurt it but chances are it won't make it go any faster. the right kind of bacteria is called Bio Spira by marine land.
it is really expensive online but if you ask your local fish store they may have it cheaper. Another Live bacteria brand is called turbo start it is just as good. . they are both rather costly but they really help you cycle quickly.

>.<
Mark

 

cycling..

this link: https://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm gives a good run-down on cycling. the 2 beneficial bacteria that you want to develop colonies of are listed in the diagram. they have about a 15-hour life span under normal conditions, 1 converts ammonia to nitrites, the 2nd converts nitrites to nitrates. Cycle, Stability, etc just don't have those, can't have them and we used cycle for a few months before learning it was expensive water. That's why BioSpira is refrigerated with a short shelf life.

Cycling fishless is the best way to go. For one thing, fish that survive cycling can have health problems and/or shortened lifespans, perhaps even introduce disease to a community tank. Another reason is without fish in there, you can crank up the heat. warmer water will help with cycling time. we can usually cycle a tank in about 3 weeks or so with the water around 90, the heat isn't a huge factor though and the main thing is to remember to 'feed' the tank every 12 hours or so (that 15 hour life span) to keep the cycle moving along.

 

Thanks for the replies...I plan on getting some Spira tomorrow..I will keep you posted as to my results.

 

great! best of luck and we'll look forward to pics!

Thanks for the replies...I plan on getting some Spira tomorrow..I will keep you posted as to my results.

 

Will do..I plan to get a couple plants this weekend...Java fern seems popular...also I want to get one I plant as well....is there anyhting extra you need to put in the gravel for one or two hardy plants? Or is that "stuff" you put in w/ the soil more if you have several plants? Thanks.

 

another question...??? My filter tube where the water is drawn in that is submerged in the aquarium. It is just sitting above the gravel. Should I take a few inches off to make it more in the middle? Or is it OK where its at?

 

we had miserable luck with live plants and have gone to all silk plants now, aside from guppy grass in the wild bettas tank, so i'm not sure what would be good.. but on the filter. I don't think it hurts to have it that low, but I think it's better if it's up off the substrata far enough for a fish to swim underneath it.

 

another question...??? My filter tube where the water is drawn in that is submerged in the aquarium. It is just sitting above the gravel. Should I take a few inches off to make it more in the middle? Or is it OK where its at?

As long as it's not IN the gravel, it'll be fine. Most of the waste accumulates in or near the gravel anyway, and anything that floats eventually sinks, so as long as the water is circulating all of it will eventually go through the filter.

Besides, you don't want the intake too close to the output anyway -- all you'll be doing is sucking the now-clean water right back into the filter.

 

we had miserable luck with live plants and have gone to all silk plants now, aside from guppy grass in the wild bettas tank, so i'm not sure what would be good..

Not sure of their scientific name, but I got a couple of small 'umbrella' plants at PetSmart, and they're doing just fine in my tank. And I also have some hornwart in there, which will take over if I don't trim it every other week or so.

I've got a mix of about 60% artificial/40% live in my tank, and it's hanging in there fine.

 

Thanks guys. Yeah I think I saw those umbrealla plants you mentioned...Think Ill get some hornwart...thanks

 

Rinse the hornwart thoroughly and inspect it when you get it. I had a lonesome snail egg hitch in on mine, and now I'm fighting a small snail invasion (got them down to 2 that I can see).

 

Anacharis is an excellent plant for a beginning tank. It's fast growing (meaning it will soak up extra waste pretty quickly), and needs nearly nothing (though it would benefit from nutrient additives periodically. It floats on the surface, and provides your fish with a good hiding place when they're feeling stressed.
You can get bundles of it at almost any place that carries aquarium plants.

 

I've always had better luck with the cardinal tetras rather than the regular neon tetras. In my tanks they just seemed like a stronger fish. They also look A LOT like neons.

I always wanted to get some black neons, but I never had the room and/or I couldn't find any at my LFS.

-SDMatt

 

After my tank is cycled I was gonna get just 1 species of tetra..just a small school in there with the plants. The tetras seems really cool, colorful,cheap and hardy..what a combo. This contradicts all my reptiles..cause they are all HUGE.

 

Rinse the hornwart thoroughly and inspect it when you get it. I had a lonesome snail egg hitch in on mine, and now I'm fighting a small snail invasion (got them down to 2 that I can see).

Somewhere else on this site some one said rinsing plants in a mix of alum and water would kill the snail eggs...I don't remember the proportions though...

 

I have that same tank! It works great. Also, if I had to choose a tetra I would choose the cardinal tetra, they are very colorful.