Yippy - finished cycling tonight!

Finished cycling tonight. Stocking with 6 zebra Danios and 2 Albino Cory's

 

Congrats!

 

Thanks Lucy. I just picked up 2 kuhli's and 4 rcs. I'm done now, hope I didn't cross the line.

 

Law...from what I've read the Kuhli's like larger groupings...I think the recommended suggestion is a minimum of 5 or 6.

Hope this helps and good luck with the new tank!

 

Good for you! Now it's time to update your aquarium info so people don't still think you have 1.0 ppm ammonia

 

yes I will update. Also, I know the Kuhli's prefer larger groups, but I didn't feel comfortable adding that much.
Thanks.

 

Good job, Man.

So when are you getting the bigger tank?

Don't fight it. Join us. Be one of us.

 

Congratulations!!

 

Congratulations on the completed cycle!!

Yes, take your time on stocking the tank, but I would concern myself with completeing the schools before I worried about getting new species.

Then again this method only helps to encourage MTS in all of us....

 

Thank you All. I will have to wait on the bigger tank until I upgrade the "tank" I'm living in. I'm hoping you guys/gals can help me with some advice.

I completely stocked on Saturday (which I did too quickly), my readings on Sunday were as follows:

Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: (didn't test)
Nitrate: Approx 10

DId a 30% pwc with "Ammonia safe" treatement. 1 hr later Ammonia was still at 0.25
Did a 40% pwc w/o any additives and Ammonia remained same.

This morning Ammonia was Approx 0 (maybe a tiny trace of Ammonia)
Nitrite was approx 0.25-0.50 (didn't test nitrate).

 

Just do daily 50% water changes using Prime or similar type water conditioner for a few days. It won't take your bacteria too long to catch up to the new bioload but in the mean time you want to protect the fish as much as possible.

Alternately you could pick up a bottle of TSS in a size suitable for your tank and pour it in, providing you wait until the 24 hour window has passed since you added any type of water conditioner. This should get you out of having to do the daily water changes, and finish the cycle. It's probably over kill, but I thought I'd put it out there.

Keep us posted, and good luck!

EDIT: Make sure you wait 24 hours after using a water conditioner that helps protect the fish from ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, or you will have faulty readings. Wait until that 24 hour window has passed and then do another set of tests and let us know what those are at.

 

Thanks again Toosie. Do you think my stock is ok? And would it possible to add a few more Kuhli's?

 

I'd give your params about a week to stabilize and adapt to the current bioload before adding.

Right now you're seeing a normal spike that is managable without much of a threat to your stock. If you add more at this time you'll push the spike to a toxic level.

I don't have any loach experience, but everything I've read on them says they stay fairly small. Evening out the school to 5 -6 in another week or two shouldn't be a problem. I was gonna go with kuhli's in my 10G when I first started out, so I did a fair amount of research. Couldn't find them anywhere though.

 

Thanks. I won't add anything else until stabilization, but everywhere I saw said they like groups as well. Just concerned about over-stocking, b/c I already have 6 zebra danios, two albino cats and the 2 kuhlis, plus 4 rcs which I guess don't really count towards the bio-load in any measurable way.

 

Yeah. Shrimp are kind of a freebie.

Sorry didn't realize your stock was already that high I got focused on the 2 kuhlis and the RCS. You may be pushing it with adding the additional kuhlis, but you should be able to get away with it. May just have to do larger volume WC's each week.

 

Do you think my stock is ok?

Honestly, no, it's not. None of the fish you have are suitable for such a small tank. I know that's not what you wanted to hear.

 

10G tanks are hard to stock. So many fish just simply require more room than a 10G gives them. Kuhlis are little acrobats. They love to zoom around and do concentric circles using the full height of the tank as well as length and a 10 just doesn't really let them get their motors running. Kuhlis look very small when you first buy them, but my adults are about 5" long and quite a bit thicker around than a pencil. I can't imagine putting them into a 10G.

The albino corys are a lot like the kuhlis. They should be in a larger group of at least 5 or 6, and because both the kuhlis and the corys are foragers, they really aren't going to have the space on the bottom of a 10G to do much of that at all. They are all busy little guys.

The zebras are a fast little fish and really require more length than your 10 can give them, so yes, Jaysee is correct, you really don't have any suitable fish for your 10. Sorry.

 

Thanks guys. I do appreciate it. Rather hear truth than sunshine. Well I will do what I can with the fish I have, I can't get rid of them, and I will learn for next time.

 

You may be able to take them back to the LFS and trade them for more suitable tank occupants........ They're kind of used to people buying things they really shouldn't and doing a switch. They frown, maybe grumble a wee bit, but they are usually willing enough to do it.

Just a note, I've had kuhlis and corys both live longer than 10 years. They aren't short lifers so, maybe try to take that into account and consider how long they will be cooped up for.

 

you know what, I will try to return them, can't hurt to ask. can you guys help me with complete & appropriate stocking scenarios. I hate guessing and really want my 1st tank to be successful. Thanks.

 

Well, I was able to give you some info on the fish you have because I've had experience with them, in general, I'm not the greatest one to be discussing stocking with.

I think it would be in your best interest to start a new thread in the stocking section of the forum where the people who excel in that area can help you. There are definitely fish that are suitable for your 10G, but you're right, guessing isn't in your best interest either. So try that. I'm sure there will be plenty of people eager to help you choose what is best for your tank.

Good luck, and happy stocking.

 

thanks toosie

The water was perfect. The new stock is 5 white clouds and 2 cory pygmys and a bunch of shrimp, 4rcs and 8 ghost.

 

That's much better. shrimp are awesome to watch!

 

thanks jaysee. Yeah I'm pleasantly surprised at how active the ghost shrimp are.

 

They are good swimmers... they're full of surprises.

 

Love ghosties..... I have some huge ones in my tanks. I love watching their legs all working together as they swim!! I have got mine to take worms directly from a tiny eye-dropper and they now will swim towards it when I feed them. I have tons of ghostie babies at the moment.... some survive some get eaten. I really love watching them.... very entertaining. I read somewhere that they can live for two years which is great.

 

Good morning,

Congrats on the newly cycled aquarium! If you have the means to take and share photos of your aquarium, we'd love to see them.hoto:

Ken:;rudolph

 

I will get them up soon Ken, thanks for your interest.

 

Congratulations on your new stock! There were no problems returning the others? That's great! I didn't feel it should be an issue for you, but there are probably places where it is harder to do it than others.

Enjoy and happy fishkeeping.

 

Thanks again Toosie, you have been quite helpful. Yeah I was surprised. I walked in with a bucket full of my fish and I even told the guy that I only bought the Kuhli's from that shop. He didn't even care, just counted up what I had and traded with me. That store is terrible as far as staff knowledge is concerned though, but as long as I'm informed going in, they are great to deal with.

Also, I saw that the dwarf cory's prefer to be in groups of 4, any ideas on whether I should stick with whjat I have or add.?

Thanks again

 

Well, I'd hang tight on that for a few weeks and see how all of these fish do, and what your nitrate levels go up to in between water changes. If they stay low enough and you have no problems maintaining nitrate levels under 20ppm, then I'd say you would be ok to add 2 or 3 more, but don't rush it. Take your time and watch your nitrates for a few weeks first before making that determination.

 

Sounds like solid advice, thanks.

 

You're welcome.

 

Sounds like solid advice, thanks.

It only sounds that way.....

 

It only sounds that way.....

 

:;bb