Newbie fish owner needing help
By Foxfire1875
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
August 26, 2008 3:42am CST
We've just got ourselves a fish tank but not the fish as we need to run the tank for a week first but having read the guide with the tank, I'm feeling overwhelmed by the advice.
What I need to know is, do I need to wash the inside of the tank with anything specific or should I just chuck the gravel and water in, start the filter and chuck in the dechlorinater stuff?
btw the fish going in will be a siamese fighting fish and probably some tetras
1 person likes this
4 responses
@mld4165 (65)
• United States
13 Sep 08
A little more information would be helpful. How big is the tank? Heater?
Oh well here goes..
1. Rinse the gravel and place it in the tank. Cover with foil and fill tank with water. Remove foil.
2. Start the filter and insert the heater but do not plug it in. Let the heater sit for one hour and then plug it into an outlet.
3. Add dechlorinator.
4. Running the tank completely empty does nothing, so let your empty setup run a day or two and make sure it does not leak, the filter runs OK, and the temperature is stable.
5. If step 4 is OK add a betta, but only feed him a small amount every other day.
6. Change 10% of the water once a week.
7. After three weeks have a test on ammonia and nitrite. Most pet shops will do this for you. If ammonia is 0 and nitrites are low you can add a few more fish.
Let me know if I can answer any other questions.
Matt
1 person likes this
@mld4165 (65)
• United States
20 Sep 08
your still adding things too fast. you should see the ammonia build, peak and then drop, and right afetr or during this time you will see a nitrite build, peak and then drop. Then you will see nitrate which is a sign that you are ready to add fish.
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Cycle.htm
changing too much water =10% during this break in can slow or lower this.
go slow. i would have kept the betta by himself for several weeks.
your observations on the cory cats is right on the money. they really do their best in groups of 6 or more. I keep 20 corydoras julii in a 75 gallon and they do great.
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@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
20 Sep 08
We only had 1 Betta for a week in it and then left the tank empty apart from 1 snail that came in on the plants. Then we got two corydoras adolphi and we would have got more but were worried as the tank hasn't got properly matured yet and didn't want to risk more fish dying.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
2 Sep 08
Sorry I didn't see your post a sign that my friend list is to big, as this is an important topic. How big is the tank? If your tank is small, then only the Siamese Fighting Fish should go into the tank. One fish only, as the male will kill another fish.
I cycle tanks at least 2 weeks, as the tank needs time to fully cycle. Many people that have trouble with the tank didn't wait long enough to put fish into the tank. The water will need to be tested and you can pick up supplies in any pet store selling fish supplies or if you have in your area a fish store. Some people just bring water to the store for testing and you can do that also.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
3 Sep 08
Every two days is to often for changing water, as this stresses the fish and doesn't help the tank cycle. I would suggest once a week, if your water test is fine.
1 person likes this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
4 Sep 08
The advice in the booklet we got with the tank said to do that to stop amnonia build up because it was a new tank but I thought it was a bit much.
It doesn't seem to stress the fish at all, he comes to see what I'm doing.
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
3 Sep 08
My tank is 35 litres I think, sorry don't know what that is in gallons. We only waited 5 days before we put in the fish but we had the filter, light and heater on and the water was dechlorinated and had some cycle in it to boost the bacteria levels.
Since the fish went in, I have done 20% partial water changes every two days and will do for the first two weeks, is that too much or too little? and put in more cycle after 7 days of setting up the tank.
We found a pet store dealing in fish and reptiles, which will test the water for us and we were going to do that on saturday just to be sure. I'm fussing so much over this fish it is unbelievable.
@joyadalia (1408)
• Philippines
26 Aug 08
We had some fish tanks back when I was small but can't remember doing anything to help except look at the fishes and help choose the pretty ones 
. The first poster has done a great deal of help here so I guess all your questions have been answered 
.
. The first poster has done a great deal of help here so I guess all your questions have been answered .@Foxfire1875 (2010)
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27 Aug 08
I wish that was all I was doing but my boyfriend who wanted the fish not me, will not actually do any looking after, he will forget or say I'll do it tomorrow. I know fish are fairly easy to look after but he still won't do it.
I know fish are fairly easy to look after but he still won't do it.
@siberian88 (37)
• Philippines
2 Sep 08
Well, just wash the tank with plain water, inside and outside. I wash everything that goes in the tank with plain water, in fact, I let it soak for a while before washing. The only thing that I don't wash are the fishes, lol. Anyway, the siamese fighting fish and tetras are hardy fishes and can withstand stress. One of the important thing to remember is that the fish is the last to go in the tank. When the tank have already been set up, run the filter for at least a day before introducing the fishes. Hope this helps. Have fun!
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@Foxfire1875 (2010)
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3 Sep 08
Thanx for your help. My tank has been running for about a week now and the fish was put a few days ago and he's still alive yay. I've not got tetras yet just the siamese fighting fish who seems to have settled in really quickly.
My tank has been running for about a week now and the fish was put a few days ago and he's still alive yay. I've not got tetras yet just the siamese fighting fish who seems to have settled in really quickly.