Finally no more fish deaths...whoo hoo!

[sarah5775]

I set up my aquarium in late May. I made a bunch of common newbie mistakes, most because of bad advice from fish store people. But now I am happy to say, my aquarium is stocked and cycled and I have had no fish deaths for the past month and a half. I'm hoping that now, with weekly water changes (20%) and a monthly scrubbing of the filter and change of elements, my tank will be just fine!
I have a 29 gallon with
3 mollies (1 black male lyretail, two silver females)
2 platys (1 orange male, one pale yellow female)
4 lemon tetras
3 neon tetras
3 black tetras
and a chinese algae eater.

I also have a five and a half-gallon with a male betta.

I know I will have to get rid of the algae eater. I have some question about algae eaters, but I will put that in another thread.

My tank is planted with java moss, and man, that stuff is just taking over! I just did a water change yesterday, and I had to pull out a big handful of the moss. I want the cover though, so that maybe my mollies and platys will have babies and they can avoid being eaten.

Is there anything else I need to know in the maintanence of my tank? I am going to the pet store tomorrow to get a test kit. I feel it would be useful, even at this late stage, and maybe I will start another tank, I would love to. Any other advice?

[Burks]

Test kits are always good no matter how old you tank is. I test the ammonia levels and such in my tanks every month. Better safe than sorry.

Java Moss is pretty darn hard to kill. Good thing is a lot of people are looking for it so if you have too much, just give it away! People will gladly accept it or trade for some.

[hc8719]

java moss and fern are better for the tank than most plant too arent they? like they give something back?