knhansenmd
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2007
- Messages
- 4
After some rough spots I think my tank is healthy and fish seem "happy".
30G acrylic tank with Eclipse "System 3" top filter (don't recommend it particularly). I have conditioned well water and have to add a mineral product to up the GH levels.
I used "Stabiltiy" by Seachem, but would not recommend this product. It looks like water and smells like water and it took a long time for my tank to cycle anyway! And it costs about $10 a bottle.
It took about 6 weeks to fully cycle the tank: I did change the filter once and now realize that was likely cause for delay. Also had some social problems since we decided we did not want babies, but did want colorful fish, we started with 3 male platys. The stronger picked on the weaker until only he was left.
Tank has been running for 2 months, ammonia and nitrites zero for the past 2 weeks. We have:
4 platys: 2 red wag (1m, 1f), 2 sunset wag (1m, 1f)
4 long-finned zebra danios (very hardy!)
8 neon tetras
2 leopard cory cats
1 clown pleco
For anyone just starting out I would recommend:
Be patient, cycling might take longer than you anticipate.
Buy hardy inexpensive fish to start.
When something goes wrong, try a major water change.
Don't put a bunch of male platys together!
Good luck!
30G acrylic tank with Eclipse "System 3" top filter (don't recommend it particularly). I have conditioned well water and have to add a mineral product to up the GH levels.
I used "Stabiltiy" by Seachem, but would not recommend this product. It looks like water and smells like water and it took a long time for my tank to cycle anyway! And it costs about $10 a bottle.
It took about 6 weeks to fully cycle the tank: I did change the filter once and now realize that was likely cause for delay. Also had some social problems since we decided we did not want babies, but did want colorful fish, we started with 3 male platys. The stronger picked on the weaker until only he was left.
Tank has been running for 2 months, ammonia and nitrites zero for the past 2 weeks. We have:
4 platys: 2 red wag (1m, 1f), 2 sunset wag (1m, 1f)
4 long-finned zebra danios (very hardy!)
8 neon tetras
2 leopard cory cats
1 clown pleco
For anyone just starting out I would recommend:
Be patient, cycling might take longer than you anticipate.
Buy hardy inexpensive fish to start.
When something goes wrong, try a major water change.
Don't put a bunch of male platys together!
Good luck!
