xRealNinjuzx
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2006
- Messages
- 5
Ok, so I work at home. It's nice and all, but sitting in my office staring at my computer can get boring. I have a puppy, but she just gets me worked up. I decided that to relax myself and have something nice in the living room, I would put together an aquarium. I havent had one since I was 6, and it didnt work out very well back then.
So yesterday, I finally broke down after thinking about it for a couple of weeks and just got something small to mess with until I move into a house where I can have a larger tank.
So, day 1. I bought a TopFin 10 gallon tank/kit thing from Petsmart. ($40). I also bought 2 test kits (a strip kit 5 in 1) and a good kit to do better tests with in case the strips get me concerned. I bought a thermometer, flake fish food, PRIME dechlorinator, a few small live plants (I forgot the names) and Brite 'n Clear water clearing stuff. I also got a few fish, which I will get to in a moment.
When I initially got everything, I didn't know what cycling was or anything. Unfortunately, I didnt find this forum until a friend of mine showed it to me when I told him about my new adventure. So anyway, I rinsed the gravel, placed it in with 2 inches layering the bottom, decorated, filled the tank, set the plants, and then used the dechlorinator. After a few hours of letting the filter run, getting the temperature (in my house and in my aquarium) set, and making sure everything was working properly, the water looked pretty good. I tested it for everything, and it all came out with good numbers according to what I have seen posted around, so I acclimated the fish and cut them loose.
I have just a few questions now so that I make sure I continue in the correct direction, since I have to be especially careful since I havent cycled my tank.
1. how is this for my initial stock?
4 - Buenos Aires Tetras
2 - Upside Down Catfish
2. The water is kind of cloudy I think. I mean, I can see straight through, but it doesnt look very nice. What can I do to clean it up? Can I use the Brite n Clear while the fish are in the tank? Should I just let it work itself out?
3. What should I do now, besides testing and PWC every day or 2 until everything is in order?
Thanks for your help in advance
So yesterday, I finally broke down after thinking about it for a couple of weeks and just got something small to mess with until I move into a house where I can have a larger tank.
So, day 1. I bought a TopFin 10 gallon tank/kit thing from Petsmart. ($40). I also bought 2 test kits (a strip kit 5 in 1) and a good kit to do better tests with in case the strips get me concerned. I bought a thermometer, flake fish food, PRIME dechlorinator, a few small live plants (I forgot the names) and Brite 'n Clear water clearing stuff. I also got a few fish, which I will get to in a moment.
When I initially got everything, I didn't know what cycling was or anything. Unfortunately, I didnt find this forum until a friend of mine showed it to me when I told him about my new adventure. So anyway, I rinsed the gravel, placed it in with 2 inches layering the bottom, decorated, filled the tank, set the plants, and then used the dechlorinator. After a few hours of letting the filter run, getting the temperature (in my house and in my aquarium) set, and making sure everything was working properly, the water looked pretty good. I tested it for everything, and it all came out with good numbers according to what I have seen posted around, so I acclimated the fish and cut them loose.
I have just a few questions now so that I make sure I continue in the correct direction, since I have to be especially careful since I havent cycled my tank.
1. how is this for my initial stock?
4 - Buenos Aires Tetras
2 - Upside Down Catfish
2. The water is kind of cloudy I think. I mean, I can see straight through, but it doesnt look very nice. What can I do to clean it up? Can I use the Brite n Clear while the fish are in the tank? Should I just let it work itself out?
3. What should I do now, besides testing and PWC every day or 2 until everything is in order?
Thanks for your help in advance