DreaminginBlue
Aquarium Advice FINatic
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2016
- Messages
- 779
Hi,
I'm rather new to keeping a large, filtered, freshwater tank. I bought my 26 gallon bow-front tank two years ago, but wasn't able to set it up. (We had a big earthquake and I was too paranoid to ).
I have had many bettas in the past and have done well with them, but I've never had a real filtered tank, all of them were in tanks that weren't filtered. I currently have one betta, my beloved Calvin, and really enjoy him. (My brave fishie survived the quake- I found his tank halfway off the counter and thanked my lucky stars he was okay! ) Anyways, the little guy inspired me to get another tank and set it up, too.
I finally set my 26 gallon up today. Though I did tons of hours of research when I got the tank, I can't remember half of it and I'm not sure where to start.
I currently have the filter and lighting set up. It came in a kit. I'll set up the heater tomorrow. I have gravel and some cool rocks in it, too.
I'm a little bit unsure about how to plant it, how to cycle it, how to acclimate new fish, etc... in short, I'm unsure about everything. I suppose I'm just scared of messing up royally and killing/hurting my fish or doing something wrong.
I want to cycle it as quickly and safely as possible, as I'm free for a week and can closely monitor it if I were to be able to put fish in it, but I don't know if it can be livable that soon. I'm leaning towards fishless cycling due to some great advice I got.
I also am worried about planting my tank. I don't know how, or what plants to get, or how to make sure they don't die.
With regards to inhabitants, I have them picked out but don't know how to acclimate them when I get them. I want some shrimp, likely cherry shrimp, some corydoras catfish, and some guppies.
Any advice for a very confused newbie would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
~DreaminginBlue
I'm rather new to keeping a large, filtered, freshwater tank. I bought my 26 gallon bow-front tank two years ago, but wasn't able to set it up. (We had a big earthquake and I was too paranoid to ).
I have had many bettas in the past and have done well with them, but I've never had a real filtered tank, all of them were in tanks that weren't filtered. I currently have one betta, my beloved Calvin, and really enjoy him. (My brave fishie survived the quake- I found his tank halfway off the counter and thanked my lucky stars he was okay! ) Anyways, the little guy inspired me to get another tank and set it up, too.
I finally set my 26 gallon up today. Though I did tons of hours of research when I got the tank, I can't remember half of it and I'm not sure where to start.
I currently have the filter and lighting set up. It came in a kit. I'll set up the heater tomorrow. I have gravel and some cool rocks in it, too.
I'm a little bit unsure about how to plant it, how to cycle it, how to acclimate new fish, etc... in short, I'm unsure about everything. I suppose I'm just scared of messing up royally and killing/hurting my fish or doing something wrong.
I want to cycle it as quickly and safely as possible, as I'm free for a week and can closely monitor it if I were to be able to put fish in it, but I don't know if it can be livable that soon. I'm leaning towards fishless cycling due to some great advice I got.
I also am worried about planting my tank. I don't know how, or what plants to get, or how to make sure they don't die.
With regards to inhabitants, I have them picked out but don't know how to acclimate them when I get them. I want some shrimp, likely cherry shrimp, some corydoras catfish, and some guppies.
Any advice for a very confused newbie would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
~DreaminginBlue