New tank

[Tag]

I had a 30 gal tank but it was built into my wall so I had to leave it in the house when we moved. I temporarily put my fish in a 10 gal for moving. I just bought a 65 gal with an external filter. We bought it 1 1/2 weeks ago. The guy at the Lfs said to add a bottle of live bacteria and add the fish right away then carry on as normal, no need to worry about cycling. I went back to see about purchasing more fish and another guy told me I should wait a month since the tank would still need to cycle and I should underfeed them for that period. He also sold me 6 phantom tetras and said that would give me enough fish to cycle such a large tank properly. I've been checking the levels in my tank, and so far everything is normal. This morning I noticed there's a lot of algae in my tank so I tested again, still normal.

Just wondering if I really should be under feeding my fish? Should I be doing frequent water changes? Does the live bacteria actually instantly cycle my tank as claimed?

Also, I think the amount of algae may be too much for my one pleco to handle in such a large tank. I think I should get another algae eater of some sort, not necessarily another pleco. Any suggestions? I plan to also get a Blue Ram and another school, maybe rainbows.

 

[VOXGM]

I'd look at getting rid of the pleco if its a common pleco. As for the tank It can take up to 8 weeks for a tank to fully cycle PROPERLY. As for the bb in a bottle...I wouldn't rely on it to much. Would not hurt to have some for emergency situations. I'd let it cycle correctly first. U need to be monitoring the tank levels. Make water changes as nessecerry. Try not to over feed and upset the load creating a mini cycle. The tank will have to adjust.

 

[Leatherback1]

I had a 30 gal tank but it was built into my wall so I had to leave it in the house when we moved. I temporarily put my fish in a 10 gal for moving. I just bought a 65 gal with an external filter. We bought it 1 1/2 weeks ago. The guy at the Lfs said to add a bottle of live bacteria and add the fish right away then carry on as normal, no need to worry about cycling. I went back to see about purchasing more fish and another guy told me I should wait a month since the tank would still need to cycle and I should underfeed them for that period. He also sold me 6 phantom tetras and said that would give me enough fish to cycle such a large tank properly. I've been checking the levels in my tank, and so far everything is normal. This morning I noticed there's a lot of algae in my tank so I tested again, still normal.

Just wondering if I really should be under feeding my fish? Should I be doing frequent water changes? Does the live bacteria actually instantly cycle my tank as claimed?

Also, I think the amount of algae may be too much for my one pleco to handle in such a large tank. I think I should get another algae eater of some sort, not necessarily another pleco. Any suggestions? I plan to also get a Blue Ram and another school, maybe rainbows.

Don't underestimate 1 Pleco they eat up algae constantly I have a10 gallon tank and it was FULL of algae but 3 days after I bought Pleco it was crystal clear

 

[VOXGM]

The pleco will be fine until he gets bigger. But when plecos get big they become waste factories. I'd do 50% water change a week. At least 25%. If the levels are normal so far then I wouldn't worry about it. But u never know what could happen. Being prepared is the key.

 

[VOXGM]

Common plecos that is

 

[Tag]

It's Bushy nosed pleco

 

[Tag]

So my pleco really isn't eating enough. The front glass has a fair amount of algae. So I ask again what you would suggest as a second algae eater?