LT1FirebirdSLP
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hello everyone,
Just recently got back into aquariums after my girlfriend took up a rather large interest in it herself. I remembered having fish when I was younger and always intended to get back into it just never got to the point.
I just bought a 28G Bowfront setup from Petco and I remembered a few things from when I worked at the local pet store (ie types of fish, food, maintaining water, etc)
I know you need to cycle, but I figured the tank is large enough where I could get away with a couple of small fish. So I started with 10 Black Phantom Tetras, a pleco, a snail, and a betta my girlfriend gave me to watch over while she goes back to school. I had an ADF but he is already MIA and I suspect the cat got to him because I left the hood open one night by accident.
Everyone looks healthy, everyone is eating but my concern lies with the pleco. I know they are called "algae eaters" for a reason but my tank doesnt have any growth of algae yet. Someone told me romaine letuce so I threw two small leaves in the tank. They just kinda float there and I don't really see him going after the lettuce. The betta and the tetras actually pick at it. What should I feed the pleco in the meantime or is he just eating it and I am not seeing it.
The other problem I am noticing is the tank has ever so slightly turned cloudy (white hue). Someone said it is probably a water hardness problem. I dont think so because I test the water every day to keep an eye on the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, hardness, chlorine and the stick indicates soft when I do the reading. Any ideas there? Just a new tank still cycling. It has been fully up and running with fish for a week so far so I wouldnt be suprised if it is just cycling.
I just remember the first night it was very clear and since then just has a cloudy hue.
How about the snail? Just a tank cleaner upper or does he need his own food too?
Thanks for reading guys and hopefully I can share some experiences along the way and help others out too!
Just recently got back into aquariums after my girlfriend took up a rather large interest in it herself. I remembered having fish when I was younger and always intended to get back into it just never got to the point.
I just bought a 28G Bowfront setup from Petco and I remembered a few things from when I worked at the local pet store (ie types of fish, food, maintaining water, etc)
I know you need to cycle, but I figured the tank is large enough where I could get away with a couple of small fish. So I started with 10 Black Phantom Tetras, a pleco, a snail, and a betta my girlfriend gave me to watch over while she goes back to school. I had an ADF but he is already MIA and I suspect the cat got to him because I left the hood open one night by accident.
Everyone looks healthy, everyone is eating but my concern lies with the pleco. I know they are called "algae eaters" for a reason but my tank doesnt have any growth of algae yet. Someone told me romaine letuce so I threw two small leaves in the tank. They just kinda float there and I don't really see him going after the lettuce. The betta and the tetras actually pick at it. What should I feed the pleco in the meantime or is he just eating it and I am not seeing it.
The other problem I am noticing is the tank has ever so slightly turned cloudy (white hue). Someone said it is probably a water hardness problem. I dont think so because I test the water every day to keep an eye on the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, hardness, chlorine and the stick indicates soft when I do the reading. Any ideas there? Just a new tank still cycling. It has been fully up and running with fish for a week so far so I wouldnt be suprised if it is just cycling.
I just remember the first night it was very clear and since then just has a cloudy hue.
How about the snail? Just a tank cleaner upper or does he need his own food too?
Thanks for reading guys and hopefully I can share some experiences along the way and help others out too!