hi. Im extremely new to keeping fish

[annnie]

Hi, i live in Australia in university accommodation therefore am only allowed to have fish.. but i've always wanted to have pet fish and thought now is the time to have a go

i have bought a tank that has a capacity of 30litres (7.9 gal.) for my betta who is currently in a 3 litre vase/bowl ( i didn't realise how small the vase actually was at the time but he seems to be very happy blowing bubble nests every night and i keep the water very clean).

NOW i am so new to fish keeping so i appologies for the silly questions but thought i'd really like to do this right.

i have had the tank for around 5 days. It has a couple of plants and gravel. i have had the filter and heater running and have been adding a liquid that "establishes the bio-filter" every day because a lady at the pet shop said it would speed up the cycling of it. i was wandering if this is correct? and how long it would take before i can add my little guy in it?.

here r more questions sorry:

How often do i have to do water changes and how much for my size tank?

what do i have to do weekly and monthly?

what should i check with my water? (im going to buy a water test kit)

how do i maintain my filter? (it took me ages to set it up haha). im not exactly sure what kind it is either because the intructions seem to be very general. it says its a "internal filter, supplied with easy cleaning and disposable cartridges" do i have to replace the cartridges monthly?

also i feel that the filter is a little too strong (probably find out when my fish finally get to go in there). i've tried to position it all sorts of angles and ways to minimise the current. right now its on an angle sort of facing the back of the tank and the holes are half out of the water.. it seems the more in the water its less strong?. does anyone have any suggestions on how to position the filter?

i think that is all for now. sorry about all the newbie questions i've gotten so fond of my fish and want him to be happy. I've also tried researching religously on the internet on these questions but thought i'd better ask this forum for more specific info for my set up and to also be reasured im doing the right thing

thanks!,
annie

 

[JPKeenan]

a picture would help. we love pictures here.

I'm not sure with a tank that small but testing especially when it is new is important. Maybe daily testing till the little tank is stable. If the numbers are off do daily water changes.

The plant will help some of the nitrates. And the filter almost sounds like an internal or a hang on back filter.

Once the tank is established test once a week and hopefully will only need to do a monthly water change, as it is just one fish.

 

[mgamer20o0]

Welcome to AA. might want to try and read the stickies about cycling to better understand whats going on in your tank.

water changes should be done weekly 25-50% should be good.

you should know the ammonia nitrate nitrite and ph level minimum. they sell liquid test kits with all the ones needed in one box.

filters you dont need to replace the sponges. just every couple weeks wash the sponge in old tank water.

what kind of filter do you have? most likely its prob not too much. often filters are over rated.

 

[annnie]

thanks for the replies everyone! i've read up more about the cycling so i spose i'll just need to get a water testing kit to test how my levels r going.

here are 2 pics.. with the plants i sort of just popped them in anywhere for now to get an idea of how they'd look.. i've done some trimming and saw some roots on some so decided to keep them in the tank to see what would happen... the roots have grown so fast! is this how you get more plants?.. i'm also eyeing off a nice looking anubias plant on some driftwood at the LPS. r they easy to look after?

oh and the vase next to the tank is where my betta is waiting for the tank to be cycled. The vase is green because of meds.

and this is where i've positioned the filter.. are there better ways of positioning it?

and to answer the question about what filter it is.. im not sure.. the instructions say "filter with 2 media: special filter sponge and activated carbon and oxygen-generating function.

 

[JPKeenan]

I have been reading over this thingy too much, "reduce your water changes to 20% a month".

Help me out on this folks, to me looks like an internal power/canister filter, looks like a nice flow rate in such a little tank.

My plants always die on me. Your tank isn't that big so hopefully you will have betetr luck with the plants than have had.

That heater looks huge.... But I have heater overload as I was looking at them all day.

Definitely invest in the test kit. I can't tell you how much it has helped the health and color of my fish.

 

[annnie]

oh im glad the flow looks alright.. i tried positioning it in all sorts of ways and this way seems to have a little corner of still water surface my betta would like (hope he blows bubbles in this new tank like he does in his vase ).

aw that sucks about the plants dying.. i hope mine don't, i've tried to get really hardy plants. do u know y they die?

the heater does look huge! its a 50 watt and i didnt realise how big it was until i brought it home. lucky it JUSTS fits.

 

[rive1404]

Welcome to AA, Annie!

You have a great tank going. I agree with JPK. Maybe since the tank is still young you can do 20% every week. But 20% PWC every 2-3 weeks after the tank has matured is fine. Invest in a test kit. Try to clean out the filter every month or so, but that's not really a big deal.

Most importantly: HAVE FUN! IMO aquariums are the most rewarding and relaxing hobby to get addicted to.

 

[Barnature]

Welcome to AA. I think that you should do 25% water changes weekly, even after the tank has cycled. This will ensure a clean tank and a healthy, happy fish!

 

[match55]

welcome to AA~freshwater fishes r good for dorm since you won't get salt all over hehe
your tank looks cute, keep it up! yeah~^^
depend on wt fish u will add, if that fish like to poop/messy eater, u will need to do water change and the filter cartridges more often (such as puffers, and gold fish OoO)
so actually is better to adjust the need as you go.

hope u have fun with your tank~ u will get addicted to it and probably get a bigger thank when u r not living in your dorm hahaha
I have 1~10gal 1 n a half year ago, and now I have 6s OoO haha

 

[melosu58]

Welcome aboard.

 

[thincat]

Welcome to AA...Nice tank. If you can you might want to return that heater and get a smaller one. FW PWC's 20% once a month is fine. Your fighting fish will love it in there. Get a test kit and that will give you a better idea on the water changes. Those bottles of bacteria does work, but not to the as fast as they claim.
Like GBB said "Have Fun".

 

[JPKeenan]

*lol* relaxing hobby... got me out for about 3 hours on the beach today looking for driftwood and stones.... I gotta seep out the tannins from the wood that is a month long (plus) project.

I would advise to test every week (after the tank is established) and if teh water is fine only change it every 2-4 weeks.

 

[annnie]

oky doky thanks for the help everyone. Going to buy all the test kits tomorrow and also since im going there... shall be driftwood or ornament "window" shopping

so hopefully i get to relax with aquascaping tomorrow

 

[JPKeenan]

Too bad it would cost an arm and a leg to ship it to you. I have driftwood coming out my ears at the moment.

The park by me just ends up bull-dozing it into a pile and burning it. I was waiting for a park ranger to say something to me about picking it up. My excuse would be I was picking up litter.

Some bits of advice if you are collecting it yourself instead of buying it. If you have a freshwater tank don't collect any from an ocean beach. Plus down there in Oz watch out for the tons of poisonous critters if you are. Only thing I had to worry about was Lake Erie Water Snakes, they bite but are not poisonous.

 

[Mystery]

Hi there, you may know this but I will mention it to be sure. To cycle you tank needs a source of ammonia, either the fish, pure ammonia or something that will biodegrade like a cocktail shrimp or fish food.

It seems to me that even an uncycled tank will be better accomodation that a plain vase. I suggest you get your test kit and pop the fish in. Then replace water as needed to stop ammonia from building up.

 

[annnie]

My excuse would be I was picking up litter.

haha well it would be such a waste if they didnt let anyone take any :O

and with mystery's advice.. i might put him in today.. he is so happy at the moment tho. i'll decide once i test the water.... by the way those test kits r so expensive here :/

 

[FishEggs]

hello and welcome to AA annnie
nice little betta tank you got there. you should start a new thread in the freshwater-getting started page.

 

[JPKeenan]

haha well it would be such a waste if they didnt let anyone take any :O

and with mystery's advice.. i might put him in today.. he is so happy at the moment tho. i'll decide once i test the water.... by the way those test kits r so expensive here :/

Worth it, the test kits. Livestock wise I have about $20-$30 in each tank..... not sure what the exchange rate is but a test kit is $25.

Someone was telling me that sea-glass (trendy in crafts now) was against Environmental laws to pick up off of beaches now!