I'm back

[Roxi25]

Hello Everyone!

I was initially on this forum around 2012-2013 as Rosebud. Here's my original intro:

First time going "solo"

Hello everyone! I stumbled onto this site on Sunday while researching the many species of Cory cats. This is a wonderful forum! First warning - I tend to be long-winded, LOL! I am returning to the hobby after 13 years and this will be my first time flying solo. My husband and I started out...

www.aquariumadvice.com

I don't remember what happened, but never got my aquarium set up. At the time I was on some meds that messed with my memory - I didn't realize at the time. Been off them a few years now so starting over.

I have an empty 55 gallon that I'll probably set up next summer. Right now I bought a 20 long to start with. Since I have been out of the hobby for so many years I will have lots of questions. I appreciate any advice offered.

Thanks in advance.
Roxi

 

[fishkeeper123]

Hello Everyone!

I was initially on this forum around 2012-2013 as Rosebud. Here's my original intro:

First time going "solo"

Hello everyone! I stumbled onto this site on Sunday while researching the many species of Cory cats. This is a wonderful forum! First warning - I tend to be long-winded, LOL! I am returning to the hobby after 13 years and this will be my first time flying solo. My husband and I started out...

www.aquariumadvice.com

I don't remember what happened, but never got my aquarium set up. At the time I was on some meds that messed with my memory - I didn't realize at the time. Been off them a few years now so starting over.

I have an empty 55 gallon that I'll probably set up next summer. Right now I bought a 20 long to start with. Since I have been out of the hobby for so many years I will have lots of questions. I appreciate any advice offered.

Thanks in advance.
Roxi

Welcome back what advice are you looking for?

 

[Andy Sager]

Welcome back.

 

[Roxi25]

Welcome back what advice are you looking for?

Thanks for the reply. My initial "conundrum" is like the chicken and the egg. How do you handle cycling both your intended tank along with a quarantine tank?

I plan on getting a 5.5 gallon setup for a quarantine tank. If I cycle them both at the same time how do I keep my 20g stable while newly purchased fish are in quarantine?

Do I cycle the quarantine tank first and then once I have some fish in there, start on my 20g? I'm concerned about how cycling a small 5.5 will go. So much room for error with a small amount of water.

TIA.

 

[fishkeeper123]

Thanks for the reply. My initial "conundrum" is like the chicken and the egg. How do you handle cycling both your intended tank along with a quarantine tank?

I plan on getting a 5.5 gallon setup for a quarantine tank. If I cycle them both at the same time how do I keep my 20g stable while newly purchased fish are in quarantine?

Do I cycle the quarantine tank first and then once I have some fish in there, start on my 20g? I'm concerned about how cycling a small 5.5 will go. So much room for error with a small amount of water.

TIA.

I would personally start cycling fish at the same time. Then when you add the first fish put them in whichever tank is cycled first and then move them to the 20g if that’s the last cycled. To start with you don’t really need a quarantine as you are adding new fish so the first group can go to whatever.
I’m saying this having never done a non fish in cycle and have only kept a quarantine tank once tho so others may have better advice.

 

[Roxi25]

I would personally start cycling fish at the same time. Then when you add the first fish put them in whichever tank is cycled first and then move them to the 20g if that’s the last cycled. To start with you don’t really need a quarantine as you are adding new fish so the first group can go to whatever.
I’m saying this having never done a non fish in cycle and have only kept a quarantine tank once tho so others may have better advice.

thanks for the quick response.

 

[Aiken Drum]

Thanks for the reply. My initial "conundrum" is like the chicken and the egg. How do you handle cycling both your intended tank along with a quarantine tank?

I plan on getting a 5.5 gallon setup for a quarantine tank. If I cycle them both at the same time how do I keep my 20g stable while newly purchased fish are in quarantine?

Do I cycle the quarantine tank first and then once I have some fish in there, start on my 20g? I'm concerned about how cycling a small 5.5 will go. So much room for error with a small amount of water.

TIA.

Fishless cycle.

 

[Roxi25]

Fishless cycle.

That's what I plan on doing.

 

[Andy Sager]

Thanks for the reply. My initial "conundrum" is like the chicken and the egg. How do you handle cycling both your intended tank along with a quarantine tank?

I plan on getting a 5.5 gallon setup for a quarantine tank. If I cycle them both at the same time how do I keep my 20g stable while newly purchased fish are in quarantine?

Do I cycle the quarantine tank first and then once I have some fish in there, start on my 20g? I'm concerned about how cycling a small 5.5 will go. So much room for error with a small amount of water.

TIA.

With all due respect, a 5.5 gallon tank is a very poor size to use for quarantine. It cramps an already stressed fish, it's not even 5 gallons of actual water so can fowl easily and unless you are getting only small fish for the bigger tanks, a tank that small will not hold much in the way of fish that should be in quarantine for a minimum of 60 days. I suggest at a minimum, a 10 gallon tank or if you have the room, a second 20 gallon tank would be even better.
Cycling 2 tanks at the same time is no different than cycling one tank or one hundred tanks. You take your readings and you respond based on the readings. The odds are, since they are going to be of different sizes, you are not going to have similar readings in both tanks at the same time after your initial input of ammonia.
Since you are doing a fishless cycle, if your 20 gal finishes before the quarantine tank, you can just add the ammonia source you used to cycle the tank, twice a week to feed the nitrifying microbes now present in the tank. What you will need to do is before you add the new fish coming out of quarantine, do a water change to reduce the nitrate level in the destination tank.
Something to consider, After you cycle your 20 gal tank, the tank can act as a quarantine tank for the first fish you put in there. Just don't add any new livestock for the 60 days. And if you add a second sponge filter to the 20 when it's cycling, it will be seeded with nitrifying microbes and can be added to whatever tank that will be your quarantine tank for future purchases when you add the first fish to the 20. Again, you just feed that filter with ammonia or whatever fish you want to add to the new tank after the 60 day quarantine is over. (FYI, the second purchase should be less fish than the first and with that, you may be able to just allow the filter bed in the quarantine tank to grow naturally to catch up to the new ammonia level. You just keep an eye on the ammonia level in the tank in case you need to do water changes. )

Hope this helps.

 

[BBradbury]

Hello Roxi. I'd suggest going with the 55 gallon tank to start back. The larger the tank, the better your chances are for success in the "water keeping" hobby. I have several tanks and none smaller than 45 gallons. The water chemistry in smaller tanks just doesn't stay consistent enough to keep fish healthy. Welcome back and good luck!

B

 

[Roxi25]

With all due respect, a 5.5 gallon tank is a very poor size to use for quarantine. It cramps an already stressed fish, it's not even 5 gallons of actual water so can fowl easily and unless you are getting only small fish for the bigger tanks, a tank that small will not hold much in the way of fish that should be in quarantine for a minimum of 60 days. I suggest at a minimum, a 10 gallon tank or if you have the room, a second 20 gallon tank would be even better.
Cycling 2 tanks at the same time is no different than cycling one tank or one hundred tanks. You take your readings and you respond based on the readings. The odds are, since they are going to be of different sizes, you are not going to have similar readings in both tanks at the same time after your initial input of ammonia.
Since you are doing a fishless cycle, if your 20 gal finishes before the quarantine tank, you can just add the ammonia source you used to cycle the tank, twice a week to feed the nitrifying microbes now present in the tank. What you will need to do is before you add the new fish coming out of quarantine, do a water change to reduce the nitrate level in the destination tank.
Something to consider, After you cycle your 20 gal tank, the tank can act as a quarantine tank for the first fish you put in there. Just don't add any new livestock for the 60 days. And if you add a second sponge filter to the 20 when it's cycling, it will be seeded with nitrifying microbes and can be added to whatever tank that will be your quarantine tank for future purchases when you add the first fish to the 20. Again, you just feed that filter with ammonia or whatever fish you want to add to the new tank after the 60 day quarantine is over. (FYI, the second purchase should be less fish than the first and with that, you may be able to just allow the filter bed in the quarantine tank to grow naturally to catch up to the new ammonia level. You just keep an eye on the ammonia level in the tank in case you need to do water changes. )

Hope this helps.

Thanks. I was hoping the 5 would be ok quarantine for small breeds like Cories, killifish, limes, otocinclus. I'll go ahead and get a 10 instead.

 

[Roxi25]

Hello Roxi. I'd suggest going with the 55 gallon tank to start back. The larger the tank, the better your chances are for success in the "water keeping" hobby. I have several tanks and none smaller than 45 gallons. The water chemistry in smaller tanks just doesn't stay consistent enough to keep fish healthy. Welcome back and good luck!

B

I'm planning on the 20 long for my kitchen counter. My main desire is to have a school of Cories. Re the 55 - I need to paint and retile the floor where that will go and that will take me all summer to accomplish.

 

[Andy Sager]

I'm planning on the 20 long for my kitchen counter. My main desire is to have a school of Cories. Re the 55 - I need to paint and retile the floor where that will go and that will take me all summer to accomplish.

I hate to do this to you again but the kitchen is probably one or the worst places to keep a fish tank. Forgetting about the temperature changes a kitchen goes through, every scent/aroma in the kitchen will be going into the fish tank's water. If you cook with oil, it gets in the air and can be sucked up by an air pump or it will settle onto the filter parts or unless the tank is airtight sealed, will incorporate into the water through the air bubbles when you open the tank for feeding. Don't believe me? Here's proof: Don't wash your counters until after you put on a white glove and go over your kitchen counters at the end of the day. Whatever is on your glove would also be inside the fish tank. I tell everyone, " Keep your fish tanks as far from the kitchen as possible. " They make plastic fish tanks with water and plastic fish for the kitchens if you need to see swimming fish.

As for the species like cories and otos, they wouldn't do well in a 5 gallon so good thing you are going larger.

 

[Roxi25]

Clarification - the spot is at the end of the counter that faces the living room and dining room. It’s an open floor plan. It won’t really be “in” the kitchen. Plus I don’t fry food. I occasionally use olive oil to fry an egg. I mainly use my countertop oven for cooking.

 

[Roxi25]

Clarification - the spot is at the end of the counter that faces the living room and dining room. It’s an open floor plan. It won’t really be “in” the kitchen. Plus I don’t fry food. I occasionally use olive oil to fry an egg. I mainly use my countertop oven for cooking.

I hate to do this to you again but the kitchen is probably one or the worst places to keep a fish tank. Forgetting about the temperature changes a kitchen goes through, every scent/aroma in the kitchen will be going into the fish tank's water. If you cook with oil, it gets in the air and can be sucked up by an air pump or it will settle onto the filter parts or unless the tank is airtight sealed, will incorporate into the water through the air bubbles when you open the tank for feeding. Don't believe me? Here's proof: Don't wash your counters until after you put on a white glove and go over your kitchen counters at the end of the day. Whatever is on your glove would also be inside the fish tank. I tell everyone, " Keep your fish tanks as far from the kitchen as possible. " They make plastic fish tanks with water and plastic fish for the kitchens if you need to see swimming fish.

As for the species like cories and otos, they wouldn't do well in a 5 gallon so good thing you are going larger.

The 5 was never going to be home for any fish. I’m setting up a 20 gallon long.

 

[Andy Sager]

Even for quarantine, the 5 would have been too small for the cories and otos. The 10 will be small enough.

Clarification - the spot is at the end of the counter that faces the living room and dining room. It’s an open floor plan. It won’t really be “in” the kitchen. Plus I don’t fry food. I occasionally use olive oil to fry an egg. I mainly use my countertop oven for cooking.

It's your tank to do as you please. Just don't be surprised if you have issues with it. I can only hope you don't.

 

[BBradbury]

Hello again. Whatever you decide, the most important piece of the tank keeping equation is keeping the water clear of dissolving fish waste. Whatever fish you decide on, they should be very small and remain small through adulthood. A 20 gallon tank will require a 50 percent water change about every three days, so the nitrogen from the waste material is never allowed to build to anywhere near toxic levels.

B

 

[fishkeeper123]

Hello again. Whatever you decide, the most important piece of the tank keeping equation is keeping the water clear of dissolving fish waste. Whatever fish you decide on, they should be very small and remain small through adulthood. A 20 gallon tank will require a 50 percent water change about every three days, so the nitrogen from the waste material is never allowed to build to anywhere near toxic levels.

B

I disagree with that,( i agree with the initial bit) but it all depends on your stocking. I did 30 percent every 2 weeks when I had a 20 gallon and it was in very good condition, it was very lightly stocked but it worked( 7 danios and 2 panda garras both have pretty much no bioload) . It was surprisingly easy and never had any problems with it. The amount of water changes you do is all due to stocking, for example I could go and put 100 Bristlenose plecos in a 55 gallon and 3 guppies in a 20 gallon. I would need to do more water changes in the 55 gallon.
For fish size i would say I wouldn’t do anything bigger than a Bolivian ram or an appisto and for shoaling not something too active.
You said you wanted cories? What else do you want, a centrepiece fish, shoaling fish?

 

[BBradbury]

Hello fishkeeper. Water needs to be replaced not only to dilute nitrogen from the dissolving fish waste, but also to replenish minerals the fish and plants remove from the water. The more water you remove and replace, the healthier the fish. The fish tank is nothing more than a toilet. You're welcome to remove and replace a smaller amount of water, but if I was swimming in the same water I was doing all my "Business" in, I'd certainly rather live with the owner who's removing and replacing the most water and doing so most often.

B

 

[Roxi25]

You said you wanted cories? What else do you want, a centrepiece fish, shoaling fish?

Looking for small middle and top swimmers. I've previously done guppies, tetras, mollies, platys, danios. gouramis,etc. so looking for something different.

Two that have caught my eye are Limia Islai (livebearers) and Clown Killifish