biomags
Aquarium Advice Newbie
My tank is a 47 gal hexagon/corner planted tank with sand substrate, dimensions: w22"xl22"xh24".
My calculations for fish was based on 47 gallons. However, I just read how I need to stock with far fewer fish. Some recommend half the fish.
I currently have 7 False Julie Corys and 6 Platys. The Platys I got in late December. The Corys were bought late January and yesterday. So far no one has died. The Corys have a large fake log cave, small rock cave and plants to hide in.
My plan was to add a Gourami (honey, pearl or dwarf), and a third school of small hardy fish, maybe lemon tetras.
My tap water is slightly alkaline, hard and has 3+ppm ammonia/Chloramine. Before I do a water change my tank is at 0ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 20-40ppm nitrate, 200ppm hardness, 150ppm Alkalinity, ph 7.6. I use the liquid drops/test tube for ammonia and strips for the rest. I currently do a small 5-10 gal change once a week.
1: I don't think I am, but am I currently overstocked?
2: Can I still add the gourami? Will a gourami be a good fit, or should I look for a different fish?
3: I used a stocking calculator (AqAdvisor) which seems to think I can still have a group of 6 lemon tetras. If I'm suppose to treat the tank like a 23gal tank that makes no sense. Any advise?
4: I was originally going to go with dwarf rainbows, not tetras. I think the ammonia from water changes would kill rainbows. If I can have a third group would lemon tetras be a good fish, or would you recommend another fish?
5: My water has so much Chloramine. What do I do? I can't imagine a 50% change would be anything but catastrophic. Should I do do 2-3 10% changes? Daily 1-2 gal changes? I know as I add more fish I'll need to change more water.
I'm so confused.
My calculations for fish was based on 47 gallons. However, I just read how I need to stock with far fewer fish. Some recommend half the fish.
I currently have 7 False Julie Corys and 6 Platys. The Platys I got in late December. The Corys were bought late January and yesterday. So far no one has died. The Corys have a large fake log cave, small rock cave and plants to hide in.
My plan was to add a Gourami (honey, pearl or dwarf), and a third school of small hardy fish, maybe lemon tetras.
My tap water is slightly alkaline, hard and has 3+ppm ammonia/Chloramine. Before I do a water change my tank is at 0ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 20-40ppm nitrate, 200ppm hardness, 150ppm Alkalinity, ph 7.6. I use the liquid drops/test tube for ammonia and strips for the rest. I currently do a small 5-10 gal change once a week.
1: I don't think I am, but am I currently overstocked?
2: Can I still add the gourami? Will a gourami be a good fit, or should I look for a different fish?
3: I used a stocking calculator (AqAdvisor) which seems to think I can still have a group of 6 lemon tetras. If I'm suppose to treat the tank like a 23gal tank that makes no sense. Any advise?
4: I was originally going to go with dwarf rainbows, not tetras. I think the ammonia from water changes would kill rainbows. If I can have a third group would lemon tetras be a good fish, or would you recommend another fish?
5: My water has so much Chloramine. What do I do? I can't imagine a 50% change would be anything but catastrophic. Should I do do 2-3 10% changes? Daily 1-2 gal changes? I know as I add more fish I'll need to change more water.
I'm so confused.