Hello there!
I am fairly new to the aquarium hobby, so I welcome your advice! I hope that this is posted in the correct place, my apologies if it is not.
So I set up my 65 gallon (36 in long x 18 in wide/deep x 24 in high) that I got around New Years.
I have a canister filter that my uncle gave me called ProAquatics Canister Filter 1600. It filters 160 GPH and it says it is good for up to 75 Gallons.
I have the following filter media in it:
Thick coarse foam pad
fluval zeo carb bag
fluval clearmax bag
ceramic cylinder media with a few bio gel balls added to start the biological bacteria
water polishing pads.
I have slowly added the following fish (all juveniles) over the past month:
4 Angelfish (2 nickel sized, 2 quarter sized)
2 golden dojo loaches (I would say these are medium large, one is albino)
6 Khuli (spelling? I switch the u and h ordering a lot... sorry) loaches
1 fancy goldfish (small)
1 medium sized red tail black shark
1 very large nerite snail (quarter sized)
1 small hi fin plecostomus (there is algae for him to eat, I see it)
I realize that I probably added the fish too quickly over the past month but they are all babies and I've watched the ammonia level, it has not spiked. I also have API Ammo lock that I can add.
The leave in Ammonia Alert tester says between 0.02 and 0.05 ppm (I know, not ideal, trying to lower it).
Since the Nitrite and nitrate levels are very very low, I am just watching ammonia for now until bacteria colony grows (hence the addition of the gel beneficial bacteria balls). I've added API quick start too, many times, a bit with each fish addition.
There are ample hiding spaces and territories for everyone.
I realize dojos and goldish are cold water fish.... tank temp is 77. I got the goldfish to add color and eat the nerite snail eggs.
I have the following questions/concerns:
1. Did I overstock this tank for the future? I don't plan to add any more fish, but I'm wondering if other than maybe the pleco that the tank won't be big enough for when they all grow up? The red tail shark has doubled in size in a month, I guess he loves the tank
2. Do I need to add more filtration? I can add a hang on back filter if you think more filtration is needed. If needed, should I add it now or as the fish get larger? What size (GPH or tank size) filter should I add?
3. Is my tank not yet cycled? Is that why I have a higher ammonia level with still low nitrites and nitrates? I've done a gravel vac and replaced the zeo carb and clearmax and added the bacteria gel balls a week ago. Does it take 2 to 3 months to cycle a 65 g tank?
4. Will adding live plants help keep the tank cleaner later on when the fish grow larger?
Thanks!
I am fairly new to the aquarium hobby, so I welcome your advice! I hope that this is posted in the correct place, my apologies if it is not.
So I set up my 65 gallon (36 in long x 18 in wide/deep x 24 in high) that I got around New Years.
I have a canister filter that my uncle gave me called ProAquatics Canister Filter 1600. It filters 160 GPH and it says it is good for up to 75 Gallons.
I have the following filter media in it:
Thick coarse foam pad
fluval zeo carb bag
fluval clearmax bag
ceramic cylinder media with a few bio gel balls added to start the biological bacteria
water polishing pads.
I have slowly added the following fish (all juveniles) over the past month:
4 Angelfish (2 nickel sized, 2 quarter sized)
2 golden dojo loaches (I would say these are medium large, one is albino)
6 Khuli (spelling? I switch the u and h ordering a lot... sorry) loaches
1 fancy goldfish (small)
1 medium sized red tail black shark
1 very large nerite snail (quarter sized)
1 small hi fin plecostomus (there is algae for him to eat, I see it)
I realize that I probably added the fish too quickly over the past month but they are all babies and I've watched the ammonia level, it has not spiked. I also have API Ammo lock that I can add.
The leave in Ammonia Alert tester says between 0.02 and 0.05 ppm (I know, not ideal, trying to lower it).
Since the Nitrite and nitrate levels are very very low, I am just watching ammonia for now until bacteria colony grows (hence the addition of the gel beneficial bacteria balls). I've added API quick start too, many times, a bit with each fish addition.
There are ample hiding spaces and territories for everyone.
I realize dojos and goldish are cold water fish.... tank temp is 77. I got the goldfish to add color and eat the nerite snail eggs.
I have the following questions/concerns:
1. Did I overstock this tank for the future? I don't plan to add any more fish, but I'm wondering if other than maybe the pleco that the tank won't be big enough for when they all grow up? The red tail shark has doubled in size in a month, I guess he loves the tank
2. Do I need to add more filtration? I can add a hang on back filter if you think more filtration is needed. If needed, should I add it now or as the fish get larger? What size (GPH or tank size) filter should I add?
3. Is my tank not yet cycled? Is that why I have a higher ammonia level with still low nitrites and nitrates? I've done a gravel vac and replaced the zeo carb and clearmax and added the bacteria gel balls a week ago. Does it take 2 to 3 months to cycle a 65 g tank?
4. Will adding live plants help keep the tank cleaner later on when the fish grow larger?
Thanks!