aquanoob
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hi all,
I just set up my first tank. It is a 10 gallon tank, with an AquaClear 30 (150gph) HOB filter and gravel substrate. My tap water maxs out my PH test at 7.4, so I suppose that I either need to get a new PH kit or maybe titrate it down with vinegar.
One area where that I wasn't to sure about was how much load to put in the tank while it was cycling... so I put my trust (perhaps foolishly) in an employee at a local fish shop. Said employee recommended “6 small bodied fish or 4 medium bodied fish” from a few different tanks. What we ended up buying was 3 neon tetras and 3 of some fish that my wife picked out (they roughly the same size as the neons, are translucent silver, and have an orange stripe down the side -- possibly glowlight tetras, though that doesn't sound right). The same person recommended adding “fritzyme” to the tank to speed up the cycle (which we did). One of the fish died within 48 hours of being put in the tank but the other 5 seem to be doing well so far.
Anyway I have some questions that I hope you guys can help me get answered.
is there an FAQ/wiki around here somewhere? I feel kind of dumb asking questions that would probably be, at least partially answered, by something like that.
Does this sound like to much load?
My assumption is that even if it is I can still make it through without crashing the tank but that it will take much more attention to do so. Is that accurate?
How much ammonia and/or nitrite is to much? I don't want to stress the fish but I also want to provide the bacteria as much food as possible (right?)
My water is somewhat cloudy. Is this normal for a new tank?
I had more questions when I came here but they have slipped my mind at the moment.
I just set up my first tank. It is a 10 gallon tank, with an AquaClear 30 (150gph) HOB filter and gravel substrate. My tap water maxs out my PH test at 7.4, so I suppose that I either need to get a new PH kit or maybe titrate it down with vinegar.
One area where that I wasn't to sure about was how much load to put in the tank while it was cycling... so I put my trust (perhaps foolishly) in an employee at a local fish shop. Said employee recommended “6 small bodied fish or 4 medium bodied fish” from a few different tanks. What we ended up buying was 3 neon tetras and 3 of some fish that my wife picked out (they roughly the same size as the neons, are translucent silver, and have an orange stripe down the side -- possibly glowlight tetras, though that doesn't sound right). The same person recommended adding “fritzyme” to the tank to speed up the cycle (which we did). One of the fish died within 48 hours of being put in the tank but the other 5 seem to be doing well so far.
Anyway I have some questions that I hope you guys can help me get answered.
is there an FAQ/wiki around here somewhere? I feel kind of dumb asking questions that would probably be, at least partially answered, by something like that.
Does this sound like to much load?
My assumption is that even if it is I can still make it through without crashing the tank but that it will take much more attention to do so. Is that accurate?
How much ammonia and/or nitrite is to much? I don't want to stress the fish but I also want to provide the bacteria as much food as possible (right?)
My water is somewhat cloudy. Is this normal for a new tank?
I had more questions when I came here but they have slipped my mind at the moment.