Hi,
So I was on another forum when I started out but it wasn't very active so I thought I'd come here. I have been fishless cycling my fluval 200 with an ex1200 filter with a load of donor media and managed to cycle it in just over a week, the nitrites were gone this morning. This is my first time keeping fish fyi
I changed about 60% of the water today, partly to make it easier to put the sand in. I did a whip round of nearly all my LFS' to check out their fish and picked up a couple of ornaments for the tank, and see where I could get some plants from. Tomorrow I'm going to put the lights on then go get plants and the rest of the decorations and a backdrop (I'm thinking just blue/grey crepe paper hung on the back initially)
There are a couple of questions I'd like to ask but first I'll just mention I do have a few more things so I think I have everything covered - I'm keeping the internal filter that came with it running, for its built in air bubbler, and also so I can use it in a hospital/quarantine tank as need, same for the heater but I also have got a hydor inline. I have test kit(s), prime, a couple of basic meds, basically all the bits and bobs you'd expect. So.
1. quarantine/hospital tank - I will get one prior to or at the same time as getting fish, but I'm assuming if I'm adding my first set then the main tank is effectively the quarantine tank, as I need to add them all at once to keep it fully cycled?
2. stocking plan: I intend most likely next weekend to add the following -
platys/swordtails
corys
boesmani rainbows
My water is quite hard and somewhat alkaline although I will need to retest once the aquarium is fully planted and decorated, and I've read that Sterbai Corys are the most suited (of the corys) to that sort of water. I'm also not sure if the boesmanis will be a little too big, might be pushing it but they will be the 'centrepiece fish'. My housemate showed me a maidenhead aquatics today where they had both Sterbai Corys and Boesmanis, neither of which I've seen elsewhere yet so I figured I'd get the platys/swordtails from there also.
I then would want to add loaches (probably kuhli) and a gourami (pearl), and a betta (not sure if suitable?)and then I think I'd probably be approaching a sensible stock size?
3. Assuming the above is sensible, I'm not keen on having fish breed in my tank, but I'm also not keen on the idea of spawn being constantly eaten - is it feasible to stick to one sex per species or should I just get over it and let nature take its course, and if I get a few extra platys then so be it, and if I managed to breed boesmanis without trying then I should count myself lucky?
any advice or even just a comment and your time reading is appreciated
So I was on another forum when I started out but it wasn't very active so I thought I'd come here. I have been fishless cycling my fluval 200 with an ex1200 filter with a load of donor media and managed to cycle it in just over a week, the nitrites were gone this morning. This is my first time keeping fish fyi
I changed about 60% of the water today, partly to make it easier to put the sand in. I did a whip round of nearly all my LFS' to check out their fish and picked up a couple of ornaments for the tank, and see where I could get some plants from. Tomorrow I'm going to put the lights on then go get plants and the rest of the decorations and a backdrop (I'm thinking just blue/grey crepe paper hung on the back initially)
There are a couple of questions I'd like to ask but first I'll just mention I do have a few more things so I think I have everything covered - I'm keeping the internal filter that came with it running, for its built in air bubbler, and also so I can use it in a hospital/quarantine tank as need, same for the heater but I also have got a hydor inline. I have test kit(s), prime, a couple of basic meds, basically all the bits and bobs you'd expect. So.
1. quarantine/hospital tank - I will get one prior to or at the same time as getting fish, but I'm assuming if I'm adding my first set then the main tank is effectively the quarantine tank, as I need to add them all at once to keep it fully cycled?
2. stocking plan: I intend most likely next weekend to add the following -
platys/swordtails
corys
boesmani rainbows
My water is quite hard and somewhat alkaline although I will need to retest once the aquarium is fully planted and decorated, and I've read that Sterbai Corys are the most suited (of the corys) to that sort of water. I'm also not sure if the boesmanis will be a little too big, might be pushing it but they will be the 'centrepiece fish'. My housemate showed me a maidenhead aquatics today where they had both Sterbai Corys and Boesmanis, neither of which I've seen elsewhere yet so I figured I'd get the platys/swordtails from there also.
I then would want to add loaches (probably kuhli) and a gourami (pearl), and a betta (not sure if suitable?)and then I think I'd probably be approaching a sensible stock size?
3. Assuming the above is sensible, I'm not keen on having fish breed in my tank, but I'm also not keen on the idea of spawn being constantly eaten - is it feasible to stick to one sex per species or should I just get over it and let nature take its course, and if I get a few extra platys then so be it, and if I managed to breed boesmanis without trying then I should count myself lucky?
any advice or even just a comment and your time reading is appreciated