Got my first tank for my Birthday!

:welcome:

Well, the very first thing you need to do is to go up to the top of the Newbie Forum and read the sticky on "Cycling." Since you already have fish in the tank, you are doing a fishy cycle, and you will need a good test kit (API Master Test is a good one- the dip strip kind is less accurate and more expensive over the long run). You will need to test the water daily and if you see ammonia or nitrite levels higher than .25 do a partial water change to get those levels down. The beneficial bacteria colony (that break down toxic ammonia and nitrite- fish waste) will be building up during the cycle, and until that's stable, you have to remove the toxics by replacing water. Ammonia and nitrites will quickly kill your fish.

You will also need a water conditioner like Prime to remove the chlorine and chloramine from your water before you add it to the tank. The salt isn't really needed unless you get a disease in the tank like ich.

The tank also sounds somewhat overstocked. If the plecos are common plecos, they will get way too big for a 10 gal. They get up to 2 FEET long. There are some species that stay smaller, like bristlenose plecos, but the plecos sold in most pet stores are the commons. Check what species you have, and maybe bring them back. If you want catfish, check out Corydoras species. Lots of those stay small, especially ones like panda and peppered. They should be kept in groups of 3 or more.

Bumblebee gobies are brackish water fish, and aren't really suitable for a freshwater community. They'd rather have some salt in the water, but the other fish don't. See if you can take them back as well.

If it was my tank, I'd keep the betta and the neon tetras, and leave it at that, maybe with 3 corydoras.

Even if you do return the gobies and plecos, and want cories, don't get them right away. Let your tank cycle first, and get stable. That's the most important thing to take care of first.

So in summary? Read the cycling sticky, get a liquid drop water test kit and Prime (or similar) and go from there.

Have fun!!

Hi doubletail! Welcome to the AC! I agree with everything soobie said.... plecos are going to get huge if you have the common ones so i'd try and return those and then the info on the gobies is correct too. Prime or something that takes the chlorine out of your water is crucial if you live in a place that does chlorinize the water (this will burn a fish's gills). I'd get some of that stat and follow the directions on there.

Keeping your neons and your betta will be fine. I didn't see any decorations on your list, but I know my bettas have always liked plants and rocks or things for them to hide in. You have tropical fish which like a temperature in the high 70's, so you might want to consider getting a heater for your tank to keep their temperature stable and your fish not stressed (heaters are relatively inexpensive). For feeding, I feed mine flake food, freeze-dried bloodworms, and a variety of vegetables like peas, cucumbers....

Other than that, you should have no compatibility issues with your neons and betta. Bettas sometimes can get aggressive, but with a school of neons like that, it will be fine. Hope some of this helps! Happy birthday!

one more thing.... i would read through all the newbie stickies.... there's a lot of things that don't come to mind right away when starting the fish hobby, but you'll get tons of answers there (ex. water changes, what cycling even is, etc...)

I would recommend to anybodies first tank to start with only 2 different types of fish no matter how big the tank.Your stocking these fish will quickly get sick and die.Far too small the store never should have sold all these together if they knew they were going in a 10 g..Take back the Gobies and the Plecos.

I bet you didn't realize what you girlfriend had gotten you in to!? I have only had my fish tanks for about 2 months and I hadn't the slightest clue on how big of a responsibility a real fish tank is. The AC forum is a big help and most of the people on here know what they are talking about. Good luck.

doubletail said:

Hi I've just joined the forum because my girlfreind and a friend assembled and gave me a 10gal fish tank for my birthday it came stocked with...

1.AQUA-tech 5-15 power filter with BIO-fiber biological filtration and EZ-Change #1 filter cartridge

2.Tank hood with 2 blue incandesent bulbs

3.Top Fin Conditioning Salt

4.Tetra Whisper 10gal air pump

5.Black gravel

6.and a coral life digital thermometer

the fishes they stocked it with were...

1 betta
10 neon tetras
4 bumble bee gobies
2 pleco's

My questions are basicallly are they overstocked? so far they seem to get along but do they have comptibility issues? what do i feed the buble bees, pleco and neons? Also what else is missing so that I can take car of them the right way.

Thank you for your help

DT

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Go get some bacteria out of some ones tank, if you just got it put it to gether and put the fish in a clean tank or your going to have some dead fish.

Kentuckyfishnut said:

Go get some bacteria out of some ones tank, if you just got it put it to gether and put the fish in a clean tank:screwy: or your going to have some dead fish.

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It's possible to start your tank though without it... doubletail you're just going to have to stay on top of testing your water to make sure it is ok. I think it was mentioned, but getting a liquid testing kit that tests for nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, ph.... is a valuable thing to have when keeping fish.

Welcome and Happy Birthday(belated?)

you've already been blasted with the 'read stickies' and warned about pleos(all of which are too big for a 10) or not suited to 10.

if you don't have access to live bacteria for your cycle then be prepared to do water changes.
get a good relaible test kit like API master test kit. and maybe some prime water conditioner. you will need it for water changes and prime is the probably one of the most economical condtioners.
if you stay ahead of the game your fish will come thru the cycle fine.

Welcome

you have come to the place for info. just do what these guys says and you be alright. I was just like you new to this doing a fishy cycle and everyone here was a great help. Just read a lot on cycling ammonia, nitrites, nitrates an ph and be prepared to do a lot of water changes sometimes two times a day just remember to use prime first. feed you fish little at first on till the cycle is complete. good luck and may the force be with you.