sup everyone i am going to start a new tank soon when i can get everything im going to need but i had a few questions if anyone can help me i have a 55 gallon that i got from my aunt and it hadent been used in a really long time so i filled it up and then i had to reseal it but i know what i want to put in their but i dont no if it will work out so i was hopin someone would be able to give me a heads up befor i do it. i wanted to put about 4 weather loaches 4 clown loaches 2 silverdollors and a black shark in their and i know from past experences that black sharks are agressive as they become a little older because my mom had one but i dident know if i could put him with any of teh other fish i talked about but if anyone can give me any answers it will be very helpful
starting a new tank
- Thread starter WickedClown4Lf
- Start date
First of all you are going to want to cycle your tank. Read the sticky of cycling, you won't regret it. As for your stocking, I'd be careful, the shark, is as you said, aggressive. Loaches are usually very passive and unaggressive, especially the clown loach, so you may want to reconsider either the black shark or the loaches. also what did you re-seal the tank with? There are some caulks that are poisonus to fish.
i went to a local fish store and got some sealent that was made for fishtanks and i made sure of this because i have also been through that wholethingbefor when my mom had her tank it started leakin and when my dad sealed it we lost half the fish but what would be ur personal openion for sutable tankmates for the shark thinks vato
well if you are really set on having a black shark your only option is to get fish that will put up a fight against the shark. First of all before you buy fish, set up a little cave that the shark can hide in, this way he will claim this as his territory, and thus, keep out of the way of other fish. Make sure you also put it close to a corner so "his" territory isn't in the middle of the tank so other fish can't swim across it. First other sharks would suit the tank as long as they are not competing for the same space. So try something like a bala shark, or a glass catfish. Maybe Cichlids, but only as long as they are not going to pick on the other fish that aren't as fast as they are (such as the bala shark). Larger barbs might be suitable tank mates, but stay away from the smaller spieces like tigers. Try other fish that are comparible in size(or larger), the black shark gets to be about 7inches. So aim for that as an adult size for atleast the less aggresive speices. The silver dollars will be okay as tank mates. Also another thing to remember is to keep fish with long fins away from this shark as they will nip at them, such as angelfish and gouramis. I'm sorry, I've given you a list of more what NOT to put with it, but sharks can be bad company in a community aquarium.
well i might nto be able to get the shark because i want the loaches. i just like the way loaches are they seem frendly but thats what makes fish interesting u just cant grab a handful and through them in a tank each fish is different but thinks alot for ur helo veto
Yeah fish are truely very diverse. You should also remember when you are stocking your tank that clown loaches are very social and need a few of their own kind to even survive in most cases. Just thought that might help a little.
yea i know i need about 6 but i do have anotehr question now that i am thinking about it what do i really need to do when cycleing just so i know im doing it right
well basically all you really need to do is set up your tank like there were fish in it (water, gravel, plants, filter and all) and let it sit for about 4 weeks, until the levels of ammonia and nitrites subside becuase of the development of the bacteria cutlure. You can speed up this process, if you want by adding live plants, they use the ammonium form of ammonia as food, so they speed it up. But if you are going to do that you will need to buy water test kits to check your ammonia and nitrite levels.
i got it basically all u do is just set teh tank up and let it sit for a month but i have also read on this fourm that about cycleing with fish in the tank will that make it go any faster and how would i know when the cycleing is complete
some say that it does because of the waste that they produce. But I honestly don't see the point, it really doesn't speed things up that much and it is very, very hard on the fish because they are exposed to high concentrations of ammonia and nitrite which are both quite dangerous to fish. This also permenantly damages their gills making it hard for them to breathe, so IMO I wouldn't try it!