Now I've seen how much I don't know!

[paramedicthad]

Just browsing this forum over a few days has shown me how clueless I am and probably just lucky that none of my fish have died....

While it may get some laughs, I'd like to list what I have in hopes for a list of things I need to purchase, and steps I need to add/remove/modify.

I've got a very boring 10 gallon tank, I have filled it with bottled water (no reverse osmosis, or chlorination) about 3/4" gravel.

In the tank are:
a whisper filter (2.0 or 20 I think?) Using the filter that came with it.
a small castle looking thing and a cheezy "no fishing" sign.
A small heater that is keeping the temp at approx 72 degrees F.
a bubble curtain under the gravel at the back of the tank.
a thermometer

Fish:
1 Black Skirt Tetra
1 Black Neon Tetra
3 Neon Tetra (one of which is quite small and seems timid)
1 Albino Cory
1 Orange Tetra (I'm guessing at the name, the sales lady said it was a tetra, and it looks orange, just a touch bigger than the black tetra.)

As for the water, currently I'm just changing out the water completely every couple weeks or so. I'm reading about cycling and trying to decide what to do now that I already have several fish.

The fish are fed some flaky "Tetra" food twice a day and every few days I have been feeding them a pinch of blood worms. (someone said it helped the tetra's color??)

I'd like to add some plants, not sure what to look for.
I'd also love to add a frog or a turtle, if there is even some species of either that does well in a small freshwater tank.

Thus far, the fish seem to behave just fine as far as I can tell. That albino cory is pretty funny to watch flying all over the place.

There are a lot of acronyms I see here that mean nothing to me...

So... I'm sure that I should be changing the way I take care of my tank's water....

I've also learned that my black skirt tetra has fin rot, I'm looking for mela fix to address this. Hopefully I can find this at wal-mart?

I truly hope my blind fumbling into the world of aquarium ownership is entertaining for someone, and look forward to making some improvements!!

[liv2padl]

keeping the temp at approx 72 degrees F. 72° is a bit low. the water temperature would be better maintained at 78°.


1 Albino Cory corydoras catfish are really a shoaling species and do far better, i.e live longer healthier lives, when maintained in groups of 4-6. similarly for tetras. thus, i'd recommend you end up with something like 4-5 corys and 4-5 tetras.

[Rbishop]

Do you have a good liquid style test kit so you can give us the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, pH readings on your tank? Those same readings on your tap water?

Why did you use bottled water? There shouldn't be any need or it and you will be missing some of the nutrients you need for a healthy tank.

You don't need to change all the water out. You do need to change out some every week, like 20-30%. When removing the water, you should be vauuming the gravel to remove waste and uneaten food. When refilling, the water should be the same temperature as the tank and use a water conditioner. Do you have a conditioner now?

[paramedicthad]

OK... so it appears I need a better heater, a gravel vaccumn, and a test kit.. any suggestions on either?

[jjanoch]

a better heater could be necessary IF your current one is not adjustable to increase the heat or it is already maxed to keep the water at 72.

I would also look into the feeding, while some people do feed 2x a day, they normally feed them very little each feeding. Personally I like 1x a day and fish are used to not getting that much food, going 2 days is not uncommon.

Also I assume that the bloodworms is a substitute for 1 meal on that day, if it is a 3rd meal on those days...stop that immeadiatly. You could be over feeding them.

otherwise I think the suggestions given are good, and once we see your water test results we'll be able to suggest more.

[ratherbe]

Annnnnnnd, if you go to PetSmart's website and print out whatever it is that you're going to buy, on some things you can get up to 1/2 off! The API test kit sells at the store for $30+, but take a copy of the website's price and you'll get it for around $14.

p.s. 'No fishing' signs are not cheezy! lol

[Cory Lover]

Fish:
1 Black Skirt Tetra
1 Black Neon Tetra
3 Neon Tetra (one of which is quite small and seems timid)
1 Albino Cory
1 Orange Tetra (I'm guessing at the name, the sales lady said it was a tetra, and it looks orange, just a touch bigger than the black tetra.)

Hi,

Cory Lover to the rescue of the Albino Cory! :D You should get atleast two more Cories because Cories should be kept in groups. And, if kept alone, they can become quite lonely. I would return the Orange Tetra and the Black Skirt Tetra (they like being in groups and you don't have enough room for groups of them, plus the other fish you have). If you return them, get two or three more Cories, and about four more Neons, because Neons like being in big groups.

Happy fish keeping and good luck with your tank!

Cory Lover

[Marinemom]

Don't worry! We have all been where you are. The important thing is that you came here for answers which is more than what i had when I was starting out way back when. Ditto on the info with the cories and the tetras. They like to be in groups and will be happier and it will be a better display in your tank this way.

Marinemom

[jessiej83]

I'd also love to add a frog or a turtle, if there is even some species of either that does well in a small freshwater tank.


I don't think any kind of turtle would be good with fish unless you want them to be eaten. :)
You could get a couple of African Dwarf Frogs! They stay small and they are very entertaining little critters with alot of personality!

[BigRun]

I would also suggest finding a good Local Fish Store (LFS) and getting your fish from there. As a general rule their fish are much more healthy and are likely to have less diseases etc.If your Walmart is anything like my local PetSmart most of the tanks look like aquatic morgues.

[paramedicthad]

OK... big changes today, a trip to PetSmart, which is about an hour away, and the closest fish store that is worth visiting.

I'm afraid the total number of fish now is a bit high but the employee at petsmart (right or wrong) assured me that schooling is more important than keeping below a certain length of fist to gallon of water ratio.

So... as of now we have:

1 Black skirt tetra (considered more, but it has fin rot. The fin rot is improving after dosing with mela fix. Wanted to be sure this fish is going to survive before I added more)

3 neon tetra (wanted more, they were out)
3 black neon tetra
3 orange tetra (I'm forgetting their name. again)
2 albino cory cats
3 african dwarf frogs (Kids had to have them, and I like them too!)

Also bought three plants, 2 frills and 1 something that starts with an "a".

also added a fake drift wood thing.

Probably most important was the chemical test kit. I got the liquid type (I used to test pool water constantly and prefer the drip/reagent tests to strips) and here are the results:

pH: 7.0
Ammonia: 0.5ppm
Total Nitrite: 0ppm
Total Nitrate (MAN those drops stink!): 0ppm (I'm going to repeat this test, as I waited too long to read the color of the vial)

I have been given the link to the thread on cycling, and am planning on reading it in depth, but feel free to throw advice my direction!

My tank is currently at 76 degrees, and I am hunting for a better heater that is budget friendly.

I'm far too cheap to pay $10 for something I can make. I intend to make a vaccumn out of suction tubing and a syringe. (I'm a paramedic, as soon as I saw their vaccums I thought "I can MAKE that!"

Some questions I have now:

1. Should I buy some chemicals/additives to have on hand to respond to any of the above readings being out of whack?
2. Will my plants grow in the rocks or should I have paid good money for 'aquarium dirt'? -I do have a bottle of "plant gro" that they assured me would help.
3. Am I crazy for having this many animals in a 10 gallon tank?

I'll include a before and after pic here. I hope that's alright! It's no masterpiece, but I don't think it's too bad for having no experience!

BEFORE:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/137/337797935_34759118bc_o.jpg

AFTER:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/337797870_753c04729f_o.jpg

Thanks again for all of your help! Without this forum, I'd be LOST!

[Star_Rider]

ammonia at .5 ppm= water change time.

try to keep it below .25 ammonia is very toxic to fish (same will eventually happen with nitrites)

with the new load you will need to monitor a couple times per day and be prepared to do the water changes. do you have dechlor or do you plan to use bottled water?

[paramedicthad]

so far I've been using bottled. But I do have a bottle of de-chlorinating stuff.

[Cory Lover]

Hi,

Well, your tank is a little over stocked now. If you return your Neons, your Black Neons, or your Orange Tetras you should be okay with stocking.

I had ADFs a little bit ago too, they are really fun to watch!

By the way, pretty good looking tank.

Cory Lover

[Rbishop]

Why are you using bottled water?

[paramedicthad]

I don't intend to continue using bottled water. I just but the de-chlorination stuff in a few gallons of tap water. Am I right that I need to wait about 24 hours prior to using that water in my tank??

Also... did I read somewhere that I should know my water's hardness??

[Rbishop]

It helps to at least know it on your tap water to see where your buffering capabilities are, which will help maintain your pH. Using pure water or RO lowers this capability.

What de-chlor are you using? Prime? Do you know if your tap water contains chlorine or chloamine?

I add straight to the tank and then begin the re-fill, except on my discus tanks.

[paramedicthad]

I don't know what RO is....

The de-chlor is called "Watercare Chlor Out" by Wardley. to remove chlorine and chloramines so the label says. 5 gtts, sorry drops, a gallon.

I'm not certain what our city water contains.

Do I understand you right... I can add the de-chlor dose to the tank, and then add the tap water directly into the tank??

Also.. any advice on those plants? should I switch to sand?? that sounds mildly appealing to me.

I just read your post about fishless cycling. It was my first education on the whole cycling process. So now I'm staring at a tank with 15 critters in it thinking.... 'sure wish I'd read this before I bought my fish!!!'

Since it's too late for that, I suppose I'll just test frequently and make frequent water changes as needed.

[paramedicthad]

Ammonia today is less than 0.25ppm. Still did a 25% water change. Planning on switching to sand sometime in the next day or two. Hoping to do it without taking the water and fish out of the tank.

[Cory Lover]

Hi,

Are you gonna return any of your fish?

Cory Lover

[paramedicthad]

Well, probably not. Only because returning them will require more money spent in gas than refunded when I return them. I could put them in the old hex tank I guess.... But it's about all I can do lately to keep up with life and ONE tank.

But, I must say, I do love those cory fish! So do my kids!