Newbie asking for help :)

[kellya]

Hello,

My husband and I just purchased our first aquarium (a 15g Hartz Waterhome 20) I've read over the sticky about cycling the tank and so we know we have to do that first (I'm sort of wondering where I'm going to find non-sudsing ammonia though so we may just have to go with using fish food) I do have a couple of questions though.

1) We have a water softener - is it still safe to use our tap water for the aquarium?

2) Planning ahead (we obviously haven't bought any fish yet, nor do we plan to until the tank is properly set up) what types and number of fish would be good for this size of tank? Originally I had this grand plan of having Cichlids but the person at the store who has several aquariums herself sort of scared me off of them.

Any tips for a newbie would be greatly appreciated :)

Kelly

[Rbishop]

It will be best if you do not use the softened water. Your system should have a bypass where you can get straight non-treated water from it. This water will have the correct organics in it to buffer your water and maintain pH without damage to the fish. Check out....

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91886&highlight=softener

Ensure you purchase a good liquid master test kit for reading ammonia, nitrites, nitrate and pH, like APs.

[WhitneyGail]

I know a lot of people like fishless cycling...but I know others who don't.....

personally, I think that it's easier and more fun to use Bio Spira. You can add your fish right away, no waiting, and instant cycle. I used it on my tank with perfect results.

It's a 15 gallon tank? Your stocking choices will be limited, but it it can turn out lovely. What sort of shape is it? Low and Long? Tall and Narrow?

I agree that african cichlids would have been a mistake...but do you know about dwarf cichlids like German Blue Rams or shell dwelling cichlids? Lots of people LOVE them.

I have German Blue Rams in my aquarium and I do love them.....They aren't quite as hardy as my other fish, but as long as I keep the water parameters in pretty good shape, they do fine....and they are beautiful with lots of personality.
http://home.earthlink.net/~ecotank/id36.html

Shell Dwelling Cichlids such as are feisty little guys, but they're supposed to have terrific personalities. http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/neolamp-multi.htm
http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=30

Here's a list of small, peaceful, 15-gallon-appropriate fish I like that I think you should check out (btw, if you get a "schooling" fish, don't just get one or two, they aren't as happy, and frankly don't look as good in the tank as they do in groups).

endler's livebearers (watch out, they're prolific, but if you get all males, it's no problem)

espei rasboras

threadfin (aka featherfin) rainbowfish

rummy nose tetras

freshwater gobies

chain (aka "sidthimunki") loaches

dwarf corydora catfish

longfin bristlenose plecos

clown plecos

otocinclus catfish

hillstream loaches

cardinal tetras (not my favorite, but much nicer than run of the mill neons)

bamboo (aka singapore, wood, or singapore wood) shrimp

cherry shrimp

this is a great website
http://www.davesfish.com/

as is this
http://oddballfish.com/


Good Luck!

[Rbishop]

I wouldn't put any pleco in a 15 gal tank, nor hillstream loaches especially in a tropical tank since they are a coldwater fish, but thats me. Rams, maybe a 20.

[WhitneyGail]

if she has a long and low tank, a 15 gallon can be fine for a pair of rams....

But upon rethinking, I think you're right about the pleco and loaches....sorry....it was 3:30 in the morning, I was a bit tired.....I still think my other suggestions were good ones though.

but this is a good lesson to you, Kelly-

Listen to what people on these forums and pet shop staffs have to say, but always double check their advice and do research on your own before adding fish.

[Malefic23]

One thing to add on fishless cycling. I'm not a big fan of any of the products currently on the market to speed up your cycle, but tossing in one raw shrimp and letting it decompose in your tank would establish your biologicals pretty well. As the shrimp breaks down, it releases a constant stream of ammonia, making the cycle prosses as automatic as it can be made. About a 11-13 size shrimp would do it for you. Use one per 10 gallons, but for a 15, I'm thinking one would work. In a few weeks your paremeters will start to even out, then you can do a big water change and get rid of the stinky leftovers, nice fresh unsoftened water, and you'll be good to go.


Endler's are active little pretties nice to keep

Little small for any pleco I'm afraid, but you could house a juvinile clown pleco (panaque maccus) in there for a few years till he grows up. Make sure he gets driftwood to eat.

A handfull of fancy male guppies would be good color and schooling.

The really neat thing about very small tanks is, you can easily create a perfectly aquascaped garden, a tiny slice of the wild. Your fish choices are a little more limited, but with the right stocking, they really can be sweet tanks.

[jennypenny]

Letting fish food decompose in your tank can also cycle it. This is less predictable than ammonia, but has worked well for me. You add the same amount of food that you expect to add when you final get your fish. I don't even test the water the first few days of adding food, and then begin testing daily (or almost daily). At the end of the cycle I do a big water change and make sure that I clean the gravel very well.

By the way, many Wal-Marts sell ammonia.

[lilly]

I used ammonia from the hardware store. It should be cheap and clear. It might say 10% or non-suds. When you shake it you shouldn't get bubbles.

It was a few $ for almost a gallon.

My 37 gallon took 1/2 tsp per day so you could start with half that amount and see how it goes. It's a long process and you have to be patient which is hard but it's nice not to have to worry about killing fish. Don't run the thing that takes ammonia out of tanks. Usually a bag with white chips in it and be careful of additives. I use only Prime.

[kellya]

I'm in Canada so I think bio spira is a no go (too bad - it sounds really cool) Guess we are going to have to do it the long way. We are planning on buying a testing kit tomorrow so we will be able to keep tabs on the water. We do have some cycle that came with our kit. I know a lot of people think it is no good but will it hurt to use it as well?

The tank is all set up now. It actually looks quite nice I think even without the fish - it was fun picking everything out :) We did bypass our water softener so hopefully everything will be ok.

I'm sure I will come up with some more questions but for now just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your help!

Kelly

[WhitneyGail]

I read on another thread that you can order Bio Spira from these people http://www.fishstoretn.com/ to be shipped into Canada.....whether this is accurate, you'll have to investigate....

here's the post from "Bernie" the guy who owns the store that does the shipping.....

Bernie 08-28-2003 07:10 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thought I would try to help straighten a few things out about
Bio-spira:

1- Product is shipped direct to dealers from Marineland, Moorpark,Ca in coldpacks (Fedex 2day) ...the same way I ship it.
So, product does not sit in warehouses. Marineland even keeps very little "on the shelf". I am one of their large users and often
have to "time my orders" when their have new batches ready!
I get shipments about every two weeks.

Product has a 6-month shelf life if kept refrigerated; (opened or
un-opened). It is the ONLY live nitrifying bacteria on the market
and is patented by Marineland.

Most of the other products (even "improved" cycle) is a nitrifying
agent or accelerator which provides "heterotrophs" in various
forms..... which in turn help grow the real bacteria.
Bio-spira gives it to you "straight"....already living!!

You should add it to your tank when first introducing fish
(within 24 hrs either way... fish first or bio first).
It will work on tanks which have existing ammonia/nitrite
problems.... but it was NOT designed for that use; and would
obviously take some time to eliminate your toxic levels (depending on just how bad your readings were!).

There's plenty more info avail at: http://www.marineland.com/science/nspira.asp

or anyone can e-mail me or post here and I will check in.

As far as shipping costs go: it does vary by zipcodes but
most shipments go either USPS or FedEx 2-day services for
about $6-7. Overnights run $20-25 . Canada shipments
go best by FedEx and runs $30-45 depending again on
Zip and whether you do overnight or 2-day.

Hope that helps.

You all seem to run a very nice site here, too (by the way)!!

Take care

Bernie
http://www.fishstoretn.com

Post pictures of your tank when you get a chance, we'd all love to see what it looks like.