New to the tropical world :)

**katieandjeremy** · 10-17-2012, 6:48 AM

Hello

We have recently purchased a 300L tank, have the whole set up i.e undergravel filters underwater filters, rock, live weeds and caves. After carrying out a water test we decided to buy 3 neon tetras to start the cycle. Needless to say they look lost in our tank. We are looking to buy more tetras, but id like to eventually introduce Blue Gourami. I have done some research on this fish and know that they are classed as Passive fish. How long is best to wait before introducing these to the tank. Also..... alot later down the line we have looked and started researching the freshwater blue lobster. Is this advisable to have or am i going to wake up one morning and have no fish left?
Any advice is GREAT advice.

Thanks

Katie

**AquaticAustin** · 10-17-2012, 8:26 AM

Yes in a tank that size youll need more fish to cycle and upping your school of neons would be nice for them too.as they appreciate 6+ . Your going to want to wait on the gourami until your tank is completly cycled. The blue crayfish is a bad idea for your fish well being but there are other types that can work such as dwarf crayfish

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

**katieandjeremy** · 10-17-2012, 9:30 AM

Yea im hoping to get at least 10 neons. The advisor at our local aquatic store has advised us to wait at least another week before adding the rest of the tetras. Is this best to do or should we just get the rest to help with the cycle?

**mesto** · 10-17-2012, 11:43 AM

Welcome! It is a really fun hobby, I think you are going to have a blast! First of all, please read this link, as it will give you a much better idea what will happen in your tank over the next several weeks and help you make some decisions:

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...hwater-cycling

Waiting another week will probably put you in the most toxic part of your cycle, with high ammonia and possible readable nitrites at that point too, depending on how fast things are going. Cycle times are variable depending on the tank and the method being used to cycle the tank but in general you are going to have poor water quality starting sometime within the next few days and continuing for the next 2.5-5 weeks. This is why many people advocate fishless cycling.

I am not one that thinks fish in cycling is evil but just know that with fish in cycling, you will probably lose some fish, you will need to do lots and lots of water changes and water testing (what kind of test kut do you have?), and every time you add more stock you kind of have to go through the same process again as you beneficial bacteria catch up to your increased bioload. Having lots of fats growing aquatic plants (stem plants and floaters are best), as long as they are growing and not rotting, will really help minimize the negative effects on your fish.

Also AA is right, 3 neons won't be much of a cycle in that size tank, meaning on one hand the negative effects on the water quality and these fish will be pretty mild, but also you will not build up very many bacteria at all. Neons are also not good fish to cycle with, they are pretty sensitive to poor water quality. Again, with fish in cycling you'll probably lose a few anyway, and the ones you don't lose may be weakened and have a shorter life span. I do agree if yo uare going fish-in you should start with a higher bioload than that, but don't go too high because the more stocked the uncylced tank is, the harder the hits to water quality. What else are you interested in stocking?