Newbie in need of help

H

Hooked Newbie

Today will be yesterday tomorrow
May 25, 2007
5,314
1
62
Georgia
Real Name
Len
Hey all! My head is swimming (pun intended) from all the wonderful information I've read as a Guest over the last few days. I've realized that I made quite a few major mistakes, but the tips and info have also helped me to save (most of) my fish so far. So thanks a bunch! I've only kept goldfish before, but thought I was ready to take the Tropical leap. Turns out that I was wrong.

I have a 29G, well planted (in my opinion, but I'm not sure of the criteria), with 2 Dwarf Neon Blue Gourami, 2 Dwarf Flame Gourami, 1 Mid sized Angel, 1 Yoyo Loach, and a Common Pleco. It's been stocked for 15 days. I have lost a Blue Dwarf Gourami and an Angelicus Loach (early) and a few Ghost shrimp (1 died, the rest were eaten I believe).

The mistakes I've made... I knew NOTHING about cycling and have been trying to catch up and stabilize my tank. I believed what I had read about feeding 2-3 times a day in books and online pet stores. I've read on here that Gourami shold not be kept with eachother, but mine get along and actually kinda "school" together.

My first questions (I'm sure many will follow)...

Am I over-stocked?

Suggested feeding?

How can I make sure my Pleco eats? I'm feeding algae wafers, but the others seem to beat him to them.

Should I work to seperate the Gourami?

Once I "figure" this out (in a few months if all goes well), I'd like to get a 55g... any suggested fish combos?

Any other advice for a hooked newbie (yes, the name was supposed to have 2 Os :O) ?

Thanks in advance!!! Len
 
well, you have a problem with the pleco; they go easily to one foot, and can hit two. I would try and rehome him. If a pet shop sold him to you knowing it was for a 30G then I would try and persuade them to take him back.

He needs sinking foods...algae tablets etc...I think you can put some vegetables in as well...zuchini maybe

If the gourami are getting on with each other then great ! just keep an eye on them.

I think you can add a schooling fish in there...maybe harlequin raspora ?

As far as advice goes (as a fellow newbie) I would say read as much as you can find, test your water, and watch your fish :)
 
woops missed that you havn't cycled yet.

ok you're going to be doing a fishy cycle which is quite a bit of work.

you must get a test kit for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate - liquid drops are best. Test daily and do water changes to keep ammonia before .25ppm; i.e. whenever you test at .25ppm do a change, even if this is twice daily.

eventually you will begin to see nitrite; same applies. .25ppm means water change.

eventualy you will have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrates increasing. You are now cycled.

don't add more fish until you cycle. Use a good conditioner with your tap water; Prime is great.
 
Thanks for the advice! I've cut down the feedings and have been testing and doing a 10% change everyday. Though I've been using strips and from what I've read they can be inaccurate (headed out tomorrow for a good test kit). I plan on going large and growing with the pleco (I knew how big they get, not the stores fault). He doesn't touch Zuchinni and the Angel LOVES the sinking algae tabs. He seems healthy, I just never see him eat and worry... I just added a piece of driftwood (mature) today because I read that they'll nibble and need the roughage. The proper "cycle" is still a bit of a mystery to me though I get the basic idea and have read a bunch about it. I think I may be in info overload!
 
info overload very common.

just focus on keeping the water good. The cycle happens by itself then. 10% a day may not be enough as you progress.

If the plec looks healthy I wouldn't be worried about him. Once thing you can do is put some sinking tabs in about an hour after tank lights go off. He'll have a better chance of getting it when the others are asleep.
 
Yes driftwood is good and try cucumbers slices for your pleco, ours luv cucumb's, It doesn't look like your over stocked as of now, what kind of pleco is it ? keep up the wc's and water testing...:)
 
Thanks Coler... I'll try that tonight!

Weeser, I think it's a "Common", but I'm not sure. It has beautiful spotting and a large dorsal sail, but I got it from a big box that just called it a Pleco...
 
I would up those water changes to at least 25%
 
get a test kit.
as for a heavily planted tank..toss the book out on the cycle.
planted tanks cycle differently than a non-planted tank. you may only see a mild spike in ammonia , nitrites and maybe even 0 nitrates.

what plants do you have? do you have adequate light?
are you injecting CO2?

plants will throw the ammonia off as they consume ammonia as a a preferred source of food.
the big thing here is if the plants are established.
some will feed from the water column (anacharis watersprite, wisteria will all grow without being planted)
these will also consume ammonia, the test kit will indicate if they are indeed consuming the ammonia.
do water changes accordingly..based on the test results. keep amonia and nitrites at or below .25 ppm.

good luck
 
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