like to start a small freshwater aquarium

[smbjedi]

leave the fish in the tank, you want to do at least a 30% water change weekly. really depends on your water quality. (do you have a liquid test kit?) what size tank did you decide on? here is some info on the python: http://www.aquahobby.com/products/e_python.php

 

[tetrasrock]

i decided on a 20 or 24 gallon long tank, (but i cant use mine because it has a crack..)

and i do not have a water test kit.i do know where i can get one. which type do you guys recommend for aquarium use? the pills, the little strip things..?
and thanks for the info on the python thing.

 

[smbjedi]

liquid test, strips suck :hypnotized:

 

[hondamx]

You can buy a gravel vacume for cheap. I do 25% a week.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

That filter would be a good choice. It's one of the better ones. Everything else looks good. The only thing I would change is the pleco. If I remember correctly ancistrus plecos grow 1 foot long. I would go with something smaller like a clown pleco or a bristlenose pleco.

 

[computerman0219]

:iagree: He is correct I have a pleco in my 10gal...and trying to find someone to take him, b/c i have had him over 14 days (more like 2 months,lol) and everyone seems to tell me you need at least a 55gal for them, They can grow to be a foot long like he said...also one of the draw-backs to an pleco is that they "poop" alot:rofl: ...that just means more ammonia and more wc's.

:welcome:

 

[tetrasrock]

alright so instead of a ancistrus pleco ill get a bristlenose


heres the list,

fish:

lemon tetra.
glowlight tetra.
silver tip tetra.

is that enough tetras?

and,

bristlenose pleco. (theyll eat the algae right?)
marble hatchet.

equipment:

75 watt lights
tank cover (so my hatchet doesnt go "carpet surfing")
aquaclear 50 filter

other stuff:

substrate: uhhhh, what kind of subsrate should i use?
plants: in a book i read it said some plants like hard water, what does this mean? how do i control the hardness of the water? how do i control the alkalinity and acidity of the water? will my fish be bothered by the acidity and alkalinity of the water?

:help:
i dont mean to bug you with all these questions, its just that i dont want to kill my fish. sorry.

 

[Lupin]

Go for sand. Plants and fish do not bother too much with the water conditions.

 

[hondamx]

Tetras and hatchet fish like schools. If you got a 20 gallon I would say:

2 schools of 4 tetras
4 hatchet fish
1 or 2 BN plecos

If you wanted to go with something a little bigger you could have 3 schools of tetras instead of 2. As for substrate, gravel or sand would do. HTH

 

[tetrasrock]

are you sure? that sounds like alot of fish for a 24 gallon...

 

[Lupin]

Tetras and hatchet fish like schools. If you got a 20 gallon I would say:

2 schools of 4 tetras
4 hatchet fish
1 or 2 BN plecos

If you wanted to go with something a little bigger you could have 3 schools of tetras instead of 2. As for substrate, gravel or sand would do. HTH

Why only 4 tetras? Depending on the species, a 20 gallons can fit 10-15 small tetra species.

4 itself is not a shoal. 6 is the minimum for that.