Newbie Adventures in a 10gal Tank (Advise me!)

[Kaiyah]

Hello all you AC people out there! I'd just like to say that this is a fabulous forum and I truly appreciate the kind, helpful posts I've already found around here.

I have some questions, but I thought I'd also share a bit of my first experiences with you all (and hopefully learn something in the meantime).
I'm a bit discouraged by the apathy (or maybe simple ignorance?) that seems to prevail in the aquarium section of my pet store. For instance, the guy at the Petsmart store laughingly stated that I would "go through plenty of fish at first", as I was browsing the available fish (something I don't intend to do). He also told me that I could house 20-30 guppies (!) in my fish tank with "no problems", as long as I waited "24 hours" for my filter to settle in. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't just about all of what he said completely - for lack of a better word - insane? If what he said is true, then all that I've read will be no help to me and I really know a lot less than I thought I did.
Despite my reservations about my helper's information, I went ahead and bought a Top Fin Aquarium Starter Kit (10 gal) and set it up (sans fish). I'm determined to have a healthy tank and fish so I thought I'd do some heavy researching before I go any further.

I wanted to ask a couple of newbie questions though. My tank included something called "Stress Zyme", which is a liquid that I poured into my tank that purports itself to be a "biological filtration booster". Will this little bit of gunk help to create the microbes my filter needs to support my fish? Or since I don't have an established tank already (or access to one) should I buy a little guppy to begin the cycling process and hope I won't lose him to my own bad luck & inexperience?

My tank also came with something called "Stress Coat" which is a fish & tap water conditioner, and I added that along with the Stress Zyme. However, I also found another free sample of a different water conditioner with the tank. I don't know if I should add that too, since the first one said it would treat up to 10 gallons of water. Is it possible to over condition your water?

Any suggestions about what are good starter fish, and just how many would be suitable (and healthy) for my tank? I was considering fancy guppies - all male so that I don't have to worry about the live breeding at this point (I don't want to inadvertently overstock my tank).
I'd love some suggestions as I'm still so new to this.

And last but not least, any advice and/or words of wisdom you might have for this newbie would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: I almost forgot, my tank also came with a water heater, but I'm not planning on housing any tropical fish. Should I use it anyway?

:read:

​

 

[Mgamer20o0]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

read up on fishless cycling.

you cant over condition the water... well at lest prime says that you can use 5 times more then the bottle says.

bio spira is the only prodect that i know of that can speed up a cycle. why dont you go to the local fish store and ask for some gravel.

 

[Aquaken]

Use the heater for almost everything but goldfish, which you shouldn't have in a 10g anyways.

Guppies are fine for a 10g, I'd start with a male and 2 females and let them fill out the rest of the tank.

Ditto, buy the API master test kit and learn the cycle. You did the right thing coming to AC instead of listening to Mr. Noob at the store.

 

[InR reason]

I have some questions, but I thought I'd also share a bit of my first experiences with you all (and hopefully learn something in the meantime).
I'm a bit discouraged by the apathy (or maybe simple ignorance?) that seems to prevail in the aquarium section of my pet store. For instance, the guy at the Petsmart store laughingly stated that I would "go through plenty of fish at first", as I was browsing the available fish (something I don't intend to do). He also told me that I could house 20-30 guppies (!) in my fish tank with "no problems", as long as I waited "24 hours" for my filter to settle in. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't just about all of what he said completely - for lack of a better word - insane?

He's just an idiot. You will find many idiots in this hobby.

Despite my reservations about my helper's information, I went ahead and bought a Top Fin Aquarium Starter Kit (10 gal) and set it up (sans fish). I'm determined to have a healthy tank and fish so I thought I'd do some heavy researching before I go any further.

You did the right thing here. research, research, and more research is what it takes to be successful and provide the best home possible for any given animal, including fish.

I wanted to ask a couple of newbie questions though. My tank included something called "Stress Zyme", which is a liquid that I poured into my tank that purports itself to be a "biological filtration booster". Will this little bit of gunk help to create the microbes my filter needs to support my fish? Or since I don't have an established tank already (or access to one) should I buy a little guppy to begin the cycling process and hope I won't lose him to my own bad luck & inexperience?

There have been many advances in the cycling portion of the hobby, and by far the best product for this would be Marineland's Bio-Spira, that manages to completely cycle a tank within days as opposed to weeks. It also prevents exposing your fish to any harmful toxin spikes such as ammonia and nitrite.

My tank also came with something called "Stress Coat" which is a fish & tap water conditioner, and I added that along with the Stress Zyme. However, I also found another free sample of a different water conditioner with the tank. I don't know if I should add that too, since the first one said it would treat up to 10 gallons of water. Is it possible to over condition your water?

You should never use any more chemicals than absolutely nescessary. That being said, I do not believe that any "toxin-elimating" products such as Stress-Zyme can easily be overdosed. Sometimes, as in the even of a massive ammonia spike, it is downright nescessary.

Any suggestions about what are good starter fish, and just how many would be suitable (and healthy) for my tank? I was considering fancy guppies - all male so that I don't have to worry about the live breeding at this point (I don't want to inadvertently overstock my tank).
I'd love some suggestions as I'm still so new to this.

You can do alot with a 10 gallon. If you like guppies- at most you could have 6 or 7 males with nothing else in that tank. Or a combination of 2 or 3 males with a few other small fish. Look into the Bio-Spira I mentioned and if you are really serious about the hobby I reccomend a good book: "The Simple Guide To Freshwater Aquariums" by David E. Boruchowitz. He is increbidly knowledgable and will offer deeper insight into the advice I've given you thus far.

And last but not least, any advice and/or words of wisdom you might have for this newbie would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: I almost forgot, my tank also came with a water heater, but I'm not planning on housing any tropical fish. Should I use it anyway?

Feel free to ask as many quesitons as you want. I had tons of questions when I first began, and one question would open up a whole other set of questions. The heater will probably be nescessary as the few coldwater fish available wouldn't be appropriate for a 10 gallon (such as a fancy goldfish, let's say). Kepp asking questions and keep doing your research. Also, look for that book.
:dance2:

 

[Kaiyah]

Thanks for the advice Mgamer20o0. I had just discovered that I could use gravel from other tanks, I thought I would have to get an established filter from another tank. Should I worry at all about disease in pet store tanks though? After what "Mr. N00b" told me, I wonder if I should worry about the state of their tanks.
If I do get gravel from the pet store, will just a little bit do to get it going, or will I have to continue getting more as time goes on until the cycle begins?

Thanks Aquaken, I'll add the heater right now! (If I can find a place to plug it in that is. I'm running out after the filter, light and air pump. =P)
As far as the guppies go, would I have to worry about how many babies are born? How many do you think would be okay in a 10 gallon tank?
Now that I've read a bit more about water testing, I'm going out to buy the master kit tomorrow.

Edit: Should I unplug the air pump for now and start using the water heater instead? I'm not sure how necessary the air pump is to getting the tank established.

 

[Kaiyah]

InR reason- Wow! Thank you so much for all the advice and tips. I'll look into that Bio-Spira too. I work in a book store as well, so I'll keep an eye out for that title. I have a lot of other resources there as well, so I'll have lots of reading to do while I wait for my tank to cycle lol.
As far as the advice with the guppies, thanks for that too. I'm finding some other really good resources here at the forum (jm1212's post is great, in case there are any other newbies reading this).

I'll make sure to bug you all with any new questions I have (which I'm sure there will be PLENTY).

 

[Mgamer20o0]

Thanks for the advice Mgamer20o0. I had just discovered that I could use gravel from other tanks, I thought I would have to get an established filter from another tank. Should I worry at all about disease in pet store tanks though? After what "Mr. N00b" told me, I wonder if I should worry about the state of their tanks.
If I do get gravel from the pet store, will just a little bit do to get it going, or will I have to continue getting more as time goes on until the cycle begins?

Thanks Aquaken, I'll add the heater right now! (If I can find a place to plug it in that is. I'm running out after the filter, light and air pump. =P)
As far as the guppies go, would I have to worry about how many babies are born? How many do you think would be okay in a 10 gallon tank?
Now that I've read a bit more about water testing, I'm going out to buy the master kit tomorrow.

Edit: Should I unplug the air pump for now and start using the water heater instead? I'm not sure how necessary the air pump is to getting the tank established.

read up on fishless cycling. one handful will do it. its just a jump start the cycle.

ditch the air pump you most likely wont need it anyways. if you just leave the guppies in the tank they most likely will just be lunch so nothing much to worry there also.

 

[Kaiyah]

Okay, gotcha. I've read over the thread a couple of times, and I've got two other links I found while browsing around the site, so I'll do some more research on fishless cycling.
Thanks again.