big freakin tank.

I would have a giant SA biotope with tons of driftwood and plants and for fish i would have a decent grouping of discus, angels, a large variety of cichlids and dwarf cichlids, a few large schools of tetras of different varieties, a couple schools of hatchets, 3 or 4 schools of cory cats, a decent amount of guppies, 10-12 aegla, a bunch of true SA shrimp and some other fish that come from the SA area that i dont know of yet
 
I have a 10 gal tank and am a newbie. It is cycled now, but I went about it wrong. I just found one of the guppies had died, and I'm not sure why. I had been testing the water quality and the nitrites are neutral and nitrates are "safe". The ph was around 6.8 when I tested it upon finding the dead guppy. I've been checking the fish for signs of problems because I did have a guppy die about a month ago of what appeared to be bloat. I tried unsucessfully to save it.

I really went about things wrong at the start, but my tank is cycled now.

I put 3 neon tetras, 3 guppies, and 2 african dwarf frogs in it only 24 hours after set up of the tank. I have gravel and fake plants, and a fake hollow tree stump, heater, thermometer and filter that hangs on the side of the tank. Over the next 30 days I did a lot of water exchanges when the ammonia and nitrites climbed into the stress and danger zone, often in a panic. I tried to jump start the bacteria with something from WalMart, but then got Amquel Plus from PetSmart and I think it helped get the bacteria going. The biofilter, now, has a lot of things growing in it. In fact, a sort of skin or membrane seems to be over the outlet where the water flows into the tank from the filter. Is that normal?

Also, what do you think caused my guppy to die. There was no sign of bloat the day before I found him dead and he doesn't appear to have been bloated at all. The 1 remaining guppy seems to hang out near the surface more than usual so I am worried about him. I do have a bubble wand attached to the back glass, and one of those little treasure chest bubblers, so I think the 02 should be ok.

These fish were with me from the start, and have been through some pretty stressful water conditions. Could it be that this weakened the 2 guppies that died? I had a pleco that I put in the tank about a 5 weeks after set-up, and he was in the tank for about 3 weeks, and he went thru some high nitrite levels that probably stressed him, so I guess that may be what happened to him. I worked hard making changes in the water to try to bring the ammonia and nitrites down.

I'm realy a bit of a screw up with this I guess. I'm reluctant to add more fish until I'm sure if they will be ok. The nitrite and nitrate levels are great now, but since the tank has cycled I haven't been doing water exchanges on schedule. The tank is really clear, and the only issue is that the ph is gradually getting more acidic, but it still reads in the neutral zone at 6.8

Actually, I got all of this for my nephew who lives with me, and I seem to be the one doing all the worrying and work on this. I want to be successful with this, and I've fallen in love with the little creatures. Please forgive me for being such a screw-up, but I could use some help if you guys have any suggestions. I don't want any of these little guys to die. The frogs are the cutest little things, and seem to be healthy. The neons, too. I'm worried about the guppy. Does he need some more guppies for companionship? Or should I wait to make sure he's OK?

Thanks for your help.
 
2 guppies
 
I have always wanted a long tank. Something like 12x4x5.
Layered slate background lots of hideyholes and planting spots. Then heavily plant it. That way I could have a school of danios and glofish. Neon tetras Some corys a couple flying foxes and an army of different shrimp. Oh I gotta have some mts and nerites too.
 
Melody Doucet said:
I have a 10 gal tank and am a newbie. It is cycled now, but I went about it wrong. I just found one of the guppies had died, and I'm not sure why. I had been testing the water quality and the nitrites are neutral and nitrates are "safe". The ph was around 6.8 when I tested it upon finding the dead guppy. I've been checking the fish for signs of problems because I did have a guppy die about a month ago of what appeared to be bloat. I tried unsucessfully to save it.

I really went about things wrong at the start, but my tank is cycled now.

I put 3 neon tetras, 3 guppies, and 2 african dwarf frogs in it only 24 hours after set up of the tank. I have gravel and fake plants, and a fake hollow tree stump, heater, thermometer and filter that hangs on the side of the tank. Over the next 30 days I did a lot of water exchanges when the ammonia and nitrites climbed into the stress and danger zone, often in a panic. I tried to jump start the bacteria with something from WalMart, but then got Amquel Plus from PetSmart and I think it helped get the bacteria going. The biofilter, now, has a lot of things growing in it. In fact, a sort of skin or membrane seems to be over the outlet where the water flows into the tank from the filter. Is that normal?

Also, what do you think caused my guppy to die. There was no sign of bloat the day before I found him dead and he doesn't appear to have been bloated at all. The 1 remaining guppy seems to hang out near the surface more than usual so I am worried about him. I do have a bubble wand attached to the back glass, and one of those little treasure chest bubblers, so I think the 02 should be ok.

These fish were with me from the start, and have been through some pretty stressful water conditions. Could it be that this weakened the 2 guppies that died? I had a pleco that I put in the tank about a 5 weeks after set-up, and he was in the tank for about 3 weeks, and he went thru some high nitrite levels that probably stressed him, so I guess that may be what happened to him. I worked hard making changes in the water to try to bring the ammonia and nitrites down.

I'm realy a bit of a screw up with this I guess. I'm reluctant to add more fish until I'm sure if they will be ok. The nitrite and nitrate levels are great now, but since the tank has cycled I haven't been doing water exchanges on schedule. The tank is really clear, and the only issue is that the ph is gradually getting more acidic, but it still reads in the neutral zone at 6.8

Actually, I got all of this for my nephew who lives with me, and I seem to be the one doing all the worrying and work on this. I want to be successful with this, and I've fallen in love with the little creatures. Please forgive me for being such a screw-up, but I could use some help if you guys have any suggestions. I don't want any of these little guys to die. The frogs are the cutest little things, and seem to be healthy. The neons, too. I'm worried about the guppy. Does he need some more guppies for companionship? Or should I wait to make sure he's OK?

Thanks for your help.
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Try Posting this in General Freshwater or Newbie Freshwater. By starting your own post.
 
I would like to take back my previous statement. If I were super rich and could have one big tank I would have 3 instead.

One heavily planted 20X5X8. Stock would be some neon tetras, corys, danios, snails, and a various assortment of shrimp. I'm not much into big fish.

Tank of same dimension as above. Only it would be a palaudarium for Aurautus poisoid dart frogs with a stream from one end to the other disapearing in the middle into a cave.

The third again same size as above. A desert terrarium for a whole bunch of viper geckos.

All these would go in a square room one on each wall, the wall with the door would have a 10x5x8 on either wall. The middle of the room would then be filled with other various tanks.

Also I would not like to keep it at my house but I would build and aquarium in Wichita Ks and make sure they had a tank with a 10ft lake sturgeon.
 
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