First 10 Gal. Tank, First post

Thanks for the input. I didn't put the fish in there blindly, I've been doing daily water tests and i have no ammonia and no nitrites. The only problem I am having right now is keeping the temp down. the temp goes from 82 in the mourning and at night it gets all the way up to 86 where its at right now..... Also my heater has been unplugged for the past 3 days. The biggest fish was just kinda hanging on the bottom for a few minutes at a time then he would get chased by the littler one.

any suggestions? Thanks for the help everyone.
 
The reason you didn't see any ammonia, is because its a new tank. Nothing had been added to cause ammonia.

Now that you have fish. You'll soon see ammonia.
And in a couple of weeks, start seeing Nitrite.

Here's something worth reading... http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598
Thats a sticky at the top of this section.

After reading that. One option(if you'd rather go the fishless cycle) could be to take the fish back to the store. You could always ask for credit instead of a refund. And mention you'll be back for more when the tank is cycled.
ANY desent fish store wouldn't have a problem with that.
 
Thank you for that info thats why I went and got just three fish so now it will start to cycle. I hope everything goes well, I'll keep doing daily water checks and keep up on things. I just hope my plant doesn't die the leaves are starting to turn brown, but I think its cause there's no nitrates for it to absorb
 
Since you're testing daily, get ready to do water changes daily as well. Do not add any more fish. Do you know anyone with an established aquarium? Is there an AC member in your area with one (of course there is ;))?

Using "mature" filter media and gravel can provide all the bacteria that are the result of a cycle, so you can stock fish immediately and then slowly increase the numbers as the bacteria adjust. Plants help a lot with this.

As for the danios, I'm not sure I'd put them in a tank less than 2 feet long, but if don't want to return them, nobody's going to try to make them. Deffinately keep up on the water quality for the shrimp's sake, though.

Seriously check out the classifieds, you'll find fish, shrimp, crayfish, crabs, plants, and snails to satisfy you for a long, long while.


jenazen69 said:
If you like livebearers I would suggest 6 guppy's or 2 swordtails. If you like tetra's they tend to be smaller. You could do a school of Harliquin rasboras, or Danios with a dwarf gourami. You could do a small school of 3-5 tiger barbs (or a golden barbs, green barbs, black barbs.) If you have an idea on what you want to keep in this tank, check into that fish. Some fish eat any plant you put in the tank, some dig plants up. You will want to plant your tank based on low light plants unless you want to invest in better lighting. Which low light plants may change depending on the fish you want to keep. Take your time. You will be happier with the end result if you plan the tank out before the fish are there.
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I have to disagree with you on the swordtails, danios, and those barbs. Swords for size, danios for hyperactivity, and tigers for both. JMO.
 
jimmak85 said:
PH 7.5, GH 5 I didn't measure KH and my heater is adjustable and I'm probably going to get a different thermometer today. I'm ready to put 6 Zebra Danios within the next couples days, since I've been told they almost live through anything.
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And they will. Add 3 to cycle the tank, and 3 more afterwards to complete the shoal. IME danios are the toughest fish in the trade, I had mine in my noobish 10 gallon and the survived over 8 cycles. in a 10 gallon a group of 7 could make it 2 months w/o water changes. I did all this ni my noob stage, but the danios will be fine is what I am getting at.

As for other tankmates, I would reccomend a dwarf gourami and maybe 3 ottoiniclus cats to clean up algae (they do need food BTW, don't make the same mistake I did!) The end result woud be a nice looking tank.


:welcome::welcome::welcome::welcome: :welcome::welcome::welcome:
 
Daily water test today: PH 7.5, Ammonia between .25 and 1.5, nitrite 0, nitrate between 0 and 5ppm. Water change tomorrow??? The water temp is 82 and my three danios won't stop moving. Suggestions welcome.......
 
IMO, danios will be fine if you can get that temp down, did you upgrade to a floating thermometer? Danios are subtropical so they don't like it too hot. What is your room temp? If you house is hot all the time, then you will have to return them and get something that likes warm water after the tank has cycled.
 
if i were you i would put the flouresent hood away and get the incandesent hood back out. you can use CFLs and they work better than the flouresent!

walmart sells the hoods and bulbs. you can also get them at hardwre stores. just make sure to get the DAYLIGHT bulbs(or 6700K, they are the same), and also be sure to get the 40W equlivent, they wont melt your hood.

EDIT: if your house is between 67-76 degrees F, then you dont need a heater. the zebra danios like cooler water rather than warmer water.
 
jimmak85 said:
I just hope my plant doesn't die the leaves are starting to turn brown...
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Plants will change their looks in different conditions. Mainly because of light(ing) differences.
Although a healthy anacharis, won't be brown.
Maybe get us a pic of it, now?

From your original pic of it, I'd say it was grown under fairly low light. Because of the dark, short leaves. And wouldn't expect much of a change in yours.

Back to the Brown look.
This could just be diatoms. You see these often, in new tanks. If thats what it is, it will rub off real easy. Otos love the stuff, but you don't need to be adding anymore fish. So for now, forget I mentioned them.

Also, if it is just diatoms. You could add 3 or 4 more of the bunches, to help out with the cycle.
 
The anacharis should do better if you let it float rather than stick it into the substrate. Or at least remove the lead wraps from the bunches and plant them loosely.
You want to do regular water changes, maybe every day, so as to keep ammonia at .25 or less.
 
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