First Aquarium 25 Gallon glass

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Jan 12, 2012
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Carriere, Mississippi
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Christian
Okay so I guess its time for a little background info on my tank before the questions. I have a 25g glass aquarium, it is second hand and in decent condition( can see wear in it). My filters are 2 Tetra Whisper 10-30i PowerFilter's ( plan to be adding 2Tetra Whisper 2-10i Power Filter's in the back-ground for incase I need hospital tank or quarntine tank, they will already be cycled), my heater is Tetra Heater 10-30, my air pump is a Aqua Culture: 20-60 Gallon, Double Outlet Aquarium Air Pump( pumps out around 2800cc a minute) running a 14inch air stone. My decor is just silk and plastic plants from wal-mart(as is most everthing else from there). I have just a regular wal-mart stick on thermometer. I also have the wal-mart magnetic algea scraper. My gravel is what i would call fine river pebble gravel. My test kit is Api Master Fresh-water test kit. I'm using Aqua-safe water conditioner from Tetra. I also will be using Aquarium salt(to reduce stress) when I stock tank.

Okay so Day 1 I cleaned everything very well ( with aquarium salt per directions)and rinsed everything very well. I added water heater, and my 2 filters, and just let it run.Day 2 I added my gravel(after rinsing vigoursly for 2 hours), Aqua-safe, and decor. Day 4 I went out and bought some Start-zyme( I know many don't believe in this and I figured i had the change laying around it can't hurt only help) and added it and started feeding tank 2-3 flakes. Day5 I fed tank 2-3 flakes and added start-zyme (1 capful per 10 gallons). Day6 I fed again but also read that some hang on back filters don't disolve much oxigen in tank (and this is what the bac needs to grow) so I reduced the water level down to 3/4ths full, enought to get some bubbles. Day 7 I went out and bought my air pump and air stone and some ammonia (label says ammonium-hydroxide :contains no phosphous). I know it has no surfactents or no scent cause its not in ingridents and when I shake it, it does not foam. I added my pump and stone and ammonia and dosed to 4.5 ppm. Day8 I tested and results showed 2ppm Ammonia, 0ppm Nitrite, 0ppm Nitrate, 8.2ph. Day9 I tested and it and it showed 1ppm ammonia, 0ppm Nitrite, 0ppm Nitrate, 8.0ph. Day 10(today) early this morning I tested and the test showed 1ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite, and some where between 0ppm-5ppm (cause its not bright yellow (0ppm) or the orange for 5ppm), and 8.0ph. Later that evening I redosed the tank up to 4ppm ammonia.

Okay now time for my questions. 1. Is it normal to see my ammonia drop (on the first dose) down so drastically in 48 hours and see no nitrites?? 2. Am I atleast half-way set up good?? 3. I want to stock with 12 guppies (Green Cobra's, Blue Cobra's, and Endler's Livebearers). One male of each species, and 3 females of each to keep 1:4 ratio ( I think this is the correct ratio). I also want 8 cory's (Skunk, Emarald, Panda,Starbi), 2 of each species (1 male and one female). So to the question part: Is the a good stock considering the cory's kinda earn there keep cleaning?? 4. Could I immediatly fully stock this aquarium after doing a fishless cycle and geting 4ppm ammonia to nitrates in under 12 hours (if i can ever get it started)?
 
What test kit are you using? The nitrogen has to be going somewhere. What temp is the tank?

For the stocking, that seems a bit much especially considering you will have the guppies breeding. I'd do more like 1:2-3 for the guppies or just all males...also keep in mind that, other than the endlers, those are the same species, just different color morphs. Actually all three "types" of fish will mix/hybridize.

With the corys I would much rather, personally, get a group of all the same species. They seem to do better that way IME.

Also, the HOB filter will do just fine with water all the way full. Even a slight ripple is enough for gas exchange.

And lastly, I'd ditch the salt. Totally not needed IMHO...
 
What test kit are you using? The nitrogen has to be going somewhere. What temp is the tank?
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I am using the Api Freshwater Master Test kit, and the temp is around 78 degrees farnheint. I know that it needs to be higher, but my heater is none adjustable. The only other one I have has no thermostat and has to be monitered constantly or temps shoot thro the roof.
For the stocking, that seems a bit much especially considering you will have the guppies breeding. I'd do more like 1:2-3 for the guppies or just all males...also keep in mind that, other than the endlers, those are the same species, just different color morphs. Actually all three "types" of fish will mix/hybridize.

With the corys I would much rather, personally, get a group of all the same species. They seem to do better that way IME.
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So for the stocking options your saying I would be safe with 9 guppies, and 8 of 1 specie of cory cat's?
[QUOTEAnd lastly, I'd ditch the salt. Totally not needed IMHO...][/QUOTE]
And as for the salt yea I ditched it in the tank, Im just keeping it on hand to clean and thro in hospital tank if I see stress or ick.
 
the temp is around 78 degrees farnheint. I know that it needs to be higher, but my heater is none adjustable.
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78 is fine. There are some fish that like it warmer, but most tropicals like it around 78. Guppies even like it a bit cooler than that. The most important thing, provided your temp is in the range of accepted for the fish species, is that the temperature is STABLE. Wide swings in temp are far more dangerous than a 1-2 degree difference from ideal.

I agree with jpappy about the guppies. Your babies will be mutts and since females can store sperm up to 9 months, you will be getting mutts for a long time. If you dont mind mutts and would like to see how they come out with that mix of genetics, then no problem, but if you're planning on breeding to sell the babies, you should stick to one species. If you dont care about breeding and babies at all, I would just get all males. Prettier, they do fine together, and less complicated. And since its you're first tank, its way better to understock at first till you get the hang of how much water needs to be changed every week and the dynamics of the behavior of the fish in your tank.

As for your cycling, you should dose ammonia and check it the next day. If there is any ammonia left, you're not ready to add fish yet. If there is no ammonia, no nitrites, and no nitrates, then you're not cycled either. It sounds to me your tank is on the right track, just needs more time. Sometimes a fish store will give you some of their filter material or a handful of gravel to jump start the cycling and make it faster. You can try asking them.
 
sounds good , my heater has a automatic thermostat and keeps it around 76 at night and 78 during the day. and as far and breeding I'm not into that yet. I would just rather a tank thats nice to look at. My main focal point will be my cory's (cause i love the little guys so much), but i wanted something in the middle and thought about 2 dwarf gromis but kinda hard to keep them with ph of 8.0
 
I have alkaline water as well. It can be a challenge to find suitable fish for that. Most fish, so long as you do drip acclimation, can handle 8.0 water, but some should be avoided. I've never done gouramis so I cant give experience to that, but I have forktail blue eyed rainbowfish in my 20g and I wouldnt have it any other way. They are colorful, with very striking blue eyes, a pinkish purple iridescent body, and yellow fins. They are very active and the males display to each often. Ratio for that should be 2-3 females per male, since the males may hound and eventually stress to death females if the ratio is more males than females.
 
I think Im just gonna go with some guppies for a while. i really like the blue cobra's. I want to maximize my number of cory's but i still want some guppies so give me some numbers please
 
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