My first Aquarium!!!

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sharky7777

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Jul 25, 2004
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I just got a new aquarium about a week and a half ago and I have a few questions. I did not do as much research as i should of before i got the tank so there were many mistakes. I overstocked my tank (got 4 zebra danios about 3 dayys later and 2 sword tails and a red tailed shark a week after those). I was unaware of the dangers of overstocking an aquarium during the cycle period. I overfed the fish. One of the swordtails I had died so then I got worried about the smell and cloudiness of the water not knowing this was part of the cycle and changed some of the water when i wasnt supposed to. But everything seems to be fine now.

I have the tetra aquasafe conditioner, Cycle (havent heard to good of comments about this but i got it on sale), and aquarium salt. Is there anthing else i should have to help the water?

I have a whisper 10 power filter but i am thinking of getting a penguin 170 power filter. Am i alright with the whisper 10 or should i get the penguin or another better filter?

I also want to know if i need an airpump with the filter i have now?

Thanks,
Sharky7777
 
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What filter you get depends on the size and bio-load of the tank. I've got a Penguin 170, but I use it in conjunction with several other filters on my tank (see the link to my specs below if you want to have a look). It's a wonderful bio filter, but doesn't create much water flow.
You can do as many water changes as you need to right now. The bacteria you're trying to cultivate live in the filter media and on tank surfaces, there are very few in the actual water itself. I'd recommend you do daily water changes until the Ammonia and Nitrite levels are under control.
If you don't have test kits, this is something you really should have right now. You need to be able to test the Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels daily to tell where you are in the cycle, and when it's complete.
As for the air pump, it's not a necessity. It can help create surface agitation, which allows for more oxygen exchange in the water, and bubbles are pretty, but you don't really need one.
Sorry you lost a fish, but don't beat yourself up about it; these are typical mistakes made by someone new to the hobby, and it's how we all learn. You're doing great, and now that you're on this forum you'll get lots of good advice :D
 
Thanks for the advice i plan on getting some test kits very soon.

Ive also noticed that my red tailed shark isnt eating. He just wont go up to the top he just stays at the bottom all the time. He doesnt have clamped fins or any diseases and his 2 times bigger than anyother fish in the aquarium? Please help!!!
 
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You still haven't said what size the tank is, either. If it's a smaller tank, you need the test kits now... and you need to be more active about water changes too, because water quality fluctuates more and faster in a smaller tank than it will a large one.

And it's my understanding that you can (and should) change the water during a normal fishy cycle.... just make sure you don't do anything to kill the bacteria growing on anything. i.e. don't change the filter media, don't agitate the substrate, and especially make sure the water contains no chlorine before it goes into your tank.
 
Okay, that makes a big difference...
Your red tailed shark and swordtails aren't going to fit in this tank very long, they get too large. You might want to take them back now, and use the danios to finish the cycle. Once your cycle is done, you could get something smaller, like guppies, a couple corys, or some neons.
The Penguin 170 is more than adequate for a ten gallon, so if that's the filter you like, it should work just fine. Grab those test kits while you're at the store ;)
The water changes are something you need start doing right away until the ammonia/nitrite eating bacteria settle in. Once you have 0 nitrite and 0 ammonia, you can use the level of nitrate in your tank as a measure of how often you'll need to change the water (most people do it once a week or every two weeks depending on how many fish are in the tank).
If you change your filter, leave the old filter on the tank as well for a week; this way, the new filter will have a chance to start growing a bacterial colony. If you can, slice open the Penguin's filter cartridge and place some of the old filter's media inside to help seed the Penguin's bio wheel with bacteria.
 
ya ive got a friend who owns a pretty big aquarium and he said that once they get to be too big i can bring them over to his. Once the budget is right i think my family is going to get a 50 or so gallon tank and i have an older tank i can use too.
 
HOLY MOLY that's very high, you need to do some serious water changing! I would do 50% a day, at least once, maybe twice a day, and check the NH3 level morning and night.
If you do a lot of water changes your fish will be much more likely to make it through the cycle, and it won't hurt the filter. Just make sure the replacement water is dechlorinated.
 
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