new tank, new questions, new contradictions

[Peteisrad]

I just started a new 29 gallon freshwater tank.

A couple of years ago I had a 10 gallon FW tank. Back then I didnt know that much about aquatics. Back then, the people at the LFS told me that mollys, platys and swordtails are great starter fish. Indeed, I bought one of each of these fish and had no casualties, except for the molly killed the platy.

This time, with my new 29 gallon tank, the dude at the LFS told me that mollys, platys, and swordtails aren't hardy enough for the cycling period. Instead, the dude said that I should buy 2 dozen goldfish and start with them, which I did.

Now Im just wondering if this is just a personal opinion difference betwen the two different salesmen at two different LFSs, or if the size of the tank makes the difference.

Also, I plan on making this a planted aquarium. The dude told me that i cant plant any plants until after the cycling, but then when i read posts on here, i realize that people do put plants in before the cycling finishes. Of course they have to be hardier plants. But its possible, right?

Going back to the 2 dozen goldfish....
The dude at the LFS said that once the water is cycled i can return all the fish for a full refund, which I probably will do, but considering that these are goldfish that are kept in close quarters at the LFS, im a little worried about these fish bringing a disease into my tank.

So here's where I stand:

Being told that i cant put in any plants or other fish in until the cycle is complete, im stuck with a boring -non-decorated tank with 24 goldfish in it for a month or more. Is there anything else I can do?? Is there anything I can add part of the way through the cycle?

 

[MR BUTTIKOFERI]

Hey there man,

If you are planning to plant the tank with live plants you can put plants in straight away,but use hardy easy to grow plants like hornwort or hygrophilia etc but off course you'll need some light and fertilisers.

If the plants dont grow well then they wont absorb nitrogen and eventually die.

I personally like seachem fertilisers

Live plants absorb ammonia,nitrite and nitrate which means you dont need to cycle the tank if u want plants.


Just get rid of those goldfish and get platies instead as goldfish damage plants and most plants prefer warmer water anyway.

 

[Randy]

Did the guy at your LFS say you could return the fish dead? You really only need one or two goldfish to get the cycle rolling. 24 goldfish in a 29 gallon tank im sure will bring levels of ammonia to toxic levels quite quickly. I cant see the beneficial bacteria keeping up with that kind of load in the first stages of the cycle. Goldfish and plants dont mix very well either. You could still put in your graval, decorations ect during the cycle stage. This will give the beneficial bacteria a place to attach too which the bacteria need. Beneficial bacteria does not float around in the water. The bacteria attach to things like gravel,decorations ect and multiply there. Gold fish are a great fish to get the cycle rolling. They do produce alot of waste which of course you need to start the cycle. You could of course do the fishless cycle thing as well. Anyway if u must have fish in it now take 22 of those gold fish back and just keep a few. Good luck.

 

[Cheech]

Go back to the lfs, and tell the guy to change careers, cause he obviously has no idea ...

Bring the goldfish back, get some plants, try fishless cycling, or get about 4 or 5 zebra danios, and you're set.

 

[OrionGirl]

Just a thought...

Take back the goldfish, and fishless cycle instead. Many threads, many links.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I agree^...also, though plants can survive a cycle just fine, it is better not to add any during the cycle....you will want to fishless cycle your tank and leave it in the dark for the duration of the cycle so as to avoid an algae bloom which is most certainly likely to happen with the concentrations of ammonia in the water...the plants wont be able to outcompete the algae just yet....if you must have plants, then try a huge clump of water sprite and let it float near the surface....keep in mind, if you fishless cycle with regular household ammonia, then dont add plants.

 

[Peteisrad]

Hey all, thanks for the replies!

Fishless cycling, at this point is out of the question since ive already had the goldfish for a couple of days and the cycle has started. Adding plants during this cycle is out of the question also because the goldfish will eat the plants.

Another thing: Since I'll be doing the live plant thing, I've been getting intot he habbit of keeping the light on for 12 hours and off for 12. Shoudl the light be on that much? or will it create too much algae?

Also, the water is turning a little foggy. I'm not that worried about it. The ph of the water is normal. But is the foggyness normal?

again, thank you all so much for the help. I'm learning alot and I love to learn. take care

PEte

 

[Randy]

Foggy water is normal in the first stages. It should clear up in a few days. If i am not mistaken, and please correct me if i am wrong , the foggy water is caused by a growth boom of benificial bacteria. I remember reading something like that however i might be wrong so please wait to you see some other posts before u brush it off as not being a problem of any kind. I experienced the same thing and it did only take a few days to clear up.

 

[carpguy]

A white cloudiness seems to be fairly normal in new tanks and usually clears up in a few days. Green cloudiness is another thing altogether -- a type of algae and a problem. If you have a lot of light, which you'll need for plants, and they're on 12 hours a day with no plants in the tank you pretty much will wind up with an algae problem.

Some of the nitrogen compounds involved in cycling are also fertilizer to plants and algae. This is why plants are not suggested during a fishless cycle. Too much ammonia and too much light before the plants get themselves established will lead to algae. There is a way to do a planted fishy cycle, but its more complicated.

24 goldfish in a 29g is nuts. Do not listen to this guy. If you don't want to do a fishless bring back the goldfish and use a few danios as recommended above. You could remove the goldfish and start fishless without losing any time. Fish frequently die during fishy cycles. Fish never die during fishless cycles. Fishless is also faster and easier.

The plants are their own whole topic. If you research this stuff properly, setting up a tank can be fairly easy and very enjoyable. If you don't it can be frustrating and you can kill a lot of fish and spend a lot of money and still not be real happy about what you've got.

Measure twice, cut once. Or something like that.

Hope That Helps and good luck with it.

 

[pinballqueen]

I totally agree. Get rid of the goldies before you lose any of them. If you want to keep one or two to cycle with, fine, but don't make those poor fish suffer through any unneccessary grief if you can help it.

Your water will be foggy twice during all of this, once during the bacterial bloom that consumes ammonia, and the other during the bacterial bloom that consumes nitrites.

Keep up regular water changes, if for no other reason than keeping your fish moderately comfortable during this challenging time for them.

For right now, leave the lights off unless you're actively looking at the tank, just to keep your white foggy water from turning into green water, which is a real pain in the behind to get rid of. After your tank has cycled and you add plants, then ask the plant forum exactly how much light is needed for the plants you purchase. I have a feeling it's a heck of a lot less than 12 hours for most plant species....

Good luck to you!