I just came across one of my old 10 Gal aquariums. This was used for a few very small lizards. Now I have washed the tank out thuroughly and started to add stuff to it. Ive had the filter running for 24+ hours and the heater has it heated to around 75-78 degrees. I have bluish gravel along the bottom. I went out today and got one Yellow Siclet. Part of the Chiclid family. I am wondering what you would recommend as for adding aeration, undergravel filters or just anything imperticular that will help as I add a few more fish and scenery.
New to the Aquarium Scene
- Thread starter carr51
- Start date
I'd recommend reading the sticky on cycling, and getting ammonia (NH3), nitrite (NO2) and nitrate test kits (NO3) to monitor the tank over the next little while. I wouldn't add any more fish until the tank is cycled.
It's also a good idea to get a pH test kit and read up on the requirements of the fish you've got.
Welcome to the hobby
It's also a good idea to get a pH test kit and read up on the requirements of the fish you've got.
Welcome to the hobby
The filter you have will add aeration, any surface movement will. In the beginnign I would be doing 20% daily water changes as the ammonia levels will be raising up and could harm the fish. I would suggest gettign ammonia and nitrite test kits and if the ammonia gets above 1ppm or the nitrite above 0.25 ppm then do a water change. Keep this up until the levels stay at zero for 24 hours. If you don't have the test kits then the daily water change should be good enough.
With a tank that small be carfeul as those cichlids will quickly over populate it. They may seem small but they really do need a big tank.
With a tank that small be carfeul as those cichlids will quickly over populate it. They may seem small but they really do need a big tank.
Yeah, I found a really good website and it gave me a couple of charts for the Nitrogen and Ammonium Cycle and it gave me good tips on how to start and slowly add some fish. I am going to stick with the 10 gal tank for a while then I might move up to 20 but for now I am wondering if it is alright to add sandstone rocks? I am just going to put a couple pieces so that my Siclet has a spot to hide. I think he is a little nervous in the tank with no places to hide. In our Natural Resources class we added slabs of slate by filing down the sharp edges and boiling them to get rid of the bacteria then putting them in the tanks and the fish adapted well, is it possible to do the same with sandstone?
I would place the sandstone overnight in some tap water and test the pH before and after the test. If the water's pH raises up then I would avoid it. Slate and granite are good as they do not affect the pH level.
Hiding spots for cichlids are good.
Hiding spots for cichlids are good.