Please help

[Roper]

I have recently set up a 13 gallon tank and added 4 fish. This was my Christmas gift for my 4 year old nephew so i felt it was best to add an additional blue LED. I have several different combinations of fish in mind that im trying to decide between to complete my community tank but im also open to any suggestions since i am just a newb and want to make sure i am going about this the right way. However, i may have already made mistakes, and if that is the case im in need of the best fix. Ok so i first started with two very small neon tetras, because the employee at thr store said 2 small fish was the most i could add until my water quality is where it needed to be which could take up to 6 weeks, which was really discouraging to me at the time. Anyways i got one green and one red (my nephew is really big on playing mario on the Wii and being limited to only having 2 fish, if i named one mario and the other Luigi it might make it easier to keep my nephew entertained and not be as disappointed with just 2 small fish) after a few days i became impatient and bought a bottle of bacteria to speed up the process, after finally lowering my ammonia levels enough, i added a pair of guppies 1 male 1 female, which may be one of my mistakes, or maybe not that's why im posting this. Anyways now i want to add the rest of the fish to complete my community tank, keep in mind i want at least a snail maybe 2 and some shrimp as well. Ok so first off i really want to try and successfully introduce a beautiful male betta as the star attraction of my tank, im fully aware of the risks but was told by a good friend that she was able many times pulling this off, as long as u find a docile betta it will work and be well wkrth the risk in the end. That being said im wanting to know which 3, 4, 5,6....? Other fish would best completed my community tank along with my current 4 fish and hopefully my betta. Ive done some research and im thinking maybe i need 1 more guppy and maybe 2 more tetras? (Still not sure if i made a mistake getting the male/female pair of guppies, if not then im happy just having the 2 i already have, and i think adding 2 more neon tetras would help appease the 2 i already have as well as good my money's worth out of my blue LED, lol) ok so what else can i add, should i add? Should i change? Have i already screwed up royally? Is my desired community tank a terrible idea and i need to start accepting that it is not possible and give up on my dream? Lol im all ears, and be nice im just a newb trying to make my nephew's tank a special, unique and glorious community tank, i want to post pics or a video to show my current setup ect. but it says i have to make at least 5 posts before im able to add links so maybe here shortly ill be able to, thank u for your consideration and i look forward to your responses!

 

[Roper]

I was able to post a

I have recently set up a 13 gallon tank and added 4 fish. This was my Christmas gift for my 4 year old nephew so i felt it was best to add an additional blue LED. I have several different combinations of fish in mind that im trying to decide between to complete my community tank but im also open to any suggestions since i am just a newb and want to make sure i am going about this the right way. However, i may have already made mistakes, and if that is the case im in need of the best fix. Ok so i first started with two very small neon tetras, because the employee at thr store said 2 small fish was the most i could add until my water quality is where it needed to be which could take up to 6 weeks, which was really discouraging to me at the time. Anyways i got one green and one red (my nephew is really big on playing mario on the Wii and being limited to only having 2 fish, if i named one mario and the other Luigi it might make it easier to keep my nephew entertained and not be as disappointed with just 2 small fish) after a few days i became impatient and bought a bottle of bacteria to speed up the process, after finally lowering my ammonia levels enough, i added a pair of guppies 1 male 1 female, which may be one of my mistakes, or maybe not that's why im posting this. Anyways now i want to add the rest of the fish to complete my community tank, keep in mind i want at least a snail maybe 2 and some shrimp as well. Ok so first off i really want to try and successfully introduce a beautiful male betta as the star attraction of my tank, im fully aware of the risks but was told by a good friend that she was able many times pulling this off, as long as u find a docile betta it will work and be well wkrth the risk in the end. That being said im wanting to know which 3, 4, 5,6....? Other fish would best completed my community tank along with my current 4 fish and hopefully my betta. Ive done some research and im thinking maybe i need 1 more guppy and maybe 2 more tetras? (Still not sure if i made a mistake getting the male/female pair of guppies, if not then im happy just having the 2 i already have, and i think adding 2 more neon tetras would help appease the 2 i already have as well as good my money's worth out of my blue LED, lol) ok so what else can i add, should i add? Should i change? Have i already screwed up royally? Is my desired community tank a terrible idea and i need to start accepting that it is not possible and give up on my dream? Lol im all ears, and be nice im just a newb trying to make my nephew's tank a special, unique and glorious community tank, i want to post pics or a video to show my current setup ect. but it says i have to make at least 5 posts before im able to add links so maybe here shortly ill be able to, thank u for your consideration and i look forward to your responses!

View attachment 219148

I was able to post a pic but it was taken before i added the pair of guppies

 

[Roper]

Will be posting more pics and hopefully a video shortly

 

[FreshyFresh]

Roper, welcome! Cute kid's tank!

You'll need to do 50% water changes pretty much daily on this tank, with this stocking level until a nitrogen cycle is established. Typically takes weeks, then one large weekly water change should suffice, depending on your stocking level, what and how much you feed, etc.. etc.. Got some work ahead of you my friend if you want to do this right and continue in the hobby. You've come to the right place for questions/concerns.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Roper, welcome! Cute kid's tank!

You'll need to do 50% water changes pretty much daily on this tank, with this stocking level until a nitrogen cycle is established. Typically takes weeks, then one large weekly water change should suffice, depending on your stocking level, what and how much you feed, etc.. etc.. Got some work ahead of you my friend if you want to do this right and continue in the hobby. You've come to the right place for questions/concerns.

 

[Roper]

Roper, welcome! Cute kid's tank!

You'll need to do 50% water changes pretty much daily on this tank, with this stocking level until a nitrogen cycle is established. Typically takes weeks, then one large weekly water change should suffice, depending on your stocking level, what and how much you feed, etc.. etc.. Got some work ahead of you my friend if you want to do this right and continue in the hobby. You've come to the right place for questions/concerns.

How do u know when a nitrogen cycle is established? I took a water sample to the local aquarium store and they tested it for me and said that my ammonia levels were the only concern, so i got some ammonia clear tablets and did a 25% water change then tested the water till it was safe. I am terribly impatient, and after getting no replies, and my toxicity levels were safe, i added more fish. But im open to advice and hopefully i haven't already screwed up royally

 

[Tom C]

The fish waste is what becomes ammonia, and until a bacterial colony is established that converts this to nitrate, it will keep building up. Then the nitrate requires a different type of bacteria to be converted to nitrite, which is a lot safer for the fish. As freshly mentioned, this whole process takes a few weeks. The more fish you have, the more harmful chemicals are produced and the more chance fish will die. You will know you are safe when you find nitrites in your water using a testing kit.

When cleaning your filter, (which is usually where most of the bacteria grow), do not hold it under tap water, as that usually has chlorine, which kills the bacteria. Similarly, you should add a chlorine neutralising aren't to water before you add it to the tank.

How this helps, enjoy the hobby, and good luck with your tank!

 

[Roper]

The fish waste is what becomes ammonia, and until a bacterial colony is established that converts this to nitrate, it will keep building up. Then the nitrate requires a different type of bacteria to be converted to nitrite, which is a lot safer for the fish. As freshly mentioned, this whole process takes a few weeks. The more fish you have, the more harmful chemicals are produced and the more chance fish will die. You will know you are safe when you find nitrites in your water using a testing kit.

When cleaning your filter, (which is usually where most of the bacteria grow), do not hold it under tap water, as that usually has chlorine, which kills the bacteria. Similarly, you should add a chlorine neutralising aren't to water before you add it to the tank.

How this helps, enjoy the hobby, and good luck with your tank!

Ok so do 50% water changes daily and that will help my fish survive?

 

[Tom C]

It definitely will help, no guarantee though. Like freshy said, after a few weeks (4-6) you should be safe. Test for nitrite! (NO2)

Be careful of chlorine in your replacement water!

 

[Roper]

It definitely will help, no guarantee though. Like freshy said, after a few weeks (4-6) you should be safe. Test for nitrite! (NO2)

Is there something i need to be adding each time i do a water change? In this case daily? I've been adding this bacteria stuff each time, is there anything else i should be adding as well or no? Again, thanks for the advice!

 

[Tom C]

I myself add JBL's "Biotopol" every time, it gets rid of heavy metals and chlorine, you don't need much of it, and it can't harm your fish or plants. The bacterial starter culture should help the process along, and make it safer for your fish, but it will still take weeks.