What else do I need for my fish to be happy?

[D-Bak]

Hello...

This is my first tank, and it is obviously a very basic ten gallon set up.... what else do you guys think i need to add to make it a good home for my fish??

I eventually wil lhave around 5 or 6 fish in here.. mostly just swordtails, platys and mollies, with maybe a beta mixed in....

I am thinking maybe a pirate ship thing or something like that to give more cover for the fish? Also maybe some more fake plants?

ANy help is greatly appreicated...

Thanks in advance...

 

[TheZoo]

Id add more plants (real are nice, but fake work well too) for sure, try and get some cover on the bottom, middle and top layers. AS far as decor, I personally prefer natrual stuff - some rocks, aged driftwood, maybe a few small (new) terracotta pots. Are you cycling right now?

 

[Red Tailed Wonder]

thats lookin good,

U may wanna add 1 live plant as it helps with the oxygenation.
about UR livebearers... these fish breed like rabbits so for Ur swordtails, if u dont want babies may i suggest all females. in my expperience males will fight.

hope this helps
flag

 

[D-Bak]

Id add more plants (real are nice, but fake work well too) for sure, try and get some cover on the bottom, middle and top layers. AS far as decor, I personally prefer natrual stuff - some rocks, aged driftwood, maybe a few small (new) terracotta pots. Are you cycling right now?

Yes I am cycling right now... the tank has been up for one week today...

I bought 2 fish from a big chain of petstores and both of them died instantly of ich... it turns out the store doesnt treat for ich and they sold them to me with ich on them (like i said this is my first tank and i had no idea what i was buying)

So now I have 2 new fish from another store that takes way better care of their fish, and i am treating one for ich that must have been left in my tank from the other two (another rookie mistake) ... it is gettin better now tho...

I was just noticing that there is only one tiny little crevace in that rock that they both want to hide in.. so i wanted to know if u thought i needed more cover... I am also going to buy maybe one BIG fake plant... cause real ones seem like too hard right now... i am haveing trouble keeping my fish ICH free as it is... i dont need any otehr things to worry about!

 

[TheZoo]

Yeah, adding more plant cover would help with the hiding. How are you treating the ich? I would use the salt method, its cheap, easy and SO effective. Daveedka has an article all about it, search for it, cant figure out how to link it...
So you have some fish in there and are adding more? Right? This isnt really cycling, just adding fish gradually. Everytime you add another fish, the tank will re-cycle itself to keep up. Kind of stressful on the fish. Make sure you keep up with water changes (do them often, i dont think you can over do it!)
What fish are in the tank now?
FYI, if you get m/f pairs of livebearers, any fry will be almost immediatly irradicated by the betta. If that works for you, great! Instant fry control...

 

[D-Bak]

yes... i have one platy and one swordtail in there....

I am waiting for the water to cycle for these guys... and then i am going to add 2 more fish and do it all over again....

I definately dont want to mess around with fry i dont think... so maybe the beta is a good idea after all!!

I am using the salt method of treatment... i have raised my temperature to about 83 degrees and added one teaspoon per gallon...

I also have been doing a 10 percent water change every day and making sure to replace the salt i take out...

Any other advice?

 

[TheZoo]

Lots and lots of plant cover! hornwort is nice, grows with low light and commonly found at the big box pet stores.
I dont know how long it will take for the tank to cycle with the 2 guys in there, maybe someone else does? You might be waiting awhile for new fishies.... When you do add new ones, esp the betta, change up the stuff in the tank just a little, so noone gets too territorial towards the new arrivals.

 

[D-Bak]

thank you soo much for ur advice....


i am off to the pet store right now... i will post pics of the new set up when i get back....


Thank you again... and if anybody knows how long i will need to wait for new fish i would love to hear form you!!!

Thank you again!!!

 

[D-Bak]

here is the new and improved tank.... what do you guys think???

Anything else that I should consider adding???


Thank you sooo much for your advice.... not only do my fish like it better... but I think it looks pretty sharp too!!

 

[04cobratorchred]

here is the new and improved tank.... what do you guys think???

Anything else that I should consider adding???


Thank you sooo much for your advice.... not only do my fish like it better... but I think it looks pretty sharp too!!

Looks great your doing a good job for you first tank. What fish do you have in there so far?


Mark