Please Help ME!!! New Tank old questions...

RDTigger · 09-02-2006, 07:57 AM

Alright after a few weeks of looking over this forum I finally decided to take the plunge and join, if not to see if I'm headed in the right direction.

Some time ago a friend was upgrading their setup and sold me this collection of items for $25
30 gallon tank with Hood and Eclipse bulb(Single unit)
Fluval 403 (needs new impeller well and o-ring)
Stand (basic wood stand, no doors)
Bio-Glass in filter

I have bought the following:

more than enough 5/8 tubing to connect the filter to the tank
Tetra Dechlorinator
Activated Carbon
Mesh bag
Marineland filter pad

I have the following items left to buy

replacement parts from Aquariumguys for the Fluval
A 150 watt Acura heater
Biozyme or Seachem Stability (speed cycling)
Maybe some Purigen
Substrate
LifeGard CustomFlo starter kit
Driftwood
Thermometer

My list of possible fish after doing some research

Clown Loach (A must!)
Dwarf Gourami
I like the gold algae eater
Boesmani Rainbows
Gold Veil Angel/or black and silver one
Amano shrimp/freshwater clams to help filter and clean

I just want a natural looking setup. Biotope of an Asian riverbed maybe. There will be lots of color as you can see but unsure of the substrate, as I like the Volcanit, Tahitian Moon Sand, Eco_complete. The Loaches are a given, the Gourami will be at the top and the Rainbows school.

I am at a standstill on where to go from here... the tank is empty and my imagination is running wild with what i can do, yet I haven't really done anything. Please help me ..... Any advice on what an experienced hobbyist might see would greatly help.

ahill3780 · 09-03-2006, 08:35 PM

Welcome to FishTankForums!

I see a good list to start with. The real test is going to be cycling and stocking rate, as this will be more of a killer than any of your livestock selections that I can tell.

Sounds like you have the basics down. I will leave the rest to the others who can chime in with their input for you to review.

Good luck, and let us know if you have any further questions!

Aaron

RDTigger · 09-04-2006, 07:43 AM

Thank you and happy to be here....

I ordered my parts from AQGuys for my fluval, but still have a lot of areas I need to iron out. I ordered my 5-n-1 test strips and an Ammonia monitor(btw- The Seachem Ammonia monitor for very cheap lasts an entire 12 months!)

I do my homework before jumping into things, and have a decent start on understanding the Cycle. An older brother had Clowns in a 55G and they were amazing to watch as they played together. It's the aquascaping and decorating I'm perplexed about. Live plants look easy if you have the understanding what each plant needs...not unlike the fish.

Stocking... Good question. I think I should be ok alsomst following my intial list. Loaches are usually peaceful. Before adding expensive fish, I'll test the cycle with some danio's or tetra... Then some loaches 1-2 at a time. I may leave the algae eater off my list, as they can be territorial.
I see this as a final head count...

3-4 loaches (10-12")
4-6 Rainbows (3")
1 Slver/black Angel
1-2 Dwarf Gourami (3")
Maybe 2 Amano and Clams

LI HxC · 09-04-2006, 11:51 AM

id just get the rainbows, hah, i have 3 of them and their the nicest fish in the tank, they swim alot and are very colorful, the guarami's well, they look nice, but theyr'e boring, i have 2 of them, they usually just hang out in the corner or behind plants, but somtimes they come out and its worth it, not that it matters what i say, but all in all sounds like a very nice combination

ahill3780 · 09-04-2006, 01:55 PM

I wouldn't really trust the 5-in-1 test strip. These strips are extremely inaccurate and only give you a general range that your level is at rather than a specific number. Liquid kits are better, but they still only give you a 'range'. The whole leave-in-tank ammonia sensors from Seachem are pretty much worthless. My brother kept one of these things in his tank and it always said the water was fine, even when the API Liquid tests were giving us definate readings in ammonia.

Eileen · 09-04-2006, 02:08 PM

So what test system do you use?

Jay · 09-04-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

I wouldn't really trust the 5-in-1 test strip. These strips are extremely inaccurate and only give you a general range that your level is at rather than a specific number. Liquid kits are better, but they still only give you a 'range'.

Aaron your too kind.

Quote:

The whole leave-in-tank ammonia sensors from Seachem are pretty much worthless.

I'm sure you meant IMO

, in MHO also!

You can go two ways here. The Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test kits IMO do really put you in the ballpark. If you want critical accuracy from them, you can go to the trouble of calibrating them.

If you think you need critical accuracy, then Hatch or Lamotte test kits are the way to go. Hang onto your wallet when you see the price on these guys.

Regards,
Jay

RDTigger · 09-04-2006, 06:47 PM

I love the feedback!! Thank You.

I guess the Jungle lab strips will be used strictly for cycling purposes. The Ammonia monitor is suppossed to be slow to react to changes, I guess by the time it reads DANGER your fish are long since floaters. LOL I'll have to look into the Aquarium Pharm. products for testing purposes.

Those gourami's are on the fringe. I mainly saw a color combo that looked good and they are a top level swimmer. i didn't want too many fish in one level. I may stick to Rainbows and clowns, as they do a lot of swimming, especially if the rainbows are active. The Loaches I have seen are so playful and swim quite a bit as well. I'd like an active tank. The Angel is the only one I think will be kind of quiet.

I really do appreciate the ideas. It saves time and money and probably saves more fish.