Anyone have fish???

03-12-2007, 04:46 PM

My son just set up a 5 gallon tank and I needed some advice on cycling the tank.
The things I subject myself to.

03-12-2007, 05:07 PM

I have koi and goldfish in a pond outside. I had tanks long ago but gave that up. Are you using undergravel filter or a separate side filter? Most important with tanks is to keep the temperature right and make sure there is no chlorine in the water, even the smallest traces of chlorine kill fish.

03-12-2007, 05:40 PM

I just love tropical fish! I hope to one day have a salt water tank with some Nemo's in it! hehe

03-12-2007, 06:07 PM

Sally, I don't know how much, if any, experience you have with fish tanks, so I'll just start from the beginning.

What kind of fish are you planning on putting in the tank?

Is it glass or acrylic (if it's acrylic, it's going to be harder to find an appropriate heater, but there are some fish hardy enough to live without a heater)?

My suggestions on fish for a tank that size:
Black Skirt Tetra
and/or
Zebra Danios
Those are both very hardy fish. They're not colorful, but they're still fun to look at (and are quite active).

Black Skirt Tetra are a hardy schooling fish that tend to swim around the mid-level of the tank.

Zebra Danios are top feeders that tend to stay near the top of the tank; they too are a schooling fish.

Because these fish ARE so hardy, it should be fine to use them to cycle your tank.

Another option is, if you know someone nearby who has a HEALTHY, cycled tank, ask for a handful of gravel. Put the used gravel in a nylon/pantyhose and drop it in the tank. That will help add to add bacteria to the tank. (Be very careful about using gravel from a pet store tank; the chain pet stores have tanks that run on ONE system, so if you have an ill fish in tank #1, the fish in tank #37 is being exposed.)

The stress-zyme (and the like) products can be helpful, but ONLY if there are fish in the tank. A lot of pet stores will recommend using it in your new (and fishless) tank for a couple weeks. It won't do any good because you don't start really introducing bacteria into the tank until you add fish.

I definitely recommend AGAINST using goldfish to cycle tanks unless you're planning on keeping goldfish (and a 5-gallon tank is small for goldfish). A lot of people do this and then either flush the (still live) goldfish or attempt to put tropical fish in with them. Goldfish give off large amounts of ammonia, which can be toxic. ALSO, it's NOT true that fish only grow to the size of their tank.

None of this information is "law" but all of it is from my own experience.

Hopefully it helps some.

03-12-2007, 06:14 PM

To cycle the tank, you can get gravel/filter/or decorations from someone elses cycled tank, or you can use fishless cycling (go here to find out how to do it: http://www.algone.com/fishless_cycling.php

or you can use "throw-away" fish to do it, which is basically buying some cheap fish (like goldfish) and just putting them in there for a couple weeks and then getting rid of them when you are done but this method is actually pretty horrible, since there is no bacteria in a uncycled tank, the ammonia the fish produce turns to nitrite and this keeps rising since nothing will break it down and this kills the fish or burns their gills (the damage will never go away).

So the easiest way is to just get some stuff from someone elses already cycled aquarium (if you don't know anyone, see if your fish store will let you have some or sell some). I hope I helped a little!

03-12-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by featherlover

Sally, I don't know how much, if any, experience you have with fish tanks, so I'll just start from the beginning.

Oh, Thank Goodness!!!

What kind of fish are you planning on putting in the tank?

He wants to keep guppies - I know they multipy like rabbits

Is it glass or acrylic (if it's acrylic, it's going to be harder to find an appropriate heater, but there are some fish hardy enough to live without a heater)?

It is acrylic

Another option is, if you know someone nearby who has a HEALTHY, cycled tank, ask for a handful of gravel. Put the used gravel in a nylon/pantyhose and drop it in the tank. That will help add to add bacteria to the tank. (Be very careful about using gravel from a pet store tank; the chain pet stores have tanks that run on ONE system, so if you have an ill fish in tank #1, the fish in tank #37 is being exposed.)

I have a Betta in a 2 gallon tank since last July. I can take a cup full and put it in the new tank. He also has a fake plant I can transfer too.

The stress-zyme (and the like) products can be helpful, but ONLY if there are fish in the tank. A lot of pet stores will recommend using it in your new (and fishless) tank for a couple weeks. It won't do any good because you don't start really introducing bacteria into the tank until you add fish.

I've been adding this to the tank since I've put in the fish.
Hopefully it helps some.

How do I know when the cycle is complete? Is it when the ammonia and nitrates or is it the nitrites are at 0? Do you know how long it would take with fish already in it? We set up the tank and let it run for a week then added 4 guppies one week ago today. I just thought to drop in a sponge from the new tank into the established tank today, do you know how long it would take for the bacteria to attach itself to the sponge?

Thank you so much for your help!!!! I really appreciate it!!! I'm hoping to cycle it without losing any fish.

03-12-2007, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just5398

How do I know when the cycle is complete? Is it when the ammonia and nitrates or is it the nitrites are at 0?
Ammonia & Nitrites should be at 0 (or close to it) when the cycling is "complete." What happens is, ammonia is given off (fish waste, excess food). Bacteria "eats" the ammonia and converts it to nitrites. Another bacteria "eats" the nitrites and converts them to nitrates. It is possible for nitrates to get too high (I've never had that happen). This cycle happens continuously in the tank. It's the first cycle that's often difficult because of the spike in ammonia and the lack of beneficial bacteria to eat it up.
Do you know how long it would take with fish already in it?
It's going to cycle more completely with fish in it, but it will still take 4-8 weeks (from adding the first fish) for it to be "safe."
We set up the tank and let it run for a week then added 4 guppies one week ago today.
Sounds good.
I just thought to drop in a sponge from the new tank into the established tank today, do you know how long it would take for the bacteria to attach itself to the sponge?
That I do not know, but you have already introduced bacteria into the tank by adding the fish (which is a good thing). Also, adding some gravel from your betta tank should do the same thing as a sponge.

Thank you so much for your help!!!! I really appreciate it!!! I'm hoping to cycle it without losing any fish.

It sounds like you're doing everything right. Good job, and have fun. Fish can be great.

03-12-2007, 08:41 PM

Good luck! Fish tanks are so much fun to watch! I bought a 225gallon aquarium and was going to get freshwater stingrays,an arowana, a giant gourami, and a few other fish and after months and months of reading up on care (these are not easy fish to take care of) and just learning about each kind of fish, we started having well problems (so I wouldn't be able to do the right amount of water changes), and now I have to sell my brand new tank

I have a 10 gallon aquarium and I love it, it's full of plants, small fish, and even frogs (you should get 1 or 2 african dwarf frogs, they are really cool too! and stay small). Hope everything works out for you!