Beginner here need some advice on tank

[mmg79]

yea the 55 is a minimum but as long as you have plants and kina 3 "territories" for you RBPs you should do fine aggressionwise, also they are very messy eaters and can affect you water quality so make sure you have good filtration and frequent water changes (20% a week or so)

Would you still do 20% on fish thats 4-6'" in a 180g tank?

 

[The Morning]

You should purchase an API test kit. Once the tank is fully cycled test the nitrates until you figure out your tanks parameters. Everyone is different. I do 75% water changes every 3-5 days due to nitrates. A tank that is planted will be less frequent.

 

[cichlid tank]

Would you still do 20% on fish thats 4-6'" in a 180g tank?

sorry i thought you were the rbp dude. no not at all because they grow really slow but you should do water changes once in a while

 

[mmg79]

sorry i thought you were the rbp dude. no not at all because they grow really slow but you should do water changes once in a while

Awesome to hear thats really good news for me lol, Thank you again.

 

[mmg79]

You should purchase an API test kit. Once the tank is fully cycled test the nitrates until you figure out your tanks parameters. Everyone is different. I do 75% water changes every 3-5 days due to nitrates. A tank that is planted will be less frequent.

Great call on the API Test kits too, I just googled them and their cheap and effective. Thank you.

 

[The Morning]

Use it to test the ammonia and nitrites. Do not add fish until they are consistently showing zero. At that time you should start to see some nitrates.

 

[mmg79]

Use it to test the ammonia and nitrites. Do not add fish until they are consistently showing zero. At that time you should start to see some nitrates.

Thank you

 

[Matteus]

Use it to test the ammonia and nitrites. Do not add fish until they are consistently showing zero. At that time you should start to see some nitrates.

Ok so if you are saying not to add fish until the tank is cycled, to someone who already doesn’t understand what the cycle is, you need to mention that they need an ammonia source outside of a fish. Some people add food to rot in the tank, others add pure ammonia etc. If you don’t have an ammonia source all the readings will be zero and the “new” person will add fish thinking it is cycled when nothing has happened.

I usually put some fish in right away in a new cycle. If you can get your hands on some seasoned media from an established tank, possibly at a lfs, that can speed up the process.

but you want to test with your API test kit every day or every other day to see what you are dealing with at first. Once your levels balance out then you don’t need to test as much.

 

[BIG FISH BOB]

You can buy bacteria or use Prime to help your tank cycle. Buy at test kit and use it often. The more "flow" you have in the tank the better.....a strong filter and a power head should be fine. Start the tank with some cheaper fish (NOT FEEDERS) they are more likely to be sick. Keep in mind whatever fish you start with..... guppies/black mollies/convicts..... will become lunch for your RBP's. Good Luck and enjoy!

 

[BIG FISH BOB]

You can buy bacteria or use Prime to help your tank cycle. Buy at test kit and use it often. The more "flow" you have in the tank the better.....a strong filter and a power head should be fine. Start the tank with some cheaper fish (NOT FEEDERS) they are more likely to be sick. Keep in mind whatever fish you start with..... guppies/black mollies/convicts..... will become lunch for your RBP's. Good Luck and enjoy!

Also your soft water is completely fine..... probably better ... fewer minerals. The PH out of the tap is normally around 7.2 which is perfect.