Biology class tank, ideas?

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L

L021

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 13, 2009
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Ontario CA
Well, I joined Bio club at my school today, and it turns out they have a 20g that's been in terrible condition the last couple of months, but it's well set up, with a fuval 205 canister, heater, some decor, live plants and lights. I've taken up the challenge of coming in at my lunchbreaks and wcing the thing once a week, it's right beside a sink, so it's no problem :) and the bio teacher said I could add fish :D Now, I still need to test the water, and in all odds it's bad, so it'll be a while before I get anything (because hell, my own tanks aren't stocked yet), but I'd like some help with doing this. There are a few things I'll be new to. The current fish are;;;

4 Cherry Barbs
1 Giant Danio
1 Female Swordtail

1. How do you clean a canister filter?
2. I've heard Prime is stronger than regular conditioner, how much should I use?
3. When I get around to it, what would make good stock? I was thinking cichlids (SA or African) of some sort (because they breed nicely), but I doubt any easy breeder/keeper would be compatible with those. I was thinking maybe a peacock eel? Kribensis? Any help and reccomendations are appreciated :)
 
The stock is good..
Add two German Blue Rams
6 Zebra Danios
And 1 Male swordtail and 2 more females.

Should be okay then....Just remember about winter vacation and summer. Who is gonna take care of them? And when i was in high school my bio teacher had a zebra danio tank and people would put anything and everything in it...crayons markers pencils wrappers gum....

And when i kept telling her about it she moved me next to the tank so i could keep a closer eye lol

P.S....Push for a bigger tank lol. the school has the funding
 
L021;4508213; said:
Well, I joined Bio club at my school today, and it turns out they have a 20g that's been in terrible condition the last couple of months, but it's well set up, with a fuval 205 canister, heater, some decor, live plants and lights. I've taken up the challenge of coming in at my lunchbreaks and wcing the thing once a week, it's right beside a sink, so it's no problem :) and the bio teacher said I could add fish :D Now, I still need to test the water, and in all odds it's bad, so it'll be a while before I get anything (because hell, my own tanks aren't stocked yet), but I'd like some help with doing this. There are a few things I'll be new to. The current fish are;;;

4 Cherry Barbs
1 Giant Danio
1 Female Swordtail

1. How do you clean a canister filter?
2. I've heard Prime is stronger than regular conditioner, how much should I use?
3. When I get around to it, what would make good stock? I was thinking cichlids (SA or African) of some sort (because they breed nicely), but I doubt any easy breeder/keeper would be compatible with those. I was thinking maybe a peacock eel? Kribensis? Any help and reccomendations are appreciated :)
Click to expand...

1. No idea, never had one. I'd guess it's fairly similar to cleaning an HOB,
just get rid of all the visible debris, rinse all the media, and replace it
regularly. Don't take my word for it though.

2. Prime is pretty simple to use, there are instructions on the bottle. I
think a capful conditions around 50g, the instructions on the bottle are
very thorough though so you shouldn't have any trouble.


3. A small shoal of glass cats (Kryptopterus bicirrhis) would look cool, I've
always wanted to do that. Kribs would be nice also. Maybe a few
peaceful sp. of shelldwellers?
 
  1. red tail catfish
  2. pacu
  3. endlicheri endlicheri polypterus
  4. silver arowana
  5. gar
  6. clown knife
  7. motoro stingray
  8. arapaima
  9. peacock bass
  10. mekong catfish
 
There are two types of prime...one is more concentrated and requires one drop per gallon and the other is two drops per gallon

For a 20g, if you wanna change up the stock go with the rams or maybe even some dwarf cockatoo cichlids...you don't want anything too small
 
I'd be concerned about putting anything in there that isn't really tough. Something like guppies or mollies though boring would be the best choice in my opinion. Fancy guppies are colorful and they can tolerate hot or cold temps and poor water conditions in the event that some hooligan decides to dump a soda in the tank. Adding a bristle nosed pleco will keep the glass clean.

Not exciting I know, but it's a school. They let everyone in there.
 
^Agreed. I want something that will be in a science class. And I don't really know about the summer, but the current stock made it through well enough it seems, so there's probably some arrangement for them. I liked the idea of kribs because they breed and allow breeding, aren't hard to keep and won't kill anything (convicts were my 1st idea). I might just do swordtails or something.
 
McPhishy;4508266; said:
  1. red tail catfish
  2. pacu
  3. endlicheri endlicheri polypterus
  4. silver arowana
  5. gar
  6. clown knife
  7. motoro stingray
  8. arapaima
  9. peacock bass
  10. mekong catfish
Click to expand...




TROLL-BANK-GR1.jpg


Thanks for playin'.
 
Barbs are a schooling fish, 4 is not a school. Up the numbers, get 3 or 4 more.

Giant danios are schooling fish that needs a LOT of swimming space. A school of them would not fit well in a 20, can you rehome him?


Open up the canister and rinse all the goo off the internal parts in a bucket of used tank water. Do NOT rinse it in tap water.

Zebra danios would make a nice addition to the tank, as would a group of corries.
 
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