Getting a first tank help please?

[Tala:Wolf In Chains]

Ok I just got 4 fish yesterday and it turns out all of them have dropsy. I don't know much about this disease so I don't know if it has now infected my tank or what. Also I'm curently starting to boil water for rocks how long should I boil them before I put them in the tank.

PLEASE HELP!!

 

[fishy12]

Depends on what your room temperature is. As long as it's around 72, you won't have any problems. I keep a 10 gallon at room temperature, and I used to keep a 46 gallon at room temperature. (Then there's a five, but that's coldwater. Also, if you want to use rocks you've collected you need to boil them.

Anyway, when I cycle a tank, I set everything up and run it for a day. Then I add one or two small fish (that aren't important because they might die). A week later, I can add more. Never add a lot of fish at once or else your tank might get overwhelmed.

Um.... idk how but my tank temperature is 78 lol. And can i use pfs as a substrate.

 

[Redoog]

You have your first tank, and you have had your first fish for one day, what makes you say they have dropsy?

 

[Redoog]

Didnt mean to sound so harsh, but I am curious how you came to this decision the first day as a fish owner. I saw where you asked in disease forum and no one suggested that. it also seams from the timeline here that you did not listen to any of the advice you were offered.

I guess what i am trying to say is,, if your fish are showing signs the first day, they were diseased when you bought them and the signs where there then, or they are just stressed from the new enviro, and hopfully things will adjust.

 

[Tala:Wolf In Chains]

Actualy yes I did listen to ALL of the advice I was given some of it I followed through with and some of it like the suggjestion to get real plants I tossed one because real plants are to expensive and two because real plants are a pain. Yes actualy the fish were diseased when I bought them because when I went back to the local fish store all the other fish were lagging on the bottom with white distended bellies.

 

[justonemoretank]

Did you cycle the tank prior to adding these fish? What are the parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate)? Or are these the fish you intended to cycle with? What kind of fish are they?

 

[Megabeta]

Wow thank you all for the info. I have just a few moe questions for you guys. Can I put guppies in a tank with no heater and can I use rocks that I have gathered outside and rinsed well.

I'm pretty sure you can get away with not using a heater. I've owned guppies and have never used a heater. Just as long as your room is not too hot or too cold. I'm not sure where you live, ( I live in New England so it gets pretty cold!) but I would use one in the winter season; don't want your fish friends to get cold =) When it comes to the rocks, however, I would be very careful with what rocks you are using. When I go outside to collect rocks for my fish tanks, I will pour vinegar on the rocks I have gathered. If the rocks foam and sizzle, do not use them; they are a detriment to your fish's health. If they don't foam, go ahead and wash them off thoroughly and place them in the tank. I hope this has helped you.