Help new to keeping fish..

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chrisredfield003

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 27, 2012
41
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SAN ANTONIO
First post here but here is my current project..
I recently purchased 4 platy's 2 female 2 male.I also picked up a tetra
aquarium starter kit.That came with a water filter an aqua safe
Water conditioner,lights 10 gallon tank and tetra food.I did a bit of research the week previous to see how
it might be to breed a few sunset platy's.They were stated to be perfect for starters...I didn't get much help from the girl and guy
at pet-barn...But I got what I thought I needed for a night Since I Get paid Thursday and Friday also.I could get the other items a day or two later
this was Wednesday.

When I got home here is what happened..

9 or so gallons of tap water
I used a tsp of water conditioner for a 10 gallon tank like it says on the aqua safe:popcorn: package..
I set the filter and put the fish inside the tank..

5 hours after setting the tank up I Noticed that the males were beginning to be slow and sluggish.They were probably dying from the
water not having enough oxygen,or from the micro-nutrients and algae not being ready I'm thinking from what I'm
reading around here.I Quickly Put an air stone and air pump into the tank bottom with a 5 inch air stone brick and the last of the
two female living started to perk up and get her pep back.She seems fine now..The two males died and one female died one left...

I was thinking about how the people at pet-barn didn't mention any of it..I take the blame for not doing enough research but I wanted to know now..
What else do I need?

*A pH test kit right? What else do I need to test the water for?whats a perfect pH lvl?and other lvls of things do I need?

*Do these sunset platy's need some sort of aquarium salt?I guess if I get that It would come with instructions so I'm set there if I need it

*A thermometer also right?What is a good temp its San Antonio summer soon maybe 100degrees outside but my central air can make any room whatever temp mainly the aquarium room.

What else do I need to buy?I plan on breeding the sunset platy's and When I get the hang of these 2$ fish moving on to maybe a Dragon-fish?
I don't need to worry about that right now I just wanna learn how to keep these first.

Ill keep doing research and trial and error will work eventually but I would appreciate the help in the meantime.
 
I also Failed to cycle the water before hand because the fish were in a bag sitting next to the tank I figured at the time it was ready for them.But I know that now..
 
See below for answers...Welcome to MFK, nice to see another Texas MFKer!! Im in Schertz and have lived in San Antonio for well over a decade!!
chrisredfield003 said:
First post here but here is my current project..
I recently purchased 4 platy's 2 female 2 male.I also picked up a tetra
aquarium starter kit.That came with a water filter an aqua safe
Water conditioner,lights 10 gallon tank and tetra food.I did a bit of research the week previous to see how
it might be to breed a few sunset platy's.They were stated to be perfect for starters...I didn't get much help from the girl and guy
at pet-barn...But I got what I thought I needed for a night Since I Get paid Thursday and Friday also.I could get the other items a day or two later
this was Wednesday.

When I got home here is what happened..

9 or so gallons of tap water
I used a tsp of water conditioner for a 10 gallon tank like it says on the aqua safe:popcorn: package..
I set the filter and put the fish inside the tank..

5 hours after setting the tank up I Noticed that the males were beginning to be slow and sluggish.They were probably dying from the
water not having enough oxygen,or from the micro-nutrients and algae not being ready I'm thinking from what I'm
reading around here.I Quickly Put an air stone and air pump into the tank bottom with a 5 inch air stone brick and the last of the
two female living started to perk up and get her pep back.She seems fine now..The two males died and one female died one left...

I was thinking about how the people at pet-barn didn't mention any of it..I take the blame for not doing enough research but I wanted to know now..
What else do I need?

*A pH test kit right? What else do I need to test the water for?whats a perfect pH lvl?and other lvls of things do I need? API Test Kit sold at Petsmart and any other LFS.

*Do these sunset platy's need some sort of aquarium salt?I guess if I get that It would come with instructions so I'm set there if I need it...Not necessary, I would pick up some Prime by Seachem and Stability. Your tank wasn't cycled and the fish are sluggish probably due to an ammonia/nitrate overload. These will both help to speed up the cycle process. Also you will need to do quite a few water changes until the levels on the API test kit reach the safe zone

*A thermometer also right?What is a good temp its San Antonio summer soon maybe 100degrees outside but my central air can make any room whatever temp mainly the aquarium room.Your platies should do fine at a temp range from 72-78. Since the tank is inside the hot summers shouldn't affect it too much. Just make sure and watch the temp when the sun starts blazin!!

What else do I need to buy?I plan on breeding the sunset platy's and When I get the hang of these 2$ fish moving on to maybe a Dragon-fish? They sell breeding boxes at LFS, or you could heavily plant the tank to provide a place for the fry to hide. Probably want to hold off on trying to breed until you get your water levels set.
I don't need to worry about that right now I just wanna learn how to keep these first.

Ill keep doing research and trial and error will work eventually but I would appreciate the help in the meantime.
Click to expand...
You came to the right place to learn...lots of information from this site and its members. Don't get discouraged and we all have setbacks.
 
After you added the conditioner you let cycle 24 hrs then add beneficial bacteria and let it cycle another 24 hrs.Ipersonally let the tank sit about a week after adding bacteria.You also need to test for nitrates,ammonia,water hardness,ect....There are test strips that test for these all in one.I have no idea what platys requirements are but just google it online.Sorry I can't offer anymore info off the top of my head.Didn't get much sleep.Good luck.


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If you are going to try and jump start the tank you should try to get some kind of benificial bacteria booster. I used seachem stability to help jump start the cycle for my 20 gallon in my room. But since i have had my 55 running for almost 2 yrs i also pulled some of the Ceramics out and put them into my filter to help jump it that way also. It's is a great product. I use that and prime with every water change I do to my tanks. The fish you are starting with are very easy to care for but if you breed them I recommend getting a larger tank. Check Craigslist for a 20 high or 30 gallon. Keeping good water parameters on a smaller tank is usually much harder then with a larger tank. If by chance you do get a larger tank wait until your 10 cycles completely it may take up to a month to cycle completely but after its done you can pull your filter from the 10 and place it on the 20 or 30. It will have the bb already in it and will cut the time the tank has to cycle in half. Good luck and have fun the plattys breed like mice. So you will soon have a ton of fry swimming through te tank.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Thanks so far..I also plan on getting 6-7 bushy plants,Black Floor rocks..What can live with platy's once I get My water correct?What else Should I get?
 
Stick with other community tropical fish (i.e. swordtails, tetra, molly's). Just be careful not to overstock. I would not add any other fish until you have got the tank completely cycled.
 
They do not need aquarium salt but mollies prefer it. If you have tetras (you do not have them but just a tip) you should add a half douse of salt. For most fish you should use a table spoon of salt for gallon of you aquarium. You can use aquarium salt(more expensive) or iodized table salt.
 
Well I have zebra danios that get along with my platies so maybe you can try that. To oscaroo : He's talking about platies not mollies. I have a blue gourami with my platies and zebra danios also but they need more than 10 gallons so you can't do that. But you can get a dwarf gourami but I would give it some space and keep it alone. All small community fish like zebra danios, platies, mollies, tetras etc. will go well in your tank. Just make sure they won't outgrow it. Good luck with your tank!
 
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