my 1st tank (15g)

[hfs3]

hey so this is my first tank. its a 15g starter kit from petsmart (its topfin) it jus has the filter that came with it. it hangs on the back. stocked with 7 guppies (4 girls, 3 boys) and used to have a dwarf gourami but he died after a week and a half now theres what i am pretty sure is a sun perch caught out of the creek behind my uncles house. hes about 3 1/2 inches long. all sugestions and comments welcome

 

[epond83]

First off welcom to the hobby!

Are you building something cause DIY seams like not the right section for this.

How much research have you done about fish keeping? Is your tank cycled? Have read up on the nitrogen cycle?

Also i would think that eventually the sun perch is going to eat the other fish.

 

[hfs3]

in order of apperance.
tank with gourami (lights off)
tank with new decor and sun perch (light on)
tank with new decor and sun perch (different position in tank)
sun perch in tank
sun perch in bucket

 

[hfs3]

yeah im hoping the perch wont eat them so if he starts getting nippy ill just take him out.
i know a little bit about the cycling stuff but not that much. i kinda got everything before i found out about it. but i had the tank set up and running with no fish for 3 or 4 days and used purified water and water conditioner stuff that came with the tank.
and im not really building anything, i just wasnt really sure were to post so i just picked the best one i thought lol

 

[Sab_Fan]

I'm fairly certain you will need a larger tank for you sunfish . . . significantly larger

suggest you post in the "native" forum and ask for advice . . .

 

[hfs3]

hes barley 3 inches long so he should be fine for a bit anyway tho right?

 

[pjsmetana]

hes barley 3 inches long so he should be fine for a bit anyway tho right?

No. I would return that poor fella to the water in which he was caught. He needs a much larger tank even now.

 

[epond83]

I would look more into the nitrogen cycle, and test your water. You probably have build up of ammonia and nitrites which need to be lowered with water water changes untill you tank fully cycles.

 

[manlyfish]

thats a sunfish not a perch and i agree you'll need to do a lot of water changes and you should get a test kit too unless you already have one

 

[hfs3]

well how big of a tank would i need for the sunfish? and if i had high ammonia levels wouldnt the fish be getting sick or whatever? there all very active and eating and appear healthy and the tanks been up right at 2 months