new tank, couple days old

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builtf0rdtough

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 12, 2011
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So I just got this 29g tank last thurs...its now monday, and I put fish in friday. I put 9 fish in....had to switch out 4, so now im at 8 fish. I hear all this cycling stuff but have no idea and I didnt see anything on here about it. so can someone give me a rundown of what I need to do? I have 3 neons, 1 cory cat, 1 ghost cat, 2 guppies, and 1 pleco(my fav besides the ghost). I have a few real plants plus 2 fakes, and a decent size piece of driftwood that I put in yesterday. The tank is starting to get a smell to it but not cloudy or green...this is a good thing right? I was thinking of going to get two more ghosties because I just read they school and its not good to have just 1, and I love my ghosty and want him happy. Pleas respond I am anxious to learn more and get things right for my new buddies! :D
 
heres a picture of it :)
IMAG0092.jpg
 
I really like the little army guy, looks like a vietnam scene running from a hut..lol and the bubbles look cool too
IMAG0093.jpg
 
shouldve let the tank cycle abit just so your fish went into an established tank but none of them to difficult to care for so you should be fine.
 
Basically cycling your tank involves the buildup of good beneficial bacterial that converts fish waste (ammonia) into nitrite and then to less harmful nitrate. It is a natural process in our aquariums and though some sources say it can take six to eight weeks, I find that it happens much faster for me. Your water sometimes will get a bit cloudy during the cycling but will clear as the cycle progresses. Through water changes you can keep things stable during this time and ultimately (after your tank is cycled) the purpose is to lower the accumulation of nitrate (helps with the ammonia and nitrite too). You can jump start this process by "seeding" your tank with things that were kept in an already cycled tanks such as gravel, aquarium decorations, bio-material, and such. You should be fine right now just dont overstock your tank and try not to feed to much (I know it can be hard). The chemical filtration (carbon, zeolite, etc) in your filter will also help during this time, but ultimately I dont believe in using chemical filtration as it can be costly in the long run and its effectivness is short lived and will eventually leech back the toxic substances that it has soaked up (unless changed often $$$). Live plants also help tremendously but it seems that the only ones you bought (the green ones) are not really aquatic plants. Look for the ones that are long, tall, and have many little leaves such as anacharis, ambulia, and hornwort. They are very hardy and the easiest way to ensure a good and easy cycle in your tank and will prevent your tank from having algae take over. Your fish will thank you.
 
Don't add anymore fish!

You really need to find some media from another tank and get in that HOB filter you are running. I would highly suggest you do frequent WC's to keep the amonia levels down. I would get an amonia kit and monitor the levels closely. Vacuum the gravel to keep waste at a minimum.
 
sweet, thank you both. I have been reading about ghost cats and feel really bad that I got only one, I want to get him two buddies so they can school together and be happy, but I dont wanna risk killing them because the tank isnt cycled. Im stuck in a rock and a hard place. im gona go buy a test kit today as I dont have one. it hasnt been a week yet so idk if im gonna wait til friday or do a 15% change today...so if the amonia lvls get high do a water change? like 15% and itll help a lot? thanks
 
if your ammonia and/or nitrite levels are anything but zero you want to do a large water change (we're talking more than 50% here). i'm going to say that daily water changes in the 50 to 75% range are going to be needed for your tank, to keep the fish healthy while it cycles. us Prime as your dechlorinator, if you aren't already, since Prime will detoxify the ammonia and nitrite for a 24 hour period after dosing.

get the API Freshwater Master kit.
 
Since you already have the fish in there got the store and get Seachem Cycle right now. This helps cycle tanks in situations such as yours. Right now, this is not optional, you have to do it, unless you can get already cycled media from someone. If you don't add it, you will most likely lose all your fish, and the stores won't credit your money back because the deaths are a water quality issue. Even with the Cycle, I wouldn't be surprised if you lose a few fish.

DO NOT ADD ANY MORE FISH, until you get 0 reading of amonia and nitrite
 
oops. lol I just got back from the store and bought an ammonia tester and a 6 piece tester for the rest. I tested the ammonia and it was .5-1, which isn't very high....but I added 3 more ghost cats, the lady said they are hardy fishies and should be fine, when the ammonia gets any higher ima do 25% changes until it comes down, wont I loose a lot of the BB with 50% or more water changes?I added a decent size piece of drift wood that was already in the water tanks with fish from pet-co....which I guess was probably in there for a while since it had algae all over it, so there some BB right? plus I have 6 plants...wont all that keep the ammonia down as the plants eat the ammonia?
Its confusing as almost everyone says something different to me and Im trying to fit everything all in to one technique. I suppose whats done is done and now all I can do is try and make everything pleasent for the fish.
 
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