Please help
- Thread starter HeatherE
- Start date
Lol, hence while I'm checking it before bed. Thanks again so much guys. I've always been interested, and this forum may be exactly what I need to overcome my ignorance. I really do appreciate it and can't wait to see where my new hobby takes me.
Welcome to the site, you sound like a true "fish nut" in the making
With yalls help, I think I may have a new passion.
I've always wanted to know how, but it's a little overwhelming to start with. I'm most interested in checking everything out on here and getting some inspiration. I "know" what I want, I just don't know what it is. Like that makes sense, haha. 
We all know what we want. Thats why most of us are so passionate about it. Welcome aboard! Whatever it is in Your mind that You are after, You will eventually attain it. But that won't stop You.I "know" what I want, I just don't know what it is. Like that makes sense, haha.
It's not hard at all once you get the basics down.
Do some reading on cycling tanks and the nitrogen cycle if you haven't already. That's THE most important part. This will tell you what you need to know about filtration. You already have a good filter on your tank, so that's good, but more never hurts
.
Even if your tank is already cycled/established you will find out you need to know this stuff in the future; if you add more fish, set up more tanks, if you somehow crash your tank (power can get turned off for example.), etc.
The second most important part is to get an API master test kit (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH) to monitor your water periodically, especially if something seems off. Also, don't start messing with your pH levels. A lot of newbs see that a certain pH is optimal for certain fish and start trying to change it, but the vast majority of fish will adapt to a steady pH outside of their optimal range WAY better than they'll handle you fluctuating it by trying to change it.
And third is to do plenty of water changes (25-50% per week is a good number, the more fish/waste the more water you need to change) and don't overfeed.
If you do the above there's no reason you should have issues. Everything else is just details and preferences.
Do some reading on cycling tanks and the nitrogen cycle if you haven't already. That's THE most important part. This will tell you what you need to know about filtration. You already have a good filter on your tank, so that's good, but more never hurts
.Even if your tank is already cycled/established you will find out you need to know this stuff in the future; if you add more fish, set up more tanks, if you somehow crash your tank (power can get turned off for example.), etc.
The second most important part is to get an API master test kit (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH) to monitor your water periodically, especially if something seems off. Also, don't start messing with your pH levels. A lot of newbs see that a certain pH is optimal for certain fish and start trying to change it, but the vast majority of fish will adapt to a steady pH outside of their optimal range WAY better than they'll handle you fluctuating it by trying to change it.
And third is to do plenty of water changes (25-50% per week is a good number, the more fish/waste the more water you need to change) and don't overfeed.
If you do the above there's no reason you should have issues. Everything else is just details and preferences.
