10 days alls well

[cope]

so it's been 10 days.. I have had a coule losses but no major fish, just a few of the feeders I got when tank was on 2nd day..
I have been checking the water and been doing water changes about every 2 days ..... fish look happy and active... I do have a couple questions..
1) I can run my hand on the glass and feel a slight slime feeling... I can't see it only feel it.. Do clean it off or leave it for the cycle?
2) the hang on back filter.... thought I would check it to see how dirty it was... suprisingly it looked clean.. so what I did was dipped the filter mesh into the bucket of water I was changing and gently rub my hand over the filter media to dislodge any trash.... I did not run it through clean water from the sink.... Is this where the bateria live? and did I clean it correctly and how doyou know when it is really dirty? do you ever change these elements out? will they become discolored?
3)I have noticed that in the fish store they have water nozzle at each tank. I assume this is for water change.. now the question... that water has chlorine in it..(doesn't it?)  what I was thinking was to hook up a nozzle of sorts to my tanks to refill the tank easier than the ol bucket trick... now how would you add the de-chlorinator? is this a dumb thing to do..adding a water nozzle for the tank? or am I over engineering this whole fish tank thing?
4) I also am still wondering about feeding... I have been feeding once a day normally at night when I get home from work.. they go crazy.. the fish food says feed them twice a day.  I have been advised not to during the cycling...

I would also like to thank everyone who has helped me... I know I am new and these questions have prob been asked many times over.. but these are questions of the moment....

thanks again   Cope...

2 tanks    50 gallon  60 gallon...

[Zulaab]

Re: 10 days alls well

1.  Start of Algae growth.  Get a Pleco soon and he/she will resolve most of those problems
2.  You should not clean your filter in the first place once every 4 weeks if possible, and then clean only you sponge.  Every other cleaning then clean the other material unless they all have so much junk on them that you need to clean that every 4 weeks
3.  You are over engineering it..  The usual thing to do is run a hose from your tap water to the tank and add your declorinator into the tank straight.  Depending on your needs you can put the water into a large drum and let it age over night with the declorinator in there, and then use a pump to pump the water from the drum over to the tank.  Some people do this because their fish are more sensitive to water changes with water that changes much as its being put into the tank.  I would recommend you dont start with those type fish first.
4.  You are doing the right thing.  You dont want to feed more than once a day as you are adding fish..  Now that 10 days has passed I would recommend that you now add your second batch of fish into the tank..  Wait another week and add the third set of fish in there.

[Mzungu]

Re: 10 days alls well

First things first, what are the parameters now? Any ammonia still? Nitrites, nitrates? That will help us understand a little more how far along in the cycling you are. And it will help to determine if you need to do such frequent water changes.

1. Bacteria and/or algae, I'd say. Leave it.  :)

2. Yes, the filter media houses the bacteria. Very important during cycling to not clean it. When I clean my filter media, I usually just swirl it around in a bucket of aquarium water. It depends on how "dirty" it is. If the water is still flowing through the filter nicely, you're okay. I usually can determine when I need to rinse my filter media when the flow has slowed down significantly. I'm not sure what brand of filter(s) you have, are they the same for both tanks? What kind of media is in each? If, for example, there's 2 or more different components in each filter, you can change out or rinse out each one separately every other month or so, as needed. That way you won't be cleaning out most of the bacteria all at once.

3. The nozzle you're referring to might be part of the filter system. A lot of LFSs have multi-tank systems, with a large filter elsewhere.

Have you ever heard of a python? That's an easy way to do water changes without buckets, especially when you have large tanks. Then just add the dechlorinator as the new water is added. Here's a link: http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...cleanandfill25

4. Once a day is perfectly fine. Fish are always hungry! Try not to give in to the temptation to feed them whenever they beg for food...soon you wouldn't be able to leave the house.  :)

And ask away! That's what this forum is for, it gives us an excuse to talk about fish!

One question, have you read any literature on aquariums? (Just curious)

[cope]

Re: 10 days alls well

thanks for the replies.... yes I am like a sponge. I read everything I can get my eyes on.. I got a book on aquariums, and I have several sites I visit and do fish and tank research... I want to get some more fish but want to make sure they will do well together, so I am doing the research on fish as well..... I think the fish store will sell you anything just because you want it... example   they told my the blue and gold gouramis would do well together... the gold one is a bully, and the blue one was always hiding and very timid.. I move the blue one to the other tank and now he is in heaven (more community fish there) but they did not tell me that at the store... $$$make a sale $$$$  so I have the 60 gal  with 2 tinfoils and one gold gouramis and 3 tiny guppies... I had more guppies but I think they are being eaten.... So I wanted to get a pleco fish.. and maybe so tiger barbs....

I really want some convicts  those are cool, but research has told me the are really bad.. (mean) do you think would be OK with the tinfoils and the gourmis....

and I am doing liquid testing and strip testing to double check the levels... the amonia in one tank is at zero or close to it.. the other tank still shows amonia,,,... The nitrites are always in the fair to warning area.. so that is why I have been doing the water changes.... I have read that water changes will not hurt, so that is why I was doing them.... just to make sure...

50 has 2 hang on back filters   one with a bio wheel..
60 has a rena xp2 canister  no hang on....

the tanks are very clear and clean.... of coarse you see the tiny particles swirling, but I think that is normal... If I was to give myself a grade, I would say I would get a "A" for at least being over careful and attentive.... maybe overly attentive..

[Zulaab]

Re: 10 days alls well

Convicts are not mean.. they are only mean when it comes to territorial space and when they are defending their young they will get really mean.   Fish that dont bother them do not get chased all the tank.  Mine didnt at least when I had them.  If you want go and have the time goto Mike's on Stuebner airline and he has some young pink convicts.. and there is a pair in there as of last week.  Both the male and female are pink except the female will show red on her belly showing she is mature :)

Many people will tell you pink convicts are prolific breeders and can handle almost any type of tank.  Put a cave in the tank (overturn flowerpot with a small opening at the bottom (ie cut a hole in the rim) and you will have babies within a month.. guaranteed :)

they are fun to watch :)

I personally dont see a problem with them with the tinfoils and gourami's

Just my 2c worth

[Mzungu]

Re: 10 days alls well

I agree. Just keep in mind the tinfoils are going to get pretty big. And yes, you're right, it's always best to research a fish BEFORE you buy it.  :)

Tiger barbs are neat, but be sure to keep them in larger groups.

[Zulaab]

Re: 10 days alls well

One thing about tiger barbs... they are somewhat sensitive to water conditions.   They are using to living in waters that are moving all the time.. and therefore have fresh water coming to them constantly.  This is obviously not something you can do for your fish but you can make sure that your cycle is complete before adding them to your tank.

I have a friend who didnt know about cycling her tank so as soon as she had a bacterial bloom last week she emptied out her tank, cleaned all the rocks, filters etc and then filled it back up with new fresh water, added twice the amount of fish she used to have and had 4 of the tiger barbs die in matter of 3 days..

After she called me she understood more about the cycling of water