Subj : New fishkeeper?
To : Janis Kracht
From : Carol Shenkenberger
Date : Thu May 01 2008 03:34 pm
Hey Janis, if you want more info on how to start and what to get without
breaking the piggy bank, this would be the place <g>.
You do not for instance, need a fancy stand if going with a smaller tank, say
10-20G. If it's in a heated room in winter, several types allow for down to
65F so you will not need a heater either.
The key thing is to setup the tank and let it run without fish (but with
whatever you can find locally to partly cycle the tank) for 2 weeks at least.
Expect the water to get cloudy. Don't change it out. Just ride it out. It
will get so cloudy you cant see though it eventually which is *good*.
Suddenly one morning it is crystal clear. Happens all on it's own and all
those fancy (expensive) chemicals to adjust this, are worthless or damaging
to the cycle. (this true cloud happens only after you add fish)
Once cycled, a tank needs about 10 mins every 2 weeks to filter out fish poop
from the gravel and change the filters.
Easiest tanks are called 'species tanks' meaning all the same general
species. That could be all danios, or all mollies, or what have you. All
Tetras work well!
Fish load is the most common new tank keeper mistake. Rule of thumb is about
1 gallon per inch of fish so in a 10G tank, you can reliably hold 10 small
fish of 1 inch. This starts to shift though with fish over 2 inches and they
need more room. Don't look at the fish's current size, but what it will grow
to be. If the tank depth isnt twice the size of the final adult fish, think
3 times before getting it.
We can play a little there with 6 inch max but not over. Aiming at most
being 5 or 4 inch.
xxcarol
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