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I'd definitely skip the Serpaes - some people have luck with them, but most find them worse than Tiger Barbs in the nipping category. A surprisingly lot of the larger-bodied tetras can be nasty nippers. The Bloodfins I'm not sure I'd trust to cycle.

-Molly
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Cool, I got hold of a fake plant from a friend's tank. I'll be putting that in. Thank you all for the help and suggestions. I'm keeping close track of that water. This is just soooo coooool. I really love my mbunas.

BioSpira or NIC will work very well for helping to cycle your tank. A seeded filter or gravel in panty hose hung over the side of your tank will also help you out. G/L with your labs and tank

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I'll give it a shot. It does make sense. Also, I've heard that the bacteria that is needed is attached to surfaces, so maybe a plastic plant or something from another (healthy) tank will help. I LOVE the labs by the way we have Toots and Frida.

You can cycle the tank using the Labs but it'll go much quicker if you get some bacteria from an established tank. Do you know anyone with a good healthy tank? If you do get some gravel or filter media from them or swipe their filter cartridge when they're not looking.

When I set up a new tank I take biowheels, Ive got alot of Penguins, and filter cartridges from other tanks to put on the new Penguin. It works great, the tank is cycled almost from the start.

Good luck, Mike

Good suggestion about the gravel and such from the 10 gallon. I am leery, however, because two of the feeders died from ich (or from the ich medicine); regardless, I don't think I want to transfer any diseases. Would it be safe to put the gravel from there, or would I be better of just monitoring the amonia and nitrites and doing water changes when necessary?

If you still have the gravel and filter from the 10 gallon put it in the 40 to seed the bacteria colonies. I heard Cycle works pretty good but I've never used it. Don't use chemicals that lock up the ammonia just keep it under control with water changes. I'm not sure about the enzyme, I've never used it.

Good luck, Mike

For fish i would suggest loaches, and some yellow tetras and rummynose tetras. They all look awsome in a well planted tank.

Will do, thanks. Would the enzyme do any good or would it hurt the fish?

You need to check the ammonia every day and if it gets too high do a water change right then to lower it. If you wait a month to do a water change the only thing the labs will be good for is cat food.

You've got a month of daily water testing ahead of you. First ammonia then nitrites, if either of those get too high they will kill the fish. Get a test kit and read up on cycling a tank.

Good luck, Mike

Alright, so my girlfiend fell in love with a couple of yellow lab cichlids and we put 'em in (I confess I didn't put up any fight at all cuz I love 'em too). I guess I'm gonna need that bioziyme stuff to cycle it. The fish store guy said they'd be okay as long as we changed about a quarter of the water in a a month. I guess I'm gonna get a mbuna tank goin' here.

feeder goldfish have always doent eh trick for me... but i also have a pond to put them in once they get huge so.... also BIOZYME works wonders as well

me

Okay, so my girlfriend's ten-gallong tank is now developed a slow leak and I got a 40 gallon tall tank because I want more flexibility.

The tanks seemingly came with everything save a hood. He says he had fish in there recently and I am somewhat dubious (depends on definition of recently). Anyway, I got it cleaned. I think I have a heater and a filter. I need a hood (the top has some weird measurements like,
30-1/4 " X 12-1/2 " roughly).

I'm just so excited about the prospect of a new tank. I love cichlids and . . . well I love color and movement and interesting behavior. So, any favorites would be appreciated. I really appreciate all of the help that I've gotten so far here. Y'all are great.:%)

Danios are pretty hardy fish, you should stick with them as long as that is what you want. The fish store guy probably suggested the other fish because they cost more there or something.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Thanks for the suggestions. I've got the tank cycling, temperature is good. I'm going to get some fish to stock it. I suggested zebra danios but the fish store guy said that blood fins or red serpaes would be better. Can anyone tell me why? Or should I just go with the danios? Thanks.

"I love cichlids".. So do we ! Welcome to the site...
Enjoy your new tank, you can do different setups for different cichlids too..

For example, african cichlids with rock caves...
Small south americans with bogwood and live plants...
Red or Blue Rams, Angelfish...
You can really go full tilt, which you will if you spend more time here ! (Ye were warned)

The Amazon Nut...

Sounds like a great tank for Angelfish but I'd go for loaches not corys. Maybe add a (as in 1) Kribensis and/or Firemouth and some Rams.

Have fun, Mike

Thanks for the advice. It is really hard to get those deposits off. I'm really psyched about the filter and heater and other things. Thanks for the advice.

Yes, vinegar and a razor blade will do you wonders. Stay away from any industrial cleansers and scotch-brite pads or SOS or anything like that. No soap or chemicals!! All the vinegar will do is lower your pH a teensy weensy bit if you didn't rinse it all out. Scrubba scrubba scrub!!

Also, any suggestions for removing a hardwater stain from the top of the aquarium? I think I heard vinegar mentioned. I know that there are stronger ones for cleaning deposits but I don't want to do anything to jeopardize the tank.
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