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Hey Guys

I have recently got into tropical fish!

My tank is approx. 60 litres and it has a good filter, a good heater, a bubbler, an inch of aquarium safe gravel , a flourescent and UV light, fake plants and ornaments.

Now the fish I have in this tank are as followed:
- 2 Angelfish
- 1 Bristlenose
- 2 Albino Corys
- 4 Tetras

As I have heard recently, Angelfish are Cichlids.
So I have 9 fish and 60 litres of water.

So far my Angelfish don't seem to do much to the others, I have noticed the bigger angelfish peck at the smaller angelfish and my largest tetra (serpae tetra) but it hasn't seemed to hurt them.

I really love my new aquarium (the corys are awesome) but I am worried I have something wrong. Here are my reasons:

- No Live Plants
- No Live Food
- I never test for PH or hardness (I do change water when needed though)

Also I don't have a gravel vaccuum.

I have also heard that catfish and corys like hiding and keeping away from other fish, whether that is true or not I don't know, my bristlenose sure does but my two corys swim around like crazy and even seem to scare my big angelfish.

In saying all this, I would like to know if what I am doing wrong and what I should to to improve life for my fish.

Beginner - Details on tank in Profile

there are many things wrong with your tank... well according to many aquarium standards... corries need schools of six or more, same with tetras (tetras schols of their own variety), bristele nose is fine, and angelfish will get far too big for a tnak that size. also UV lights are not for the fish, they are for only sterilization aquarium safe Daylight bulbs with a Kelvic rating of 5500-6500K. if you get these bubls and have arround 1-3 watts per gallon (depends on the watage of the bulbs divided by the volume of your tank which is roughly 15gallons). also you should add another inch or two of gravel and a gavel shurning snail called malaysian trumpet snails. so in my opinion you need at least a 55g for the angels and if you up the schools, but if you keep the corries (up that school) and one tetra (up its school) then your tank will be well stocked. live plants are best added when you have more gravel for them to root,so add more gravel and get the required lighting, then PLANT AWAY! you wont be able to get away with the stocking for very long as angels will out grow that tank. also, the angels like ot be kept in larger groups in large tanks.

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Getting Started Advice

I fully agree there are far too many faults here and they have been dealt with and it is no use me repeating them.

I have a few concerns.
Who gave you all this advice if it was a LFS I would seriously be looking for a new LFS.

You say you have a "GOOD" filter, and heater. Just a guess did you buy a package deal?
If now what brands & sizes are they.

Live plants here is another link you should read.
Live Plants
Substrate it is advisable to have a minimum of 3ins -about 80mm of a good quality 2-3mm gravel.
Get a good test kit and learn how to use it.

Water changes a min of 30% weekly depending where you live in Aust it is advisable to store the treated and prepared water for one week and it can be heated to tank temp before it goes into the tank.

Filtration do you know how and how often to clean it?

Do you have a simple timer clock for the 'New" plant and daylight tubes you will have to get.

This might sound very harsh and picking you to bits but we are actually trying to help you remember we all had to start some where I remember all the problems I had when I started close to 40 years ago now.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Yeah the LFS said everything was fine here, this is why I have problems, the so called "professionals" are just out to make a quick buck. The four LFS around my town all give similar advice though so I am going to have to get it from here.

The filter, I have no idea, no box or anything as it was given to me but I can tell you that it is about 3 quarters of the way up the tank.

The heater, not sure of the wattage as it was given to me but it seems to be big enough, not sure.

As for the live plants, Are they needed for the fish I have mentioned?

No I don't have a test kit, if you could recommend which tests I should do and how often I should test that would be wonderful.

I live on a farm in NZ, our water is from underground and is put through 2 filters, I filled the tank by putting in water that had been heated to 26 degrees C and I put in some water conditioner to kill anything that might be in it. I do a 50% water change every 2 weeks and a full tank cleanout every 3 months, also instructions from the LFS.

I clean the filter when I do the cleanout every 3 months, I give it a rinse and wash out the filter sponges (using no soap or anything)

Yes I have a timer that turns off appliances when instructed but I don't use it for anything as of yet.

As for the angels, I had no idea, I asked about them and they said it was alright to put them in there, one of them is roughly 2.5 inches in height and the other is about 1.5 inches. Also, I had no idea the corys should be in schools, again, LFS never said anything about it. Same deal with the tetras.

A question on the daylight bulbs, all I know is that my UV light is purple, i'm not sure if its a daylight bulb or it's wattage. What is the difference between a daylight and a UV bulb?

I am on a budget though, I set up this aquarium with $300 NZ and I don't have much money since doing so, it could be a problem if I have to replace anything or get anything that costs more than $20. If I did get any plants in future, which ones would you recommend?

Thanks for the help.



Beginner - Details on tank in Profile

Yeah the LFS said everything was fine here, this is why I have problems, the so called "professionals" are just out to make a quick buck. The four LFS around my town all give similar advice though so I am going to have to get it from here.

The filter, I have no idea, no box or anything as it was given to me but I can tell you that it is about 3 quarters of the way up the tank.

Going by the advice you were given the filter could be anything and possibly a Very Cheepie. Saying that it could be under powered also sorry to say expect problems wear & tear etc.

The heater, not sure of the wattage as it was given to me but it seems to be big enough, not sure.

Heater there "could" be some info some where on/in side the heater but if it is working and second hand sorry to say it could break down at any minute. If it does you will require two 100 W heaters It is always advisable to use two heaters this gives a better all-round even temp and if one breaks down and they do you still have a back up.

As for the live plants, Are they needed for the fish I have mentioned?

Live plants are desirable for most community fish tanks and your tank would benefit from live plants.

No I don't have a test kit, if you could recommend which tests I should do and how often I should test that would be wonderful.

I will leave that one alone for the moment I suggest you hunt around and see what is around and at what cost then get back to us on that one.

I live on a farm in NZ, our water is from underground and is put through 2 filters, I filled the tank by putting in water that had been heated to 26 degrees C and I put in some water conditioner to kill anything that might be in it.

With the ground water I would get it tested if you do then it can be adjusted for a fish tank. Not knowing about your water conditioner I dought if it will kill any thing. Storing it for a week can kill some nasties but as you are filtering it and it is ground water I have no idea of what nasties you could or could not have.

I do a 50% water change every 2 weeks and a full tank cleanout every 3 months, also instructions from the LFS.

A 30-40% water change weekly is far better and that is all no need to do a full tank at all never heard of such a thing.

I clean the filter when I do the cleanout every 3 months, I give it a rinse and wash out the filter sponges (using no soap or anything)

Filter cleaning can depend on size of tank and naturally the filter.
I would NEVER let it go beyond one month. To clean it all you have to do is rinse it in the water you have taken out of the tank. If not there is a very big chance you will kill all your good bacteria and your tank could go through a mini cycle very easily.

Yes I have a timer that turns off appliances when instructed but I don't use it for anything as of yet.

That is good as timers are the best way to go and for plants they can be set up for about 10-12hrs

As for the angels, I had no idea, I asked about them and they said it was alright to put them in there, one of them is roughly 2.5 inches in height and the other is about 1.5 inches. Also, I had no idea the corys should be in schools, again, LFS never said anything about it. Same deal with the tetras.

I think you have solved this problem by asking here and getting good correct advice.

A question on the daylight bulbs, all I know is that my UV light is purple, i'm not sure if its a daylight bulb or it's wattage. What is the difference between a daylight and a UV bulb?

All I ever have used is a twin light system of a plant and a daylight light and they are changed every two years.
For lighting FRANK is the expert not me for sure.

I am on a budget though, I set up this aquarium with $300 NZ and I don't have much money since doing so, it could be a problem if I have to replace anything or get anything that costs more than $20. If I did get any plants in future, which ones would you recommend?

I think we are all in that boat as far as spending money on our hobby. Plants I think you have a lot to think about first.

CHAT have you noticed this it could be very helpful for you

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Thats bad shop syndrome all over - don't forget that some people will sell you what you want, knowing that you will probably go back when things go wrong, buy more things to put things right and therefore keeping their profitsup. They also hope that it will take you a while to realise that what you are doing is counter productive and by the time you stop returning, they have someone else new to the hobby to do the same. I've experienced it myself when I started in the hobby and still see it from time to time when you are in a shop and they either tell you a pack of lies or maybe just 'mistruths' that they can explain away when things 'go wrong' for you.........

What should I do about the angels then? The LFS does not accept fish from the public, whether free or sold. I don't want them outgrowing the tank.

As for the corys, I have 2 but not 6, I don't have the money to buy anymore yet, what suggestions do you have to help them?

Same deal with the tetras as with the corys except I can afford a couple more tetra as they are only $2. However I have 4 different tetras (glowlight, neon, black neon and serpae) and It will cost too much and overstock my tank to get six of each. Again I don't know what to do.

Lastly, do you think my corys are ok? They swim around the tank like mad and i'm not sure if it is because something is wrong or if they are just active fish.

Beginner - Details on tank in Profile

UV bulbs aren't something that you need for an aquarium, unless you're keeping turtles in it. The UV light can actually damage the fish's eyes, although most of the light is absorbed by glass or depth of the water. It is not much different from a blacklight.

Daylight bulbs emit white light that is close in spectrum to what you get when you go outdoors on a sunny day.

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Corys do like to be in schools, but they can be in smaller groups as well. If you do get a chance increase the school at a later date that would be good, stick to the same corys you currently have.

As for the swimming about like mad. They generally do, and the more the merrier they get.

Check around to local schools, universities, even some restaurants have display tanks. They may be able to accept some of your fish.
With the tetras, they do prefer their own kind to school with, some fish prefer schoals to schools, but tetras are the ones that like schools.

^_^

I wouldn't get any more for the time being. It isn't ideal, but it is only a newish 60L tank and you are better off soldiering on with unusual stocking than trying to flesh out your schools and overloading the tank.

I'd get rid of the angelfish within the next 6-12 months if you can. They grow reasonably quickly but I suspect that you were sold standard ones and not longfins you should have some time yet before things get desperate. If you can't find somewhere to take them, offer them up for sale on a community noticeboard or a local pet trading forum (sale is better than free, lots of people take free stuff 'just because' and that isn't ideal).

The cories will be OK with 2, so next priority after angels will be fleshing out the tetra schools a bit. I'd leave out the serpae and keep an eye open for a school he can join. They can be a bit nippy and get a bit larger than the others. neon schools are fairly common too, so you might be able to rehome that fellow also. That'd bring your numbers down to the point where you could up the numbers of the black neon and glowlight groups.

For me, the timeline would be:
-replace the light tube (just a daylight one from the hardware shop)
-buy a gravel vacuum (one with a nozzle about the diameter of a 600ml coke bottle, in the meantime you can probably make one with a coke bottle, some aquarium-safe silicon, some very hot water, a sharp knife and and some tubing)
-rehome the angels and 2 tetras
-increase glowlight school
-increase black neon school
-add another cory (6 is a bit of a magic number, but again 60L tank and they are very active fish, so I'd try 3 and see how you go )

What type of filters does your water go through? Any idea on the type of water you have? are you getting white dried bits around the top of the waterline and on the lids?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Ok so replacing the UV or fluorescent with a daylight?
I will probably have trouble selling or giving away the fish, although I have a friend who has a bigger tank than me, but I think it is only about 80-100L so sooner or later it will have to go.

My family have a guppy tank in our house, it is 120L and I can put them in that tank if they company guppies well, however that sill won't have them in a school.

How often should I vaccuum the gravel?

Filter is an AquaOne 240v.
Not sure on the water type unless tested.
Yes I get white dried bits on the lid but i'm not sure about on the water. What is it anyway?

Beginner - Details on tank in Profile

I can only gravel vac the front of my 5ft tank and I do 50% weekly.

The white bits "could" be a calcium build up and if it is, it is in the water from your supply.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

On the light, the UV should be replaced. From what I remember reading a UV light can actually burn the fish similar to sunburn

Fluorescent bulbs are sometimes marked as 'daylight' bulbs, these offer a better light for plants. They are usually in the 6500 Kelvin rating (though they're not always marked that way.

The good bacteria that you want to keep to maintain a good balance in the tank live mostly in the gravel and in the filter media. But both also get clogged up with waste material so cleaning a bit at a time with the gravel vac allows you to keep some of the bacteria while removing the mulm from the bottom of the tank (removed tank water is great in a garden or potted plants btw ). As Keith suggested half to a third of the tank per week is a pretty good starting point, you may have to adjust for your tank personally. Doing too much of the tank at a time can cause you to lose too much of the bacteria and end up having what's called a 'minicycle' which can stress the fish a bit.

^_^

Hmm i have never heard of any problems with UV light. Are you sure about that it can be harmful to the fish?

BR,
Johank