biggest thread on this website

Feb 27, 2009
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You'll need to cover the bucket with a fine mesh cloth to prevent insects from laying eggs in the water (and keep the water about 2" under the mesh). The most risk is growing mosquito larve.
 

Oct 3, 2010
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Detriot Mi
I was wondering i have a 29g and i tested a heater that i know is to small not sure on the watts because i got it from a relative that never used it but once. I tested it it took about 4 hours to get it to 80 degrees Fahrenheit . would i be able to use this because i don't want to spend money on a new one
 

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
The important test is can it maintain your desired temp in the winter when your house is colder. You can probably get a correct heater for under 20 bucks. I just bought one last weekend to replace one that died (Oscars are rough on those heaters) for 19.99, it was a penn plax 300 watt good for up to 75G. I see them on the internet for a bit less as well. I keep two heaters in each tank I have just in case of accidents like this. I have two each of these type in my 75G and 125G.
 

cuttlefish

Small Fish
Oct 4, 2011
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Maine
Okay, there are SOOO many posts, and I've learned a lot already! I have a 40 gallon tank, I cycled it and did everything that I was
told to do to set it up right. I went to several LFS and asked plenty of questions and decided on one privately owned store in town. After a lot of stress about cycling I purchased 2 rainbow sharks ( I know now I'm not supposed to have more than one) 3 tiger
barbs and 3 albino barbs and a moss ball. I had no idea what fish to start with and the lady at the store told me these would be
good. I wanted angel fish but they were out. NOW I have found this forum and have learned SO much, I feel stupid for not
coming here first and learning about fish more. All my fish are doing fine, I have a slight spike in ammonia, but I immediately went to the store and had my water tested by them to make sure I was right, and then I bought some stuff to neutralize the ammonia. I've treated the tank, and I'll keep checking the levels daily but I have two questions. 1- The bottle said that after treating
the tank to neutralize the ammonia that when I test again it would still read ammonia but it wouldn't really be there. How do
I know now what is real with the reading ? and 2- The store told me I could have barbs and angels as long as I got enough
of a school together of the barbs. Angels are the whole reason I got the tank, so any help would great! Thank you all my fish
have already benefited from all your help!
 

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
Your tank has not cycled yet!!! The only true way to deal with a cycling tank is to do daily or every other day water changes to keep the ammonia levels low. Those bottle treatments are snake oils in my opinion and a way for the pet fish industry to take YOUR $$$. Keep tabs on the ammonia and do water changes to keep them in check.
I do not feel that barbs even enough to school are going to be safe with angel fish. I would ask that person to show you proven data that shows that situation working. I would return the barbs, maybe for credit if you can and just get the angles if your heart is set on them. I would keep the barbs until your tank is cycled though. There is no sense in regretting your tank because you got the wrong fish by inexperience.
I think you need to find good data elsewhere and just make purchases at your local pet store. (just my opinion)
My rule of thumb on fish stores know anything is if they have a huge display that is a thriving saltwater reef tank. If there is no huge reef tank that they sell invertebrates out of I do not ask them question beside the price of unmarked fish.
If your local fish store cared about your pets they would have sold you the snake oil and still told you to do water changes to keep on top of the poisoning ammonia.
I am not trying to sound mean or condescending. I am just trying to state some facts and some opinions i have learned from my fish keeping experience (since 1979). I am willing to help anyone be successful and informed. Just do not be afraid to ask or post situations you have or are interested in. I and my others are here to help and share our knowledge and experience with you.
 

cuttlefish

Small Fish
Oct 4, 2011
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Maine
I know you're not being mean, you are just trying to help *thumbsup2 I am very grateful for any and all advice I get here. I guess I rushed the cycle process, and I need to make sure that my tank is really truly ready before I got crazy. I will take your advice about the barbs and I will probably return them, after my tank has cycled fully. If the store does not take them back then I will no tget angels, it was my mistake for not knowing better and not the fishes. I guess before I do anything else really I have some reading to do, I'm sure that there is enough information on this site alone to get me prepared. Thank you and I'll keep you all posted!
 

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
You are very welcome. Your tank could take about 2-5 weeks to fully cycle. Keep testing ammonia, doing water changes, and once it starts to go down you will start seeing nitrite so you will need to test for that, once the nitrite starts to reduce you need to test for nitrate. Once you see a couple to few PPM of nitrate your tanks has cycled and is safe to add a couple fish or so every every week or two. I am sure the pet store (or another) will take the barbs even if they do not offer money. I would highly recommend getting what you want. When I first started this hobby I always went with the safe community fish because thats what I started with, so I would replace ones that died every few years with the same community safe type fish(boring). One year we had a huge ice storm (1986 I think) that had the power out for 3 weeks and I lost everything in my tanks. This was actually the best thing that ever happened to my hobby. Now I was able to start with the cichlids that I alway wanted!!!! So I put Africans in one tank and Oscars in the other. Now I was crazy about the hobby and not just OK with it. This sparked my ambition to learn and experiment with new frontiers that i was unable to reach before because of lack of well, real enthusiasm of the hobby i guess. I started making my own filters to encourage beneficial bacteria growth and to polish the water to crystal clear. This stuff was hundreds of dollars back in the late 80's. I started reading tons of books and a little internet stuff popped up in the early 90's which I sucked up as well.
So, Yes, I would get the angles you want!! Sorry, didnt mean to ramble on, I had to stop myself LOL.
 

Thyra

Superstar Fish
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
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Yelm, WA
KcMopar, I really like your posts, but not all of us have the experience or money to deal with cichlids and I think many beginners do better with community fish until they get some experience. I certainly don't find the community tanks "boring" - I have 4 of them. I do have 2 large angels that were given to me, but otherwise the most I have paid for a fish was $3.47 for my bettas from Walmart. I have a mixture of several types of tetras, platies, mollies, otos, female bettas and some small angels. I have learned a lot and haven't been bored yet. I'm not saying I couldn't get interested in some other types of fish, but this has been a great start and things have worked so much better than when my kids were growing up and we knew very little. We just bought fish they wanted and when I think back about what was in that tank, I wonder how any of them survived!
 

Oct 6, 2011
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I have a 15 gallon fish tank that I have had for 8 months. I am currently having problems with high ammonia. I have been doing daily water changes but can't seem to get the ammonia down. I was wondering if the reason my ammonia wont go down is because I have sand instead of rocks on the bottom of my tank. I have never really been able to keep a good cycle in this tank. This is my first experience with a fish tank. Please help!
 

cuttlefish

Small Fish
Oct 4, 2011
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Maine
KcMopar, I don't think that you rambled at all! I learned a lot from what you had to say, in fact I've learned a lot from everyone
here. I love the fact that people speak up and don't always agree with other people. You learn SO much that way. I try to welcome peoples input on lots of different things, I feel that you learn a lot more listening... I will continue to cycle my tank, and do water
changes, and test the ammonia and nitrite and nitrate and as soon as I get things all in order I will see if one of the stores in town
will adopt the fish so I can get my angels. I am so in love with watching them, even though they are not exactly what I want.
They are so awesome, mesmerizing and interesting to watch. I find them so calming, I know I'm kind of gushing.. Sorry. Anyway,
I will keep you all posted and I will keep reading! I look forward to many more interactions with you all!! Have a good night!
 

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
KcMopar, I really like your posts, but not all of us have the experience or money to deal with cichlids and I think many beginners do better with community fish until they get some experience. I certainly don't find the community tanks "boring" - I have 4 of them. I do have 2 large angels that were given to me, but otherwise the most I have paid for a fish was $3.47 for my bettas from Walmart. I have a mixture of several types of tetras, platies, mollies, otos, female bettas and some small angels. I have learned a lot and haven't been bored yet. I'm not saying I couldn't get interested in some other types of fish, but this has been a great start and things have worked so much better than when my kids were growing up and we knew very little. We just bought fish they wanted and when I think back about what was in that tank, I wonder how any of them survived!
I was not implying that community fish are boring. I was bored, not real excited, like I was stuck with what I had and kept repeating this cycle of the same thing. I really wanted more but was dedicated to the type of fish I started out with because that is what was in the tank. Sure I liked them, I took care of them, and I even named them. My mistake was getting the community fish when I really wanted the convicts and the fire mouths. The price was not that different but I was told these other ones where better because they were easier and I should start with community fish. I didnt really know when I got them that I was not going to be able to get the cichlids because they are not compatible. I was just trying to say that if she want the angles she should get them. I think being real happy with your tank is important and a rookie mistake can be turned around early with no real problems. If I would have known in the first week or two I would have traded mine in on the type of fish I wanted and went with beginner fish of the type I wanted. When I found out this info I was already attached to my fish and didnt want to let them go. So I was dedicated to a type of fish that I thought was just OK with and not 100% HAPPY with.
I should have made it clear that I was bored not the fish being boring. I like all fish, heck my next project may be a 150G schooling community tank or a 75G Salt reef, the wife and I are debating how we are going to go. It might be the schooling tank as we might be moving in about 5 years or so and the FW tank is easier to move and its easier to find folks to take the FW fish.
As far as money goes for a cichlid or community fish goes its not really a big difference. I can buy a couple 20 dollar cichlids (40 bucks total) and fill up a 50G tank to capacity or I can spend about 40 bucks on community fish and fill up a 50G to capacity as well. There are many cichlids and community fish that are great and hardy beginner fish and easy to raise.
Sorry for the confusion!!!! Fish are not boring at all, I have plenty and always want more. I was just try to say get what you really want, within reason anyway.
 

Thyra

Superstar Fish
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
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Yelm, WA
Thanks KcMopar for the clarification. One of my concerns it so many beginners - me included - don't understand what goes with what. And with cichlids - to do it right - apparently you need to really understand that. You are right, you could fully stock a 50g tank with two cichlids for $40, but many beginners wouldn't stop there. They think all this space and I got to add more fish. That's the part of this stocking business that concerns me. Some fish just need a lot more space than others. Most of the fish that are considered "community" don't have the personality and requirements as the cichlids seem to need.