TROPICAL FISH TANK QUESTION: PLEASE READ AND ANSWER!?
Question by WellHelloSmile: TROPICAL FISH TANK QUESTION: PLEASE READ AND ANSWER!?
okay, so this was my plan for my new 55 gallon tropical fish aquarium:
For the upper dwelling fish:
6 hatchet fish
for the middle dwelling fish:
6 Cardinal Tetras
6 Rummynose Tetras
2-4 (should I get 2 or 4?) Angelfish
and for the bottom dwelling fish:
6 Corydoras
2 german rams (maybe? I don’t know where to buy them- do you??)
1 red tailed shark
BUT… I decided I don’t really like the look of the hatchetfish and thought that maybe I could replace it with a few female bettas possibly? I’m not entirely sure if that is okay but I know female bettas can be introduced to community aquariums because they are less aggressive… If I can’t (maybe because they aren’t compatible with the other fish) than what could I swap the hatchetfish out for instead?
Also, the rummynose tetras aren’t my favorite… something I could swap them for? Since bettas and tetras are both middle dwelling fish maybe that would work better and to swap the hatchetfish with a few upper/surface dwelling fish? What kind?
Someone said to add a zebra pleco, I did some research and they are really cool! But how big do they get and do I have room to squish him in with the rest of these fish? What are some alternate plecos that stay small like the zebra that can go in my tank? (Instead of the zebra, not in addition to the zebra.)
I have 4 zebra danios at the moment and a male betta. Could the danios go into the 55?
I might be completely wrong, I’m not saying I know everything about tropical fish keeping, this is my first large tank and I just need help stocking it. I really like the ideas I have put together in this question so if I could incorporate a little of each into my 55 gallon tank I’d be absoluetly stoked.
I know this is a million questions but if you could try to answer them all that would be soooo helpful.
I know, but because you were the only one that answered I thought I’d repost to get some more input, are the fish compatible though? Is it okay if I swap out the rummynose tetras for female bettas?
Best answer:
Answer by Graham R
that is well over stock like i said be for but it is up to you
here is what i think should be in it…based on what you like
For the upper dwelling fish:
2 African butter fly fish
for the middle dwelling fish:
8 Cardinal Tetras
6 Rummynose Tetras or 8 white cloud minnows or 6 congo tetras
2 Angelfish
and for the bottom dwelling fish:
6 Corydoras
2 german rams (maybe? I don’t know where to buy them- do you??)
and your zebra pleco about 3in
then if you want to add the female betta……
Add your own answer in the comments!
Question about fish, please answer?
Question by what can I do: Question about fish, please answer?
I am getting a 55 gallon tank(i am so excited!). Because I know starting with a big tank is good for beginners. So, since I love colorful fish, I chose tropical. I have read hundreds of websites about cycling the tank so i dont need advise on that. But the fish I really and got to have in my tank are guppies, so the tank ive set up is: 5 male guppies, 4 assorted platys, 1 angel, 8 neon tetras, 1 honey gourami, 6 rasboras, 6 cory cats, and 1 pleco. I have several questions I hope you will answer. I will have all the filter and heater things just to let you know 
question 1: will the angel and gourami fight or nip at each other?
question 2: is my tank overstocked?
question 3: is the pleco to much, will it bug any fish?
question 4: what fish, that wont bother guppies, are good in that tank?
question 5: I really want the angel and guppies together, ive seen alot of people do that, is there a certain kind of angel fish that grows to a small size that wont eat the guppies? or is there a way to prevent them eating the guppies?
question 6: what snail would be good in the tank, or should i skip snails?
question 7: some people tell me that bubblers dont put oxygen in the tank, is that true? what are the bubbles for then?
question 8: What beginner plants that are easy to take care of, that i can stick in the tank with grow bulbs?
question 9: what is better, grow bulbs, incandecent or flourecent?
question 10: What other fish, that is big, but not big enough to swollow my fish, can be put in the tank without causing damage?
Thank you for your time, sorry if i have too many questions but i cant find a straight answer on any websites
Best answer:
Answer by paranto69
skip the snails, lose the pleco, your gourami might get agressive but if you have alot of cover youll be fine just keep an eye on it, angel fish are harmless to guppies, cory cats are good in any tank, id suggest a couple of platy wags, since your already having live bearers in the tank.
since your going with a gourami id look into a dwarf type cichlid cuz cichlids are really fun but look up the behavior of whatever type you get cuz some of them do eat other fish and guppies are good meals to any fish that likes to eat other fish.
if you do have your heart set on a pleco id get one that stays small cuz they will grow very large in my 30 gallon he got 16 inches im sure if the tank was bigger hed get even bigger than that with that being said just the amonia in his pee would be harmful to any small fish in the tank.
good luck!
Add your own answer in the comments!
Please read and answer this question about tropical fish!?
Question by Aisha Khan: Please read and answer this question about tropical fish!?
I have a 11 gallon (48 litre) tank, which came with 2 lights, a heater, a filter, tap safe and ‘guides to keeping tropical fish’, and I have got gravel 2 plants and 2 other funky bits of ‘fish furniture!’. I have had the tank up and running for 6 weeks, doing a fish-free cycle, and have got a test kit and the ammonia nitrite and nitrate levels are perfect. So now, I just need the fish & facts! First I would like to know:
- How to clean a fish tank, what is needed and how often to
- How often to feed
and what fish to get. I was thinking….. balloon mollies, guppies, cherry barbs and neon tetras. Good or bad? Help apprieciated 
Best answer:
Answer by BMTHESPIAN
For cleaning you need a siphon for water changes and to “vacuum” the gravel, a good dechlorinator and one of the various products designed to clean algae off the walls of the tank (do not use and algaeside with live plants) how frequently varies with the bioload and how established the tank is, every 2 weeks to a month is a good starting point for a new tank.
Stocking: Tank is far to small for Mollies or Cherry Barbs (they need at least 30gal and Mollies do much better in a brackish water tank anyway) You could keep a small group of 3 male only guppies (if you have females they will quickly out breed the tank, or a small school of 6-10 neons.
What do you think? Answer below!
Question about cycling and ammonia!?
Question by Kevin: Question about cycling and ammonia!?
My tank still has 0.5 ppm ammonia despite me conducting a 30% water change this afternoon. However, my tank is NOT completely cycled and is in the process of cycling. I have added Stress-Zyme in order to boost the cycle and make it faster.
However, under the “Starting the Nitrogen Cycle” section of the book “Freshwater Aquariums for Dummies”, it says
“About 2 weeks after you add starter fish to your aquarium, the ammonia build-up in your tank begins to peak………You’re probably wondering what to do with the ammonia, right? Well, just sit back, because your friendly neighborhood bacteria will take care of everything.”
Is the last sentence of that paragraph “….Your friendly neighborhood bacteria will take care of everything” true? So if it is, that means I’ve been conducting all these 30% water changes and adding Ammo-Lock for nothing? But if I don’t do anything, won’t the ammonia become dangerously high?
Please answer the questions for me because I really am lost between the text of the guide and my instincts…
I forgot to say that this is NOT a fishless cycle, I have blood parrot cichlids.
To the first answerer: What do you mean by “let your biological filter catch up”?
Best answer:
Answer by jogi
The bacteria are housed in your filter. It’s okay to keep up with water changes, though I don’t like so much water changes in a fish less cycle. After the cycle is done I just do one final 50% water change or something. But that’s me.
You’re doing fine, let your biological filter catch up. =)
Even if the ammonia is dangerously high in the peak, it’s okay, because there are no fish in the tank. The bacteria in your filter will convert the ammonia to nitrite, also dangerous to fish. Nitrite is then converted to nitrates. So after your ammonia spikes expect a nitrite spike. When both ammonia and nitrite hit 0, and nitrates are 20 ppm, you are basically done. Do one final 50% water change, test parameters again. If it still sits at 0 (ammonia), 0 (nitrite), 20 (nitrates) you are cycled.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Categories: Freshwater Fish Guide Tags: About, ammonia, Cycling, Question
Question about fish care?
Question by Jul: Question about fish care?
So, recently I decided I wanted to get a tropical aquarium for my room, so I’ll probably be getting it for my birthday. One of my neighbors has a small shark type thing in his aquarium, it’s really cute but his is freshwater. I can’t find any sites that will help me, but basically I just want to know if there are saltwater sharks small enough for a fish tank that will go in my room, and what they eat and how long they live. Also, if anyone knows how long yellow saltwater puffers (I don’t know what they’re actually called, sorreh) live, and what they eat, I hope you’ll tell me. Thankies.
Best answer:
Answer by ♥Zac Efron Lover♥
saltwater sharks will eat ANYTHING that can fit in their moulth. they are not ccompatible with smaller fish.
Give your answer to this question below!
Categories: Tropical Fish Aquarium Tags: About, Care, Fish, Question
10 gallon aquarium setup/stocking question?
Question by Johnny: 10 gallon aquarium setup/stocking question?
I recently setup a 10 gallon tropical community aquarium. It has an air pump, heater, 20 gallon filter, and hood with flourescent light. I have pebble beach smooth gravel substrate, a pot, rock structure, 2 fake plants, and 1 live plant. I am currently cycling with 2 platies. After it is cycled, i plan to add 1 dwarf gourami, 1 fancy guppy, and 3 julii corys. This totals 7 fish. Is this ok stocking? also is there anything else i need to get?
Best answer:
Answer by white wolf
i think this sounds ok, but i really think you should have researched ‘fishless cycling’ first…
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Categories: Tropical Fish Aquarium Tags: Aquarium, Gallon, Question, setup/stocking
Q&A: Question about a tropical fish tank and what I can put in it.?
Question by taishikebo: Question about a tropical fish tank and what I can put in it.?
Hello, I have a tropical fish tank, already cycled with a bunch of fish. Right now there’s four black skirt tetras, five neon tetras, two cory cats, and two oto cats. This is in a 40 gallon tank.
I was wanting to add a dwarf gourami as well. I was thinking though, that I should increase the size of the other schools, especially the neons and cory cats. How much is too much? If I’m doing water changes and keeping the tank clean, do oto cats apply to the “1″ of fish = 1 gallon” rule? They seem to like to stay put most of the time. Thanks for any info or tips.
P.S. My neons don’t seem to be afraid of the black skirt tetras, but they won’t come up to the surface to eat flakes. They eat flakes when they fall. Is there any way I can get them to start eating from the surface? The black skirts all eat flakes from the surface.
Best answer:
Answer by Yoda
sounds like you have enough fish.
I would try putting an old boot in there. That would be fun
for the fish, and a conversational piece to anyone who comes over.
What do you think? Answer below!
I have a question about fish, to help prevent me from bighting off more than i can swallow! lol
Question by Rina<3: I have a question about fish, to help prevent me from bighting off more than i can swallow! lol
OK, well i curently have a 5g tnak with a single male betta. nothing else. it has a tad of an algae problem but ive gtten it under control and im waiting to see if its gonna stay that way=]
i also have a 10g tnak with a lonely Dwarf Wag Platy. today i completely tore it down and now washed it in hot water because i have a serious snail problem and i was either attempt a 3rd time to tear i down or add chemicals- i figured since i only have one fish tearing it down wold be less stressfull than chemicals for my fish.
OK, so obviously im having a few minor problems with my tanks, but im working on it=]
OK, so i want to get a goldfish tank, but on the same hand i want to get a larger tropical tank. i know goldies are actally prety hard to take care of, but i think im up for the challenge. i want to know what you think i shold do in terms of ungrading/adding so i dont bite off more than i can swallow with my tanks. as much as i want a 30g tropical tank AND a 55g goldfish tank (yeas, i would get a 55g tank for like 2 or 3 fancys ^^) i think boh would be too much for me to handle. im only 13 lol. i know lots about fish care so thats not the probem.
IF i were to get a 30g tropical tnak, i would stock it with emperor tetras, dwarf wag platys, and some regular platys. i would also take the heater out of my 10g and use it for Rosy Red Minnows (coldwater fish, look like mini goldies^^) or White Cloud Mountain Minnows. so then id be up to 3 tanks (30g tropical, 10g minnow, 5g betta)
on the other hand, if i were to get the 55g goldfish tank, i would keep the 10g my tropical and only put in a couple more platys to keep my current one company. so then id again have 3 tnaks… a 55g goldie tnak, a 5g betta and a 10g tropical.
i know this has been confusing and i thank you for reading this far. now, what i want to know is would getting the 55g and keeping the other tnaks the way they are be less to handle, or would the 30g tropical, 5g betta and 10g minnow be less to handle?
keep in mind, this isnt a rushed decision im not gonna start to get it till after Xmas and your answer is not gonna set it in stone for me, i just want yor opinions to help guide me=]
if you need any more info just ask here and ill add dets to the question asap… i could also email them to u if you want, just ask=]TY!
Best answer:
Answer by LuLu
It really depends on what you want more!
Goldfish and Koi (of every type) should really be kept in a pond. (I’m not one to preach though because I have a 75 gallon Goldfish/Koi tank. But that’s besides the point…)
So, instead of getting a 30 gallon tropical or a 55 gallon Goldfish why not combine the two ideas? Why not do a 55 Gallon Freshwater Tropical? The possibilities are endless as to what you can do then… instead of just stocking with tetras and platies.
Goldfish are HEAVY waste producers, even just 3 Fancy’s in a seemingly large tank will quickly overwhelm your system.
I, in fact, would encourage you to go with a 55 gallon freshwater tropical. The case is usually that the larger the tank is easier to take care of. Because of the volume of water in the tank, problems in nitrate and nitrate levels are easier to fix because it takes longer to affect the larger volume of water.
I would also encourage you to browse the freshwater fish section of this site:
http://liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=830
To give you an idea of what else is out there fish wise. And to please also browse the pond fish section and notice that the only types of fish there are Goldfish and Koi.
EDIT: I forgot something! About your algae problem in your betta tank… try getting a pleco. they’re on that freshwater fish page too. 6 rows down, the first one.
What do you think? Answer below!
Prospective betta buyers — I have a question for you?
Question by Crown of Glass: Prospective betta buyers — I have a question for you?
This is strictly out of curiousity, but I’ve been thinking about typing up a care sheet that describes the *proper* care for bettas and placing them at pet stores (With their permission, of course).
So, you’re looking for a betta, and you come across a care sheet. Information would include their natural habitat, and keeping info — the fact that they *need* 5+ gallons of water, a heater that keeps their tank at 78-84*F, some form of filtration OR a strict water changing schedule, and that they do NOT live in puddles. You’ve also heard the common myths that include “Bettas don’t like big spaces,” “Bettas aren’t tropical fish,” “Bettas live in puddles,” and “Bettas have to be kept alone.”
So, despite the fact that the information on the sheet is true, would you believe it and keep your new betta (Or existing betta) accordingly?
Best answer:
Answer by dahonda96
No, not at all. I had a betta in small little bowl, without a heater and without filtration and he lived fine. I did a water change every week – 2 weeks, and added Chlor Out to the water. He was one happy fish. I fed him 5 betta pellets or a few blood worms once a day. Once he got bigger I moved him to a small 2.5 gallon Bow front tank, but then I did add a heater and filtration. My Betta survived for 3 years. All the betta’s I get now go into the small 2.5 gallon tank.
What do you think? Answer below!
Categories: Tropical Fish Care Tags: betta, Buyers, Prospective, Question
Question on caring for Mollies; tropical fish?
Question by xLovesxMusicx: Question on caring for Mollies; tropical fish?
I decided to buy 3 adult mollies because I hear they are hardy fish, but before I purchase them I need to know what i need to do to care for them?
Such as
tank temperature
what kind of food
behavior
any other things i would need to care for?
Please and thank you c: preferably send me a link to a guide
Best answer:
Answer by Ricky
If you are getting Mollies make sure you get 1 male and 2 female or 3 males or 3 females. The ratio is 1 male to 2 females so he wont stress the female out too much. Temp between 78 degrees. Flake food is fine for tropical fish. The males always want to breed so make sure you have 2 females so he wont stress out over and over. or get 3 females. Mollies love salt. So get some AQUARIUM FRESHWATER SALT NOT TABLE SALT OR MARINE SALT. Aquarium salt is cheap and easy to use. 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water. Hope this helped.
Add your own answer in the comments!