New - help!!!!

Discussion in 'Beginner Discussions' started by candym0m, Jan 9, 2009.

  1. candym0m

    candym0m

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Hi Everyone

    I am so confused! All this talk about T5's and T8's, sump's, filtration etc... WTF????
    I had NO idea keeping a few little fishies was gonna be such hard work :(
    Someone PLEASE HELP!!! :wondering:
     
  2. Guest




  3. Singularity

    Singularity

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2008
    Messages:
    892
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Potchefstroom
    Hi and welcome candymom. Maybe if you tell us a little bit more about your setup and fish you currently have and what problems you are experiencing we can try and help. It isnt that hard work to keep fish, well it isnt hard work at all if you do it right. Atleast you are at the right place now for some good advice from the TASA members.
     
  4. solex69

    solex69

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    Messages:
    1,119
    Likes Received:
    14
    Ola and welcome to TASA

    As Singularity said, post any problems you may have and we will try and assist the best we can

    Cheers
    Dale
     
  5. Dolphin

    Dolphin

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    1,924
    Likes Received:
    145
    Welcome to TASA!Tell us more about the aquarium you have or want to get and we'll do our best to guide you...Remember, no question is a stupid question. Rather ask the question here and save yourself time, money and protect the lives your little fishies...
     
  6. OP
    candym0m

    candym0m

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Cape Town
    I have a small tank - 30x22x23. 1 guppy, 1 goldfish, 2 snails- 2 live plants + lots of decorative river stones,shells etc. I need 2 knw about lighting + filtration etc.
     
  7. OP
    candym0m

    candym0m

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Cape Town
    ive done quite a lot of reading etc bt i just need sum solid advice.
     
  8. Dolphin

    Dolphin

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    1,924
    Likes Received:
    145
    are you planning on getting another aquarium or is what you have to work with?If you're gonna be keeping this tank for awhile then lets see what we can do with it...Filtration: This is going to be dependent on how many fish and what type you eventually want to keep in there and if you will be keeping plants. If you're keeping plants, then undergravel filtration will not do it as it will disturb the roots of the plants. The simplest filtration that will work for you is going to be a corner filter filled with some filter wool, ceramic rings and charcoal. If you want to spend some money on filtration then go for a good internal or hang on power filter (you're going to need this type of filtration if you want to keep goldfish or large body fish such as cichlids etc). If you have to medicate the aquarium, remove the charcoal from your filter.Lighting: With this size tank your best option will be COMPACT FLOURESCENT lighting if you want to keep a good selection of plants (I used this type of lighting on my 50L planted and the plants overgrew that tank!). Your tank is about 12-15L so you're looking at about 30W of light.Heating: You should have a 50W heater in there and the average aquarium temp should be 24-26C. This brings us to the question of your goldfish: Do you want to keep tropical fish or goldfish? I would suggest you make this decision now and then plan the additions you will be making carefully.Fish: You should add no more than 20 25mm fish to your aquarium. So now you need to research the fish you want to keep so you know what its eventual size will be. If you want to keep fish that will eventually grow to say 10cm, then you can only get 5 of them for your tank - eventhough they might only be 4cm now when you buy them. But, for your size aquarium I would suggest you only keep smaller fish which will only grow to about 4/5cm which means you can keep 10 fish of that size in your tank. I would recommend a mix of Tetras, Rasboras, Danios (not the artificially colored ones), flying fox or otocinclus & a small cory - these should all go nicely with a planted setup. Alternatively you can select some nice guppies, platies and swords. Word of caution: Do not purchase mollies as they require salt and the addition of salt will not make the other fish happy and might even cause their demise. Mollies go well with a selection of puffers, scats and other brackish water fish and their aquarium should be planned and setup accordingly.Feeding: Get a good selection of dry flakes or small pellets for your fish and supplement this with some frozen bloodworms once or twice or week.Books: Not sure which books you've read, but you should get yourself a good book - usually not available from an LFS so browse around a CNA for somethin comprehensive that covers all the above and more.Hope that helps, shout if you have more questions...
     
  9. OP
    candym0m

    candym0m

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Wow! Thx 4 all dat, Dolphin. I am keeping da tank i have.. I dnt hv lots of money at the mo 4 an elaborate setup. Maybe 1 day. All those fish u named.. No idea wot they lol. I am a complete novice! Bt i will luk them up + wil get myself a gud book:) all 3 of my fish have died:( so im gna wait til i knw wot im doin b4 gtn more.
     
  10. Dolphin

    Dolphin

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    1,924
    Likes Received:
    145
    sorry to hear! Well, atleast you can start right again and plan your aquarium...
     
  11. LiftCrazy*

    LiftCrazy*

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2009
    Messages:
    274
    Likes Received:
    3
  12. OP
    candym0m

    candym0m

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Hi Guys

    So I've finally managed to set up my tank (properly this time :) I purchased a filter, heater and a test kit. Then, yesterday I bought some new fishies to add to the 2 snails and black moor that I have.
    I got 2 neons (I didn't know!! :( ) and 2 cherry barbs. The neons are doing fine, but the barbs are just hanging around the bottom of the tank ? Am I doing something wrong??
    What is the correct temp for the heater to be at?
    I tested the water and treated it etc and that's all fine.
     
  13. Henk Hugo

    Henk Hugo

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2008
    Messages:
    4,135
    Likes Received:
    34
    Location:
    Cape Town
    cherry barbs and neons are both schooling fish and should be kept in a school of atleast 5 or more.

    Blackmoors form part of the "goldfish" side of things and need to be kept in an unheated tank/pond
     
  14. Singularity

    Singularity

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2008
    Messages:
    892
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Potchefstroom
    and tank temp +/-26C
     
    Henk Hugo likes this.
  15. OP
    candym0m

    candym0m

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Cape Town
    OMG :( I'm just going to cry! WHY don't these aquarium ppl tell you these things??? They can clearly see that I'm a novice - or is it that they want us to fail?!
    So what can I do now? Must I remove the black moor (I do still have a small fish bowl)? Do I have to get more barbs & neons and how many can I safely have in my 14L tank (12L's of water).
     
  16. Henk Hugo

    Henk Hugo

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2008
    Messages:
    4,135
    Likes Received:
    34
    Location:
    Cape Town
    i would take out the goldfish, take back the either the cherries or the neons and select one school... ie 5 or more :D
     
  17. OP
    candym0m

    candym0m

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Cape Town
    You think the shop will take them back??
     
  18. Henk Hugo

    Henk Hugo

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2008
    Messages:
    4,135
    Likes Received:
    34
    Location:
    Cape Town
    who did you get it from?
     
  19. OP
    candym0m

    candym0m

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Cape Town
    A little bubby shop converted into a pet shop. They are very nice tho...
     
  20. Henk Hugo

    Henk Hugo

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2008
    Messages:
    4,135
    Likes Received:
    34
    Location:
    Cape Town
    mmmmmmm ok - take them back and tell them you want to swop them for more of the other species and you also want some extra
     
  21. OP
    candym0m

    candym0m

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Ok, kewl... I'll try that. Do you think they'll be ok till the weekend tho? Cos I work fulltime and that's the only chance I'll get to exchange them.
     

Recent Posts

Loading...
Similar Threads - help Forum Date
Need help to brace my tank General Equipment discussion Oct 15, 2024
Bad advise please help New members Sep 16, 2024
Some help needed to ID these fish General Discussions Apr 1, 2024
Help with Co2 solenoid tubing adapters please! General Equipment discussion Feb 28, 2024
Racking system help needed General Discussions Feb 19, 2024
Please help ID these plants. Aquatic plants Feb 12, 2024
Help with fixing 1.2m tank Anything DIY related Oct 28, 2023

Share This Page