New fish owner - help me please

[laursie03]

I used to have fish when I was younger, and now that I have my own place I decided to get some fish. I did my research, or so I thought and I've got the tank, its set up and running, I'm getting a pH tester tomorrow ( i couldn't find one today), and I'm going to a fish store to talk to some people about being a new fish owner.
But right now I feel like a complete idiot...:confused:
The fish tank I bought from petcetera and it said the filter was included and all that junk. It is an undergravel filter and now that I have it set up and running I dont see how it is going to work, so I looked up what that filter actually does and aparently I need a cartridge....? where do you put the cartridge?
So I don't think I've done enough research. I know that a lot of work is needed to take care of fish, but I'm just not sure what to do now. I'm not getting the fish until I know the tank is ready, so....
Do I leave the tank running with the air pump on? Or let the water settle first?
Where does the cartridge go for the filter?
And do I need a heater if the temperature in the tank is staying in the apropriate range?
Thanks for any help.:)

[Bettachris]

welcome back to fishkeeping:)

what size tank?

with an under ground filter most are the same design with the grid and a pipe that comes out. This is where u can add either an air based filteration or a power filteration or commonly known as a power head. Now tank size is important b/c smaller tanks really dont need a powerhead.

i am guessing that the tank kit is working on a air based system in which a cartgridge or black carbon is inserted into the top unit. but it is hard to tell without a picture. so if u can get on that would be great.

if u are finding it overwellming, i would stop going with an under ground filter. the only real purpose of it is to pull dirt under neithe the grid and let bioloigical filteratrion occur.

i would probably switch to a HOB filter or hang on back filter. these filters are easier to maintain and u will probably need to get on anyway.


with setting up a new tank, let everything run for around a week, and then u need to get some danios or a few small tetras to add amonia to the tank, which is called cycling. once everything settles, water parameters wise than you can stock slow.

again if u have any more questions just let me know.

[Jonergin]

I couldn't help but notice that you've listed 6 new fish in your signature block. Have you already placed fish in your new tank?

[laursie03]

Yes they were in my tank. Sadly they have all died. The last two died today. There was a bacteria in my tank. It went all cloudy and had funky smell. I got a new filter and chemicals, but unfortunately it was too late. I feel so bad, my poor little fishies :(
so after work i'm going to clean out the tank throroughly and bug the people at the fish store until i know everything i need to knoe. My brother is coming over to help me too. I jus wish I could have saved the poor fish.:(

[Bettachris]

basically u stocked to much to fast, and it overloaded the tank.

u still haven't told us the tank size, which is super important and the type of fishes that u added.

[laursie03]

One didn't die to my relief... and suprise. Its a three galon tank, and the little guy i have left is a little neon tetras... very cute, i think he was the one that was picking on everyone, hes an evil, stubborn little guy.:o
I did a major water clean almost 75% of the water, cleaned the gravel as best i could, and turned the filter way up once i had the new water in, to suck everything through. Made sure that the water temperature was very similar, and the pH was good. I had my little guy in a very clean container, while I cleaned everything, and spent a long time aclimatizing him to the new fresh water, making sure I didnt let too much of the old water back in the tank. And of course I turned the filter back down before I put him back in.
He was still swimming this morning, and when I went home at lunch, but I think hes lonely, so I might go get him a friend. Hes a little ticked off with me because the filter speed is higher than usual, but there wasn't any air coming out with the new filter I got, but now that the speed is up a little, it seems to be okay.
The water is still clear this morning, and there is no funky smell. I'm pretty sure there was a bacteria in the water from the pet store. So when I get my new fish, I'm going to a fish store. Fingers crossed he'll still be okay when I go home, I think I might try and turn down the filter a little more, as long as bubbles are still coming out.
Anyways, if there is any more advice, let me know.

[Jonergin]

Just a quick note: A good rule of thumb for tanks is to provide one gallon of water per inch of fish.

So if your little neon is one inch long then you should never place more then three neons in your tank. BUT you've got to remember that they'll grow to around 2 inches each. So really all you've got room for is one neon.

Also, the smaller the tank you have the less forgiving it is. Think of it as a little ecosystem, the smaller it is the quicker it can get polluted. Now, please don't take this to mean that you should go and get a bigger tank. Deal with the size of tank that you can comfortably handle and that your budget can handle. The bigger the tank the more money it will suck up.

I hope this will help in the future.

[Bettachris]

-The "1 inch per gallon rule" dont follow. IDK why this rule is still being passed around, as almost all true fishkeepers know that this rule is outdated. For example: can my 40 inch arowana fit in a 40 gallon tank? it is physically not possible, and it isn't considered a god rule or standard rule b/c it should be true for all fishes. with smaller fishes that still isn't a good rule as it often confuses new fishkeepers b/c they dont keep in mind potiental size, for example with goldfish. thats why this rule has been classed outdated.

- your acclimation process sounds wrong, Are u adding the water from the bag into your tank? that is a problem. The way i acclimate my fishes to my tanks: float the bag for 40-1.2 hours, than open the bag and add some aquarium water to the bag, next allow it to sit for 10 minutes. next use ur net and take the fishes out into the tank.

-neons, neon tetras aren't the hardiest of fishes, reason: neons have been breed in massive numbers and interreeding leads to a decrease in health. so keep in mind that they aren't the hardiest. Neons also like to school, so in a 3 gallon tank(which i am guessing is an ecplice 3) 4-5 neons would be enough, but i wouldn't add anything else.

[Jonergin]

Laura, as you've previously stated, you are a prior fishkeeper but are just returning to the hobby. In the interest of keeping things simple for you so that you can grow in understanding and advance (should you wish) I'm going to urge you to explore your local bookstore or library for an aquarium hobbyist guide.

For beginners I still suggest the one inch/one gallon idea.

Chris, there is always an exception to any "rule". As a beginner progresses in his/her fishkeeping abilities they often find that the common ideas that were handed down to them aren't exactly applicable any longer. But they are time tested simplistic rituals that are proven to work in correlation with inexperience.

As for my choice of wording when I first presented the "rule", here is the common definition of "rule of thumb":

‘A rule of thumb is an easily learned and easily applied procedure for approximately calculating or recalling some value, or for making some determination.’

[cstrohmeyer]

Here is a site with links to aquarium information, directories, and products that may help you:
http://aquarium-info.blogspot.com/

Carl
Aquarium Maintenance and Design since 1978
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/

[Bettachris]

regardless it is still a wrong rule. it really doesn't make sense to pass out wrong info and while it is all good as a very very very general or newbi rule it still isn't a correct rule. again must fish keepers (new or non-experienced) dont know potiental size, so again lets take an angel fish, common enough. most of them at a lfs are about 3-4 inches so that rule makes lets say a 5 gallon tank "ok", it really doesn't make any sense as angel fish not only require a long tank but also a high tank.

point being that while i understand the purpose of these"suggestions" they are incorrect, and why i feel so strong about it is, again with the angel fish the rule suggests a tank like that and the poteatail size and beauty of the fish will never be reached. my largest angelfish was well over 9 inches long and over a foot in height, and angels are very common and popular, and it is a shame how they will never reach full potiental due to lack of knowlegde.

[cstrohmeyer]

Here is a principle (not a rule!) I have used and passed along to my customers over the years:
A better but complicated rule factors in surface area (which is where CO2 is exchanged). For example; a 60 gallon (48" by 15" by 19" tall) versus a 90 gallon (48" by 15" by 30" tall), same surface area, but 50% more water. The 90 gallon cannot hold 50% more fish. Multiply Length by width by height (21600 for 90 gallon; 13680 for 60 gallon), then divide the number by the gallons (which can be obtained by divided these numbers by 231). With the 90 you get 240 and the 60 you get 228, you then remove the last digit and that is the raw number of fish you can hold; 24 for the 90 and 22 for the 60. Obviously longer fish need more tank width and length.
http://basic-aquarium.blogspot.com/

Carl
Aquarium Maintenance and Design since 1978
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/

[laursie03]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been doing lots of reading, and for the acclimatization process i didn;t add water from the bag to the tank, i added water from the tank to the bag 1/4 cup at a time, then empied most of that water down the drain and started adding water again, so most of the origional water was gone.
I am happy to report that my little fish is swimmin strong and the water seems to be fine still. His swimming has gotten stronger and faster and he looks nice and healthy now. So I am very pleased, he is still having trouble finding the food, but he's starting to figure it out.:)