New Aquarium Questions

[Hamlet]

I'm setting up a new tank (my first, except for one I had as a kid 15
years ago) and I had a few questions. Some details:

Tank is a 40 gallon breeder (36in X 18in X 16in)
Filter is a Penguin 330 (two wheels for bio-filter)
150 Watt Heater
basic 25 watt flourescent light


My plan (such that it is):

declorinate the water
get temp to 78F
do tests for PH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates

Assuming nothing bad shows up in the tests,

start with 5 platies of various colors (following cycling instructions
from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)

later add 3 swordtails (1M 2F) of various colors

later add 4-6 cories of various types

possibly make additions based on load feedback and suggestions from
this group.

Questions:

1. Why is my tank called a 40 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?
2. Is my filter adequate? I could add another if neccessary.
3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good. The
book suggests skipping the whole pump/airstone area for simplicity.
4. Cories are schooling fish. How many should I get to keep them
happy? Is it ok to mix them a little for variety?
5. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
correct? Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
plants?

My interest is to have the platies and swordtails breed a little, but
not overwhelm me with fish. I understand that the fish will eat the
fry, so I'm planning on leaving the fry in the main tank. I will give
them lots of cover (probably plastic) to hide in, hoping that a few
will reach adulthood. Does this make sense? any suggestions?

Am I forgeting anything vital?

[Rick]

<midposting>
"Hamlet" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm setting up a new tank (my first, except for one I had as a kid 15
> years ago) and I had a few questions. Some details:
>
> Tank is a 40 gallon breeder (36in X 18in X 16in)
> Filter is a Penguin 330 (two wheels for bio-filter)
> 150 Watt Heater
> basic 25 watt flourescent light
>
>
> My plan (such that it is):
>
> declorinate the water
> get temp to 78F
> do tests for PH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates
>

forget the test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. At this point at initial
set up you have nothing in the water that should cause that to register.


> Assuming nothing bad shows up in the tests,
>
> start with 5 platies of various colors (following cycling instructions
> from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)
>
> later add 3 swordtails (1M 2F) of various colors
>
> later add 4-6 cories of various types
>
> possibly make additions based on load feedback and suggestions from
> this group.
>

many people cycling a tank using fish will buy inexpensive livebearers to do
so. They are not the best choice if you plan to keep them and you will no
doubt loose some to ammonia and or nitrite spikes during the cycling
process.


> Questions:
>
> 1. Why is my tank called a 40 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?
no idea, it is a 45 gallon tank

> 2. Is my filter adequate? I could add another if neccessary.

filter in MHO is adequate for you planned fish load.

> 3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
> supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good. The
> book suggests skipping the whole pump/airstone area for simplicity.

aeration should be fine

> 4. Cories are schooling fish. How many should I get to keep them
> happy? Is it ok to mix them a little for variety?

I have 15 different varieties of Corydoras and they all get along fine. I
would add them after the tank has cycled.


> 5. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
> correct? Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
> plants?
>
you should be able to grown Java Ferns and annubias plants with your low
light


> My interest is to have the platies and swordtails breed a little, but
> not overwhelm me with fish. I understand that the fish will eat the
> fry, so I'm planning on leaving the fry in the main tank. I will give
> them lots of cover (probably plastic) to hide in, hoping that a few
> will reach adulthood. Does this make sense? any suggestions?
>
> Am I forgeting anything vital?

don't forget that ever though the parents will eat the fry some will always
survive. They will have more fry every 28 to 30 days and if only 2 or 3
survive out of each dropping from each female then you do the math. You will
very quickly have more fish that you can imagine. Livebearers should be kept
with one male to 3 females otherwise the males will stress the females too
much which can and does lead to disease like Ich. Good luck.

Rick

[reedsl]

"Hamlet" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm setting up a new tank (my first, except for one I had as a kid 15
> years ago) and I had a few questions. Some details:

Me too. Hope you don't mind if I jump in here with similar questions and
comments.
>
> Tank is a 40 gallon breeder (36in X 18in X 16in)
> Filter is a Penguin 330 (two wheels for bio-filter)
> 150 Watt Heater
> basic 25 watt flourescent light
>
>
Tank is called a 55 gal but after I measured internal dimensions it works
out to 45 gal approx. Same tank at store is "55gal"??
Two under gravel filters with two 660 power heads. I also put a Whisper 60
Power filter in.
200 or 250 watt immersion heater (can't remember now and don't want to pull
it out of tank to see)
40 watt, 48 inch light
> My plan (such that it is):
>
> declorinate the water
> get temp to 78F
> do tests for PH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates
>
> Assuming nothing bad shows up in the tests,
Set up tank, let pumps run for 24 hrs to allow chlorine to leave, run tests.
Didn't think I'd find anything but wanted to establish base line and did
find 1ppm ammonia. pH is high, 7.8 (tonight it tested at 7.2 at home).
Everything else 0. Took water to store for free test (they also do
alkalinity, hardness, chlorine, and chloramine and to confirm I'm doing my
tests correct. They find 6.8 pH and 2ppm ammonia. I get White Diamond
Ammonia-Neutralizing Crystals, put into mesh bag and layed in bottom of tank
for several days. Ammonia now 0. I call Makers of my test kit and explain
pH issue and they claim there's nothing wrong with their test (Aquarium
Pharmaceuticals). Store is using strips (Jungle) and Maker says strips not
as good as drops I'm using (is this right??).
>
> start with 5 platies of various colors (following cycling instructions
> from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)
>
Once ammonia was at 0 we put in 4 Red Wag Platys and 3 Gold Cresent Platys
(Mickey Mouse Platys?).
We'll leave them for a week or week and a half and add some more. I'm
testing daily to watch the spikes as tank cycles. Looking now for a bottom
feader to start assisting in tank maintenance. I'm feeding flake in the
morning and blood worms at night.

> Questions:
>
My questions:
1. Why is my tank called a 55 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?
2. Is my filter adequate? Over filtering is good, right?
3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good. The
book suggests skipping the whole pump/airstone area for simplicity.
4. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
correct? Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
plants?

>
> My interest is to have the platies and swordtails breed a little, but
> not overwhelm me with fish. I understand that the fish will eat the
> fry, so I'm planning on leaving the fry in the main tank. I will give
> them lots of cover (probably plastic) to hide in, hoping that a few
> will reach adulthood. Does this make sense? any suggestions?
Me too.


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[JL]

"Hamlet" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm setting up a new tank (my first, except for one I had as a kid 15
> years ago) and I had a few questions. Some details:

Me too. Hope you don't mind if I jump in here with similar questions and
comments.
>
> Tank is a 40 gallon breeder (36in X 18in X 16in)
> Filter is a Penguin 330 (two wheels for bio-filter)
> 150 Watt Heater
> basic 25 watt fluorescent light
>
>
Tank is called a 55 gal but after I measured internal dimensions it works
out to 43 gal approx. Same tank at store is "55gal"??
(interior dimensions: 47.5 x 17 x 12.375 = 9992.8125 inches cubed =
43.258929 US gallons)
Two under gravel filters with two 660 power heads. I also put a Whisper 60
Power Filter in.
200 or 250 watt immersion heater (can't remember now and don't want to pull
it out of tank to see)
40 watt, 48 inch light
> My plan (such that it is):
>
> declorinate the water
> get temp to 78F
> do tests for PH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates
>
> Assuming nothing bad shows up in the tests,
Set up tank, let pumps run for 24 hrs to allow chlorine to dissipate/water
to age, run tests.
Didn't think I'd find anything but wanted to establish base line and did
find 1ppm ammonia. pH is high, 7.8 (tonight it tested at 7.2 at home).
Everything else 0. Took water to store for free test (they also do
alkalinity, hardness, chlorine, and chloramine and to confirm I'm doing my
tests correct. They find 6.8 pH and 2ppm ammonia. I get White Diamond
Ammonia-Neutralizing Crystals, put into mesh bag and laid in bottom of tank
for several days. Ammonia now 0. I call Makers of my test kit and explain
pH issue and they claim there's nothing wrong with their test (Aquarium
Pharmaceuticals). Store is using strips (Jungle) and Maker says strips not
as good as drops I'm using (is this right??).
>
> start with 5 platys of various colors (following cycling instructions
> from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)
>
Once ammonia was at 0 we put in 4 Red Wag Platys and 3 Gold Crescent Platys
(Mickey Mouse Platys?) *Just lost a pregnant GC Platy this morning*.
We'll leave them for a week or week and a half and add some more. I'm
testing daily to watch the spikes as tank cycles. Looking now for a bottom
feeder to start assisting in tank maintenance. I'm feeding flake in the
morning and blood worms at night.

> Questions:
>
My questions:
1. Why is my tank called a 55 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?
2. Is my filter adequate? Over filtering is good, right?
3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good. Maybe too
much?
4. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
correct? Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
plants?

>
> My interest is to have the platys and swordtails breed a little, but
> not overwhelm me with fish. I understand that the fish will eat the
> fry, so I'm planning on leaving the fry in the main tank. I will give
> them lots of cover (probably plastic) to hide in, hoping that a few
> will reach adulthood. Does this make sense? any suggestions?
Me too.





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[JL]

"Hamlet" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm setting up a new tank (my first, except for one I had as a kid 15
> years ago) and I had a few questions. Some details:

Me too. Hope you don't mind if I jump in here with similar questions and
comments.
>
> Tank is a 40 gallon breeder (36in X 18in X 16in)
> Filter is a Penguin 330 (two wheels for bio-filter)
> 150 Watt Heater
> basic 25 watt fluorescent light
>
>
Tank is called a 55 gal but after I measured internal dimensions it works
out to 43 gal approx. Same tank at store is "55gal"??
(interior dimensions: 47.5 x 17 x 12.375 = 9992.8125 inches cubed =
43.258929 US gallons)
Two under gravel filters with two 660 power heads. I also put a Whisper 60
Power Filter in.
200 or 250 watt immersion heater (can't remember now and don't want to pull
it out of tank to see)
40 watt, 48 inch light
> My plan (such that it is):
>
> declorinate the water
> get temp to 78F
> do tests for PH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates
>
> Assuming nothing bad shows up in the tests,
Set up tank, let pumps run for 24 hrs to allow chlorine to dissipate/water
to age, run tests.
Didn't think I'd find anything but wanted to establish base line and did
find 1ppm ammonia. pH is high, 7.8 (tonight it tested at 7.2 at home).
Everything else 0. Took water to store for free test (they also do
alkalinity, hardness, chlorine, and chloramine and to confirm I'm doing my
tests correct. They find 6.8 pH and 2ppm ammonia. I get White Diamond
Ammonia-Neutralizing Crystals, put into mesh bag and laid in bottom of tank
for several days. Ammonia now 0. I call Makers of my test kit and explain
pH issue and they claim there's nothing wrong with their test (Aquarium
Pharmaceuticals). Store is using strips (Jungle) and Maker says strips not
as good as drops I'm using (is this right??).
>
> start with 5 platys of various colors (following cycling instructions
> from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)
>
Once ammonia was at 0 we put in 4 Red Wag Platys and 3 Gold Crescent Platys
(Mickey Mouse Platys?) *Just lost a pregnant GC Platy this morning*.
We'll leave them for a week or week and a half and add some more. I'm
testing daily to watch the spikes as tank cycles. Looking now for a bottom
feeder to start assisting in tank maintenance. I'm feeding flake in the
morning and blood worms at night.

> Questions:
>
My questions:
1. Why is my tank called a 55 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?
2. Is my filter adequate? Over filtering is good, right?
3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good. Maybe too
much?
4. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
correct? Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
plants?

>
> My interest is to have the platys and swordtails breed a little, but
> not overwhelm me with fish. I understand that the fish will eat the
> fry, so I'm planning on leaving the fry in the main tank. I will give
> them lots of cover (probably plastic) to hide in, hoping that a few
> will reach adulthood. Does this make sense? any suggestions?
Me too.



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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