i agree on the zebra dainos. i started my 100 gal tank with them. i got 6 of
them, i only lost 1. i still have them in the tank to this day. dont rush
stocking the tank, let it cycle out. for a community tank id stick to the
feeding levels formula. a few top feeders, a few mid feeders(the zebra
dainos) and bottom feeders(i prefer clown loaches) . when algae starts to
appear(most probbly will,and its not a bad thing, it part of nature) get a
algae eater. i have 2 china algae eaters in my 100 gal tank and they do a
good job keep the tank clean. i stay away from any chemicals to get rid of
algae. nature provided algae eaters for that job. once your tank settles
down usualy you only have to check the ph once in a while.
i use good flake food in the mourning, and at night i drop in a frozen
cube of brine shrimp. every once in a while i put in freze dryed blood worms
for ruffage. if i notice a lot of junk on the bottom of the tank(uneaten
food) i skip the brine shrimp for a few days. and let the clown loaches
clean up the tank(they get lazy after a while and start eating at mid level
of the tank) that forces them to eat off the bottom.
me personaly, i try to stay away from chemical stuff for the tank(other
than ph chemicals, and chlorine remover. )
i agree on the ph bieing not that big of a deal within reason . fish have a
good range (like 6.5 to 8) so if u tank settles at a steady 7.2 without
gooffing around with it, id let it there. my tank wants to hang at a 7.2
normaly, and i can lower the ph to 7(mid line) but it wants to climb at stay
a 7.2, so i gave up, all my fish seem fine and happy, so let it be. dont
forget the fish come from streams that get run off from rain so the ph
changes often .
i like the product called "stress coat" . i also use aquarium salt. (there
are diffrent opinions on a touch of salt in freswater tanks) but from my
experences it keeps my fish healthy.
i also have learned to let sick fish work it out on there own. i treated
glass fish for ich, they died anyway and i also killed a bunch of black neon
tetras in the prosses of treating the tank(sorry but i cant afford a
hospital tank).
the best way to describe this hobby , is that you are taking care of the
water,not the fish.

"Ray Martini" wrote in message
...
Most importantly, don't forget to properly cycle your tank. Too many fish
at once can only lead to disaster and heartache. The nitrogen cycle is the
#1 thing to consider in starting a new tank.

Start with a few very hardy fish to get the waste product going and hence
the ammonia eating bacteria colony started. Zebra Danios are an excellent
starter fish. If your tank becomes cloudy with a milky color after a
couple weeks, don't worry about it, it's a bacteria bloom and is normal
part of the cycle. It will work itself out in about a week.

Check your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels regularly and do alot of
20 - 25% water changes during this time. You'll see a spike in the
ammonia, then after that you'll see a spike in nitrites. When ammonia and
nitrite are at 0 and you have some nitrates in the tank, your cycle is
complete. Live plants play a part in this also.

Once your cycle is completed (usually 6 to 8 weeks) then you can stock
your tank with your preferences. pH isn't that big a deal. I've read that
the best practice is to leave the pH alone.

Hope this helps.


--
Happy Fishin' ...
Ray

wrote in message
...
I have just purchased my first tank and would like some tips from you
experts.

I have a 2ft tank have filled it up with water, heater is set for 26C and
the water temp is steady at that temp. I have bought a water softening
pillow and put in the filter for 24 hours (as I have extremely hard water
in
my area) I have also Added some tap water conditioner to the tank as well
as
some water clearing solution. When Can I add the fish?

There are 4 plants in the tank and I have added a large rock feature
(plastic resin) for the fish. I have got a PH testing kit and the PH
level
is now at 7.0 which I am told is good for a mixed fish tank.

Regarding the PH levels. My tap water was a PH of 8 which was a little
bit
too high, now to lower this I used water from my tap water filter (the
ones
you use to filter your drinking water) as I did a test on this water and
the
PH level was 5.5 so I guessed that adding this water would eventually
balance the PH level out.

1. Ok now what fish should I get?

2. How many fish will this tank sustain without being overcrowded? I
would
like fish that don't eat each other and no fish that grow larger than a
few
centimetres.

3. Is my cheap solution an ok way of balancing the PH levels out?

4. What other "stuff" do I need to get i.e. ammonia testers, as I have
seen
so much stuff my head is spinning.

5. What food is good for the fish I am about to get??

6. When I do a small water change(not the whole tank) do I have to warm
the
new water up or can I just add it a bit at a time?

7. Anything else you can think of that might help



TIA

my e-mail address is blazer666(at)rapidplay(dot)com

It was about 7.8

I have got 3 Silver Mollys now in my tank. They have been in there for 3
days now all all seems well until today when all they do is swim on the
surface gulping. I am not sure if this is a sign of lack of oxygen or they
are hungry (I have been feeding them a small pinch of flaked food twice a
day) I have also chucked in 8 small oxygenating pills.

Any ideas

wrote in message
...
I have got 3 Silver Mollys now in my tank. They have been in there for 3
days now all all seems well until today when all they do is swim on the
surface gulping. I am not sure if this is a sign of lack of oxygen or they
are hungry (I have been feeding them a small pinch of flaked food twice a
day) I have also chucked in 8 small oxygenating pills.

Any ideas

I would not use the oxygenating pills!
Do more small water changes.
-Jen