Subj : New fishkeeper? To : Carol Shenkenberger From : Janis Kracht Date : Thu May 01 2008 05:21 pm Hi Carol ;) > Hey Janis, if you want more info on how to start and what to get without > breaking the piggy bank, this would be the place . > You do not for instance, need a fancy stand if going with a smaller tank, say > 10-20G. If it's in a heated room in winter, several types allow for down to > 65F so you will not need a heater either. > The key thing is to setup the tank and let it run without fish (but with > whatever you can find locally to partly cycle the tank) for 2 weeks at least. > Expect the water to get cloudy. Don't change it out. Just ride it out. It > will get so cloudy you cant see though it eventually which is *good*. > Suddenly one morning it is crystal clear. Happens all on it's own and all > those fancy (expensive) chemicals to adjust this, are worthless or damaging > to the cycle. (this true cloud happens only after you add fish) > Once cycled, a tank needs about 10 mins every 2 weeks to filter out fish poop > from the gravel and change the filters. > Easiest tanks are called 'species tanks' meaning all the same general > species. That could be all danios, or all mollies, or what have you. All > Tetras work well! > Fish load is the most common new tank keeper mistake. Rule of thumb is about > 1 gallon per inch of fish so in a 10G tank, you can reliably hold 10 small > fish of 1 inch. This starts to shift though with fish over 2 inches and they > need more room. Don't look at the fish's current size, but what it will grow > to be. If the tank depth isnt twice the size of the final adult fish, think > 3 times before getting it. > We can play a little there with 6 inch max but not over. Aiming at most > being 5 or 4 inch. > xxcarol Super :) Thanks for the info :) Take care, Janis --- BBBS/LiI v4.01 Flag * Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38) .