how hard are fish to keep!!?? - Paw Talk

ratty_ratkins · #1 03-23-2005, 03:22 PM

i have been reading about aquariums the past few days. i want a 20-30 gallon tank, but i honestly have no idea about water cycling... and checking PH level. i dont even know what i need as far as filters, pumps, heaters. if anyone can help me that would be great. anyone know any good fish websites? i have had fish in the past, but not successfully. i just decolorinated the water and put the fish in there and fed them. oviously there is a TON more to them than that. i would like to keep dwarf gouramis and apple snail. i dont know what else would be safe to put with those..... then again... what do i know????

Amethystbelle · #2 03-23-2005, 05:18 PM

Fish keeping is relatively easy and a very relaxing hobby. As long as your happy to give the tank a clean once or twice a week and feed the fishies everyday then its a whole lot of fun

In answer to your questions:

Basically you’ll need a tank, a good box filter (as I’m not a fan of under gravel filters as too hard to clean) a heater, dechlorinator, basic testing kits such as ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and a kit for PH. Plus any plants and ornaments and gravel you might want. Once set up you need to cycle the tank.

Cycling is the process your tank goes through while its maturing, fish produce waste as does their food and respiration which in turn becomes ammonia which then turns into nitrites and then into the less harmful substance of nitrate and over time beneficial bacteria forms in the filter which helps break them down. There are two types of cycling there is cycling with fish where you add a few hardy fish such as platys and barbs and let them do the cycling for you, chances are you will lose a few of them due to the high levels of ammonia etc...... but they are pretty hardy and will cycle the tank for you and should be ok with frequent water changes of 20% and regular testing for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate till the tank has cycled but like I said you might lose a few or all of them. There is also cycling without fish where you can add a few drops of neat ammonia to your tank everyday till the nitrite levels peak and then you lower the amount slightly till the levels are zero and stay at zero and then once you have done a small water change you can add your fish as long as you keep a watchful eye on the levels and if they go up again you do a small water change. There is also cycling where you add a piece of filter sponge or add some gravel out of an established tank to introduce the beneficial bacteria into your tank and then add some fish. There are also forms of bacteria you can buy from fish stores that will help with the cycling although they aren’t as good as the traditional methods in my opinion. There are lots of different methods for cycling and I’m sure you will find one that suits you. As long as you keep up with the water changes you should have no problems with any luck

As for the fish well if you go for a 30 gallon it will be perfect for dwarf gourami’s and a snail, you could also add some tetras and maybe some catfish within reason but do lots of research before going to your lfs as some will just sell you anything so worthwhile knowing what you want and sizes etc.....

ratty_ratkins · #3 03-24-2005, 01:31 AM

thanks for the links you PMed me. and all the info (hugs)

Amethystbelle · #4 03-24-2005, 08:57 AM

No worries at all, i only got back into fish keeping about two years ago after a break of about 12 or more years and the information can be blinding as when i first had fish i got a bowl and put the water in and fed them and that was about it now its deemed as cruel which it is to keep a goldfish like that so i know its a tricky business