Which fish should I choose?

[greymatron]

okay, well hopefully everything will be okay. When the readings start going up, do I just wait it out or put product in?

 

[waterfaller1]

Ok I am not sure if you are fully understanding how the nitrogen cycle works. The tank has no fish correct? In order for the tank to kick off a cycle, it needs a source of ammonia. Either fish, food, or you do a fishless cycle with pure ammonia. When you added the beneficial bacteria you were to add fish that day or within a 24 hour period. You should have test kits for all the parameters. Not rely on an LFS. The tank's parameters can change in a day, particularly when it is not stable. Not knowing what is going on can lead to failure. I am not really sure what effect a whole bottle of prime will have on the tank, but I would personally drain it and start over from square one.

 

[VictoriaVague]

For that size I wouldn't get a pleco, most grow too large for a tank of that size and I really wish fish shops would stop selling them without warning people. Even a Bristlenose or similar would get to about 5" which is big for a 30 gallon aquarium and some breeds are tank busters and end up getting dumped by people or die

Ottos are good choice for a algae eater but they are happiest in small shoals. Some of the dwarf Corydoras are good bottom feeders, I have albinos, but again, they must being pairs at the very least but happiest in a group. Khulli loaches are cool little guys, I have a couple.

As for your list of 6, I really love Rasboras. Harlequins are great little shoaling fish. A group of at least six would be good if you have them with other fish, but they can look fab in a rasbora only set up or just with one other species perhaps?

As the first fish you put in there, I'd get something really hardy, as even with Rasboras, they are best added to an established set up, as they can be sensitive. Six weeks at the minimum. Once you've fully cycled your tank and got the water levels to a good place I'd pop in a few Mollies or Platties. You can control breeding by just getting females but most fry getting eaten pretty quickly anyhow.

 

[GuineaPigster]

For that size I wouldn't get a pleco, most grow too large for a tank of that size and I really wish fish shops would stop selling them without warning people. Even a Bristlenose or similar would get to about 5" which is big for a 30 gallon aquarium and some breeds are tank busters and end up getting dumped by people or die

Ottos are good choice for a algae eater but they are happiest in small shoals. Some of the dwarf Corydoras are good bottom feeders, I have albinos, but again, they must being pairs at the very least but happiest in a group. Khulli loaches are cool little guys, I have a couple.

As for your list of 6, I really love Rasboras. Harlequins are great little shoaling fish. A group of at least six would be good if you have them with other fish, but they can look fab in a rasbora only set up or just with one other species perhaps?

As the first fish you put in there, I'd get something really hardy, as even with Rasboras, they are best added to an established set up, as they can be sensitive. Six weeks at the minimum. Once you've fully cycled your tank and got the water levels to a good place I'd pop in a few Mollies or Platties. You can control breeding by just getting females but most fry getting eaten pretty quickly anyhow.

ctually, BNs can live in a 30 gallon. Any other pleco would not though. (I agree on the ending of selling them!!)
Otos should only be added to established tanks that have been set up over 6 months ago, or they might starve to death.
I'm a huge fan of rasboras!!

 

[GuineaPigster]

Ok I am not sure if you are fully understanding how the nitrogen cycle works. The tank has no fish correct? In order for the tank to kick off a cycle, it needs a source of ammonia. Either fish, food, or you do a fishless cycle with pure ammonia. When you added the beneficial bacteria you were to add fish that day or within a 24 hour period. You should have test kits for all the parameters. Not rely on an LFS. The tank's parameters can change in a day, particularly when it is not stable. Not knowing what is going on can lead to failure. I am not really sure what effect a whole bottle of prime will have on the tank, but I would personally drain it and start over from square one.

Thank you Waterfaller. This is great advice.
Like she said, you need a source of ammonia for the tank to cycle. If you're using fish, you add the Prime and Bacteria. Otherwise, you turn the filter on, add the ammonia source (drops, fish food) and test away!

 

[greymatron]

Well hopefully we didn't overload anything then because the husband was really pushing for fish so we went and got 4....3 Platys and then the guy gave us a zebra danio...?...oh well. But I fed them last night, too..So we'll start testing today. Hopefully they live. :X I don't want them to die...

 

[VictoriaVague]

ctually, BNs can live in a 30 gallon. Any other pleco would not though. (I agree on the ending of selling them!!)
Otos should only be added to established tanks that have been set up over 6 months ago, or they might starve to death.
I'm a huge fan of rasboras!!

I think it's a personal thing. My housemate is a fish house manager for an freshwater specialist store and he won't sell a BN to anyone with a tank smaller than 250 litres. I've kept freshwater tropical for 15 years and I think a 5 inch BN would look terribly cramped in my 30 gallon aquariums.

It's crazy the number of tank busters shops sell to people without warning them and how little research people do before buying some of these fish. I've seen baby Pangasius catfish, Red Tailed catfish and Pacus ofr sale recently.Makes me so sad

 

[greymatron]

Ammonia is at .50, nitrite is 1(I think, difficult with the shades, but its no higher), nitrate and ph is good. Anything I need to do or wait it out?

 

[greymatron]

I agree Vikki, the store I used to go to wanted to sell people a 25gal with a bloody Amazon something an other...I can't believe I forgot as I actually intend to get one one day...and those things grow so fast...They wanted the customers to keep upgrading each size tank, like they go 'oh my gosh I can't believe that fish grew that big'....It was very annoying...Never purchased a fish and haven't bought anything since Arne.

 

[waterfaller1]

If you are showing nitrite and ammonia that is great. Just let it stew. You still have not addressed my question though. What is your source of ammonia? In order for this to work, a source of ammonia has to feed the beneficial bacteria you added and the cycle. If you have some fish food that will work. Add a pinch every day or other, keep testing. Or, you can throw a couple plain cocktail shrimp in the tank for a few days. What you want to see is the ammonia and nitrite go to 0, and the nitrate reading to go up. You do a water change that day, and add your fish within 24 hours.

 

[waterfaller1]

Well hopefully we didn't overload anything then because the husband was really pushing for fish so we went and got 4....3 Platys and then the guy gave us a zebra danio...?...oh well. But I fed them last night, too..So we'll start testing today. Hopefully they live. :X I don't want them to die...

Oh...missed this...
Well this changes everything. If you have fish and are showing ammonia and nitrite you are going to have to start doing water changes or they may start to suffer or die. You can hope it pushes on through, but sometimes it takes weeks. Sometimes it is overnight. Feed lightly, and do at least a 25-50% water change every day.

 

[greymatron]

I didn't realize there was a question...but yes I have 3 platys and the guy 'gave' us a zebra danio. I'll test again tomorrow.

 

[greymatron]

Okay, I'll do a water change today.

 

[greymatron]

Do fish sleep with their eyes open? Twice today I thought a fish died and once I got the net by them they swam off without a problem.

 

[GuineaPigster]

Do fish sleep with their eyes open? Twice today I thought a fish died and once I got the net by them they swam off without a problem.

They can't close their eyes.
Do you have a stocking plan? Buying fish without a plan is a recipe for disaster. Zebras a schooling fish, and get very nippy without buddies.

 

[FidFlock]

This might be slightly off-topic but I don't really know fish :x3:

If you are planning to get platys, I would get mickey mouse platys because they are just so darn cute. We had three of them and they were great fun

I'm sorry if I said something horribly wrong or Mickey Mouse Platys are radioactive or something Like I said, I really don't know fish, I just had to put my 2 cents in

 

[greymatron]

SO...should I flush Bubba J down the toilet? Or return him to the store? Yes, GUppies, Platies and Corys are my stocking plan, the guy just 'gave' us the danio and I don't really know why..I know theyre schooling but honestly was hoping it would acclimate with the others...lol
And yes FidFlock, my 4th Platy is going to be the blue MIckey Mouse.

 

[greymatron]

Oh! I had a friend with a 2gal...Maybe I can give him to her or get the tank from her or something....She has nothing in the tank right now...hmm

 

[Mizzely]

Is Bubba J the danio? Please don't flush a live fish I would never keep a lone danio. They really do not do well alone. At the very very minimum I would keep them in a group of 3 but 6 is ideal. I would personally return him so he can have a chance to be with his own kind. 2 gallons would not be enough room for a danio school.

 

[greymatron]

okay, back to the store he goes. I mean, if you guys don't think 3 or 6 danios will add too much to the tank I will keep him...but IthinkI'm already loading it to the max...planning on 8 guppies, 4 platys and 3 corys.