Hi all,

I've been wanting to keep fish for years and have finally made the plunge.

Not wanting to start before I can run i've got a 35ltr Arcadia tank/filter/heater/3 plants/gravel/air pump for tank feature/over the top uv type tropical light.

I set the tank up 24 hours ago, added de-chlorinator, stress zyme, washed the gravel.

What else do I need to do or get!?

What exactly is the bio cycle... can I start it by adding a small bit of food? when I do add fish how often should I leave the light on above the tank? any other info? I'm off to the "aquarium" (shop) in lincoln for a test kit as I'm sure I need one!

sorry about all the questions, just don't want to hurt any fish!!!

Welcome aboard Franky, enjoy your new found hobby.

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Ex divers do it deeper

hello Franky

Ok your on the right lines for getting off to a good start.I would not add any fish this weekend i would give it time for the filters to mature and build up some good bacteria.
your right that if you add a little food to the tank this will start the cycle going ,its the rotting food that produced a chemical called Amonia.In a few days the good bacteria in your filter will turn this Amonia into Nitrite.and then again given time another bacteria will move into your filter and turn this NITRITE into less harmfull NITRATE.(we remove the Nitrate through regular waterchanges)

Both Amonia and Nitrite are very harmfull to fish and these two shoud be 0 before you add fish!

To start with you will need 2 tests
Amonia & Nitrite.
it often works out cheaper to get the box of tests around £15 and this will do other tests ,Amonia,Nitrite,Nitrate,PH.

In a 35 litre tank you will only be keeping small fish. have you any thoughts on what your going to keep?
a good idea is to research and select fish that will live happy in your local water ( eg what comes straight out of the tap with only declorinater added)


Exciting times and great fun!

robert.

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franky, if i was you, i'd take a vile of your tap water to your lfs and get them to do a chemical test for you (pH, gH, kH) - don't ask the staff at your lfs to give you ideas to what fish would be suitable for your tank, they will sell you anything, bring the information back to us and we'll give you good, clear advise! - you'll know a good shop from a bad one from the questions they ask you about your tank/tank mates/etc - don't be afraid to ask them questions about any fish your interested in, if they can't give you a straight answer (ie, how big does it grow, etc) find a better shop! alot of 'cute' fish will turn out to be far too big for your average tank!!!!!
anyway, good luck ashley

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4'2'2'
5 x breidohri fry; 5 x convict fry; 2 pairs BN's
on order - bocourti, argenta, cutteri and nanoleuteus (all 2"), 3" salvini, pair 7" nicaraguense (f1 female)
30"15"12"
3 x bolivian rams, 5 x emerald catfish, rusty cory, 2 x Pangio filinaris

ey up franky, welcom to the forum,35l is quite a small tank so youll be ltd to small shoalers, id whack a few plants in + maybe a doz neons

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WHO'S YA DADDY

Hey Frankie, welcome.... I agree wit tel, a nice shoal of neons will look good mate an a nice plec...

Hi all,

thanks for the advice, going to go for some neon tetras(8)- 2x x-ray tetras - 2 x rose tetras. I've got 3 plants in there, went to speak to my local specialists with a water sample, all's looking good at the min. I went to the Aquarium shop in lincoln, very nice people, no hard sell so i'm going back with another water sample in a few days and hopefully to pick up some fish.

They also recommended bourneo suckers to help keep the tank clean.

do my fish choices seem ok? they were made with advice from the shop too.

Going for all small type fish as I know my tank is small!

Also, i've got a 'feature' in the tank that produces bubbles from the bottom to help with aeration. should I use the acutal filter output aerate the water too by having it directed at the surface or just coming straight in the middle of the tank? I'm not sure if I'm disturbing the water too much?

Thanks to all again.

as long as you have a ripple on the surface then this is good.its surface movement that the oxygen gasses exchange.

The borneo suckers would be ok i have some and im sure they were called hong-kong plec's.
There are other very good small algie eating fish and ne of the best id Oto's

http://www.google.com/search?q=Otoci...e7&rlz=1I7GGIE


other members may have more choices for you to view and look over before you make your choice.
i would say get the ones you like best. In my experience the Borneo's are a little bit boring(though saying that i have 2 in a 3 foot heavy planted tank so dont see them to often)

regards robert.

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a pair of bristlenosed plecs would be good - excellent algae eaters and they do a good job at eating any food that the tetras miss

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4'2'2'
5 x breidohri fry; 5 x convict fry; 2 pairs BN's
on order - bocourti, argenta, cutteri and nanoleuteus (all 2"), 3" salvini, pair 7" nicaraguense (f1 female)
30"15"12"
3 x bolivian rams, 5 x emerald catfish, rusty cory, 2 x Pangio filinaris

True however i think it may be pushing it in only a 35 litre to have 2 bristle nose plecs, my 2 are quite quarrelsome probably i have a male n female

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