Fish folks?

[strawberrysmom]

I like loaches! They are so cute! Clown Loaches are my favorite. If I do get a snail I will get a loach as well. I was reading up on Tetras and I think I'm going with Cardinal Tetras if Petsmart has them when I go. Instead of Neons. And probably 10 of them. I read that is a good number. I'm so excited. I cannot keep the ammonia up past .50 ppm. I keep dosing all day long and it won't go up to even 2ppm which you are supposed to do through the entire cycling process until all the nitrites drop as well. I didn't know ammonia starting going that fast until after the nitrites do as well.

Tomorrow it's the 50 percent PWC since both my nitrites and nitrates are off the charts high so I read you do that change so once again it doesn't stall. I'm nearing the end to this cycle and I'm just so so so excited. Especially since this was supposed to be done by now for Valentines for my hubby. He has never had a fish tank before and he's hardly able to contain himself about it. He's acting like a kid getting his first pet or something!!!

[cathface]

I dunno, I still personally wouldn't risk a betta tbh! but in a 29g I suppose he/the tetras would have more of a chance to avoid each other.

I'm shocked by how drastically different your pH from the bathroom and the kitchen are?! but yes, keeping the pH stable is better than playing around with like pH Up or whatever. my pH from the tap starts off around 7.6 but drops down to 6.8 after a while, so I have crushed oyster shell in a pop sock in the filter to help the water stay consistently at 6.8!

if you want snails, I'd recommend nerites! they won't breed except in brackish water so there won't be a problem with overpopulation. they are quite poopy (though not as poopy as apple snails) so I'd give them at least 1-2 gallons per nerite. they're very good for algae control though!

and the smallest plec species (that isn't ridic prices) is the bristlenose - I actually quite like the albino version of them! but if you get a plec remember they prefer to have driftwood to nibble on. they do need 7-10 gallons though.

so going on the assumption of 1g per danio (though if you get zebra, they need 2-3g), 1g per tetra, you can have:
7 danios = 7g
10 cardinals = 10g
1 bristlenose = we'll give it 8g
2 nerite snails = 4g

then you're fully stocked really! if you're still wanting a betta I would probably just not get the plec, but bristlenoses are so cuuute.

[Vectis Hamstery]

I found getting filter media from a friend with an established tank really helpful as the fishless cycling thing didn't work for me. I don't think it was helped by the very high pH here - for a time I was using bottled water in my tank. If your pH is at an extreme, then you might benefit from taking a long time to acclimatise your fish. I have lost far fewer since I started dripping water in using air line over 2-3 hours rather than the shorter way usually recommended. I understand that zebra nerite snails don't reproduce at normal tank pHs - I've had 2-3 in my tanks for 2 years with no babies. The apple snails just ate everything in sight

[HollyHamster]

I have a few (I think its down to 3 now) purple mystery snails, which are a species of apple snail. Now, I've had the more common yellow or golden mystery snails in my tank and their reproduction rate would put a rabbit to shame. However, its really easy to keep the population in check. Simply remove any egg clutches you see before they have a chance to fully mature and hatch.

Mystery snails lay their egg clutches above the water line, as the eggs would drown if laid in the water. Just keep an eye out for those clutches and you'll be fine population wise.

Keep in mind that mystery snails, like all apple snails species, reproduce sexually, meaning that there are individual males and females of the species. Which is a stark contrast to many other snails species which are asexual, meaning that the individuals have both male and female reproductive organs.

I've never had a problem with my mystery snails eating everything in sight. They pretty much leave the plants alone. Then again, I feed them algae wafers from time to time to help supplement their diet.

Nerites, while they can live in fresh water, need salt or at the least, brackish water to be able to have their eggs successfully hatch. You'll see them mate and lay eggs a lot in fresh water, but these clutches will usually be eaten by the other fish, if not, then they will simply decompose and become part of the tank detritus.

Sorry, bit of a snail nerd.

[strawberrysmom]

I thinki am going to hold off on snails! As much as I love snails I obviously need to research them better! I might need to wait until I have a bigger tank too.

Cathface I am only getting a Pleco because I have driftwood in my tank lol. I was planning on only a snail and ghost shrimp until I read plecos love driftwood. I didn't want a Pleco because my tank is smaller and I read they get so big!!!

Thanks so much. Especially for what would be decent stocking. I appreciate it. I think I'll skip the betta. I was on the fence anyway but I worry about crowding due to the schooling.

My ammonia is dropping quickly to 0 but my nitrites are still spiking as well my nitrates. I am getting so impatient and now I have to keep doing pwc due to nitrites and nitrates being off the charts. I know I am near the end but dang!!!!!!!!

Oh what we're the feelings about adding one clown loach??? Overkill since I will have a Pleco? Might annoy the Pleco?

[cathface]

I would advise against clown loaches - they need 20g to themselves when young and then up to 100+g when they're fully grown! apparently they get massive. instead of the snails then, perhaps you could get another bristlenose plec, if you keep on top of your water changes/keep an eye on your parameters.

looks like your cycling is really close, I'm excited for you!!

[HollyHamster]

Hmmm, all this talk about stocking a fish tank has renewed my enthusiasm for my own little 10 gallon tropical freshwater tank.

In it I currently have:

3 Purple Mystery Snails
A small population of Jade MTS (needed for aerating/churning my sand substrate)
1 Male Cobalt Blue Delta Tail Male Betta

Its also planted with live plants (Java Fern and Java Moss), although its not exactly neatly and artistically scaped. Its more of a random jumble of rocks and moss and ferns.

Now, what I want to do is possibly add another citizen (or citizens) to the mix. I was looking into ADFs, but Petsmart didn't have any in stock when I went there. I have also looked into CPOs (Dwarf Orange Crayfish) but they cost a little more than I am willing to spend on something that might not thrive with a betta as a tank mate.

Another avenue I was looking at was shrimps of some sort, but that would mean a colony and I don't really want a second colony in the 10 gallon for fear of overstocking (plus they need near perfect water parameters to thrive and let's face it, I am not the best at doing regular water changes, checking the levels of ammonia/nitrates/nitrites etc.).

The final and most recent option I've been considering is the loach/pleco rout, but I want one that will be most comfortable in a 10 gallon for the duration of its lifespan. I also don't know if I want another algae eating critter in there as I do have those mystery snails, which have the whole algae eating thing covered.

I have tried guppies in the past with moderate success. But this was with a very unique halfmoon betta male who, IMO was uncharacteristically docile for a betta. Then, my guppies died off rapidly from dropsy, one after another, and left my betta the lone fish in the 10 gallon.

So, now you know where I am at with my decision making process. Not at all an easy one to make. Sorry I've troubled you with my stocking dilemmas. Let's all just be excited for strawberrysmom and her exciting time picking and choosing her own tank citizens.

[strawberrysmom]

It's so hard to decide is right Holly. I suppose it's the smaller tank that is limiting. It's 28 gallon but tall and not long so really it's more like a 20 gallon. I can't under populate or my bio filter will probably go kaput and overstock is not good obviously.

NOW I am still having a spike of nitrates and nitrites and 0 ammonia every 24hrs. This lasting spike in nitrites and nitrates surprised me. And pwc seems nt to change anything! So patience for longer. One day I am sure my nitrites will just disappear.

Also my pH is now really high. I guess it's the crushed coral to blame. So this makes me reconsider what fish as tetras like a lower pH. Gah!!!!!!

[strawberrysmom]

Oh and Holly are live plants hard to maintain? I want to find the kind that will grow right onto my driftwood (which is Cypress).