Setting Up New 10g Tank - Need Advice

Big Fish

Thanks, my daughter picked the ornaments and the fish. Not my taste (castle), but she loves them. I picked the blue gravel, plants and florescent lighting.

I have lower back muscle problem. Currently hunched over like I am 90. I got the usual back relaxant script and anti-inflammatory + pyshio. Should be good to go in a week or two. It happens.

Now, funny thing.... do fish react to you??? I got home from the doctor, went to the aquarium and they all bunched where I had my face close to the glass. Do they associate you with feeding?

Very cool if they do!!!

Twistersmom

Yes, fish learn very quickly that you feed them.
If you feed them on a schedule, same time everyday, somehow they know when it is close to feeding time and become much more active.

Some fish are more observant then others. My rainbow darters pay more attention to whats going on outside their tank, they always have their eyes on me.

aunt kymmie

Fish can be very programmable. I've got a bristlenose plec that hides ALL day. As soon as the moonlights kick on he comes to the right front corner of the tank, where he waits until I drop an algae wafer in front of him. I'm convinced he knows exactly what he's doing.

Sorry about your back. I hope you feel better soon!

Big Fish

Thanks, I should be much better in a few days. I am prone to this!

Well, that is too funny. I had no idea. This is going to be my little secret so I can impress my better half with my fishmiester-magnatism.

Something else I have noticed today. My lights are increasing the water temperature by 2 degrees!!

I have a 15 WATT and a Florescent Lamp. Both generate a fair amount of heat. Left unattened, I can see this can cause problems. How do some of you handle this?

I just thought of something, in an emergency, how do you bring the temperature down?

Thanks.

And, by the way, I greatly appreciate all your responses.

Byron

Are you saying you have two lights, a fluorescent tube and something else? The fluorescent will be quite sufficient over a 10g, assuming it is in the tank hood or sitting on the cover glass and is not longer than the tank. Fluorescent tubes produce less heat than incadescent, but there is some; leaving the tank cover partly open (but not if you have jumping fish that will jump out) for air cirulation works.

Also limit the time the light is on; for cabomba (a higher-light plant) I would want the light on minimum 8 hours; a timer works well because plants (and fish frankly) do better with regular light/dark periods. When I worked I had the timer set so it would be on when I was home to view the tanks, but otherwise you can choose any regular period. Make sure there is light in the room, whether daylight from a window or a lamp, when the tank lights come on and go off; the sudden change can startle the fish.

What sort of emergency? If a faulty heater overheats, remove the heater and replace it with a new one that works, and let the tank cool back down on its own. Gradual changes are less stressful that sudden fluctuations in temperature whether up or down.

Byron.

Big Fish

I have a hood on the tank that has two screw in light receptacles. One has a 15W and the other, I replaced with a screw in florescent lamp.

I guess I will remove the 15W and put the florescent over the plant side of the tank. Good idea to use a timer. I will set that up.

So, the best thing to do is let the tank sit if the temp goes up too high. Thanks. I have opened the flap at the front as well to let the air circulate as the lamps cool down.

artgalnj

Tank looks great Big Fish! Hope your back feels better soon!

Byron

If the bulbs have a screw base then a compact fluorescent would work. They produce very little heat. I would use two to even the light, and probably the bulbs that are equivalent to 25 regular watts of light (not sure the CF wattage for this). I've seen them in different light colours, by which I mean cool white, warm white, intense white. Cool white leans toward blue, warm towards red. A mix of one of each might look fine, you can experiment; the bulbs can be used in regular lamps of course, so not wasted. B.

Big Fish

Art, thanks on both. The Arthrotec and Apo-Tizanidine have taken the edge off and the spasms have stopped so I am in good shape.

Byron,

I have a Colormax 20 Watt Mini Compact Corallife Daylite Lamp (screw base-amazing light). These puppies are not cheap. With tax... $30! I will go get another one when I get the test kit.

I really love the look these lamps give the tank. It is that fish store look. Way, way better than the incandescent lamp that was in the hood originally. No comparison. The bottom of the tank just glows and fish look more vibrant.

willow

hopes you feel better soon.