[Waaldron]

I recently acquired a free 35 Gallon fish tank. It came with a free GKM UV sterilizer along with gravel and some dead coral. Since purchasing I picked up a Aqueon QuietFlow50 fliter. I also bought a 300watt Aquatop heater(I think its the right size I keep my house at 61 degrees). I also just purchased API tap water conditioner and API Quick start. From what I've read I need to cycle my fish tank before adding too many fish.

How long will it take to cycle my fish tank?

Do I have all the necessities for starting a topical fish tank? (Besides food)

Are all fish of generally the same size and temperament compatible or is it more complicated than that?

I'm also curious about what fish foods to buy. I'm currently looking at tetra for its price and Omega 1 for apparently how much better it is for your fish. Is there any sort of halfway point between health and price for the time being?

 

[sprmankalel]

Welcome! This link will give you all the information you need about cycling.
http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/...nners-guide-freshwater-aquarium-cycle-353074/

For your filter...I have an Aqueon QuietFlow10 on my 10 gallon tank. I hate it. I have an AquaClear on my 50 gallon. I love it and this filter has been on this tank since 2005. I only have the Aqueon because it was free. The filter you use is a matter of personal preference but I like the flexibility of the AC as I can use whichever media I want. Just my opinion.

As far as your question about fish...post some fish you are thinking of and we can answer those questions. You have plenty of time to figure out your stocking.

 

[Waaldron]

A few different types of Platys, a school of X-Ray Pristella Tetra, a school of Harlequin Rasbora, one or 2 Hi Fin Lyretail Swordtail, Rio-***** Pleco. I chose those to start because they seem relatively easy to maintain. I eventually wanted to get a Marthae Silver Hatchet and a Black Veil Angel. I think all those fish are compatible I discovered the compatibility chart.


Edit: I also was wanting to keep my tank pretty heavily stocked will the extra large filter be able to handle that? What exactly did you not like about the filter? They seem pretty similar and straight forward although I see the aquaclear for the same size gallon tank is about double the cost. Better filtration?

 

[sprmankalel]

Try this site. You put in the tank size and the filter you have then select the type of fish you want. It will tell you if they are compatible. I have heard that this website is conservative in the stocking advice. It's a good general start.

AqAdvisor - Intelligent Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Stocking Calculator and Aquarium Tank/Filter Advisor

 

[tankman12]

Never get one hatchetfish, you need 6+ of them. You can stock it like that, just keep up your water changes. That filter will do fine on that size tank. The angel however wont like so many fish, they can get very mean with to many fish. They need their space.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Waaldron]

Never get one hatchetfish, you need 6+ of them. You can stock it like that, just keep up your water changes. That filter will do fine on that size tank. The angel however wont like so many fish, they can get very mean with to many fish. They need their space.
Posted via Mobile Device

Good to know. So you wouldn't recommend angle fish on a heavily stocked tank.

 

[tankman12]

Yes i wouldnt recommend, cuz they get BIG, and LOVE space. So they need a nice big territory they can call "home" and out of the way of all the activity. If you want one, lessen the stock, probably skip the livebearers
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Waaldron]

So I decided for now that I am going to get a Hi Fin Lyretail Swordtail, 6x Silver Hatchet, 6x X-Ray Tetra, and some kind on 4" or less pleco. Is that too many fish to introduce at once? I am going to do 1 week of Tetra Safestart instead of the API before I add them. Then it would be 4-7 weeks until I could add more fish? Also I am curious of what flake food to buy. I'd prefer to deal with flakes before I get into pellets and all that other stuff.

 

[sprmankalel]

If you have no fish I would recommend the fish less cycle.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[tankman12]

I would say ditch the swordtail. Stock it something like this;
1 angel
6 hatchets
12 x rays (i like the albinos more)
1 or 2 bn plecos
5-8 cories

The best food is variety, so i would say get; any nls pellet, omega one tropical flakes, frozen bloodworms, frozen mysis, frozen brine shrimp, and you can throw in some frozen cyclops. Also omega one algae wafers and some cucumber every week or 2, for the plecos. That is basically what I feed my fish, and great results.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Flint]

When you add the safe start you have to add ammonia as well or the bacteria will starve. You have to add the conditioner to the water as well, though, that removes chlorines and chloramines.

 

[tankman12]

Oh, I forgot to say. Dont add all these fish at once. That would throw everything out of whack. First cycle the tank, than after a after a month start getting a some fish.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Flint]

If they fishless cycle they can add the fish all at once.

 

[Waaldron]

I would say ditch the swordtail. Stock it something like this;
1 angel
6 hatchets
12 x rays (i like the albinos more)
1 or 2 bn plecos
5-8 cories

The best food is variety, so i would say get; any nls pellet, omega one tropical flakes, frozen bloodworms, frozen mysis, frozen brine shrimp, and you can throw in some frozen cyclops. Also omega one algae wafers and some cucumber every week or 2, for the plecos. That is basically what I feed my fish, and great results.
Posted via Mobile Device

Apparently the tetras may nip at the angelfish. Should i be worried about keeping them together?

 

[tankman12]

The x-rays will not nip at the angel. Plus with a big school, you have nothing to worry about.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[sprmankalel]

I have 5 angels in with 8 black neon tetras and I've never seen a tetra aggressive toward any fish at all.
Posted via Mobile Device