[leifthebunny]

Well, I finally got my start with a fish tank and today I added my first batch of fish. I'm running a 90 gallon planted freshwater tank with 6 cherry barbs, 2 peppered cories and 6 algae eating shrimp. Looking forward to expanding the tank. My cats have already found quite a bit of entertainment in the tank and I'll likely have to keep an eye on them.

 

[Falina]

welcome!

what else do you plan on putting in the tank?

 

[leifthebunny]

My LFS told me that the number of fish I have is too low to cycle a tank, so I asked them to put flame tetras on the list for ordering this week. Hopefully they come in on Thursday. I'm also looking at adding black phantom tetras, harlequin rasbora, a pair of small blue gouramis and some clown plecos.

I was hoping to do some lobsters but the LFS showed me what lobsters do to the plants, so I'll have to add them into my second tank.

 

[musho3210]

why would you cycle with flame tetras, dont order them and cycle with black neon tetras or platies or something hardy, the flame tetras probably wont survive the cycle

 

[leifthebunny]

Well, I know the store's closed now and they aren't open on Monday. I do think I'm commited to them, so I can talk with them later.

 

[musho3210]

well carefull, your tank isnt ready for algae eaters (shrimp, snails algae eating fish) and not ready for non hardy fish (most fish species, cories do fall in this category)

 

[leifthebunny]

I've got algae wafers which the cories have been all over. I was watching some of the shrimp trying to abscond with some pieces of the wafer earlier today since cories didn't want to relinquish their claim on the spot. Pretty funny wathing the shrimp attempt to carry the piece since he wasn't strong enough to swim with it.

 

[Falina]

well carefull, your tank isnt ready for algae eaters (shrimp, snails algae eating fish) and not ready for non hardy fish (most fish species, cories do fall in this category)

musho did you mean by this that cories are or are not hardy fish? it seems like you are saying they are not but from my experience they seem to be thoguh this may just be good luck. when i first got my 10g tank i cycled with 6 cories (not intentionally. this was when i was cluless and thoguht that all there was to fishkeeping was putting some fish into a contained volume of water and feeding once in a while) so anyway, i got the tank filled up with water, and had the cories in it within an hour or so i effectively did actually cycle with them but nobody had ever suggested that i should cycle first, or even that the process existed.

anyway my point was that all 6 made it and were and remain very healthy fish despite being used to cycle.

however - not recommended! tbh, now that i know a bit about cycling, i prefer a fishless cycle altogether

 

[musho3210]

Cories are hardy fish, just not hardy when it comes to cycling. There omnivores so make sure you feed them some meaty foods

 

[Falina]

i must just have been really lucky then. mine love bloodworm though i hate watching them eat them - because of the shape of their mouths they seem to suck the contents out then leave the skin - gives me the creeps. i know its really silly but im terrified of worms and seeing them do that just doesnt impress me lol

 

[musho3210]

anyway lets just stop and go back on topic of welcoming our new member

 

[Falina]

agreed

good luck establishing your new tank. if youve got a digital camera, post some pics, would be nice to see it

 

[leifthebunny]

I'll try to get some pics tomorrow night or so. The lighting in the room isn't the best unless I have sunlight.

As for cycling, my LFS said the main thing to consider is what the bio load is on the tank. I'm starting really small (8 fish/6 shrimp in 90 gallons) and will be monitoring the ammonia/... levels.

 

[Falina]

yes thats true. if the bio load is very small then the fish are likely to be fine. and youre right, thats not a lot at all for a 90g tank

look forward to seeing the pics

 

[leifthebunny]

Here are the pics.

This rock is where the cories generally like hanging out. I did manage to get one of the shimp in the picture.

Here is a picture looking down the tank long ways from the cories rock. Anyone who knows what the grass like plant, I'd be interested to know what it is.

Here's another picture of the grass. The shrimp generally like to hang out on this.

And a frontal view. The cories are visible in the background by the grass. They weren't nearly this active at the store.

 

[musho3210]

nice, how many watts of light are you pushing into the tank, if you get more light and add a pressurized CO2 unit along with dosing ferts, you can get those plants to grow faster so the tank will look more deep and more colorful, but im sure your getting there

 

[Falina]

nice tank. plenty of swimming space for your fishies.

 

[leifthebunny]

I made sure to use low light tolerant plants. The light is 40 watts, but the room has a west facing view and the cats keep opening the curtains. The Norwegian Forest likes to use the main front window to watch over "his" front yard.

 

[musho3210]

ok well just make sure that the tank doesnt get direct sunlight, indirect is ok to an extent but direct is no good


Welcome to the forum and nice tank.

 

[leifthebunny]

Only direct sunlight is during "sunset" when the sun sinks below the Rockies. Mostly that is just slivers of light and only briefly. The room is 20' long easily. Though currently the sun is still in the southern hemisphere.

Unfortunately one of the cherry barbs has died. She was mostly sluggish the first day I got her and today, she didn't improve on that. The Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels are all 0ppm and the rest of the fish are still quite active which she never was. I think she was sick when I got her. She did die below her favorite hornwort.