Hi, I am currently setting up a new freshwater tank and would like some advice.
My family and I have had fish on and off over the years, but untill now I have never really had any of my own. Furthermore, my family members have never had fish for long periods of time. It was usually the classic gold fish in a bowl; once or twice my dad had a 10 gallon with a few neons and plecos. The longest we have ever had a thriving tank was only about 3 years.
I understand that many people have tanks in which the fish thrive for 10+ years.
I have finally gained permission to set up my own tank and I want it to last for a long long time. I would also like to say that I have done reasearch and also have a bit of experience with fish, so I am not completely ignorant to the ways of fish keeping.
So anyway, I currently have a 10 gallon glass tank on a fish stand. It is in my bedroom, so it is away from drafts and such. I have a window nearby so that I can open the shades and allow sunlight into the tank every now and then. I am going to keep the tank around 78 degrees The tank setup currently includes:
-hood with light
-filtration system
-Heater
-Thermometer
-1 and 1/2 inch of gravel
-Bubble Wand
-Cave like fixture (so fish can hide) (don't know what its called)
The tank has had water in it for the past three days. All of the devices inside the tank have been running (so as to filter the water and so on).
Now that I have you up to date on the status of my tank, I would like to ask a few questions.
1) Is everything good so far?
2) Is 78 a good temperature for freshwater fish?
3) I would like to get some plants, are these good?
-Eleocharis parvulus----(dwarf hairgrass)
-Hemianthus callitrichoides----(common name unknown)
-Blyxa aubertii-----(Bamboo plant, Roundfruit Blyxa)
-Microsorium pteropus---(Java Fern)
4) Do I simply plant them in the gravel, or is something more needed?
5) Should I add the plants before I add fish?
6) Is a use of chemicals really needed?
7)Could you make some plant/fish suggestions?
Thanks for the help, and please feel free to comment on any other aspect of my tank. I need all the help I can get.
My family and I have had fish on and off over the years, but untill now I have never really had any of my own. Furthermore, my family members have never had fish for long periods of time. It was usually the classic gold fish in a bowl; once or twice my dad had a 10 gallon with a few neons and plecos. The longest we have ever had a thriving tank was only about 3 years.
I understand that many people have tanks in which the fish thrive for 10+ years.
I have finally gained permission to set up my own tank and I want it to last for a long long time. I would also like to say that I have done reasearch and also have a bit of experience with fish, so I am not completely ignorant to the ways of fish keeping.
So anyway, I currently have a 10 gallon glass tank on a fish stand. It is in my bedroom, so it is away from drafts and such. I have a window nearby so that I can open the shades and allow sunlight into the tank every now and then. I am going to keep the tank around 78 degrees The tank setup currently includes:
-hood with light
-filtration system
-Heater
-Thermometer
-1 and 1/2 inch of gravel
-Bubble Wand
-Cave like fixture (so fish can hide) (don't know what its called)
The tank has had water in it for the past three days. All of the devices inside the tank have been running (so as to filter the water and so on).
Now that I have you up to date on the status of my tank, I would like to ask a few questions.
1) Is everything good so far?
2) Is 78 a good temperature for freshwater fish?
3) I would like to get some plants, are these good?
-Eleocharis parvulus----(dwarf hairgrass)
-Hemianthus callitrichoides----(common name unknown)
-Blyxa aubertii-----(Bamboo plant, Roundfruit Blyxa)
-Microsorium pteropus---(Java Fern)
4) Do I simply plant them in the gravel, or is something more needed?
5) Should I add the plants before I add fish?
6) Is a use of chemicals really needed?
7)Could you make some plant/fish suggestions?
Thanks for the help, and please feel free to comment on any other aspect of my tank. I need all the help I can get.