What am I missing...

sapphiregem said:

Hi all,

So setting up a new tank and I need to know what I am not thinking about that I should be before adding live things to it.

I got a 45 gallon aqueon combo from Petsmart 13L x 36W x 24h
Marineland Penguin Biowheel 200
Theo 200 watt heater
Caribsea Eco-Complete Substrate
Petco airpump (might change this or add a second line to it as it is space for 2)
Floramax T8 lamp

plan is to add Mopani and shale rock and holey rock

Havent worked out which plants yet, but I will start with minimal to start but in layering affect (lows, middles, highs)

Working on what fish types will work best in here. This aquarium was the only Christmas request from my 11 year old son....so it is a learning experience, continual allbeit, but he is researching with me on what we can and can not put in this tank. We have alist of what fish will NOT go in but have not worked out what will go in just yet.

Fish that WILL NOT occupy = cichlids, angels, goldfish, oscars, pleco, barbs, tetra

Fish and plants aside I simply need to work on the mechanicals of the tank first so I can get her cycled. What am I missing??

I am not planning on co2 just yet as I am trying to determine the type of plants i will be doing as well...i did buy the co2 booster by API tho.

Thank you so much!!

Click to expand...

Sounds like your off to a good start, now time to get your arms wet. Pretty cool that you're getting into this with your son, mine just turned 3 this month. I can't wait until we set up OUR first tank.
A few things:
Dechlorinator, if you're on municipal water. I like Seachem Prime but there's lots out there. I have well water and still use it out of habit.
Thermometer. important as numbers on the heater prob won't be accurate
Holey Rock. A few go by this name, some will raise pH and hardness which may be undesirable depending on what you choose to keep. You can test by putting a little vinegar on a piece. If it doesn't fizz, it's inert
Fish. Why no tetras? there's so many, ruling them all out might be limiting down the road. I like that you two are researching together and making a fish list. Sounds fun. I would recommend going with very hardy, preferably even tank raised (captive bred) fish until y'all get your routine down and the tank stays stable. Nothing will discourage a kid from the hobby like dead or sickly fish. Zebra danios are hardy and active for starters.
I would also go with a fishless cycle, do a forum search, there's tons of good info here on how to do it.
API freshwater master test kit. Testing a new tank may be fun for your son, and it's important to know when it's safe to start adding fish to minimize loss. Mixing the liquids, comparing the readings, and charting the results will make him feel like a scientist. And he'll learn about your fish's water which will hopefully add more appreciation to the finished product (...although it's never a finished product, haha)

I did get thermometer and the master test kit!!!

I do have Prime as well as API Tap Water Conditioner and Stress Coat but I only started my take with the Start Smart Complete and Tap Water Conditioner for now.

I have a local aquatics shop, not your typical Petco place, that i will go to for all my fish when I am ready.

I plan to have a few fish in it for Christmas for him, you kow wrap it in paper and a bow and him look at me like ma i know its a tank i have been setting it up and unwrap it and see fish!!! so until then it is set up and plantings only so cycle away!!!

I will test my Holey rock...do i need to do the same to red shale???

Tetras....I will come back to that on the fish threads, maybe filler fish.


Do any of you try to cycle a tank by feeding it??

Thanks for the tips!!!

Ive used Seachem Stability with success on 6 tanks, both fresh and salt, with great results by following the directions on the bottle. All with adding fish the same day with zero loses to any livestock (tetras, Bettas, kribensis, oto cats, tiger barbs, clownfish, marine snails, and a few others I can't remember at the moment).

I have a group of 4 tetras (3 glo-light and 1 neon) that I've had for over 3 years and in 3 different tanks while using Stability. They are still very healthy and going strong.

You can ghost feed the tank (add fish food with no fish) to get the cycle going also.

Or just add dechlorinated water, fish, and do daily 50%+ water changes.

You could even jump start it by using urine (yours!) or by purchasing ammonia from the hardware store and dosing it directly in the tank.

sapphiregem said:

I will test my Holey rock...do i need to do the same to red shale???

Click to expand...

Not with red shale. Calcerous shales are light grey to yellowish in color.
Here's an interesting thing I copied from a cichlid forum:
"Shale, the softer relative of slate, can sometimes present an unusual problem. Some shales contain a high percentage of organic matter. Even if they are hard enough not to crumble underwater, such shales can release hydrocarbons (petroleum) into water which will collect as an oily scum on the surface. Clearly, you do not want oil-shale in your tank. Most shale does not present this problem, but it is worth bearing in mind when you inspect water that rocks have been soaking in."

Basically depends on where it was collected from. If it came from a pet store, their sources should be aware of what's good or bad. If you got it from a landscape place, just soak it in a bucket of water for a few days and see if the surface of your water looks oily

RyRob I must say...I have never heard of urine but heck...it is ammonia!! Appreciate your input and I was very curious on the stability. I was reading about it and wasnt sure how true it was. You know the old adage....if its too too good to be true, it is!! But seems I am wrong here so thank you!

So my driftwood of course is late being delivered so I wont stock the tank until after I receive that and boil the tannins out and then see what it does to the water balance when it goes in

I have some Melafix in and Paraguard...should I have anything else??? Esp with plants going in?

I should mention I do have a small 10 gallon I am establishing as well and using that as an incubator... I took a small albino cory cat off someone that wasnt doing well and...well he still isnt doing the best but he isnt dead either.... they had a whole tank die out so I am trying to save him but he wont eat and he spiked my ammonia a bit been keeping an eye on him and small water changes hoping he pulls through...my betta in the tank next to him just wants to play

Bump: Kayakjim, thank you for that...I did soak them in wicked hot water regardless for a day just because. I did not see oil at all just a LOT of dust particles. So I did it a second time. I think this lot was good!!