Tank Setup+Fish

[AleandraOwens20]

Well, since my betta died Im kinda sad with no fish to watch...so I was thinking maybe its time to take a step up!

I really like dwarf gouramis and I have heard they're relatively easy to take care of and hardy fish...is this true?

Also:

can they be kept in a 10 gal. tank?

are the males nicer looking than females (i've only seen males sooo...)?

Im asuming if they're males, they should be solitary....is this correct?


Then:

For those of you who know how to set up an aquarium, can you please explain in a way you would to an 9-10 year old? I just...dont get it XD

Here's what I sort-of know...


the tank needs amoniea when your setting it up and to do this you can buy amoniea (I know people use fish but id rather not) and you need to get the filter so that the tank's amoniea level is ok...and I *think* you need to do water tests and such?


Also, I *think* you need to do bi-weekly or weekly water changes? And depending on the filter you either replace 25 or 50% of the water, but you never replace all of the water?

And that when you bring them home you leave the bag in the tank for x amount of hours to get them adjusticed to the water temp....?


So if someone could correct/further inform me on how to set up/mantain a tank as well as dwarf gourami care, Id really appretiate it!

[Alasse]

Dwarf gourami males are colourful, the girls are quite plain

In a 10gal i'd limit the number to 2 males.

Cant help you with adding ammonia, i always cycle with fish (and never lost one *L*)

[AleandraOwens20]

but you cycle you fish like goldfish, correct?

i just dont want to have a fish like that. i dont have accomidations for something like that...

[Alasse]

I cycle with whatever is going into the tank. Wether that be goldies or tropicals (used both over the years) I prefer platys or such over goldfish.

[AleandraOwens20]

could platys live with a chichild?

[Alasse]

I thought you were getting a dwarf gourami? They are not cichlids as far as i know.

Dwarf gouramis can live with platys.

Platys can live with some cichlids, but others are very aggressive. Rams or shell dwellers would be the only cichlids suitable for a 10gal.

[AleandraOwens20]

Ah, im sorry im going freaking insane 0__0

Typo.

[honeythorn]

Dwarf Gouramis are NOT a hardy species.They are prone to bacterial infections and are generally quite weak.

Platys would be a better option for you if you want something easy . Swordtails are also very nice fish. To avoid ending up with hundreds of babies ( they are livebearers like guppies ) get only males or only females. Male swordtails have the long point to the tails, and male Platys have two little pointy appendages underneath called Gonopoedia ( their sex organs basically ) whereas females do not.

In a ten gallon tank you could have 6-8 platies or swordtails if you are using a basic filter for example. Don't be impatient for a tank crammed full of brightly coloured fish. That will only ensure failure.




Fishless cycling with ammonia is where you add a few drops of PURE ammonia ( shake the bottle, if bubbles appear and stay/foam there, it isn't pure , the labels ingredients should say nothing but ammonia ) every couple of days, and test every few days with a LIQUID test kit. Your ammonia will rise very high, and then start to drop. When it reaches 0 your nitrItes will start to rise the same as the ammonia did. And then they will drop to 0 in the same way. Your nitrAtes should also rise and fall in the same way.

A cycled tank should give readings on your liquid test kit of 0 ammonia, 0 nitrItes, and approximately 15-20 nitrAtes. THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE JUST OVER 1 MONTH.

Then you can add 1-2 fish every week or two. You have to add them slowly like that in order for the bacteria in your filter to grow some more to eat the waste the actual fish produce.


An easier way to cycle your tank If you know someone who already has a fishtank ( coldwater or tropical it doesn't matter ) ask if you can leave your filter running in their tank for a month. Your filter will become full of bacteria which will be provided by their fish, and when the month has passed , take out the filter , put it in a bag of their tankwater, and quickly take it home. Place the filter in your tank and switch it on ( pour their tankwater away you won't need it ) .

You can add 1-2 fish the next day, and 1-2 fish every week or two after that until you have the correct number for your tank size. In your case 6-8 small-ish fish such as platys, swordtails, guppies ect.


Every week take out AT LEAST 25% of the water. That's 1 quarter. Half is even better . Make sure you replace the water you took out with water that has had DECHLORINATOR put into it. You can buy this at fish stores and big petstores with a fish section. It will tell you on the bottle how much to put in . You have to use this because the chlorine that water companies add to tapwater to make it safe to drink, is REALLY bad for fish and it can kill them. So make sure you always have a bottle of Dechlorinator.

The Filter When the flow coming out of your filter begins to look a bit slow, then it's time to wash (NOT CHANGE) one of the sponges or the floss inside it. The best time to do this is during a weekly water change. When you are taking the last bit of used water from your tank, switch off the filter, take it out and submerge it in the bucket of old tankwater. Following the instructions for dismantling the filter, take out/unclip the part that holds your filter media. That's your sponges, or filter wool/floss. Whatever the filter takes.

Take half your stuff and swish it about in the bucket of used tank water(NEVER EVER under a tap !!!!!! ) to get the biggest bits of sludge off. Give it a couple of squeezes and another swish, put it back in the filter the way you took it out, and put the filter back together. Put the filter back in your tank, and switch it on. It may gurgle or splutter at first as the water is being sucked in, but after a few minutes it should work fine and the flow coming out should be strong again.

On a basic internal cannister filter like a Fluval, you should end up doing this once every month or two.


Anything else you want to know just ask :)

[AleandraOwens20]

omg thank you soooo much. Ok, I understand now.

What type of water tester should I buy? Is one brand better than another? what should the water tester contain?

A friend suggested that I should just buy a 10 gal. aquarium kit....would this be a good idea? Are there good items in one of these?

Also, ok. Got it. No dwarf gouramis. I'll look up swordtails and platys. Can they be together (swordtails AND platys) ,or no? Also, could they live with a african dwarf frog or two? Those looked nice, I was just wondering. :)


Thank you sooo much, i'm just really nervous and dont want to make any lethal or stupid mistakes or anything. XD