Just got a free fish tank

[andym]

.... and some fish

https://i.imgur.com/2Nfx8nf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aGnTGBz.jpg

Only thing is, I haven't got a clue about any of it having never owned a fish tank before (with fish in it anyway).

So I have a few questions:
The previous light looked very dodgy (hence the darkness), can someone recommend some lighting for it?, I've seen loads on ebay, but not sure what to get (I'd like something that simulates natural sunlight if possible).
Also the sealant looks moldy and tired, how easy is it to strip it all off and replace.... also what's the best stuff to get?
I've filled it and got the filter on its highest setting, it does feel quite powerful (pushing water to the other side of the tank), how long should it take for the water to clear, as the small tank doesn't have a heater in there and I want to transfer the fish as soon as possible.

Anything else I should know? (chemicals to treat the water etc)

[t121anf]

What type of fish, it may need a heater? Pretty much anything that's not a goldfish needs a heater.

Clearing usually takes a few hours in my experience.

[CaNsA]

To repeat my awesome advice i offered on facebook

Tetra Aquasafe to treat the water.
Replace the filter sponges/moss for new stuff.
Grab the filter from the old tank and squeeze the filter sponge into the new tank.
Leave it to churn for about a week
Then put everything from old tank into new tank (filter included)
Do 30% water changes every other day for 2 weeks
Then you can chill and do a 30% change every week.

Get some real plants, after i give you 20KG of aquarium sand.

As for lighting, get some LED stuff from the link i sent you.

[Rogerborg]

Adding beer will make the batter crispier.
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[andym]

A quick video of some of the fish..... maybe someone can help tell me what they are:

https://youtu.be/6bLftYhth0M

[andyscooter]

Tetras and plays

Need heater I has a spare but I'm miles away
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[oldpink]

looks like some goldfish the blue ones are neon tetra's Possibly some Danios and other tetra's and the one that scampered could be a plecostomus couple I can't remember the names of now
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Theory & hazard 24-may 2016, CBT 8th June 2016, MOD 1 2nd Aug 2016 Mod 2 2nd-Nov 2016 - Current bike CBR 600 RR

[Beehive Bedlam]

I can never understand what joy staring at fish in a tank brings people nor can I understand why people would want snakes etc as pets.

Get a dog or cat though I suspect like most scruffy cunts you own several already.

[Hawkeye1250FA]

Without boring you (hopefully)

/TefModeOn

It's actually very simple. Fish need the right environment - the same as us.

This consists of the water being oxygenated (by the movement of waters surface against the air above it) - this looks to be handled quite nicely by your pump. 👍👍

The water itself is another story - when "crap" (both rhetorical and actual) gets in it - it generates nitrites as it decomposes. This is harmful to fish.

"Good" bacteria feed off this and convert it to (almost) harmless "nitrates". This can be handled by you doing water changes once a week (10% should do it).

The main thing is that these "good" bacteria need time to get to the correct level before they can handle any real crap from fish. So the water needs time to produce enough crap to then produce enough nitrites to then produce enough good bacteria - this is called cycling the tank.

There are various ways of doing this. The simplest is time. Just leave it alone for 3/4 weeks and it will be fine for fish.

Another way is to use cannon fodder fish... some people chuck 5/6 mollys in there to produce crap faster than an empty tank... plus point - tank cycles in a week or two. Negative point - the mollys generally die... so it depends how you feel about that...

The way I do it is to add a shit load of ammonia to the water in the tank to simulate the presence of fish.. it achieves the same thing - but you need to check the levels properly with "test strips" after a week or two to make sure ALL the ammonia has been converted.

A well cycled tank - with regular 10% water changes will be very easy to maintain.

Set the heater at 30degrees - 32degrees - this temp keeps white spot at bay (a disease)

No other chemicals to add other than aqua safe to each water change. (Read the instructions carefully! - too much kills them!)

Proper decent lighting systems are only needed really if you have real live plants. And if you get it right then you have monthly gardening to do in your tank... so if you don't have the time spare - get fake plants.

Really you should have made the decision about plants BEFORE adding water - as you should have used fertilizer under the sand / pebbles to promote the best growth - although it's "ok" without.

Lighting wise - I use one full daylight tube at the front and a moonlight tube at the back - at night I turn the daylight one off. Blue leds are on permanently for effect - nothing else.

Any questions - give me a shout.


Tl:dr leave it at least 2 weeks - add fish - regular water changes - buy test strips
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1993 RF400R - 2002 Bandit 1200 - 2012 1250 FA

[oldpink]

[Beehive Bedlam]

[oldpink]

[CaNsA]

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[andyscooter]

At the mo I have

Tropical tank
Cold water tank
Dog
And a hamster

Dog stinks he is old though

Cold water tank is filthy

Was sorted during week but they are doirty gets
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Alan1986]

Male guppies are bastards
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Cbt Done, Currently wobbling around on a Cbf125 and love it
DAS some time soon

[duhawkz]

[andyscooter]

[hellkat]

[Ribenapigeon]

Fish are great until you come back from holiday and they're all dead.

Check out Upside-down Catfish. Seriously there's some wacky fish out there.

Top marks for the wall paper choice. There's not enough of that kind if brave choice in interior decor these days.

[Ribenapigeon]

[andym]

This keeping fish thing is going to be an interesting learning curve... last night I looked in the small tank and one of the fish was dead, about half an hour later it was up to 3 dead (still about 15 in there, but they don't stay still long enough to count)

So I had to just take the chance in putting them in to the large tank last night, the only things missing at that point were the chemicals to dechloronate the water and a light, both have been added today.

They've all seemed happy enough zooming round, but the water still looks a little on the cloudy side.

I've ordered a new heater, light, fish tank sealant, various other little bits and pieces.... this free stuff is getting expensive, I've spent just over £100 on stuff since I got the tank.

Anyway, best picture I've managed and it's still crap:
https://i.imgur.com/6bQCrGh.jpg

[RhynoCZ]

[hellkat]

Hey fishy fishy fishy
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[andym]

OK being a fish tank noob, I've noticed over the last week or so that one of my fish has gotten really fat, and also spending a LOT of time in the corner of the tank under the plants:
https://imgur.com/K7RvNAN.jpg
https://imgur.com/5N1MSeH.jpg
Has she been oot hoorin' it and about to pop loads of fry into the tank?

I'm going to keep calling it "she" cause I can't imagine there is such a thing as "fat bastard" fish..... so "she" is spending most of her time in this little dark corner somewhere:
https://imgur.com/8oQYcEG.jpg
Poor quality, but rare photo of the Goodyear blimp trying to hide:
https://imgur.com/3xLVa3C.jpg

If so, they will unfortunately be left to fend for themselves as I haven't got the spare spare tank and equipment to separate her into a "breeding box".... as the tank will be getting renovated on Tuesday evening and won't be habitable until Friday at the very earliest