All About Fishless Cycling + Community Tank

[nytra420]

I was able to return my tetras and can now have a fresh start at fishless cycling. Can you please provide me links or any other info required for a 20 gallon tank.

Can I also add a bubble wall especially with tetras?

And i know I might be asking too much here but can you also let me know about a full 20 gallon tropical fish community. Like what species and the right quantity of fish i can put it when the cycling is complete.

Not only is this really helpful for me but I hope this Thread can help other newbies with the same questions and answers.

[maxpayne_lhp]

All good... you dun ask much and even much, it's ok
But sorry, I just am enable to answer one of them

Like what species and the right quantity of fish i can put it when the cycling is complete.

Well the community tank gathers many types of fish from many regions of the world. As long as they all get along well and the environment requirements are nearly the same. As this is pnly 20gal i won't suggest big fish as well as schooling fish. You're planning to keep tetras there? I think you msut be careful of schooling. Try to look up for some that dun school or have a loose schooling habbit. Black tetras maybe...And also, some live-bearers are considered good for community tanks like mollies, swordtails- they'll do fine in that enven without a larg number, Loaches and some invertebrates are also good. But some loaches may want to school and can grow very large. If you want a fish that helps you get rid of the algea a bristle-noised can be good
Ahh do you plan to have some live plants?
Hope that helps...

[nytra420]

possibly live plants but i dont know what species to get, since this is going to be a new setup im going for the fishless aproach with adding a few drops of ammonia every day. If you or anyone knows the answer to this..Should I also at stress zyme once a week to the cycling process? Its supposed to carry bacteria maybe the bacteria I need. I was also considering some kind of plastic rock cave for some fish to relax in (loaches perhaps). Maybe even adding a bubble wall.

[Magdelaine]

There was a nice thread on my own fishless cycling experience but it was lost when we went to the new board...

Anyway, I liked this site for the technical data on a fishless cycle: http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/flc-data.htm

I did add Aponotegon bulbs (from Walmart) that grew during the cycle so I had nice plants by the time it was ready for the fish. I don't know how other plants would do during a cycle tho...

You will have to be patient; it took me about 8 weeks (but I had to go on vacation toward the end so that stretched it out).

[nytra420]

very interesting stuff, when I was a little kid i was always into chemistry and fish, now i can do both! Im purchased clear ammonia store brand name for $1, very inexpensive. I had 3 pleastic plants one 2 decors of a treasure chest and 2 broken barrels of rum YAR! Im going to head out tomorrow morning and pick up one more cave like rock and perhaps one live plant. Please if you have any suggestions let me know. I will keep you posted every 5 days and hopefully this can be an excellnt log for newbs.

[fishfreaks]

well first off, welcome to fish forums. you could get a bubble stone, i dont see any problem with you adding it with the fish you want to have. it will just add more oxygen to the water. the warmer water temperature is, the less oxygen it can hold.

[maxpayne_lhp]

What's a buble stone? I think I met it several times but I don't know what that is...

[nytra420]

I think its just like the bubble wall but instead it sits at the bottom with bubbles shooting up to the surface, but a few at a time.

[maxpayne_lhp]

Oh I see.. for decoration, mainly?

[fishfreaks]

for decoration, and as i mentioned above if your tank has warmer water, it holds less oxygen, so it helps areate the tank

[nytra420]

Should i add stress zymn every 7 th day till fully cycled? I think it contains the bacteria I need?

[Damon]

Stress zyme is useless. You don't need it. As for the bubble wall, if you want live plants, its a no-no. Just keep up with the fishless cycling and read up on fish types you like. See what their requirements are and how many you need. Schooling fish will work well as long as you pick the right type.

[Fishfirst]

fishless cycling usually takes about 3-4 weeks if you do it right. Stress zyme is mostly snakeoil and you don't need to use it, but if you already have it, it probably wouldn't hurt. Also don't worry about getting schooling fish or not... MOST tetras would do well in a 20 gallon, and so would a school of cories, or rasbaras. I would stay away from barbs, angels, and any other fish that gets larger than 4 inches. Dwarf Gouramis are nice center peice fish, and what you want to shoot for in a community tank is around 1inch of adult fish/gallon. I'd take a look at liveaquaria.com and see what fish YOU prefer, then ask us if they'd all go together, if you had enough space, etc.

[Fishboy93]

Like what species and the right quantity of fish i can put it when the cycling is complete.

I would add some livebearers like platys and swordtails or some mollies too. Add some dwarf gourami. You could also try barbs. Put live plants in your tank too.

[fishfreaks]

Originally Posted by Simpte

Stress zyme is useless. You don't need it. As for the bubble wall, if you want live plants, its a no-no..

why is it a no-no??

[nytra420]

Alright, the tank is setup and ready to go, i had bought a bottle of zymn a few weeks ago so i might as well use it. I conditioned the water, added the live plant and waited for the temp to hit 78. Then added some zyme and then added 10 drops of clear ammonia. (5 drops per 10 gal of water)

Let me know if im adding too much or to add more, I will add 5 drops per 10gal every day till amonnia reaches 5ppm then gradually reduce the dosage.

[MyraVan]

Originally Posted by Fishfirst

I would stay away from barbs, angels, and any other fish that gets larger than 4 inches.

Some barbs are perfectly fine in a 20 gallon tank. I've got some rosy barbs in mine. They are about 2.5" long, despite the fact that most websites list them as being more like 4". I think tiger barbs would work well too. They are supposed to be a bit smaller than rosy barbs, but since my rosys haven't got as big as I expected them to, I wouldn't guarantee this. And little barbs like gold barbs or cherry barbs would have scads of space in a 20 gallon.

I would say, definitely don't discount barbs. They are tough, active, and come in variety of sizes/colors/patterns. They are good beginner fish!

[nytra420]

I heard barbs can tear up other fish like bettas and such.

I checked liveaquaria and im thinking of this setup, I maybe overstocking though:

4 Platies
1 Betta Male
1 Juli Cory Cat
1 Cherry Shrimp
2 Rummy Nose Tetras
1 Swordtale male

Still considering a Odessa or Tiger Barb

Water temps all vary from maximum 77-to even 86 F, if the temp was at 82 F would it kill or harm for example Platies?

[Lydia]

Originally Posted by fishfreaks

why is it a no-no??

im wondering that too....i have one in my 15 gallon and all my plants are thriving, growing, and look very nice....maybe its a no-no with more high tech plants?

[Imbrium]

Some barbs will tear up bettas, some won't. I've kept cherry barbs with bettas and they got along great.
Cory's need to be kept in schools, at least three. The tetras should be in a bigger group too.
You definately can't keep tiger barbs in the same tank as a betta.