Hello all

[gil_ong]

hey guys,

i'm new to keeping fish and hope to learn lots from here.

rdd1952 's son on NASIOC pointed me over here. he and a few other shave been a GREAT help, but he figured i would get more/better advice/suggestions here.

for all intents and purposes, i should be considered a pure noob when it comes to fish.

here's my journey so far.

03-10-08 - i picked up a 20-gallon (tall) tank off craigslist.

03-11-08 - cleaned the tank and gravel, and filled it with water.

03-12-08 - borrowed a filter and heater from a friend until mine got here.

03-13-08 - threw in 3 red wag platies to get the cycle started.

03-16-08 - my stuff arrives in the mail! AquaClear 30 filter, Visi-Therm Stealth 75W heater.

03-27-08 - same friend retrofitted my stock hood with a 55W CFL at 6700K.

03-29-08 - witness 2 of the platies sexoring.

03-30-08 - added a 5-sided reflector from AH Supply.

early April - beginning to get VERY impatient.

04-07-08 - added 2 pieces of drift wood at the wife's insistence to make the tank look pretty.

04-08-08 - traded in one of platies (which was being a bully to the other two, maybe cos he didn't get any), and bought 2 peppered cories, two red indian swords and two rotola wallichi.

04-10-08 - added a surface skimmer.

04-12-08 - ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate between 5 and 10. YAY!!!

04-13-08 - added 8 neons tetras and a piece of petrified wood.

here's a pic of the tank taken yesterday.

[Obsidian]

welcome to FF Your tank is beautiful!

[gil_ong]

thanks, obsidian.

there're a few things i'm still trying to sort out, but it's been a wonderful experience so far.

[trashion]

Nice, but...surface skimmer? As in a protein skimmer? You don't need one, your tank is freshwater.

Welcome!

[gil_ong]

Originally Posted by trashion

Nice, but...surface skimmer? As in a protein skimmer? You don't need one, your tank is freshwater.

Welcome!

well, i had a problem with a pretty nasty film on the surface and this bad boy cleared it right up.

it's that thing to the right of the platies in the top-left corner.

[trashion]

Hey, if it ain't broke...

One thing, pick up some more cories! They need at least 4 more to form a happy school.

[gil_ong]

Originally Posted by trashion

Hey, if it ain't broke...

One thing, pick up some more cories! They need at least 4 more to form a happy school.

not a problem!! these 2 look really happy together as is, so i will definitely pick up a few more.


my plans for the tanks as follows.
some shrimps and snails.
more plants!
replace current substrate with sand
some sort of damper to attenuate the shock that gets transmitted to the tank from furniture moving around, when we're rough-housing with the dog....

[Ricker]

welcome and your tank looks real good. Better then my first one. Are you getting any special sand or just plane ol sand?

[gil_ong]

thanks ricker.

as far as the sand goes........ you know, i'm really not sure. i have thought about laying down a base of flourite and then topping it with sand, or i might just go all sand, and just depend on additives (liquid supplements and/or tabs) to keep the plants happy.

[Ricker]

Have you heard of Eco-complete? I just got it I love the look of it. also has nutrients and stuff in it. It is all natural and doesn't cloud water when added to tank. 60lbs gave me a 3 inch bed in my 55 so 2 bags should give you a deep bed. Also does something with fish poop and stuff. I would look it up plus it is cheaper by the pound then Flourite. Flourite like 23 bucks for 15.4Lbs eco-complete 21 bucks for 20Lbs.

[gil_ong]

oh thanks, rick. i'll have to see if anyone around here carries it.

i KNEW joining a fish forum was gonna be trouble!

[Ricker]

Ya it is real good My plants are greener also good lights help to seems though your lights are good from pic. Check your LFS (Local fish store) Or petsmart. I know my petsmart carries it. Your LFS should deff carry it. Also NP anything to help out some one new to the hobby as I didn't find this forum tell November and I was lost and heard to many things but every one here is great and is very helpful. One thing don't be afraid to ask for help.

[gil_ong]

can someone shed some light on this?

the (i think is pregnant) female platy is quite swollen, very lethargic, a little testy, and i don't think she's really eaten in the last 3 or 4 days. also, the male is staying by real close just about all the time. he might wonder off for a little, but never fro more than a minute or so. he isn't eating much either.

[Obsidian]

Always a good thing to do whenever you notice "aberrant" behavior in your fish:
Test the water You will want to test for at least Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. It is good to test your Ph as well as sometimes a dramatic "swing" up or down (meaning more than .2 difference in a short period of time) can also cause weird behavior as well as sometimes leading to disease outbreak.

You want Ammonia and NitrIte to be at 0
You want nitrAte to be below 40ppm.

If you do not have a liquid test kit I would recommend one (liquid is better than the strips). The API master test kit is always a good one and has all 4 tests I mentioned.

Also you may want to post about this in the Freshwater disease section since no one will look for disease questions in the introduction section, and many people who have already said "Hi" will probably not continue to check back.

Good luck

[JustOneMore20]

Welcome to FF! The female, if pregnant, may be getting ready to drop the fry.

I agree with Obsidian that a quick test of the water can't hurt.

[gil_ong]

thanks guys. i'll test the water again when i get today, right after i stop by the fish shop for a few more cories.

i'll also probably pick up one of those boxes you can hang on the side of the tank. should i sepeate the female from the rest of the tank now?

[gil_ong]

obsidian, i took your advice and posted my problem in a more specific forum.

figured the livebearer folks would know.

http://www.fishforums.com/forum/live...-my-platy.html