My first fish tank

[e[V]o|ut|on]

with the help of a friend, i got down to setting up my very first fish tank...

cycled the tank for about a week, just added the fishes yesterday...

please help to advice me if i did anything wrong or anything right here...thanks alot in advance..

ohh and i have some questions, how do i remove leftover food not eaten by the fishes?
im using a Eden 501 filter, is it possible to add in a skimmer as i notice there are slight traces of oil on the surface of the water..how do i do it?

[yiongcs]

I think the plant on the left is not aquatic!

[diazman]

you may choose to add a skimmer, for this case, look up ISTA surface skimmer, nano sized and works quite ok IMO. (you may not like the color though because it's white). Alternatively, you can just scoop the film by using a small plastic cup once a day.

Tank looks good, maybe add a couple more plants? Just curious though, why do you use a heater?

[e[V]o|ut|on]

you may choose to add a skimmer, for this case, look up ISTA surface skimmer, nano sized and works quite ok IMO. (you may not like the color though because it's white). Alternatively, you can just scoop the film by using a small plastic cup once a day.

Tank looks good, maybe add a couple more plants? Just curious though, why do you use a heater?

thanks bro for the recommendation...will look it up..any idea which LFS sells this skimmer which u recommended?

i did though of putting in more plants but was afraid it would overcrowd the tank...u think its still quite bare? i use the heater cos i usually switch on the air con esp at night...so to maintain the temperature of the water..

[e[V]o|ut|on]

I think the plant on the left is not aquatic!

ohh is it?

sorry bro if this may sound noob, but what sort of effect will it have on the tank if its not aquatic?

[diazman]

simply put, non-aquatic plants will rot inside the tank . You can visit C328/polyart if you are in the west areas. They have plenty of stocks there.

Maybe can add a bit of moss to soften the scape. What are you keeping in this tank?

[e[V]o|ut|on]

simply put, non-aquatic plants will rot inside the tank . You can visit C328/polyart if you are in the west areas. They have plenty of stocks there.

Maybe can add a bit of moss to soften the scape. What are you keeping in this tank?

I've got cardinals, rummynoses, platys and algae eaters...

[yiongcs]

Yep, they will just slowly yellow and rot off in the tank

[e[V]o|ut|on]

Yep, they will just slowly yellow and rot off in the tank

ok thanks bros for the information and advice....i will remove it asap...

[David Moses Heng]

ohh and i have some questions, how do i remove leftover food not eaten by the fishes?
im using a Eden 501 filter, is it possible to add in a skimmer as i notice there are slight traces of oil on the surface of the water..how do i do it?

Hi. Good effort there.

For the plant on the left, as what the brothers here have pointed out it is non aquatic.

With reference to the oil on the surface, you do not need a skimmer to get rid of the oil. There is a more natural way to solve it and that is to use platy.

For left over food, I believe the best solution is to moderate the feeding so that there will be no over feeding issue.

Regards.

[e[V]o|ut|on]

Hi. Good effort there.

For the plant on the left, as what the brothers here have pointed out it is non aquatic.

With reference to the oil on the surface, you do not need a skimmer to get rid of the oil. There is a more natural way to solve it and that is to use platy.

For left over food, I believe the best solution is to moderate the feeding so that there will be no over feeding issue.

Regards.

Hi bro,

u mean Platys can help prevent/solve the oily surface issues? I have 3 platys in the tank...

as for the leftover food, i dont actually feed alot...probably about 1-2 pinch of the food..actually since yesterday till today, what I've noticed is that they take a long time to finish up the food...take for example, i feed in the evening, by the next morning, it will be cleared or if i feed in the morning, the food would be consumed by evening that sort..i am using sinking food, it also seems they are more interested in eating those that "drop" down rather then those that have already dropped onto the gravel...so im just concerned if this would be an issue..?

[tetrakid]

For siphoning fish poop and stale food on the tank bottom, I suggest you make a special tool. It is very easy to make.

Go to the fish shop and buy a piece of hard plastic tube (1m long), plus 1m of air tubing.
The plastic tube and air tubing are of the same diameter.

Then cut the plastic tube to be 1" longer than the height of your tank. Join the plastic tube to the air tubing by pushing it in.
If that is difficult, try heating the air tubing a bit to soften it.

With this simple tool, you can suck up a lot of fish poop daily into a 2L soft drinks bottle. The small diameter of the tube will
not disturb or stress the fish much, or draw out much water.
If done regularly, your fish will come to expect this 'entertainment' with some interest.

[e[V]o|ut|on]

For siphoning fish poop and stale food on the tank bottom, I suggest you make a special tool. It is very easy to make.

Go to the fish shop and buy a piece of hard plastic tube (1m long), plus 1m of air tubing.
The plastic tube and air tubing are of the same diameter.

Then cut the plastic tube to be 1" longer than the height of your tank. Join the plastic tube to the air tubing by pushing it in.
If that is difficult, try heating the air tubing a bit to soften it.

With this simple tool, you can suck up a lot of fish poop daily into a 2L soft drinks bottle. The small diameter of the tube will
not disturb or stress the fish much, or draw out much water.
If done regularly, your fish will come to expect this 'entertainment' with some interest.

This sounds like a great DIY project...

thanks bro for the suggestion...

[tetrakid]

A thick layer of oily gump on the tank surface is sure to start bringing disease to the fish due to oxygen starvation.

To help achieve a clean water surface, it is important to prevent such accumulation of gump in the first place.
Directing the water outflow laterally over the whole water surface so as to agitate a wide surface area will help
prevent gump formation. This is achieved by means of a well-designed spray bar which is properly positioned
and at the water surface.

[kapitan]

For siphoning fish poop and stale food on the tank bottom, I suggest you make a special tool. It is very easy to make.

Go to the fish shop and buy a piece of hard plastic tube (1m long), plus 1m of air tubing.
The plastic tube and air tubing are of the same diameter.

Then cut the plastic tube to be 1" longer than the height of your tank. Join the plastic tube to the air tubing by pushing it in.
If that is difficult, try heating the air tubing a bit to soften it.

With this simple tool, you can suck up a lot of fish poop daily into a 2L soft drinks bottle. The small diameter of the tube will
not disturb or stress the fish much, or draw out much water.
If done regularly, your fish will come to expect this 'entertainment' with some interest.

I have learned something new today, me is always using the air tubing and thus hand is submerged in water. Will find a longer hard plastic tube for the purpose. Thank you for the idea.

[David Moses Heng]

Hi bro,

u mean Platys can help prevent/solve the oily surface issues? I have 3 platys in the tank...

as for the leftover food, i dont actually feed alot...probably about 1-2 pinch of the food..actually since yesterday till today, what I've noticed is that they take a long time to finish up the food...take for example, i feed in the evening, by the next morning, it will be cleared or if i feed in the morning, the food would be consumed by evening that sort..i am using sinking food, it also seems they are more interested in eating those that "drop" down rather then those that have already dropped onto the gravel...so im just concerned if this would be an issue..?

Oil firm on the surface is due to the substrate or even fish food. and platies can help to solve the problem. I notice a heater in your tank? May I ask what is it for? If you intend to have more plants, then I would suggest that you remove it cos not all plants can tolerate high temperature. Anubias is fine, Finally, if you are really concerned about the excess food, for a tank your size, corydoras(1) would do the job. A good inexpensive choice would be the ablino cory. Another choice would be cherry shrimps. However take care not to overload the bioload of the tank.

[e[V]o|ut|on]

Oil firm on the surface is due to the substrate or even fish food. and platies can help to solve the problem. I notice a heater in your tank? May I ask what is it for? If you intend to have more plants, then I would suggest that you remove it cos not all plants can tolerate high temperature. Anubias is fine, Finally, if you are really concerned about the excess food, for a tank your size, corydoras(1) would do the job. A good inexpensive choice would be the ablino cory. Another choice would be cherry shrimps. However take care not to overload the bioload of the tank.

as i often switch on the aircon, especially at night, so i thought having a heater would be a good idea in case temperature dips low. but the heater's set at 28degrees.

one thing's for sure is i'll be changing the non-aquatic plant first. not sure if i will want to put in more plants after that as im afraid to overload the landscape of the tank and in turn, making less space for the fishes to swim around.

thanks bro for the info on which fishes can help with the oil issue. I currently have 3 platies, will see if these 3 are sufficient to curb the oily surface issue.

[tetrakid]

Using a flexible air tubing to siphon, like most people are doing, is a very frustrating thing. Not only it gets the hands unnecessarily wet all over. It is also very difficult to bring the flexible tubing to the place where the fish poo and dirt is. Using hands in the tank will panic all the fish in it. Also, harmful bacteria, etc can be introduced by the hands.

Another fringe benefit is that the few friends living in the bio-media will be very happy not to be overwhelmed with too much load on them.

I have been using this simple tool to keep my tank bottom clean for many years, and can never live without it as long as I am keeping fish.

I have learned something new today, me is always using the air tubing and thus hand is submerged in water. Will find a longer hard plastic tube for the purpose. Thank you for the idea.

[David Moses Heng]

as i often switch on the aircon, especially at night, so i thought having a heater would be a good idea in case temperature dips low. but the heater's set at 28degrees.

one thing's for sure is i'll be changing the non-aquatic plant first. not sure if i will want to put in more plants after that as im afraid to overload the landscape of the tank and in turn, making less space for the fishes to swim around.

thanks bro for the info on which fishes can help with the oil issue. I currently have 3 platies, will see if these 3 are sufficient to curb the oily surface issue.

Aquatic plants love cooler temperature. So unless your aircon is set to below 18, you do not need a heater in your tank.28 is a bit on the high side. Infact, when I conduct workshops on planted tank appreciation, I usually recommend not higher than 26 degrees.

You can also have more plant but that may not necessary means that the fish would have lesser swimming space. For example, if you have a lawn of glossos or hair grass, that would still have provided a lot of space for the fishes to swim. For small tanks, stay away from big bulky plants. Even for anubias, go for the pettie anubias as they are really small and cute. It is about a choice of plants.

Hope this helps.

[e[V]o|ut|on]

Using a flexible air tubing to siphon, like most people are doing, is a very frustrating thing. Not only it gets the hands unnecessarily wet all over. It is also very difficult to bring the flexible tubing to the place where the fish poo and dirt is. Using hands in the tank will panic all the fish in it. Also, harmful bacteria, etc can be introduced by the hands.

I have been using this simple tool to keep my tank bottom clean for many years, and can never live without it as long as I am keeping fish.

i really love this suggestion, bro! and definately am planning to DIY this simple yet effective tool..