<midposting>
"Hamlet" <acesfull@drunkenfools.com> wrote in message news:8d2c9174.0406091153.5b011300@posting.google.com...

I'm setting up a new tank (my first, except for one I had as a kid 15
years ago) and I had a few questions. Some details:

Tank is a 40 gallon breeder (36in X 18in X 16in)
Filter is a Penguin 330 (two wheels for bio-filter)
150 Watt Heater
basic 25 watt flourescent light

My plan (such that it is):

declorinate the water
get temp to 78F
do tests for PH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates

forget the test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. At this point at initial set up you have nothing in the water that should cause that to register.

Assuming nothing bad shows up in the tests,

start with 5 platies of various colors (following cycling instructions
from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)

later add 3 swordtails (1M 2F) of various colors

later add 4-6 cories of various types

possibly make additions based on load feedback and suggestions from
this group.

many people cycling a tank using fish will buy inexpensive livebearers to do so. They are not the best choice if you plan to keep them and you will no
doubt loose some to ammonia and or nitrite spikes during the cycling
process.

Questions:

1. Why is my tank called a 40 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?

no idea, it is a 45 gallon tank

2. Is my filter adequate? I could add another if neccessary.

filter in MHO is adequate for you planned fish load.

3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good. The
book suggests skipping the whole pump/airstone area for simplicity.

aeration should be fine

4. Cories are schooling fish. How many should I get to keep them
happy? Is it ok to mix them a little for variety?

I have 15 different varieties of Corydoras and they all get along fine. I
would add them after the tank has cycled.

5. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
correct? Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
plants?

you should be able to grown Java Ferns and annubias plants with your low
light

My interest is to have the platies and swordtails breed a little, but
not overwhelm me with fish. I understand that the fish will eat the
fry, so I'm planning on leaving the fry in the main tank. I will give
them lots of cover (probably plastic) to hide in, hoping that a few
will reach adulthood. Does this make sense? any suggestions?

Am I forgeting anything vital?

don't forget that ever though the parents will eat the fry some will always survive. They will have more fry every 28 to 30 days and if only 2 or 3
survive out of each dropping from each female then you do the math. You will very quickly have more fish that you can imagine. Livebearers should be kept with one male to 3 females otherwise the males will stress the females too
much which can and does lead to disease like Ich. Good luck.

Rick
---
■ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXPost V1.14 at BBSWORLD * Info@bbsworld.com

---
* RIMEGate(tm)V10.2ß * RelayNet(tm) NNTP Gateway * MoonDog BBS
* RgateImp.MoonDog.BBS at 6/10/04 10:56:41 AM
* Origin: MoonDog BBS, Brooklyn,NY, 718 692-2498, 1:278/230 (1:278/230)

"Hamlet" <acesfull@drunkenfools.com> wrote in message news:8d2c9174.0406091153.5b011300@posting.google.com...

I'm setting up a new tank (my first, except for one I had as a kid 15
years ago) and I had a few questions. Some details:

Me too. Hope you don't mind if I jump in here with similar questions and comments.

Tank is a 40 gallon breeder (36in X 18in X 16in)
Filter is a Penguin 330 (two wheels for bio-filter)
150 Watt Heater
basic 25 watt flourescent light

Tank is called a 55 gal but after I measured internal dimensions it works
out to 45 gal approx. Same tank at store is "55gal"??
Two under gravel filters with two 660 power heads. I also put a Whisper 60 Power filter in.
200 or 250 watt immersion heater (can't remember now and don't want to pull
it out of tank to see)
40 watt, 48 inch light

My plan (such that it is):

declorinate the water
get temp to 78F
do tests for PH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates

Assuming nothing bad shows up in the tests,

Set up tank, let pumps run for 24 hrs to allow chlorine to leave, run tests. Didn't think I'd find anything but wanted to establish base line and did
find 1ppm ammonia. pH is high, 7.8 (tonight it tested at 7.2 at home). Everything else 0. Took water to store for free test (they also do
alkalinity, hardness, chlorine, and chloramine and to confirm I'm doing my tests correct. They find 6.8 pH and 2ppm ammonia. I get White Diamond Ammonia-Neutralizing Crystals, put into mesh bag and layed in bottom of tank for several days. Ammonia now 0. I call Makers of my test kit and explain
pH issue and they claim there's nothing wrong with their test (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals). Store is using strips (Jungle) and Maker says strips not
as good as drops I'm using (is this right??).

start with 5 platies of various colors (following cycling instructions
from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)

Once ammonia was at 0 we put in 4 Red Wag Platys and 3 Gold Cresent Platys (Mickey Mouse Platys?).
We'll leave them for a week or week and a half and add some more. I'm
testing daily to watch the spikes as tank cycles. Looking now for a bottom feader to start assisting in tank maintenance. I'm feeding flake in the morning and blood worms at night.

Questions:

My questions:
1. Why is my tank called a 55 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?
2. Is my filter adequate? Over filtering is good, right?
3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good. The
book suggests skipping the whole pump/airstone area for simplicity.
4. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
correct? Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
plants?

My interest is to have the platies and swordtails breed a little, but
not overwhelm me with fish. I understand that the fish will eat the
fry, so I'm planning on leaving the fry in the main tank. I will give
them lots of cover (probably plastic) to hide in, hoping that a few
will reach adulthood. Does this make sense? any suggestions?

Me too.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.733 / Virus Database: 487 - Release Date: 8/2/2004
---
■ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXPost V1.14 at BBSWORLD * Info@bbsworld.com

---
* RIMEGate(tm)V10.2ß * RelayNet(tm) NNTP Gateway * MoonDog BBS
* RgateImp.MoonDog.BBS at 8/6/04 9:36:25 PM
* Origin: MoonDog BBS, Brooklyn,NY, 718 692-2498, 1:278/230 (1:278/230)

"Hamlet" <acesfull@drunkenfools.com> wrote in message news:8d2c9174.0406091153.5b011300@posting.google.com...

I'm setting up a new tank (my first, except for one I had as a kid 15
years ago) and I had a few questions. Some details:

Me too. Hope you don't mind if I jump in here with similar questions and comments.

Tank is a 40 gallon breeder (36in X 18in X 16in)
Filter is a Penguin 330 (two wheels for bio-filter)
150 Watt Heater
basic 25 watt fluorescent light

Tank is called a 55 gal but after I measured internal dimensions it works
out to 43 gal approx. Same tank at store is "55gal"??
(interior dimensions: 47.5 x 17 x 12.375 = 9992.8125 inches cubed =
43.258929 US gallons)
Two under gravel filters with two 660 power heads. I also put a Whisper 60 Power Filter in.
200 or 250 watt immersion heater (can't remember now and don't want to pull
it out of tank to see)
40 watt, 48 inch light

My plan (such that it is):

declorinate the water
get temp to 78F
do tests for PH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates

Assuming nothing bad shows up in the tests,

Set up tank, let pumps run for 24 hrs to allow chlorine to dissipate/water
to age, run tests.
Didn't think I'd find anything but wanted to establish base line and did
find 1ppm ammonia. pH is high, 7.8 (tonight it tested at 7.2 at home). Everything else 0. Took water to store for free test (they also do
alkalinity, hardness, chlorine, and chloramine and to confirm I'm doing my tests correct. They find 6.8 pH and 2ppm ammonia. I get White Diamond Ammonia-Neutralizing Crystals, put into mesh bag and laid in bottom of tank
for several days. Ammonia now 0. I call Makers of my test kit and explain
pH issue and they claim there's nothing wrong with their test (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals). Store is using strips (Jungle) and Maker says strips not
as good as drops I'm using (is this right??).

start with 5 platys of various colors (following cycling instructions
from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)

Once ammonia was at 0 we put in 4 Red Wag Platys and 3 Gold Crescent Platys (Mickey Mouse Platys?) *Just lost a pregnant GC Platy this morning*.
We'll leave them for a week or week and a half and add some more. I'm
testing daily to watch the spikes as tank cycles. Looking now for a bottom feeder to start assisting in tank maintenance. I'm feeding flake in the morning and blood worms at night.

Questions:

My questions:
1. Why is my tank called a 55 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?
2. Is my filter adequate? Over filtering is good, right?
3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good. Maybe too much?
4. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
correct? Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
plants?

My interest is to have the platys and swordtails breed a little, but
not overwhelm me with fish. I understand that the fish will eat the
fry, so I'm planning on leaving the fry in the main tank. I will give
them lots of cover (probably plastic) to hide in, hoping that a few
will reach adulthood. Does this make sense? any suggestions?

Me too.





---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.733 / Virus Database: 487 - Release Date: 8/2/2004
---
■ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXPost V1.14 at BBSWORLD * Info@bbsworld.com

---
* RIMEGate(tm)V10.2ß * RelayNet(tm) NNTP Gateway * MoonDog BBS
* RgateImp.MoonDog.BBS at 8/7/04 5:02:08 PM
* Origin: MoonDog BBS, Brooklyn,NY, 718 692-2498, 1:278/230 (1:278/230)

*** Quoting Jl from a message to All ***

Tank is called a 55 gal but after I measured internal dimensions it wo
out to 43 gal approx. Same tank at store is "55gal"??
(interior dimensions: 47.5 x 17 x 12.375 = 9992.8125 inches cubed = 43.258929 US gallons)

US gallons are larger than the other standard. This is most of your discrepancy most likely.

Set up tank, let pumps run for 24 hrs to allow chlorine to dissipate/w
to age, run tests.
Didn't think I'd find anything but wanted to establish base line and d
find 1ppm ammonia. pH is high, 7.8 (tonight it tested at 7.2 at home) Everything else 0. Took water to store for free test (they also do alkalinity, hardness, chlorine, and chloramine and to confirm I'm doin tests correct. They find 6.8 pH and 2ppm ammonia. I get White Diamon Ammonia-Neutralizing Crystals, put into mesh bag and laid in bottom of

Wince. You killed the natural bacteria with that. This will mean the tank is neither self cleaning, nor mainentance low.

Remove the crystals and most of the water and try again. This time, let the tank cycle. It *will* spike and that is expected. Let it ride and it should establish naturally.

start with 5 platys of various colors (following cycling instructions
from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)

Yes. Let it cycle. Most tank problems are due to inadiquate cycling, IE getting in a hurry.

Once ammonia was at 0 we put in 4 Red Wag Platys and 3 Gold Crescent P (Mickey Mouse Platys?) *Just lost a pregnant GC Platy this morning*.
We'll leave them for a week or week and a half and add some more. I'm testing daily to watch the spikes as tank cycles. Looking now for a b feeder to start assisting in tank maintenance. I'm feeding flake in t morning and blood worms at night.

The feeding is fine but if the tank isnt cycled truely and you are controlling it by having to add chemicals all the time to 'adjust' then do not add more fish and stop the chemicals and let nature do it's thing. You may lose some fish now over this, but in the long run you will keep fish healthy once all is cycled right.

My questions:
1. Why is my tank called a 55 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?

US gallons VS Imperial

2. Is my filter adequate? Over filtering is good, right?

Your filtering seems fine. Over is fine. Do not change the filters out while cycling.

3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good. May much?

With your current load of fish, it is fine as it is. Might actually be a bit much more than the fish want.

4. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
correct? Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
plants?

Correct. Also with your current lights, you shouldnt have much of an algae buildup. On Java vice plastic, you can mix them fine.
xxcarol

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4
* Origin: SHENK'S EXPRESS, Sasebo Japan 81-6160-527330 (6:757/1)

"JL" <lisa_reed@atcox.net> wrote in message news:iV8Rc.10230$pT5.816@lakeread05...

"Hamlet" <acesfull@drunkenfools.com> wrote in message news:8d2c9174.0406091153.5b011300@posting.google.com...

I'm setting up a new tank (my first, except for one I had as a kid 15
years ago) and I had a few questions. Some details:

Me too. Hope you don't mind if I jump in here with similar questions and comments.

Tank is a 40 gallon breeder (36in X 18in X 16in)
Filter is a Penguin 330 (two wheels for bio-filter)
150 Watt Heater
basic 25 watt fluorescent light

Tank is called a 55 gal but after I measured internal dimensions it works
out to 43 gal approx. Same tank at store is "55gal"??
(interior dimensions: 47.5 x 17 x 12.375 = 9992.8125 inches cubed =
43.258929 US gallons)
Two under gravel filters with two 660 power heads. I also put a Whisper

60

Power Filter in.
200 or 250 watt immersion heater (can't remember now and don't want to

pull

it out of tank to see)
40 watt, 48 inch light

My plan (such that it is):

declorinate the water
get temp to 78F
do tests for PH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates

Assuming nothing bad shows up in the tests,

Set up tank, let pumps run for 24 hrs to allow chlorine to dissipate/water
to age, run tests.
Didn't think I'd find anything but wanted to establish base line and did
find 1ppm ammonia. pH is high, 7.8 (tonight it tested at 7.2 at home). Everything else 0. Took water to store for free test (they also do alkalinity, hardness, chlorine, and chloramine and to confirm I'm doing my tests correct. They find 6.8 pH and 2ppm ammonia. I get White Diamond Ammonia-Neutralizing Crystals, put into mesh bag and laid in bottom of

tank

for several days. Ammonia now 0. I call Makers of my test kit and explain
pH issue and they claim there's nothing wrong with their test (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals). Store is using strips (Jungle) and Maker says strips

not

as good as drops I'm using (is this right??).

start with 5 platys of various colors (following cycling instructions
from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)

Once ammonia was at 0 we put in 4 Red Wag Platys and 3 Gold Crescent

Platys

(Mickey Mouse Platys?) *Just lost a pregnant GC Platy this morning*.
We'll leave them for a week or week and a half and add some more. I'm testing daily to watch the spikes as tank cycles. Looking now for a

bottom

feeder to start assisting in tank maintenance. I'm feeding flake in the morning and blood worms at night.

First lost the pregnant Gold Crescent Platy, this morning lost the second,
this afternoon lost the third. Replaced the first one with another and
seems to be doing alright. I'm not replacing the other 2. The first batch
was bad. Now just have 5 in tank, 4 Red Wag Platys and 1 Gold Crescent.
The last GCP I watched die, was weird (the others we found dead). Fish was darting around, didn't seem to have any directional control, when not
swimming would rotate belly up and drift with current until it took off
again, like a kid letting go of an untied balloon. Water check every night
and anytime I find a dead fish. Also I take a sample to PetSmart and they verify. Water is good. Saw some red (blood?) under his scales on his head, maybe from where he's ramming into the glass?

Questions:

My questions:
1. Why is my tank called a 55 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?
2. Is my filter adequate? Over filtering is good, right?
3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good. Maybe

too

much?
4. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
correct? Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
plants?

My interest is to have the platys and swordtails breed a little, but
not overwhelm me with fish. I understand that the fish will eat the
fry, so I'm planning on leaving the fry in the main tank. I will give
them lots of cover (probably plastic) to hide in, hoping that a few
will reach adulthood. Does this make sense? any suggestions?

Me too.

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.733 / Virus Database: 487 - Release Date: 8/2/2004

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free by AVG.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.735 / Virus Database: 489 - Release Date: 8/6/2004
---
■ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXPost V1.14 at BBSWORLD * Info@bbsworld.com

---
* RIMEGate(tm)V10.2ß * RelayNet(tm) NNTP Gateway * MoonDog BBS
* RgateImp.MoonDog.BBS at 8/9/04 7:40:45 AM
* Origin: MoonDog BBS, Brooklyn,NY, 718 692-2498, 1:278/230 (1:278/230)