1. Welcome to Aquarium Space! We are a friendly online community for aquarium owners all over the world who love their tanks including their fish, reefs, corals, invertebrates and their aquatic livestock. If you haven't joined yet, we invite you to register and join our community!

Water Changes

Discussion in 'Aquarium Equipment & Decor' started by SikMars, Jul 12, 2009.

Page 2 of 2
  1. SikMars

    SikMars Thread Starter New Member

    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    I'm going to change the water 30% today and wait until my fish get a little bigger before I decide on what kind of other filter I will get so it doesn't suck my fish. They are not bigger than 1 inch yet. How big should I wait for my fish to get to get the other type of filter?
    (I added a piece of driftwood yesterday - it was in the tub underwater for 48 hours before i put it in the tank, thats what the fish store told me to do. But i read it had to be boiling hot water on here)
    After I change my water I will check for the Ammonia level (it should be 0) the Nitrite level (it should be 0), The NitrAte level (it should be less than 20ppm), PH should be between 4-9. If all the levels are as above the tank atmosphere is good for the fish, right?. I will do weekly changes after that changing 20% of the water testing for the above mentioned levels.. Can I add fish during these time period or do I have to hang tite for a certain amount of time.?

    Please let me have your comments on the above and let me know if i'm guided correctly.
     
    SikMars, Jul 12, 2009
    #21
  2. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    I wouldnt add anything to the tank until you get a better filter. Those fish will be fine if you add a new filter, unless its something huge!
     
    Anonymous, Jul 12, 2009
    #22
  3. SikMars

    SikMars Thread Starter New Member

    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    Guys I've added some more fish to my collection. The tank is looking gorgeous. I've spoke to the guys at the pet store and they have advised that I have a mechanical, biological and chemical filtration. My tank looks clean and the fish look like they are enjoying themselves. I want to add some Discus to the tank, would they be okay with the other fish I have. So far the 1 platty and molly I have are surviving fine even though I have been told they wouldn't survive with the barbs.. The discus is quite expensive here in Dubai so I want to make sure it would survive before I go ahead and buy it. The guy at the pet store said t hey would if my barbs are small, which they are.
     
    SikMars, Jul 12, 2009
    #23
  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    why not just continue to listen to the pet store guy and see how things work out!
     
    Anonymous, Jul 12, 2009
    #24
  5. SikMars

    SikMars Thread Starter New Member

    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    ok, but in most cases are the Discus okay to share a tank with the kind of fish I have??
     
    SikMars, Jul 12, 2009
    #25
  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    Discus should be kept in groups one usually is not a good idea, although it can be done but usually it is best left to the experts. Also discus are cichlids and will probably eat anything smaller such as your molly. Also, discus can be VERY hard to keep so I would not suggest spending that amount of money, get used to the "normal" community fish, build your skills as a fishkeeper and then look into discus.
     
    Anonymous, Jul 12, 2009
    #26
  7. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    Are you being sarcastic ?
     
    Anthony, Jul 12, 2009
    #27
  8. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    yes.
     
    Anonymous, Jul 12, 2009
    #28
  9. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    Thought so. :)

    SikMars, my advise would be to NOT put a Discus in with those guys. If you want to do a community tank do that and get fish that are generally peaceful and ones that require the same water parameters. Also, you mentioned pH levels of 4-9... You need to decide what fish you want to keep and target a specific pH for those fish, not a wide range like that.
     
    Anthony, Jul 12, 2009
    #29
  10. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    what kind of pleco do you have?
     
    Anonymous, Jul 12, 2009
    #30
  11. SikMars

    SikMars Thread Starter New Member

    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    i don't know what kind of pleco i had but i found it floating on top of my tank yesterday.. I have no idea how it died.. it seemed like it was doing just fine, i did not notice any problems at all.. what a bummer.
     
    SikMars, Jul 12, 2009
    #31
  12. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Re: 50 gallon tank (water change)

    I'm sure you heard this, but I wouldn't do barbs-loaches-rainbow sharks with a molly. Mollies are peaceful and typically do a bit better with some freshwater aquarium salt in my experience. Pluck him from your tank before he gets eaten or wounded and puts your other fish in jeopardy (illness). NEXT if you have these fish in the tank already I'm assuming it's cycled and tested....but in my experience plecos have always been hardy (guess it depends on the kind you had) and the size of it. BUT, if you add a pleco without Algae or feeding supplements starvation is a quick though that comes to mind.
    Ps. tetras are also questionable in the mix you describe...mine are extremely peaceful and definately wouldn't do good with loaches/barbs/sharks imo.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jul 12, 2009
    #32
Page 2 of 2