sub zero

I bought a starter kit with a ten gallon tank, water filter, lamp, and smome gravel for 30 bucks. I was wondering if I needed one of those air bubble makers or if its not something really neccessary.
The filter itself is making bubbles but the tank is farily wide so I don't know if its reaching the whole thing. Any help would be appreciated.

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noblejr

You don't have to have any bubbles at all. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged at the water surface.

ananayal

it also depends on your fish... a few species of fish come to the surface for water, and don't need the bubbles. best bet would be to go to a pet store, find the fish you want and ask them what you need. from my limited fish tank experiences, you won't be out much money.

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Tirian

In my opinion - if you are planning on keeping the usual assortment of freshwater tropical fish, it is worth the time effort and expense to build your aquarium with an under gravel filter system to enhance the "water filter". (they are quit inexpensive and available at all the dept. stores)

The main reason for this setup is that you will have to hand clean things less frequently.

Basically what it is, is a grate that you install below the gravel, which has (for a 10 gallon) two clear tubes extendng up into the water. You install an air pump, and have the bubbles coming up the two tubes. These bubbles cause water to flow down through all the gravel in your tank and travel back up the tubes with the bubbles.

Using the gravel as a second filter in this way keeps the system nice and clean (in fact I have only this system at home, and do not use an external water filter on the back of my tank at all)

Choose a couple of algea eating fish, and a couple of bottom feeders to compliment your other fish, and you'll have setup that requires little care.

Sapper

Having an aeration system is not a bad idea - as mentioned, O2 and CO2 can "exchange" at the water's surface only .. which is not very large depending on the dimensions of your aquarium.

The best option is to use real plants .. i've been running an aquarium for the last 8 years with live plants (the same ones!!) and have never needed an aeration system [tall tank w/ small air/water surface area]. The plant I love the most is the amazon sword (large leaves).

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clavus

Oh ya. You need some aeration.

And take what tirian said about the under-gravel filter to heart

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theguyondacouch

More important than any of those things, is first off, you need a heater unless your keeping goldfish. Next, for your first few fish, get some hardy ones, like larger tetras. You should run the tank for a few months with just these few hardy fish to cycle the tank. Also make sure you treat the water first, to get all the chlorine out and balance the ph.


This site has all the info you should need

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Cycler

Take it slow. Not too many fish. Learn how to vacum the gravel and change the water every couple of weeks. If you don't have flourescent lighting watch that you light doesn't put out too much heat. Enjoy and don't get too frustrated. Oh and support your local small pet store they are usually a much better resource than a large chain or Wal-Mart.

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wondash

An under gravel filter is total over-kill for a 10 gallon tank. Plus, it's not really a 'filter'. The purpose of an under gravel system is to move the water through a substrate (the gravel) to promote growth of bacteria to keep the ammonia levels (fish piss) down. It will only work if you use a bacteria supporting gravel. You still need a normal filter to remove larger particles and carbon to help keep the water clean.

Sapper suggested using live plants. That's a good idea, but can be very difficult to support. The fish may eat the plants. I'd work on keeping the fish alive, before messing with plants.

The real issue with a 10 gallon tank comes down to territory. Many fish are territorial (particularly fresh water tropicals). As a rule of thumb, a single territorial fish needs about 10 gallons of water. So, in your case, make sure to only buy non-territorial fish. Otherwise, you'll have a bunch of fish killing each other. Ask the fish store to help pick them out.

One last thing, when starting out a new tank, the first batch of fish will almost always die. They are the ginny pigs, plus they'll help to prep the water for the next batch of fish. So don't become too attached to them, and go cheap!

Good Luck!

wondash

All very good suggestions!

the420star

the only reason for a bubbler is use in the undergravel filtration system... which is one of the better systems there is for a small set up like your tank. Keep in mind your selection of tropical fish is pretty limited in a 10 gal. tank, and that gold fish fallow a 2 gallons per fish inch rule unlike tropical fish which are 1 gal per fish inch. As for plants, i have had a terrible time with them and they are very challenging in my oppion, and really even more challanging in a small tank like yours. reading the posts above, you do need to have a charcol filter in the during the intial build up of the undergravel set up to remove nitrogen from the water... nitrogen is what kills your fish. good luck and dont be afraid to post ?s if you have them...

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offrapel

sub zero, there are a lot of different web sites and books that will help you get started with this hobby. Generally speaking, with more aeration your tank will support more fish. But don't forget about the territorial tendancies of many tropical fish.
There are a lot of good suggestions from others in this thread, and, depending on the fish you want to keep, you will quickly learn what works best for the fish you buy.
I have always liked the undergravel filtration system best.
Beware, this hobby, like many others, has an unlimited number of add-ons and fancy stuff you can buy for your fish. With me it started here and eventually went to a reef aquarium with 'live' rock, corals, etc.. It can get expensive quickly.
Like others already said, start with fish that you don't care much about, and read some of the guides that you can buy in the pet stores.

Good luck with your project!

soopadoopa

Platys make great starter fish because they can handle changes in ph. Get a couple and let it be for a few weeks. Also, I learned recently to use some aquarium salt. Seems to help ward off disease.

Snakebyt

I sucked at freshwater, but i kicked ass with a salt setup.. i want to get another

sub zero

Well sort of as an update to the first post. So far so good. I bought three platys and two bottom feeders whos names I can't remeber right now. One of my platys died but I think he was injured from the pet store since he didn't seem to be swimming around that much.
All the other fish has been doing pretty well and I opted for fake plants and to let the water filter be in charge of making the bubbles for me.
All the fish have been getting along pretty well except every now and then I'll see the two platys poking or pushing each other, but I sort of attribute that to either play or maybe mating?
According to a manual that came with the tank, it says to clean out the tank every month or so, but I might do a little more often if anything to just get used to do it. The heater I thought about getting one, but so far there hasn't really been much need for it since the surrounding enviroment has been pretty warm.
I'm thinking of getting another two small ones and daring to venture with another species besides platy...anyone have any suggestions?

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Cycler

Slow down.. let these guys go for a week or so. If no deaths, great go in for some more and take a sample of your water into your local Pet Store and see if they will test it for you to make sure everything is going well. Try some Barbs: Gold or Cherry, Danios: Zebra or Spotted, Tetras: Neon or Black Skirts. Good luck and keep us posted.

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tarheelz

sub zero,

My 2 cents:

1) Get a heater. You're not so much using it to heat the water as to stabilize the temperature. Fish (in just about all things) like stability. The heater will only cost you a few bucks, you don't need to do much w/ it (at least not much in a ten gallon tank) and it'll make your fish happier and healthier.

2) About once a month is right. Many, many, many new fish enthusiasts decide they want to be good owners and keep a sparkling clean tank. More cleaning = better aquarium, or so they believe. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The bacteria and such that collects in your tank is 1) good for the fish's environment substantively and 2) good for promoting stability (that word again) in the tank environment. The bacteria are an important filtration device.

When you clean you want to a) scrape the sides of the tank (so you can see the fish) and then b), do a PARTIAL water change. (1/3 to 1/2 of the water at most.) The best way I've found to do the water change and get some gunk out is w/ a vacuum attached to the sink. (Python is a big brand.) If you have a gravel/sponge combo filter replace only one of the two at a time (gravel this time, sponge next time).

If'n you're bothered by a little algae that creeps up between cleanings, buy a little scraper magnet. I leave mine hung on the side of the tank for touchups. (Assuming of course, this tank is glass - don't use on acrylic.)

That's it!

Oh, Feed your fish less than you think you should feed them. (Most newbies feed their fish WAAAY too much food at a time.)

PS - The 55 gallon tank behind my head here in the office needs a cleaning if you are dying to do such work more than once a month.

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hotdogg

A good rule of thumb...2gallons of water per half inch of fish...and fish grow...It takes at least a week for a tank to "cycle" that is get the good bacteria (nitosomonas break down nitrates and amonia)working properly for the amount of waste products being intrduced/produced into the tank...Introduce new fish very slowly, since each new fish ad more waste products to the tank,

tarheelz

2 gallons of water per 1/2 inch fish?
Is that 4 gallons per 1 inch of fish?
A 10 gallon tank could have 2.5 inches of fish total?

Seems very conservative for an established tank. (The old rule used to be 1 inch per gallon, but I always thought that was asking for trouble.)

Maybe shoot for somewhere in between?

Here's a reasonable take on the rule of thumb: http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/qa/a/qa016.htm

BTW, subzero, you might be looking for a new home for your bottom feeders if they are plecos (Plecostomus). These suckers will grow and grow. Big fish use up oxygen and make lots of fish crap. Keep an eye on it.

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sub zero

Just out of curiousity...when y'all clean y'all tank, what do you use to get the water out from the bottom? I'm I just gonna hve to siphon it out? Or is there an easier way?

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Cycler

Well there are a few other options and I have sucked down some aquarium water in my time. Five gallon bucket and a specific aquarium siphon helps. Basically it is a plastic cylinder with some tubing on the end. But what really works is a Python system <p>http://www.pythonproducts.com/nospill.htm<p>
it attaches to a faucet and pulls the water from your tank then replaces taken water once you have siphoned enough out twist the pump at the faucet and it fills your tank back up add some dechlorinator and you are good, no sucking down tank water, less messes due to spilling. Costs a little more but you will really appreciate it. I have two one for my tank at work at one for home makes life so much easier. Hope you are enjoying it. <p> Any losses are have you been successful?

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lemurlad

Don't clean the gravel too well. It's the bacteria in the gravel that detoxify the water. I meet lots of people that think they're doing a good thing by sterilizing the gravel when they get around to cleaning their tank. It universally results in a dead tank.

skier

tarheelz it all depends on the fish. I have a 40 gallon tank at home with only a single 2 inch puffer fish inside it (plus a few ghost shrimp that he eats with regularity). All depends on the agressiveness of the fish, what kind of territory they would enjoy in the wild, and how social they are. There are many solitary fish (like my puffer) that will not accept another fish in the tank.

but hey subzero my tip for you is to go to a local pet shop and just tell them you are new at this. Go with cheap fish (maybe even a goldfish at first) because chances are that it'll die soon after starting the tank. Sad but true. Once you get the hang of your aquarium explore the more exotic variations of aquarium life like live plants, special/rarer fish, perhaps a larger tank. Compared to other pets, fish are really low maintenance and quite relaxing to watch. I hope you have fun with your tank!

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jwells777

My best advice would be to find a decent forum for whatever type of creatures you want to keep in your tank. I don't know much about freshwater; however, for my saltwater tank I visit:

www.reefcentral.com
www.reefs.org
www.reeflounge.com

flamingpeach

I've always siphoned it out that way. You can get them at the fish store.

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edmos1

Good advice above, some additional thoughts. Water changes are always good in moderation, a 10-25 % water change every week is only going to promote a heathier tank, as when adding water back, you will airate the water some. The smaller the tank the more impact the nitrogen cycle will have on your tank.
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html
Water changes can reduce the affects of the Nitrogen cycle, and good bacteria in the gravel can help reduce the affects also. However the bigger the tank the smoother the cycle becomes. I would recomend a bigger tank, or easier, bringing in water samples occasionally to your local pet store

bobo

There are a lot of great ideas here. Just to add to what some people have said. An underground filter would be nice. Small tanks usually are more susceptible to disease because of their small nature. Remember not to feed the fish too much because the leftover food will turn to waste. A good idea is to get a couple of bottom feeders (i.e. Clown loach) Also, when cleaning your tank, if you use regular tap water to replace what you have taken out you will need to add a chlorine remover. Among other things, tap water has high concentrations of silica. This is what algae use to grow so you will probably want to add an algae eater. Lastly, put something in the tank that the fish can hide behind. Be it a rock or a plant, the fish will feel less stressed. When fish stress they become more susceptible to disease. Check out the links that were provided. Those are all great sites even though they primarily deal with marine and reef systems. The premise is the same for freshwater. Good luck with your system.

Nips

I have raised/breed fish and live aquatic plants for 7 years and here are some suggestions:

1) don't bother with undergravel filters instead get a power filter (the hang on the back of the tank type). They are more efficient and are easier to clean.

2) get a water changing device such as a Python

3) check out www.thekrib.com for some great info for beginning and experienced fish keepers.

smooth_4

The rule, as tarheelz mentioned, is usually 1 inch of fish per gallon.

The reason many tanks go cloudy, despite proper cleaning and filtering, is simply over-feeding. Be sure to ask someone at the petstore how much food your fish require per feeding, don't necessarrily trust the instructions on the food.

Fish will often eat as much food as you give them, but this just means more ammonia in the tank in the form of fish feces.

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