Have a new somewhat imcomplete aquarium...Enough money for ONE thing, which is the most vital....fish in tank.

Question

I have a ten gallon for my ruykin, we have the aquarium, filter, water conditioner, plants, gravel, food, and a net. The question is this, i can afford either an aerator (which the filter seems to do), an ammonia test kit, a nitrite test kit, or bacteria to jumpstart the cycle of the tank. Bear in mind the fish has been in the tank for two days now...he is doing great by the way. I think an ammonia test kit would be the most beneficial but what are your opinions. (five or so dollar budget) feel free to suggest a different product.

Oh and a thermometer is on the tank as well.

Ok i am sorry but I am not sure how to elaborate on this point. This is the problem with yahoo answers. Enough money for ONE THING 5.00-maybe 7.00. Not 15.00 he is a rescue fish and is was all we could do to get what we have. Sorry but a baby ruykin can live in a 10 gallon easily for a few months, regardless of what anyone says. And really given a choice between the poor fish dying in walmarts tanks, living in a toxic gallon bowl while i save for a 30 gallon or getting a clean 10 gallon immediately i think its rather obvious what the fish would go for. And considering he is doing wonderfully and would be able to live in a bowl for years i really doubt a few months in a filtered 10 gallon will kill him. So I would really appreciate some serious answers, i dont want the dramatic "You put him in a TANK? oh hes definately gonna die" because thats stupid and we all know it. I do intend to upgrade him. And please give me help within my budget!!! THank you

Thank you magicman and ninjaaa. Its refreshing to get a well edjucated answer from someone who has actually paid attention to the question:)

Answer 1

The ammonia test kit is right by a long shot! Nitrite test kit can be a good idea, but it's not as important as the ammonia test kit and often the bacteria you buy in stores is totally worthless since it is often handled improperly and is actually dead when you buy it.

Carbon (or charcoal) will not handle the amount of ammonia your fish will produce, so you need to monitor it and do water changes until the tank cycles in a few weeks. Obviously adding another fish tot he tank would be a horrible idea since it would only make more ammonia.

I'm sure you know that over time your fish will outgrow your 10 gallon and you will either need to find him a new home or get a larger tank, but if its a small Ryukin, you have a year or so before that's a problem.

Sounds like you have done your research well, you are right on target.

MM

Answer 2

Hi Kii,

I would also agree with an ammonia test kit, with a nitrite kit coming in as a close second. These two will have the most impact on the health of your fish.

Don't get the bacterial additives - many of these don't work, and the fish you have will already provide some bacteria. If your fish don't produce that much ammonia, any "extra" bacteria you add that are alive will die anyway from a lack of "food".

If you have any money left over, I would suggest buying some air tubing. It's alo beneficial to have a gravel vacuum, but these are something you can make yourself with some tubing, a clean soda bottle, a nail, and scissors. Just make a hole in the cap of the bottle large enough for the tubing to fit into, and cut off the bottom of the bottle as shown in the photo here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115897&page=3 Buy about 5-6 feet if you can. Tubing should be sold by the foot in most pet stores as well in packages, and getting it by the foot should cost less than buying an entire package.

Answer 3

Hi Kii
Yes the best thing is to invest into an ammonia test kit
It's the most important one, because ammonia is the dangerest chemical you can have in your tank
Since you tank is cycling, you need to do partial waterchanges every other day of at least 25% with a gravelsiphon, you're going to see a spike in your ammonia levels pretty much in the middle of the cycle, after that it will starting to go down
And since your tank came with a filter, an additional aeration is not a must but you can still add one later when you have more money ;-)


Hope that helps
Good luck

EB

Answer 4

I started on a limited budget with a ten gallon tank. I think your best option would be to get the test kit for ammonia. Your ammonia is going to be the first thing to spike when cycling the tank. You could get the ammonia kit and once you see the ammonia start to drop you would then want to get a nitrite kit. Once the nitrites drop you can get a nitrate kit.

An aerator can be good for helping circulate the water but it is a crucial item to have. Maybe something you could consider purchasing later on.

Answer 5

The ammonia test kit, by far. Nitrites are also pretty important, but those can wait until a later date when you have some more money. Cycling your tank is the most important part at this stage, and an ammonia test kit is key.

Bacteria to jumpstart the cycle of the tank is usually ineffective; the ONLY brand known to work is BioSpira, but I think that may be out of your budget.

Answer 6

I would get an ammonia test kit right away. The ammonia is most likely what will kill your fish if the filter isn't working properly.

Answer 7

First of all, a goldfish CANT live in a 10gal tank, I would invest in a 30gal for him
And but what I understand, you havent cycled the tank... that is even worse for the goldfish
I would get a master test kit (ammonia, ph, nitrate, nitrite) for about 15.00

Well, I'm sorry you think that way...
If you want anymore help, you can join a aquatic forum
Try www.aquariacentral.com

Answer 8

if you cant afford all those test kids you can do something for very cheap i learned from past experience.

if you're not sure whether your tank is cycled and/or want to cycle your tank, just get some feeders from petco/petsmart they sell them like 10 for a dollar or 20 for 2.25.

have the feeders in your tank will help the cycling along and you can always use them to test if your tank is ready for your other fish. If the feeders seem fine and dandy, then the tank is ready!

Answer 9

Charcoal will handle ammonia for you. get a bottom feeding cat fish! They will take care of any food that drops to the bottom of the tank, before it spoils.