i'm so nervous to add fish :(

[renogaw]

i have this beautiful set up, and all i hear are fish dying stories it makes me so nervous that i am missing something and i will kill something. so far, the only things im having trouble with are nitrates (which went down immensly with a 15 gal water change), phosphates (which also went down immensly, plus i changed my food which tested for no phosphates overnight and put in some phosphate sponge material) and some brown algae. should i stick with my gut feeling and not add anything yet, or am i really going too slow? (tanks been set up for ~4 weeks, and have 2 false percs loving their new home)

 

[xdave]

Dont be nervous :scared: Remember, people use this board to get help when they have a problem, not to say yep theyre still fine today!
I wait a month between fishes. Since this is a newly cycled 75 (checked profile) you should probably get a couple in there soon to keep things rolling.

 

[riafekim]

I know what you mean! After hearing all the horror stories I wonder why I started in this to begin with.
That being said would you come to these boards if all you ever read was "Hey just wanted to let everyone know that my tank is running fabulously! I haven't had a single problem". The biggest use of these boards so people can pull from others experience so they can resolve a problem that if they were on thier own couldn't.
As far as you being ready for more fish I couldn't say as I am way to new to this to be giving advice. After reading a lot of those "My Tank Crashed" threads the first question that is asked is 'What are your parameters?' and 90% of the responses are 'Well I haven't checked those out in months or I don't have a test set'. The mere fact that you do know what your parameters are and you know what they should be shows you are on the right track!
Just my .02
Mike

 

[saltfreak4]

Good response Mike, look you are at some point going to lose fish. It's important that you learn from it, and try not to repeat it. Don't lose hope this hobby has LOTS of ups and downs. The ups are worth it! You're doing great and Dave is here to help. He is on everyday, I am not sure what he does to eat when he's on here so much, but he's good. He'll cover ya!

 

[xdave]

I'm presently unemployed and have to live with my sister, how lame is that

Anywho, whatcha gonna get? Coral Beauties are very pretty and easy to care for. They will nip at coral and stuff sometimes so I would keep that in mine.
Heres a thread i started about easy fishes EZ

 

[ginarox]

Originally Posted by riafekim
I know what you mean! After hearing all the horror stories I wonder why I started in this to begin with.
That being said would you come to these boards if all you ever read was "Hey just wanted to let everyone know that my tank is running fabulously! I haven't had a single problem". The biggest use of these boards so people can pull from others experience so they can resolve a problem that if they were on thier own couldn't.
As far as you being ready for more fish I couldn't say as I am way to new to this to be giving advice. After reading a lot of those "My Tank Crashed" threads the first question that is asked is 'What are your parameters?' and 90% of the responses are 'Well I haven't checked those out in months or I don't have a test set'. The mere fact that you do know what your parameters are and you know what they should be shows you are on the right track!
Just my .02
Mike
hey riafekim......did you get to go to okc....how did that turn out for you...your the one that is from rogers....will i am from siloam springs...how cool it is to meet someone this close on this message board.....i am fixen to go to tulsa friday and shopp for some new things.....have a great day.......

 

[renogaw]

DISCLAIMER: this is just my thoughts on what i think are cool fish. i do not plan on putting every fish in there, and will make sure they are all compatible and figure out the right order before putting them in. any suggestions would be very much welcomed!
i was really liking the coloration on marine beta, but my LFS said they are very difficult to keep. he's got one in his tanks on hold for someone to see how it does.
i finally saw a coral beauty in his tanks (he had 4 in seperate tanks actually) so that may be on my list. that or a flame angle, that one is very nice looking too.
i want something with personality, and i have a pistol shrimp hitchiker, so i was thinking a goby, but then i read they are jumpers if the lights go on or off suddenly, and i don't know if i want to cover my tank. plus, the gobies they had there were actually climbing the glass walls, so i'm not sure if my pistol shrimp will have a friend.
I most definitely want a mandarin dragonet, but need to let the tank mature before that happens. that or a scooter blenny. but most likely the dragonet.
possibly a cardinal fish, pajama most likely.
i have a lot of holes and round caves in my LR, so i was thinking about a fish that would hide in them, sorta like a dottyback. although, those firefish look really cool, but yet again, the website says they can be jumpers, and i don't know if i want to deal with that.
OH also i want to keep that Whale shark that triga22 said was a good fish for beginners

 

[riafekim]

Originally Posted by ginarox
hey riafekim......did you get to go to okc....how did that turn out for you...your the one that is from rogers....will i am from siloam springs...how cool it is to meet someone this close on this message board.....i am fixen to go to tulsa friday and shopp for some new things.....have a great day.......
I leave for OKC tomorrow (Thursday) for a week so I will have plenty of time to visit the stores down there. I know I won't be purchasing anything from there but I like to look as well. Were do you go while in Tulsa? I drive through there on my way to OKC so I may stop on my way back next week.

 

[riafekim]

Originally Posted by renogaw
DISCLAIMER: this is just my thoughts on what i think are cool fish. i do not plan on putting every fish in there, and will make sure they are all compatible and figure out the right order before putting them in. any suggestions would be very much welcomed!
i was really liking the coloration on marine beta, but my LFS said they are very difficult to keep. he's got one in his tanks on hold for someone to see how it does.
i finally saw a coral beauty in his tanks (he had 4 in seperate tanks actually) so that may be on my list. that or a flame angle, that one is very nice looking too.
i want something with personality, and i have a pistol shrimp hitchiker, so i was thinking a goby, but then i read they are jumpers if the lights go on or off suddenly, and i don't know if i want to cover my tank. plus, the gobies they had there were actually climbing the glass walls, so i'm not sure if my pistol shrimp will have a friend.
I most definitely want a mandarin dragonet, but need to let the tank mature before that happens. that or a scooter blenny. but most likely the dragonet.
possibly a cardinal fish, pajama most likely.
i have a lot of holes and round caves in my LR, so i was thinking about a fish that would hide in them, sorta like a dottyback. although, those firefish look really cool, but yet again, the website says they can be jumpers, and i don't know if i want to deal with that.
OH also i want to keep that Whale shark that triga22 said was a good fish for beginners
I think we are thinking alike. I pretty much know what I will be putting in my tank but I am still debating on that one "show" fish. You know, the one where everybody that sees it says "wow look at that"! I am torn between the Coral Beauty, Bicolor Angel or the Flame Angel. Right now I am leaning toward the bicolor because of the striking contrast in color. But that is tonight and it'll be another few months before I feel my system is stable enough to put any of these in. I'd love to put in a Dory Fish...err I mean a Blue Tang (sorry Dave I had to

) but alas my 50G would not be big enough.

 

[xdave]

Hey, I resemble that remark At least I know what a Dori is now. BTW I've always refered to Bicolors as Cub Scouts, so ther ya go

They get good sized for that tank so that would be a good pick for the main fish. They don't play nice with other angels though.

 

[renogaw]

yea, i'd like a blue hippo tang to go with my clowns, but there's so many conflicting arguments i don't know what to do about it, that's why i didn't put it on my original list.
i saw a coral beauty attacking a diamond goby inthe lfs yesterday, which was holding its own btw, is that normal?

 

[ginarox]

Originally Posted by riafekim
I leave for OKC tomorrow (Thursday) for a week so I will have plenty of time to visit the stores down there. I know I won't be purchasing anything from there but I like to look as well. Were do you go while in Tulsa? I drive through there on my way to OKC so I may stop on my way back next week.
i am going with a friend, and she is from that area,,,so she is going to take me to some places that she knows...i am sorry i cant help you...but i will write down the address for you...when i get back i will put them on here....so keep your eyes open for me...have a safe trip to okc...have a great day...

 

[saltfreak4]

Originally Posted by xDave
I'm presently unemployed and have to live with my sister, how lame is that

Anywho, whatcha gonna get? Coral Beauties are very pretty and easy to care for. They will nip at coral and stuff sometimes so I would keep that in mine.
Heres a thread i started about easy fishes EZ
Well thank God for us

maybe we should start a Dave fund for all the help.

 

[ginarox]

Originally Posted by riafekim
I leave for OKC tomorrow (Thursday) for a week so I will have plenty of time to visit the stores down there. I know I won't be purchasing anything from there but I like to look as well. Were do you go while in Tulsa? I drive through there on my way to OKC so I may stop on my way back next week.
hello riafekim, i only went to two places..the first one is on 31st and memorial, its called aquarium oddballs,,,,the second one is on 71st its called reef revolution.... i hope this helps..good luck.. i am sure there were more, just didnt have time for all of them..but i am going to try again sometime..have a great night....