starting a 19L fish tank

londonTiger

I'm out of this forum due to constant bullying by forum members

Bailey101

I would de-chlorinate the water and then cycle the tank for at least a couple of weeks to let the Ammonia and Nitrates settle into a proper cycle. Cold water fish are pretty hardy, but they can still be affected by untreated tap-water.

If you properly cycle the tank and test the water regularly for ammonia build-ups then you shouldn't need to introduce any extra bacteria.

xx

Fosterdog

A good place to start with anything aquarium related is http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/index.php

Please read this article on fishless cycling first http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=2491 too many people don't do it properly which leads to the fish suffering. Some tanks take up to 6-8 weeks to fully cycle before it is safe to add fish. A water test kit will be needed throughout the cycle process and ongoing to check water quality measures.

A dechlorinator is essential, it puts the water in the best possible condition to help the fish survive.

What cold water fish did you want to keep? a 19l tank is tiny and too small for most fish, especially coldwater.
Goldfish need a minimum of a 100l tank for one or two fish and bigger again for anymore. A 19l tank is way too small for them.

You may be better going tropical and keeping a single betta or have it as a shrimp tank, they are very entertaining with some nice boxwood, moss and plants.

londonTiger

Thanks for the advice. I like the idea of tiny fish box says a 19L tank is OK for 2 small goldfish although if they start to grow into large adults they will need a bigger tank.

I will go for 4 white cloud mountain minnows, 2 variatus platys, 1 snail

Fosterdog wrote: »

A good place to start with anything aquarium related is http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/index.php

Please read this article on fishless cycling first http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=2491 too many people don't do it properly which leads to the fish suffering. Some tanks take up to 6-8 weeks to fully cycle before it is safe to add fish. A water test kit will be needed throughout the cycle process and ongoing to check water quality measures.

A dechlorinator is essential, it puts the water in the best possible condition to help the fish survive.

What cold water fish did you want to keep? a 19l tank is tiny and too small for most fish, especially coldwater.
Goldfish need a minimum of a 100l tank for one or two fish and bigger again for anymore. A 19l tank is way too small for them.

You may be better going tropical and keeping a single betta or have it as a shrimp tank, they are very entertaining with some nice boxwood, moss and plants.

Fosterdog

londonTiger wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. I like the idea of tiny fish box says a 19L tank is OK for 2 small goldfish although if they start to grow into large adults they will need a bigger tank.

I will go for 4 white cloud mountain minnows, 2 variatus platys, 1 snail

Please don't go for those fish, what it says on the box is utter rubbish. Read the site I linked to for proper advice. Cloud minnows are cold water fish and like to be in large schools of 10+, the tank is not big enough for 10. Platys are tropical fish and 19l is too small for small for even one, they need at least a 10 gallon tank, yours is less than 5.

6 fish in a tank that size would be simple cruelty and there is no way you can provide even the basic care of the fish in a tank that small.

It's the equivalent of getting a st. bernard puppy and making it live it's whole life in a 24" crate.

londonTiger

Fosterdog wrote: »

Please don't go for those fish, what it says on the box is utter rubbish. Read the site I linked to for proper advice. Cloud minnows are cold water fish and like to be in large schools of 10+, the tank is not big enough for 10. Platys are tropical fish and 19l is too small for small for even one, they need at least a 10 gallon tank, yours is less than 5.

6 fish in a tank that size would be simple cruelty and there is no way you can provide even the basic care of the fish in a tank that small.

It's the equivalent of getting a st. bernard puppy and making it live it's whole life in a 24" crate.

platys can survive in romm temp in the UK according to a few forums I've stumbled on: http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/303077-is-there-such-a-thing-as-cold-water-platys/

Bailey101

I misread the title and thought it said 190L - I agree with Fosterdog, you really can't keep cold water fish in a tank that small, especially not more than one of them!! It's not just the lack of space that is an issue, but the smaller the volume of water the more maintenance and upkeep it will take - the chemicals will just build up and up and slowly kill the fish.

If you have to have a fish then you could get away with keeping a Betta in that size tank, but you'd need a heater, good quality filter system and you'd have to be testing the water for ammonia etc on a very regular basis.

xx

Fosterdog

londonTiger wrote: »

platys can survive in romm temp in the UK according to a few forums I've stumbled on: http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/303077-is-there-such-a-thing-as-cold-water-platys/

Firstly I don't care what the box for the tank says it is not suitable.

Secondly the link you posted basically says that no they can't be kept in coldwater but could be kept in an unheated tank as long as the room temperature is consistent and within the temps platys can live in, fine in summer but if the heating is off overnight in the middle of winter when it's cold enough for snow and ice the room will be colder and the water temp will also drop.

Thirdly you still need a minimum of 10 gallons for a platy so regardless of the temperature the tank is not even half of the minimum size.

londonTiger

ok understood. I bought the tank on impulse for £19. Looked very cheap. I'll revise what I put in it.

I'm looking to host fish that are tiny about 2-3cm in size as adults. I'd like smaller and more numerous fish than 1 big(ish) fish.

What would be the most appropriate fish to get for this size tank?

Bailey101

https://www.aqadvisor.com is a good site for giving you a rough idea of which fish can be kept in what size tank, but the only type I've come across that could live comfortably in a tank that size (and with a lot of maintenance!) is a Betta (siamese fighting fish). You can't keep any type of school fish in 19l without being cruel I'm afraid.

xx

Fosterdog

here are just a handful of links to show that your tank is too small, they are from a few different sources.

http://www.myaquariumclub.com/how-many-cold-water-fish-can-i-fit-in-a-19-litre-tank-1413514.html

http://www.myaquariumclub.com/how-many-goldfish-can-fit-in-a-20-litre-fish-tank-cold-water-fish-1091934.html

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121107155253AAxFIPi

http://www.tropicalfishforums.co.uk/index.php?topic=14581.0

http://www.fishkeepingforum.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8304

http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/showthread.php?t=107507

Just so you can see how nice a shrimp tank can be
http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/showthread.php?t=91350