Sandra the fish rookie

I have had this 5 gallon tank set up since Feb. I saw some pea puffers at the LFS, and thought.. okay.. its time. I did clean out this tank a bit of the wood, because it was difficult to keep it all clean in such a small space. I selected the most chunky money of the group, but they all looked quite good to be honest. Brought him home, and left the lights off for a few hours. He spent most of his time cautiously looking around but staying in the back. a few hours in, he started to come to the front of the tank. We have a huge TV, and hockey was on.. and I think he was checking out all the action and colors. This morning he is still doing well, and beginning to check out the tank more and more. I have 3 anubias in there glued onto stones (makes cleaning very easy in a small space), a Banana plant, as well as grass and heavy piece of drift wood. What is everyone's thought of the tank? I tried to get a good picture, but its a bit hard with the glare off the back windows/doors. I didn't feed him yesterday, but have blood worms ready to go and planned to feed him today.

Thank you @Colu and @Maggie. I plan on getting more fish in the QT tank. I am hoping I can get the 20 gallon finally stocked with some fish. In prep for adding new fish to the QT tank, should I do a good clean, and water change before I add fish? There has not been any medication in there for weeks and I have been doing regular water changes every week as I do with my other tanks.

My fish have successfully completed QT and are ready to go into the main tank. Is there anything special I need to know? I was thinking of adding them in the morning, because my lights in the tank don't turn on till 1 in the afternoon. The water parameters are the same, but want to make sure that after all this time and effort I don't do something I shouldn't. Thanks everyone!

@FlyingFishKeeper No worries.. it just makes it easier to get in and out..LOL

@Angelfishlover and @MJV Aquatics See what I have below. I usually put some filter floss in the front of the coarse filter but maybe I am doing that wrong? Actually its not an ACO filter, its another one I purchased before I started ordering stuff from ACO. Its an Aquaclear. This filter comes with a specialty filter section, which I like because I can put carbon sponge in it as needed, but it too has a piece of aquaclear coarse sponge in it I cut to fit it, AND I have a filter on the return as well because I have shrimp and don't want them to get sucked into the filter.

@MJV Aquatics Thanks! Now how to I FIT it in there? I have a blue thing I have the coarse filter in it slides down into the filter box. So where do I put the purigen? behind that? Or remove the blue holder thing, and just have the black coarse Aquarium Co Op sponge and purgen in front or in back of it?

@FlyingFishKeeper okay.. so we have the same filter. Is your picture above a side view?

I have a 20 gallon with a aqueon quiet flow HOB filter. I wanted to try Purigen after my next water change/aquarium clean but have no idea how to use it. I have the ones that are in a bag that state it treats 100 US gallons. I was concerned if was more that what I needed. I would also like to add some bio media as well. I have a coarse filter, but am thinking I would like to add some kind of bio media to help more with bacteria. The HOB filters are not deep, and this one is narrow too.. so not sure how I can get everything in there. I saw Cory's video for my exact filter, and was wondering if there is smaller bio media that would take a bit less room, but be just as effective. Look forward to everyone's experience and suggestions.

Thanks everyone for the advise! There HERE!!! With these, I ordered the following from Aquarium Co op: 1 Anubias gold coin 1 Crinum Calamistratum (with a easy planter) 3 Monte Carlo 3 Anubias Nana Petite I have all kinds of Drift wood, a large piece of Manzanita wood and cholla wood. The substrate is echo complete (black) and natural gravel for the front. All the large stones are dragon stone 🙂 Getting excited.. I will keep everyone up to date as I go along.. Plants are in a bucket and look happy! If my other order arrives early.. I know what I will be doing Friday night!

@Kirsten oh ya.. I was worried because the echo complete was "wet" I had to keep it that way. I have put paper and played in it a bit.. but its just not the same!

@Kirsten and @DSH OUTDOORS Thanks so much ! I am going to wait to see how many I get. Last time, I ordered the "rookie" package, and received a HUGE load of plants. I had to give some away because I just didn't have room (and didn't have a clue what I was doing). This time..in my new 40 gallon breeder.. it will be packed!!! and I purchased a bunch of cool stuff from Aquarium co op too.. I want to put in the eco complete, gravel and hard scape and play in there a bit. the echo complete is wet, so I guess I will just have to wait..?? or do I??? can I put in all the hard scape, and add the plants on Saturday?

@DSH OUTDOORS and @James B I was thinking of using some prime as well? Think that will help? I have an extra light.. do they need to be warm or cooler water..

@DSH OUTDOORS I don't think I have room in my 20 gallon, and my QT tank has fish in it right now. I am wondering if I can put them in a bucket with a light and an air stone?

I have some plants arriving today and more arriving from Aquarium Co op on Friday. How can I keep the ones I get today (which looks like will be way later today) alive and healthy to plant on Saturday? I have everything else I need, but want to plant all at once if I can.. then fill the tank and enjoy! Thanks !

Here is the intake filter on the HOB.. I clean it weekly with aquarium water to get the gunk off.. but not sure if its making things worse.

I am wondering with all my extra efforts to have bacteria grow, I wonder if its "over kill" wonder if I should remove the intake filter on my HOB and see if it sucks it up more? Thought on that idea? I use filter floss as well occasionally to help clear up the water. I bought SeaChem Purigen, but have no idea how to use it on or in my HOB? the water doesn't smell, and is pretty clear. but this brow stuff.. ugh.. very annoying..

@H.K.Luterman oh.. hmmm... maybe I will just get mystery snails. I hear they have a large bioload? I increased my light intensity a bit..what % I have no idea.. I am so paranoid to get an algae problem having too much light. but I increased the intensity a bit it has a level 1-10 I have it a level 6 (whatever that means) and have it on the white (I was told blue will cause algae??)

I have a HOB filter, with an intake filter, I also have a aquarium co op sponge filter in one corner, and a no clog air stone on the other end. the filter is in the middle. I wonder if I should take off the intake filter? Wonder if it would suck it up better without it. I don't have any fry, or small fish that could get suck in to the filter..

@Trish kinda new I have had it set up since December. to increase the light do you mean time or intensity? I do 20-25 % water changes, and gravel vac the front gravel that drives me NUTS... My snail just died so I have to get another one. I am thinking of getting more, but don't want breeding so wonder if I should do Nerite snails instead and get 2? I want some Amano's but have some fish in QT right now. When they are out, I will QT some shrimp..

I clean the plants by hand every week.. my corydora's don't eat it.. my Ramshorn a bit. It keeps coming back? Is this Algae? Detritus? Is this a bad thing? What can I do to control it?

@Ben_RF that person is right around the corner from my house!! and they sell to the LFS as well. GREAT FIND! I will call them and let you know what I find out!

@Ben_RF I am in Wilmington North Carolina. I am on city water (Aqua) and have hard water, with a stable PH of 7.4 right out of the tap. I made sure to test my tap water just for baseline purposes. However, the LFS uses RO water, which can be a bit challenging when getting fish from there. Which is why I am concerned getting shrimp from that store..

@Colu Okay. I fed them today so, I suppose they are to fast during the 5 day treatment? Should I try to suck up as much of the salt at the bottom of the tank? Does it matter if there is some left in there? I did a really big water change yesterday, and added a HOB filter with the sponge filter to keep the water cleaner.

@Colu how large a water change should I do? Do I do this today, and also start the Maracyn today? Do I treat per the directions on the box for a complete course of treatment? Or do a QT where its one dose and wait 2 weeks? You are so knowledgeable!!! How do you know so much! I have no idea what I am doing and am so thankful for your help.

@Brandy Okay cool... I have looked at ordering shrimp. But due to lack of experience, no idea where to even start with it. I live in NC, and am not sure if there would be a way to find out anyone that has local bred shrimp? My corydora's don't enjoy the plant detritus as much as I would like them to. My mystery snail suddenly died, so I am short another house keeper. When I started looking at getting shrimp, is when I saw all this acclimation stuff.. my head exploded right there and I pumped the brakes and came right to the forum to ask people who know what they are doing..