CoSpy

My 12 gallon tank has 1 yo-yo loach and 3 Serpae tetras. All has gone well for 4 months when I set it up so I wanted to add some color. Due to the small size, I was looking to find a species that can live without a school (singularly) and won't grow very big. I only have access to chain pet stores, so I've been given conflicting advice. One said the serpae will count for 3" x 3 and I'm already maxed out. I didn't think Serpae tetras grew to 3". Will someone confirm this? My research suggested they're typically 1.5". I'd like to add something, but not at the risk to the 4 I have. Any recommendations? I thought a Ram Cichlid would be a nice choice. Thank you.

Honestly, I'm not sure of anything. I'm new at this. I've had my water tested several times by different fish stores in case I did something inaccurate in my home testing. The pH was the only aspect "off". I read somewhere while gathering knowledge about what may terminate a fish's life and one other thing I should consider is the hard water. The temperature is 80 degrees. I have 2 filters and the 11 tetras are doing fine. I'm afraid to get more corys and feel like a corydora assassin if they don't make it. What else can I check besides the water content and the temperature? I have artificial plants and all the decor were made for aquariums. What would kill corys but not tetras?

I have a 55 gal tank with 5 black phantom, 2 red eye and 4 serpae tetras. My test kit as well as the fish store's results show my pH consistently around 7.5. I also have well water which has a hard mineral content (unsure of the number). My tetras are doing well but I wanted to add some scavenger, bottom feeders. I heard corydoras are fairly hardy and a good choice for a beginner. I had 6 (spotted, green and albino), none of which survived. What would you choose for my tank? The pH was the only number out of whack. I've treated it a number of times, but I concluded it's going to stay on the high side. The hard water is my guess for killing the corys. Please help. Thank you.

I am a beginner and didn't want to kill fish and plants, so I opted for artificial ones. I hope when I sort of know what I'm doing, I'll have live plants. I'm thankful my fish are still alive. This hobby is much more complicated than I expected. I have the utmost respect and admiration to those of you who have amazing tanks! It inspires me to keep going despite the downfalls.

Regarding the UV STERILIZER, can you use it periodically as a preventative, or only when you suspect or see a problem. What does it do to the fish that are established living in the tank? Someone posted there's a chemical alternative that does the same thing. Would this be less invasive for the fish? Is there a chart as to what size or wattage one needs?

Thank you all responders for your thoughts and advice. Regarding the UV STERILIZER, can you use it periodically as a preventative, or only when you suspect or see a problem. What does it do to the fish that are established living in the tank? Someone posted there's a chemical alternative that does the same thing. Would this be less invasive for the fish?

I'm using the tank and substrate my daughter had. She never had problems with water clarity, but since I set up the tank using the same substrate, Black Diamond Blasting Sand, the water is still foggy. It's been a month and the fish are doing well. I rinsed out the substrate well before using it. I've had aquarium shops test the water 3 different times and the results did not show any abnormal readings. I've used different water clarifiers that didn't change the foggy look. I drained and replaced 1/4 of the water last week. The only thing unconventional I'm using is the substrate of blasting sand that my daughter previously used without problems. I can't think of what to do next. I'm afraid to replace too much of the water for fear of killing the 11 tetras I have in the 55 gallon tank. Here is the information about using Black Diamond blasting sand: https://aquanswers.com/black-diamond-blasting-sand-aquarium-safety/#:~:text=Here’s why using Black Diamond blasting sand in,edges. It will not hurt your bottom-dwelling fish.

Thank you for your information. I went over your video of recommended beginner fish that I found very helpful although I need a bit more clarification: Does a "beginner" fish also include the likely-hood that we (beginners) may not have their tank working at optimum efficiency? a. water conditions b. beneficial bacteria (I heard that's important for fish survival) c. Do they all tolerate the same temperature and lighting preferences The water conditioners address chlorine and other chemicals typical for city water. We are in a rural area and have well water. Is there something different I should have tested or may have to address with well water? That being said, will letting the tank water sit for a couple of weeks take care of most impurities that harm fish, or may it need special treatment?

Hello - I'm new to this forum and new to this hobby. I'm retired and feel as though I can now devote time to be successful (or at least not a fish assassin). My daughter moved out and left her 55 gallon tank. The size has been a challenge in that I can't pick it up. Fortunately, she had a lot of supplies, including a nice siphon. It's now set up and the water and filter has been running for 2 weeks. I want to test the water before getting fish. I found some test strips "Jungle quick dip" test strips with the supplies. How accurate are these compared to if I took it to a store? Should I be anal about the accuracy? I tried one, but it didn't match up with the chart. Do these have a shelf life? I appreciate any advice and help getting started.