Hello from a newbie!!!

Hello! I am new to fishkeeping and have a 75 gal FW community tank with 9 neon dwarf rainbows, 5 scissortail rasboras and 10 golden pristella tetras. My tank has been cycled for about 4 weeks, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5-10 nitrates, pH 7.2 and temp 77. I have been reading your posts, but have a couple of questions about adding a BN to my tank.

1. I know you should wait to add bottom dwellers - can I add one now or should I wait a bit longer?

2. It has also been suggested that I get heater guards to protect the BN. I have two 250W Aqueon Pro Heaters - they are a composite material, not glass. Are the guards necessary?

I'm very excited to get my BN to complete my stocking list and will be spending time reading the posts here.

If you are jut adding the BN, you should be fine. Adding one fish to that stocking list and tank size should cause a minimal increas in the bio load. However adding the BN plus a lot of other fish would increase the bio load drastically and possibly cause another cycle.

Make sure there is wood for the BN!

As for the heater, I have no idea. I have kept mine with both types. I have experienced no problems with either.

As a general rule of thumb, I always do a water change a day or two before getting new fish.

The key to success is knowledge and patience in this hobby, good luck!

Hi and welcome to Bristlenoseworld I always use heater guards on my heaters just incase. That is a big tank you have there,what are the dimensions of it?



Bristlenoses

Thanks for the welcomes!

It's a standard 75 gallon - 48 wide x 18 deep x 21 high. Will be picking up 6 pristella tetras on Sunday. Was planning to add the BN 2 weeks later.

Another question - is it better for a new tank and newbie aquarist to get a small juvie or a little bigger fish?

Hi, if your tank is fully cycled and you are going to feed him/her a good diet then it doesn't really matter what size you get.It is nice to get a small one and watch them grow and develop but it is entirely up to you.



Bristlenoses

Hiya