That's expected of an uncycled tank and that's great that you were able to change it in time. And I agree on the waiting for the tank to be cycled before purchasing a new filter. Is the current one an overhang filter or an underwater one? I prefer the overhang ones since they generate more water flow (and thus more oxygen) for the tank. I really like the Aquaclear ones, easy to clean and fairly durable. I have the 70gal one on my 20 gal and it does a pretty good job. I've had the 110gal on the 20 gal tank but the current was too strong even at the lowest setting.

As for adding more tetras, it would be a good idea to wait until everything has stabilized. Tetras are small fish with a low bioload and would benefit very much in a large group. Even at least 7 or 8 in your tank would be a good start. I would not worry about overpopulation as I've seen people with 20 gal tanks with 30-40 tetras in it! It looks amazing to see these brightly coloured fish swim back and forth as a group as well :)

Hopefully your tank would be cycled by then! They also sell bottles of "beneficial bacteria" in the petshop to help start your cycle. I used one from API which I cannot find online anymore (they might have discontinued it) but they have this one now which is probably the "new and improved" version. Of course, nothing beats a water change but this will help stabilize the water a bit as the tank cycles. The water may get very cloudy after a while but it just means a bacterial bloom has occurred and it should clear up on its own. You can also purchase some hornwort (fairly cheap plants) to help with the high ammonia/nitrite problem. They are very fast growers and small fish love to hide in them.

I guess for first tanks, start kits seems like the easiest way to go. From my experience to save some money are (although with this hobby, you can't save that much money, haha) to buy the tank during the Petco sale, and buy all the equipment online (Amazon is a good place).

So if you buy each part separately:

$29 = 29G tank -Petco

$10 = Heater -Amazon

$15 = Whisper 30 -Amazon

$15 = [DIY Sliding Aquarium Top] (http://www.amazon.com/Tetra-26447-Submersible-50-Watt-Heater/dp/B000OQO69Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396577787&sr=8-2&keywords=tetra+heater)


$69 = Total

Not much more expensive than the kit. The 29G comes with a mail in rebate that I'm don't know if it works with your purchases online or not. If it works, you'll get back $10 for the filter and $4 for the heater. Bringing your total to $55.

I would actually buy a more powerful filter than the one included. Probably one rated for two times stronger. A lot of people like aquaclear filters - I don't have personal experience with it but I will buy one next time I need a filter.

You're going to need stronger lights anyways, so I didn't include the light costs.

This is just my opinion! You can do what you'd like for your tank :)

For 36$ I got a merkury Wifi Cam from Walmart. It switches to "night mode" automatically when lights go out, and it records, you can go back to certain days and save a file, it has motion detection to use if u wish, I use it in my mouthbrooder tank, to help see when the fry are released to remove the female.

It's a cheap, 720p I believe they have a 1080p now, way to view your fish. Plus it can mounted anywhere. It's actually pretty awesome,

https://www.amazon.com/Merkury-Innovations-Smart-WiFi-Camera/dp/B07L6RJMNN

Actually cheaper lol

I use a syphon hose. Right here on amazon

I would like to add that I live in Spokane,WA. And use tap water every time.

After every water change I treat my water with Stress Coat

I own 1 Oscar, 1 Red Jewel Cichlid, 1 Convict and 1 Pleco in my 75g.

As far as moving the fish, nothing changes when you go bigger. The steps listed above are perfect. My best advice is, if the fish store can hold the fish for you until you set up your tank at home, do that. Other than that you're just at a race against time from the moment the fish go into the bags. You benefit from being close to your LFS, so don't worry! And post pics when its done!

I know it depends on the type of fish you have, but a slow increase won't be a problem. My temp is that high in the winter and in summer down to something like 7.4. Be careful with pH down as that can create wide swings. I used it many many years ago, but now wouldn't. If you can, this product works great for me. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00025642Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Don't know what size tank you have. But, I think I've used about a golf ball sized amount in a mesh bag or pantyhose for maybe a 10 gallon tank. To have a quicker effect, I've added two, but be careful, it may drop too quickly.

I don’t think those exist, I’ve had a variety of air pumps and none of them were completely silent. I’ve padded them with towels and foam to lessen the noise but the good news is that if it’s for an air stone, you don’t really need one. Water circulation and breaking the surface of the water increases oxygen levels too so if you bought a water circulator and aim it at the surface of the water then you’d be good.

I have this one. It works great and it’s silent

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0036S70ZG/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1521596801&sr=8-2&keywords=aquarium+water+circulator&dpPl=1&dpID=41RazIHcICL&ref=plSrch

If the air pump is for your filter then change the type of filter that you’re using. External or internal canisters are silent.

Relax, I think you're ok. The "chemical" look on the water surface is probably just bio-film. See this thread for suggestions: https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/film-on-water-surface-help.156602/

Have you tested your water's pH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? If not, get a test kit like this: https://www.amazon.com/API-FRESHWATER-800-Test-Freshwater-Aquarium/dp/B000255NCI. Post your results here for advice. But I'm guessing that two 50% water changes every week is more than you need. You can probably cut that back to once a week or once every two weeks. That's assuming your levels are ok and your filter is working as it should.

Based on your photos, I'm guessing your tank is pretty new? The spots of algae on the rocks look like the beginning algae I've seen in newer aquariums. Same for the brown spots on the anubias. Treating your tank with Flourish Excel might help with the algae: https://www.amazon.com/Seachem-67104530-Flourish-Excel-500ml/dp/B000256962/. Or, if your water chemistry tests come back ok, you can get a small shrimp or two to help clean up the algae. You want to make sure your water chemistry is ok for shrimp. Do a little research before you buy any. You don't say how big your tank is, but it can probably take a small shrimp or two.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tetra-Heater-10-30-Fish-Aquatic-Pets/10291809

http://www.amazon.com/Cascade%C2%AE-Heat%C2%AE-Aquarium-Heater-Gallon/dp/B000VOCXUK

http://www.petco.com/product/114078/Tetra-Submersible-Aquarium-Heaters.aspx

Most 30 gallon heaters will be less than 20$. Just go buy one and your options for the tank will open up so much more. You can find plenty of cold water varieties(their are a couple species of barbs and locahes that don't mind or even love cold water) but tropical species are just so much more enjoyable to watch.

But if you are dead set on a cold water tank:

Barbs:
Gold Barb
Rosy Barb
Green Barb

Loaches:
Weather loach(might get to big, and can be aggressive towards other fish)
Hillstream Loach

Tetras(although they definitely like warm water better they can tolerate cold water conditions):
Bloodfin tetra
Buenos Aires Tetra

Danios:(these fish will school well if you have 6 ot 7 of them in a 30 gallon tank, especially if you have a SMALLER powerhead to make a current of some sort)
Pearl danio
Zebra danio

There is also guppies, they will survive anything.

If the old tank has a filter. Take some media from that filter and add it to your new tanks filter. This will add beneficial bacteria (nitrobacter)

You can also add bottled beneficial bacteria to help speed up the cycling process.
(I’ll add links below.)

So with the new tank cycling.

Do a water test on the old tanks water.
Ideal water parameters are
Ph 6.5/7.5ppm
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0.5/15ppm
(Water changes for cleansing water of nitrates)
(0ppm ammonia 0ppm nitrite is a cycled tank)

Going on the fish is still alive. You’re just dealing with a dirty tank.. test the water conditions and let us know :)

Tetra Filter Active 250ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MBEFGUM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.EwoDbSMC1GC5

API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000255NCI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_KFwoDbTRN6RQQ

Master test kit might seems expensive but strips are not reliable. And purchasing separate tests costs more. Far more cost effective purchase.

Wow, What a MasterPiece.

if You Need any Aquarium Accessories for this Wonderful Work, Please go get Amazon.com and Find "Upettools".

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Temperature Aquarium Fish Tank Heater:

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I didn't even think about that. Although I'm about to set up another 5.5 gallon tank with smaller gravel, if I have to I can move him between the two?

The light is this from Marineland --> http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-LED-Aquarium-Light-11-Inch/dp/B004HSYGFQ/ref=sr_1_15?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1398378771&sr=1-15

It's honestly a little too small for a 10 gallon tank. I might be adding a separate light later on to make sure it covers the entire tank. I'll see if I need it. The blue works fantastically though. It has 2 led blue lights. I just wish it spread out over the whole tank on the white part. I still like it though, if it's not a bit cheaply made on the switch. If I remember I'll let you know a few months down the road if I still like it ;)

Our aquaclear is great. If you don't have the funds for a canister filter, and if you plan on keeping/breeding small fish/animals like shrimp you can fit a Fluval Edge prefilter sponge on the intake so you won't have to worry about 'accidents'. http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-A1387-EDGE-Pre-Filter-Sponge/dp/B002LL32RY

If you're going full-planted, you may consider taking out the activated carbon from the filter and substituting it for filter fiber or similar media, as I've read in some places the activated carbon will get rid of beneficial bacteria.

Get one of these: 25 Foot - Python No Spill Clean and Fill Aquarium Maintenance System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000255NXC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gZxtybDR5SQEG

You need to treat the water as it goes in, though. Once the tank is established and you do smaller water changes, I usually put the chemicals in as I'm filling from the tap. But I know the parameters of our tap water and know exactly what will need to go in as far as pH balancing etc.

The main thing is really just to monitor everything closely. Check the water from your tap before you move the tank. The nice thing about the python is that it aerates the water so that there isn't as much chlorine before it hits the tank. But you still need to add a water conditioner (I like Seachem Prime).

For the first adding of water, you want to preserve as much of the microscopic flora and fauna as possible. In my original comment I didn't add this, but don't scrub the tank or remove the sand if you can because colonies of beneficial bacteria live there. And then slowly add water of the proper temperature and acclimate your fish as slowly as possible.

The Aquaclear 20 is probably the best HOB for that sized tank that I've ever found. I clean it about once a month, but I never change the sponge or bio media, just rinse them out in tank water during water changes. I also have an Aquaclear 70 (same filter but bigger) on a 40 gallon thats ~15 years old and still going strong.

https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-ClassicLED-Aquarium-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B01ID3OK3S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539625276&sr=8-3&keywords=fish%2Btank%2Blight&th=1

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I got one of these for mine and it's been running strong for the past 1+ years :)

As far as equipment goes, get an AquaClear 20 (or 30) filter, an Aqueon (or other reliable brand, I've used Hydor with good luck) ADJUSTABLE heater. A thermometer. The lights you get depends on what you plan on doing with your tank. You're also going to need a water testing kit, a dechlorinator (most people will recommend Seachem Prime).

Is this going to be your first aquarium?

fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide (brown bottle) and spray it and let it sit. then scrub with a good kitchen dish scratch pad.

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If you use a magnetic tank cleaner, you can clean the tank while the water and fish are still inside. https://www.amazon.com/KEDSUM-Magnetic-Aquarium-Cleaner-Floating/dp/B01J3RDTDU

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rinse and repeat as needed.

This is the kit I use and I really like it: https://www.amazon.com/API-Freshwater-Master-Test-Kit/dp/B000255NCI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485890675&sr=8-2&keywords=aquarium+test+kit

Plus, you get to feel all science-y using the vials!

https://www.amazon.com/25-Foot-Python-Aquarium-Maintenance/dp/B000255NXC

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Yes I am being serious. Goldfish are messy fish, they require an active owner.

Looks like a gourami? It would help if you could post more info about the tank. How long has it been set up? What exactly is wrong with the fish? How long has he been sick? Anything wrong with the other fish? The biggest thing is if you could please test the water to find out the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate (you can test with one of these, they're commonly available at the majority of pet stores or online). Also 10 gallons is pretty on the small side for these kinds of fish.

buy this

There is a product called the python, which is a siphon that has an adaptor for your sink!

Link: https://www.amazon.com/25-Foot-Python-Aquarium-Maintenance/dp/B000255NXC

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