Dd2's tank has finally arrived.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

She's been after a fish tank for half of her life but we've never gotten round to buying her one. We've researched a lot but once it's come to buying it she's changed her mind and chose something else (for birthdays/christmas)

Someone has given her a BiOrb 60. We're setting it up after school to do the fishless cycle. I've bought her all the test kits and water decholrinator.

Just one question, do we add the plants now or after the cycle? She wants real plants. I've been told Java fern and moss balls are best in the BiOrb?

no harm in adding them now as they will also help with declorination and oxygenation. I would however mix real with plastic as the real ones dont survive long in small tanks i'm afraid. Usually because the fish nibble away at the bases! Good luck!

Thanks Sherbertpips. She will be pleased. She's ridiculously excited about the whole process. She tried to test our tap water for ammonia last night Luckily it is ammonia free

Sure, you can add them before the cycle. The java fern will need to be grown on a bit of bogwood. It's got a bitter taste so it's usually safe from nibbly fish- even my goldfish turned it down!

There shouldn't be much ammonia in tap water I would hope the fish produce ammonia. If your DD is keen then get her to test the tap water for nitrAte, it can be quite high in some areas. Also test the pH because if it's particularly high or low then that can affect what fish you can put in there.

Are you going to cycle the tank with fish food or household ammonia? Any thoughts about what you are going to put in there? Biorbs are quite restrictive because of their shape. Best to disregard any suggestions that are in the instruction manual, they usually overstock those things like crazy.

We're using fish food, she has a 6 in 1 test kit that tests for nitrites, nitrates and PH balance and some other things and a separate test for ammonia.

She was wanting zebra danios, corydoras and cardinal tetras. She would also like a Platy but I've told her her tank is probably not suitable for all of those fish together. She loves angel fish and loaches, so if we manage to keep this tank going successfully we are going to look into getting a bigger, family tank and she can put an Angel fish into that.

I wouldn't put zebra danios in there, they are very active and need a lot of space. Corys are also no good in a biorb, there's not enough space at the bottom and the substrate is quite sharp so it can injure their barbels. Cardinals would do OK, a shoal of about 6 or 7 would be your limit in a 60 litre biorb.

Angels are beautiful fish, your DD has great taste They do need a bigger tank though and a bit more experience- something for her to aim towards!