Advise on setting up new tropical fish tank

[Kookiekat]

I just purchased a 2nd hand 30l fish tank. Now it came with an elite stingray 5 filter, which i think looks too small for a tank of this size. Can i just put another stingray 5 filter in aswell or shull i just go for one bigger filter? any advise as to what filter i should get? also do i need to get an air stone or will the filter provide enough 0xygen?

Also i am planning on getting a few prob 8 tropical fish (think this is all i could get in this tank) but any advise on a good heater?

Also how long do i need to leave it set up b4 i put fish in? i was thinking 2 weeks untill i put plants in then a further week b4 fish go in. Does this sound about right?

Any advise greatfully recieved

Thanks kat

[Esfa]

That filter should be fine for 30l. If you got a bigger one, you wouldnt be able to fit it in!

As for how long to leave the tank before you put in fish, read this:
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/fish-...s-cycling.html

[Frase]

Sorry to steal from OP but es got any answers to my thread? worried now.

[geckolovers]

Visi Therem Stealth heaters are quite popular, although I use a Fluval Tronic in my 12gal.

As for fish... You have several options. You aren't going to cram 8 fish in there unless they are tiny fish (like 8 ember tetras, which are quite difficult to find, or another 2cm long schooling fish). You could get 1 Betta in there, or 4-5 male endler's livebearers, or a honey gourami and some pygmy/dwarf corys. Or, a shrimp colony! Or maybe an African Dwarf frog or two. ]

You should put plants in whilst acctually setting the tank up. Be sure to remove them from their bunches/pots! You should purchase a liquid test kit for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Add fish food everyday, and test the water every day. You will first see lots of ammonia, then nitrites, then nitrates. When the levels are 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite and 5-20 Nitrate, the tank is safe for fish. This could take 2 weeks - a month, or longer!

[Reptile-newb]

I wouldn't recommend pygmy and/or dwarf corys, they aren't as suitable as people think as people tend to forget they prefer to be in groups of 6+, and with a honey gourami that will be way too much for that tank.

Also I wouldn't recommend an african dwarf frog on it's own. They like to be in groups of 3+ and feel more confident if they have companions. They will feel scared when alone.

A single male paradise fish is an option for that tank. A shoal of 5 male guppies or 5 neon tetras is a good idea. I would not recommend a group of less than 5 for any shoaling fish.