Todays my birthday and my parents got me a 16 gallon fish tank!!! yayy so happy lol anyways its my first tank so i dont know that much. I know i have to let the water cycle first. We are planning on getting fish next week. will that be enough time? I have been adding alittle fish food to help get it started. I have the air pump and filter going already. I have also added gravel and fake plants.

How often do i have to switch the water in the tank? how much water needs to be removed?

im thinking of getting fantail guppies first (fancy guppies). I do kind of want them to have babys. How do you keep them seperated. what do you do if they have to many fish?

alot of questions i know but i really aprreciate the help!! thanks

hello, ive been in the fish keeping hobby for quite a while now. im SO glad you know about the nitrogen cycle. a lot of beginners dont even know it exists, and to be honest when i started i didnt know a thing about it. ive never had any fish die because of new tank syndrome, but i really wish i had cycled my tank. so anyways, to know when your tank is fully cycled, you need a water testing kit. you can get a VERY cheap API freshwater water testing kit for around $18. at petsmart they sell them for $32! at walmart it may not say API freshwater water testing kit, but it actually is. i think adding fish next week is much too early because a fully cycled tank usually takes at the least 2 weeks. so make sure your nitrites and ammonia are 0 with your testing kit. you really don't want your fish to have new tank syndrome. there are also bacterial additives that can speed up the nitrogen cycle like tetra safestart. i dont really recommend using bacterial additives because it isn't natural, but you can if you just can't wait any longer. during the nitrogen cycle, i believe you change 20-30% of the water everyday. when you have an established tank, do weekly 30-50% water changes. also, even though you checked the water and the ammonia and nitrites are 0, just wait an extra week to make sure it's stabilized, and of course to make sure its stabilized use your water testing kit. also, get a siphon or gravel vacuum so it make cleaning and water changes that much easier. as the siphon sucks up all the nasty stuff on the bottom of the tank, it will take water with it so all you have to do is fill the tank back up. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

now about the guppies. guppies are great beginner fish. however, i don't suggest breeding them just yet. taking care of the babies can be quite challenging. guppies multiply like no tomorrow, so it's best to keep them separated. you can have an all male tank or an all female tank. preferably, a male tank since theyre more colorful. so i really don't suggest you start breeding yet, since you're just getting started. there are plenty of fish out there that can go in a 16 gallon tank so do A LOT of research on what can go in a 16 gallon tank, fish that are compatible and their needs, and most important if you know what fish you're getting do so much research you can be an expert because you're gonna need every info you can get. know the fish's diet, diseases they're prone to, and their habitat. you want to try to mimic their habitat so they become less stressed and feel more at home. so number one key is do your research!!!! i've given you the basics, so now it's your turn to go and research more narrow topics. i can't tell you how important research is. so good luck and i hope i helped!

experience

One week is not long enough for a tank to cycle.
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take them out

ok, you are right you do need to let the water cycle. 3 days minimum, but a week is best. DO NOT add fish food. if no fish are in there to eat it then it will accumulate at the bottom of your tank and cause the ammonia levels to rise in the water, this is the same reason you should not overfeed your fish. you do water changes once a week, which i recommend adding water conditioner to your tank when you do this. you take out 25-30% of the water each week. I highly recommend getting your water tested before you add fish, petsmart where i live will do this for you for free, but call to make sure they will do this in your area.
I don't know much about breeding guppies, but since they are tropical fish it is recommended that you put a heater and thermometer in your tank so the water stays warm enough for them. the temperature control will be crucial for the babies as well since they probably are not as hardy. I have heard that guppies breed pretty quickly and i am not sure what you could do with the excess baby fish, sorry!