Setting up new 29 gallon freshwater tank

Question
QUESTION: This is a long question.

I am setting up a new tank, and I purchased some artificial plants at Petsmart made for aquariums. One of them had a barcode sticker on the bottom, so I removed it. Of course there is still some of the adhesive left on the bottom. I don't want to use any chemicals, so I was wondering if it is ok to leave it on, or should I try to remove it completely? If so, how?   

Also, I was wondering if zebra danios would work as cycling fish. I have a kuhlii loach that I would like to add later, along with a few more new guys, so he can have some buddies.  The loach that I have is about 10 years old and going strong. He has been in dechlorinated tap water his whole life, so I'm wary about switching to reverse osmosis water. Would this shock him? I know he may be reaching the end of his life span based on some kuhlii info I've read, but I would like to keep him healthy as long as possible. I don't even know if there is a reverse osmosis water station nearby, so I may just stick with the tap water.

Also, I do not know if I need to worry about disease since I would be adding cycling fish before I added my loach. Then, when I add the additional loaches, do I need to quarantine them first?  

I'm planning on using an Aqua Clear Power Filter 50 for my tank. Is this adequate? Should I add another one?

The tank my loach is in now is tiny, so I am trying to get this new tank going asap! I am doing very frequent water changes and monitoring levels. My parents had shut down their tank without knowing that the kuhlii loach was still alive buried in the gravel. He survived more than a month in a few inches of standing water, but there was algae that I assume helped him somewhat. I'm going to add some of the original gravel to the new tank to help it along, but should I rinse it first?

Thanks in advance!

ANSWER: Hi Katie,

R/O water is safer than tap water and will prolong his life...he will live a much healthier life without chemicals (dechlorinator is a chemical).  It has no metals or anything negative in it.  It's super filtered water, and it's for human consumption.  Any water filling station in any store that sells filtered water sells R/O water.  Those units clean the water this way and it's great for fish.

Zebra Danios would work for cycling, sure.  Any fish will be fine.

You need to quarantine any fish you add to your new system for 2 weeks, at least, before adding him to the new system.  Even the cycling fish.  He should be in quarantine right now, looking ahead to the new setup. :)

The Aqua Clear are some of the best HOB filters out there, but to rate it properly, never go by what is on the box.  Instead, go by fish load, aquarium size, how many gallons per hour you are comparing that to and how often you change it out.  These filters must be changed bi-weekly to monthly, at most.  If you plan on doing that and keep it to 1" of fish per gallon, you should be fine.  This 1" per gallon rule does not apply to goldfish.  For them, it increases drastically as they are heavy poopers.

Yes, rinse the gravel.  Wow, that he survived, but it's not uncommon.  They are often forgotten about, living in filters underground or in the back of tanks. :)  Kudos...glad you found him.

I hope this helps and happy holidays.

Renee

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Renee!

I was still wondering about that adhesive on the artificial plant. Will it harm the fish?

Answer
Without knowing what kind of adhesive was used, I'd have to assume it would be harmful.  Soak the plant in hot, soapy water, til the adhesive gets loose and falls off.  If it doesn't, then you may consider boiling it til it falls off.

Good luck!

Renee