New Tank

[DodgyAussie]

Hi,

Just recently purchased a new tank which is 2 foot long and is just under 50 litres (sorry don't know the conversion..). I've had the tank running for a few days with the filter going etc and I'm getting it prepared for putting fish in a week or so.... But what I've noticed is some water like markings on the inside of the tank.. I cleaned it thoroughly before filling it up with water etc... I have no plants in the tank yet but have had the light on from time to time (because my 3 year old son liked it!!).

Could this be algae or just dirt...

Thanks for your help and sorry if it's a stupid question...

cheers,

[Danny M]

Let's see if I can give you some answers...

2 ft. means 24 in. or about 61 cm.; 50 l. means 13.2 gal.

Ohh... wasn't that the question... lol!

You cleaned thoroughly the tank... I hope you did not use any soap or detergent, did you? If so, rinse it, and rinse it again with clean water. After that, rinse it again. Soaps are very harmful.

... Water like markings, where? On the waterline? These are deposits of salts resulting from evaporation. Not on the waterline, and under water? These could be some bacterial colonies or algae colonies - both are beneficial, just use the algae scraper when you can't see inside the tank...

You want to add fish in a week or so? You could do that, but I won't recommend that. Please read the articles on fishless cycling: I know you hardly wait for the moment you'll have fish inside your tank, but fishless cycling is the best way one could start with this hobby!

[Lady Hobbs]

The 55 gallon I purchased also had a line around the whole tank mid way up. I wiped it so many times and couldn't remove it. I finally decided that it was a water line from where the tank had been tested for leaking at the factory and it was infact only a scale line. I used a good scrubber (for aquariums) and it come right off. I wonder if this is what you are having?

You may want to do a fishless cycle if you haven't bought those fish yet. It will save you a lot of work and no loss of fish.

When adding fish to a new tank, you will first get high amounts of ammonia from the fish gills, decaying food and waste. It's toxic to fish. Then the ammonia will become nitrites. Also toxic to fish. And in the end, you will have nitrates before your tank is every cycled.

If you do start with fish, you must start very slow and with only maybe 3 for starters. Danio's are a good starting fish but fishless is even better.

[DodgyAussie]

Hi Guys,

Thanks very much for the info.

The lines are below the water line and I didn't use any soap etc to clean it to begin with.

I might go and buy a scrubber today as I don't have one..

Could you please give a link for details on doing a fishless cycle?

Many thanks again for your help!!

Cheers,

[Lady Hobbs]

That's the same way mine was. Like it was filled about 3/4 way up.

But do check into cycling without the fish. You will not be sorry you went this way as many of us have been for not.

[jeffs99dime]

yes. fishless cycling is the way to go!