STATMATT
10-07-2008, 09:19 PM
Well I'm not new to the hobbie, but it has been awhile and these resources were not available back then.
Set up 29 Gallon tank that hasn't been used in 5 years with Marineland Eclipse biowheel/cartridge/fluorescent lighting system.
Set up aquarium stand (complete)
Clean aquarium (I used windex to scrub out the grime and wiped w/ paper towels, not ideal, but it's what I had onhand)
Check aquarium for leaks ( I filled the tank using a britta pitcher to remove chlorine and other crap in the water. I placed the tank on the stand with the edges of 8.5 by 11 inch sheets of paper interlocking around all four edges and hanging out. I figured if there was a leak, I could identify it earlier by wet paper than wet carpet) After one month, no wet paper, I didn't turn out the lights on the tank so greenish tint to the water.)
Threw in a bag of seashells (hopefully adding some biomaterial to the water)
Trip to LFS to get gravel and decorations. (I brought a sample of water to be tested, ammonia 0 nitrites through the roof! I picked up 50# of silicate sand and 5# of black sand. Rocks... $5 a pound you are kidding me!)
Wash Sand and place in tank (I filled the bag of sand up with water to reduce dust as the bag suggests it is very harmful and can cause permanent bodily damage. I then dumped into a 30 gallon tub and rinsed and washed repeatedly until the water poured out clear and no floaties.)
I dumped it into the empty tank covering most of the sea shells. I mixed the silicate sand with the black sand to darken it up a little.
Let set for two weeks... Algae has bloomed covering the sides of the glass and is so dense I could barely see the inlet pipe to the filtration system.
Looked and looked and researched for Rocks. Ended up at a Home and Garden Nursury and got a wagon full for $20. mixed between granite, volcanic, sedimentary, stratified and heavy rocks.
Placed all rocks in the dishwasher cleaned on high temp/sanitize with no dishwashing liquid added. Manually cleaned rocks that would not fit in the dishwasher.
Removed sand from the tank cleaned the sides of the glass and removed 20 plus gallons of water. Leaving 1/2 inch of sand on the bottom of the tank I started placing the rocks in the tank. carefully stacking first in the corners with stable large flat rocks and then building up the center with caves, etc. I let the rocks in the dishwasher cool before adding them. with the hiding cracks of the rocks along the edges of the tank I filled in with sand, I did this only after stability of the rocks was achieved.
Mistake: I refilled the tank with tap water, with no conditioners. Hope I didn't kill off my bacteria in my filter! It took me 23 gallons of water to refill the tank
I added a heater, set to 82 degrees F.
The water is still a bit murkey, but I figured it was the rocks stablilzing and letting go of any air and sediment remaining, also getting the sand to settle again is going to contribute.
I am ordering water test kits today.
Particularly, Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, Hardness, and Ph.
I am also ordering water conditioners today... it used to be Amquel and Novoqua had cornered the market here. But some of the posts I have heard is Amquel doesn't help cycle a tank b/c it bonds to the Ammonia and gives false readings to the status of the cycle.
It seems from this particular community Seachem's 'prime' 'clarity' and 'stability' are recommended.
I also intend to order Buffers and Salts such as Seachem's 'Liquid Malawi/Victoria Buffer' 'Liquid Chichlid Lake Salt' and 'Chichlid Trace'.
In the past I had used a Ph Buffer with a large 8.2 imprinted on the side, but I don't recall the producer... I also used Kent Marine's water clarity and chichlid buffers and salts. So does anyone know the difference between the two is it cost, one is better than the other etc... As far as water conditioning, I had used Amquel exclusively for more than 15 years.
Also one post suggested Marineland Biospira, I haven't read up on this product yet, but despite the cost I am interested.
My intent for this aquarium is to keep
6 Synodontis petricola,
3 1m/2f Iodotropheus sprengerae
3 1m/2f labidochromis sp. "Mbamba"
3 1m/2f Pseudotropheus saulosi
I'm basing my number of fish on the model presented in
http://www.cichlidrecipe.com/cover.htm
for the 30 gallon tank.
I'm hoping to pick up the petricoas at the Catfish show in MD in two weeks.
Any advise is appreciated.
Thx
Statmatt
Set up 29 Gallon tank that hasn't been used in 5 years with Marineland Eclipse biowheel/cartridge/fluorescent lighting system.
Set up aquarium stand (complete)
Clean aquarium (I used windex to scrub out the grime and wiped w/ paper towels, not ideal, but it's what I had onhand)
Check aquarium for leaks ( I filled the tank using a britta pitcher to remove chlorine and other crap in the water. I placed the tank on the stand with the edges of 8.5 by 11 inch sheets of paper interlocking around all four edges and hanging out. I figured if there was a leak, I could identify it earlier by wet paper than wet carpet) After one month, no wet paper, I didn't turn out the lights on the tank so greenish tint to the water.)
Threw in a bag of seashells (hopefully adding some biomaterial to the water)
Trip to LFS to get gravel and decorations. (I brought a sample of water to be tested, ammonia 0 nitrites through the roof! I picked up 50# of silicate sand and 5# of black sand. Rocks... $5 a pound you are kidding me!)
Wash Sand and place in tank (I filled the bag of sand up with water to reduce dust as the bag suggests it is very harmful and can cause permanent bodily damage. I then dumped into a 30 gallon tub and rinsed and washed repeatedly until the water poured out clear and no floaties.)
I dumped it into the empty tank covering most of the sea shells. I mixed the silicate sand with the black sand to darken it up a little.
Let set for two weeks... Algae has bloomed covering the sides of the glass and is so dense I could barely see the inlet pipe to the filtration system.
Looked and looked and researched for Rocks. Ended up at a Home and Garden Nursury and got a wagon full for $20. mixed between granite, volcanic, sedimentary, stratified and heavy rocks.
Placed all rocks in the dishwasher cleaned on high temp/sanitize with no dishwashing liquid added. Manually cleaned rocks that would not fit in the dishwasher.
Removed sand from the tank cleaned the sides of the glass and removed 20 plus gallons of water. Leaving 1/2 inch of sand on the bottom of the tank I started placing the rocks in the tank. carefully stacking first in the corners with stable large flat rocks and then building up the center with caves, etc. I let the rocks in the dishwasher cool before adding them. with the hiding cracks of the rocks along the edges of the tank I filled in with sand, I did this only after stability of the rocks was achieved.
Mistake: I refilled the tank with tap water, with no conditioners. Hope I didn't kill off my bacteria in my filter! It took me 23 gallons of water to refill the tank
I added a heater, set to 82 degrees F.
The water is still a bit murkey, but I figured it was the rocks stablilzing and letting go of any air and sediment remaining, also getting the sand to settle again is going to contribute.
I am ordering water test kits today.
Particularly, Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, Hardness, and Ph.
I am also ordering water conditioners today... it used to be Amquel and Novoqua had cornered the market here. But some of the posts I have heard is Amquel doesn't help cycle a tank b/c it bonds to the Ammonia and gives false readings to the status of the cycle.
It seems from this particular community Seachem's 'prime' 'clarity' and 'stability' are recommended.
I also intend to order Buffers and Salts such as Seachem's 'Liquid Malawi/Victoria Buffer' 'Liquid Chichlid Lake Salt' and 'Chichlid Trace'.
In the past I had used a Ph Buffer with a large 8.2 imprinted on the side, but I don't recall the producer... I also used Kent Marine's water clarity and chichlid buffers and salts. So does anyone know the difference between the two is it cost, one is better than the other etc... As far as water conditioning, I had used Amquel exclusively for more than 15 years.
Also one post suggested Marineland Biospira, I haven't read up on this product yet, but despite the cost I am interested.
My intent for this aquarium is to keep
6 Synodontis petricola,
3 1m/2f Iodotropheus sprengerae
3 1m/2f labidochromis sp. "Mbamba"
3 1m/2f Pseudotropheus saulosi
I'm basing my number of fish on the model presented in
http://www.cichlidrecipe.com/cover.htm
for the 30 gallon tank.
I'm hoping to pick up the petricoas at the Catfish show in MD in two weeks.
Any advise is appreciated.
Thx
Statmatt