New Aquarium

[Stewie]

:11: Hi GUYS
New to aquarium keeping and I have been reading the messages.
I just purchase my new aquarium yesterday. So far its cost me about $1000AU and I still need fish (only money).
Its 4foot long and its on a pine cabnet with a nice hood.
Its got a treasure chest , shipwreck and anker and a 3D background. Still need plants.
I was going to do a fishless cycle but can not find any pure ammonia so purchase 100mls sera nitrive bio culture.

I have just put 20ml in tank directions says can can put fish in 24hrs later and add 10ml per day.
So any advise on this and then to put fish in would be great.
Stewie

[genitor]

Never heard of that product but generally those products don't work. Only one that have been used with any success is biospira which is stored frozen. Shrimp skins can be used instead of ammonia, as the shrimp decomposes it produces ammonia.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Did you try a local dollar store? they often have pure ammonia. I would go with genitor's advice and use shrimp skins if you cannot find pure ammonia. Or, you can just go with fish cycling with some zebra danios. Your choice.

[Rue]

You might want to reconsider your decorations...natural always looks better...but if you must...try to stick to one of the decorations otherwise you'll end up with a look you might not appreciate very long...

[gm72]

I don't know, Rue, some people have non-natural decorations and they love them. I have a gargoyle-themed tank that I love. What looks "better" to you and me might not look so good to others, and vice-versa.

Agreed with the advice about going with the fishless cycle. Most of the chemical/additives are junk.

[Rue]

...okay...I'll concede on the decorations...LOL...I won't push my tastes on anyone else...:28:

...but I just want everyone to at least consider 'natural' first...can we do that at least...puh-leez??? :wink2:

[NeonJulie]

I think everyone on this site can agree that as long as you don't plan on changing your mind about gravel "fashion", it's full sails ahead... *lol* You can easily pull out a ship if you want to try driftwood later. But pink or blue gravel exchanged for black or brown, that gets tricky!

[gm72]

Agreed, Rue. Natural first.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

I was going to do a fishless cycle but can not find any pure ammonia so purchase 100mls sera nitrive bio culture.

I have just put 20ml in tank directions says can can put fish in 24hrs later and add 10ml per day.
So any advise on this and then to put fish in would be great.
Stewie

Hi Stewie, as a fellow Aussie I know and use the same stuff.
It says you can put the fish in 24 hours later, but I wouldn't. I'd still give it a week (or 4 days if you are impulsive and have got the plants in).

Also, best to add fish slowly - start with a few very hardy fish such as zebra danios, leave it 5 or more days, then add the rest in groups a week per group.

I realise others here won't like my suggestions.

DO monitor the NH using an NH kit.

[Stewie]

Thanks Guys
You have all got me thinking harder and its is starting too hurt.
I will post another thread in a few weeks when the headacke has gone and the next stage of my aquarium is completed.
Again thanks for all the advise.

Stewie

[Nick_Pavlovski]

Good luck with it all Stewie, don't be afraid to come back and ask more questions if you need to!

[Lady Hobbs]

At least you have a theme going between the ship, anchor and treasure chest. One thing nice about tanks is decorations can be changed out easily enough to give it a whole new look from time to time. Be aware that some decorations can trap fish inside, however, so take note that holes too small should be plugged.

My biggest error in starting out was the gravel choices. I have replaced the gravel in all 4 of my tanks because I bought some pretty ugly stuff.

Make sure you know what kind of fish you want in your tank before you plant it. Some fish eat plants or tear them up and the tank can't be planted with those types fish.

With a tank that size and with that much water volume, if you add maybe 8 fish to start with they will be fine. The larger tanks do not get as toxic as the small tanks. Just make sure you start testing for ammonia levels after a week and be prepared to do some water changes should toxins get too high. I very much doubt they will.

Add your fish gradually......like a few every two weeks.

Planting it would have been easier in the beginning but many have added plants to an established tank later on.....like me. Plants do help keep the toxins down but you have to have it fully planted. Just a few plants won't do much.

Good luck.

[Stewie]

Hi Guys
Off to buy some plants tomorrow but I need some more gravel I think. What would be the best depth to plant in. I have only 1/4 of an inch in the aquarium now.:confused:

[Stewie]

Hi
I have planted a few plants and put more gravel in the aquarium.
I was going to wait a bit longer to put in some fish but I could not wait any longer. You know how it is.
I purchase 4 tiger barbs. My Aquarium is 136Lts (36US gallons) is that enough or can I put more in keeping in mine my aquarium is only two weeks old and it need to mature.
I would like to keep it tiger barbs at the moment but open for any other species.

[A340]

Hi Guys
Off to buy some plants tomorrow but I need some more gravel I think. What would be the best depth to plant in. I have only 1/4 of an inch in the aquarium now.:confused:
To plant plants properly, you should have a good 1.5 - 2 inches of substrate. What kind of gravel are you using?

[crackatinny]

I am from Australia, and got this product at my local LFS
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

It done the job for me, and was only $5 for the small pot, which does a lot of water.

[Stewie]

Hi All
Problem with very high pH about 8. It basically shows past dark blue . The tap water has a high pH naturally.
The 36 US gallon aquarium has just finish week 2 of cycling and I have been doing a 15% water change every 3 days . 4 tigar barbs in it.
Question is should I use baking soda to get a ph of 7 or bring down ph slower which is what I been doing with no success.

Stewie

[cocoa_pleco]

if the fish you buy are already acclimated to your PH, its okay. read my thread in the general section called "you dont need to play with PH" i go into more detail there

[Rue]

I agree...don't mess with pH in such a small volume of water...it looks like a lot...but it's really not when chemistry comes into play...

[gm72]

Stability, stability, stability, not the actual number. Stability is the key. Did I mention stability?

[RobbieG]

Stability, stability, stability, not the actual number. Stability is the key. Did I mention stability?

Ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto, and ditto!

[Stewie]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all the advise so far its been very helpful.
Question I am into week 3 of cycling the aquarium.
Have been doing a 15% water change every 3 days but yet no Ammonia
reading.
I have 10 tiger barbs in the aquarium.
Should I be getting some sort of reading by now or this is normal.

[dev]

Hi Stewie, as a fellow Aussie I know and use the same stuff.
It says you can put the fish in 24 hours later, but I wouldn't. I'd still give it a week (or 4 days if you are impulsive and have got the plants in).

Unless the bacteria starter includes ammonia you will still need to give them something to work with.


Also, best to add fish slowly - start with a few very hardy fish such as zebra danios, leave it 5 or more days, then add the rest in groups a week per group.

I'm a bit uncertain about this. Introducing new fish causes stress, and always involves a certain risk. I wouldn't want to do that every week. On the other hand there could be a risk of overloading your current stock of nitrosomonas and nitrobacter if you add more fish then they can handle, thus creating a spike of NH3 or NO2. We need to consider that the doubling rate of these bacteria is more than 1 hour, much higher than most bacteria.


I realise others here won't like my suggestions.


I guess you were right, but some of my thoughts are seen as a bit controversial around here aswell :)

DO monitor the NH using an NH kit.

Which NH do you want to monitor? ;)

If you try to start your tank in a "fancy" way (like I usually do), you should monitor both ammonia (NH3 but most tests will give you the combined amount of NH3 and NH4) and nitrites (NO2) closely. If your method worked, you should see no ammonia, and and nothing more than a very small spike of nitrites (.1 or .2) after a few days. Ideally you should find nothing but NO3.

Cycling methods involving bacteria starter cultures, active filter media or starter fish are advanced techniques. Make sure you know exactly what you are doing or find someone who does. These are living beeings you are working with, mistreating them is expensive, unethical and in most countries illegal.

[dev]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all the advise so far its been very helpful.
Question I am into week 3 of cycling the aquarium.
Have been doing a 15% water change every 3 days but yet no Ammonia
reading.
I have 10 tiger barbs in the aquarium.
Should I be getting some sort of reading by now or this is normal.

If the NO3 levels are going up, I would not be concerned.

Measurable ammonia and nitrite levels depend on the amount of water and waste, quality of test kit and several other factors. In most of my tanks I never see any indicitation of NH3 or NO2 .. ever.

[Stewie]

Finally 6weeks latter and no ammonia and nitrite reading and I think the tank is finally cycle.
Should i do a water change now and if so what % and how offen.
Also I would like to add another filler and do away with the current one . Do I add new filler and kept current filler work until new filler is cycle and how would I know when the new filler is cycled.
Hope this makes scents.
Stewie

[Stewie]

sorry about the spelling it should have been filter not filler
Stewie