hi,all

just started out on what i thought was a simple hobby,
tank,water, fish as a first pet everything seemed simple,
visited (LFS) talked to complete idiot so found another shop, after nice chat got book
Dick Mills "tropical fish"and read,
not as simple but not rocket science.

got tank(jewel rekord 60) set up 10 days ago, fishless found this forum, now think i'm doing everything wrong

no plants, carbon filters as supplied, got stringy algae,

the more i read the more my head hurts,
not giving up but not sure i'm on the right track

any adivce would be good/encouraging as i stare at a tank of water

Hi Freya,

Welcome to TFF!

Am i correct in thinking that you don't yet have any fish?

Are you intending to do a fishless cycle? If you don't know what that is, just say.

Cheers

BTT

Hi

Have you got the filter and the areation set up? If you have add some tank start treatment to give it a kick start. If the the filter and the areation are set up then your doing fine, just wait about a month and then you can add fish! (couple at a time)

Oliver

No fish yet, yes going fishless, now know what fishless cycle is after reading forum yesterday, not used ammonia, used some stuff from LFS, not done any tests

This post has been edited by freyathemermaid: Jan 8 2008, 07:39 PM

I'd advise you to use ammonia if possible. It's a lot more controllable and measurable.

You should also get test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH, if you don't have them already.

You'll get lots of good advice on here so don't be scared to ask as many questions as you need to. The only silly question is the one you don't ask.

Have you read the fishless cycling thread? If not, click on the link to it in my signature below. It's a very informative read.

BTT

hey im new 2. all my fish just died i dont know y though if u need suplies go to

http://www.petalia.com.au/Shopping/


This post has been edited by talentmast: Jan 8 2008, 10:36 PM

Thanks for advice BTT

its nice to know you can ask questions, got ammonia & ammonia test kit last night

tested ammonia @ 8ppm added more using add daily method

so we'll see how things go

cheers
FTM

This post has been edited by freyathemermaid: Jan 9 2008, 01:05 PM

Ammonia above 8ppm can considerably slow a fishless cycle, so I would advise you to move onto the add and wait methord It will mean that the tank cycles quicker, and there is less risk of you running out of ammonia. Whats the max reading you test kit can take? I suspect that a reading of 8 may well mean off the chart, thus, you will have a long wait to bring it back down. If 8 is the highest, I'd personaly do a 50% waterchange, and re-test. For that add and wait methord you want to aim for about 4ppm or 4mg/l to start. as above, a concerntration above 8 will slow the cycle considerably.
Have you looked into members near you with mature media? Mature media will realy speed things along

All the best
Rabbut

Hi Rabbut

thanks for tip,

it was a API test kit scale was simething like 0.5, 1,2,4,8. with 8 being dark green the same colour as the sample went
will test again and do a 50% water change, then test again

i'll let you know how things go and hope this may help anyone else reading

cheers
FTM

Hi Rabbut

did 50% change & tested still at 8ppm does this mean there is no bacteria processing the ammonia and i will be starting from scratch?

cheers

FTM

This post has been edited by freyathemermaid: Jan 10 2008, 08:16 AM

HELP!

more problems

thought i cracked it after last water change ammonia @ 4ppm for 5 days, no nitrite though?

tested yesterday back @ 8ppm still no nitrite

50% water change last night and re-test back to 4ppm

any ideas what i'm doing wrong, or not doing?

FTM



This post has been edited by freyathemermaid: Jan 15 2008, 10:16 AM

The ammonia being 8ppm still after the water change shows that ammonia was off the chart. Now its back down to 4ppm, your back on the right track It will take a few days now for nitrite to start showing. It will look to be going slowly for a bit, but then it will eentualy realy speed up. I guess you had no luck finding mature media then?

All the best

Rabbut

Rabbut

had a look for media but couldn't see anything local,

dont understand why it stayed @ 4ppm for 5 days and nothing happened, maybe this is normal

i'll keep going

thanks
FTM

Would normaly have seen ammonia move after 5 days, but every tank is different. Where are you based? I presume you have asked the LFS?

All the best
Rabbut

Based in Derby, didn't think about LFS but will ask now

thanks Rabbut

FTM

Until the bacteria actually start to process your ammonia, it will stay fairly constant without adding any more. When it starts to come down you will see a nitrite response because that is what it turns into. When the nitrites start to come down, the nitrates will respond by going up.
Throughout this process, you should try to keep the ammonia at about 4 ppm. It is all you need to get going and as many others have said, it is better not to go too high as that would actually slow the process.