Recent content by KiwiGal77

Fish food is pretty unreliable as far as cycling goes unfortunately as it's so hard to get the ammonia levels to where you need them to be consistently. The best thing to use is pure ammonia and follow a good guide - like the one found on this forum. Fishless cycling takes 6-8 weeks, if done...

What were you using as an ammonia source before adding the Mollies? Is there a Molly in there now? Prime is to protect the fish, but it will stall a cycle as it neutralises the ammonia so the bacteria can't feed on it and establish the way they are meant to. If there is still a fish in there...

There's a lot of questions we are going to have to try and help you work out what's ging on, and if you're new to fishkeeping this may seem a bit overwhelming. But it's an opportunity to learn a bit more about the complex needs of fish and how the tank system works, so hang in there :)...

I much prefer the wood like this, think it looks great and flows left to right much better. I agree with not making separate piles of rocks like that, as it looks quite artificial. I would keep some at the base, but then also spread some around the tank to tie everything together - keeping them...

I was also thinking you should try flipping the wood over to make roots coming down, creating different territories within the tank for the fish to hide and explore. I also think tanks look best when the scape draws the eye from left to right, rather than right to left. I think it's probably...

That corner shot looks awesome!

Bolivian rams, Honey or Pearl gouramis?

Three main issues I see: 1) Initially tried to do a fish in cycle, but doesn't sound like you were doing the daily water testing and water changes required to keep fish safe from the build up of ammonia & nitrite. 2) When doing the fishless cycle, you were still adding prime (which...

What plan have you been following to cycle the tank? Can you do a quick rundown of your process from start to now incl products used, water changes, parameter readings at the start and each week etc

That seems to be a common belief unfortuantely - a cycle is basically when the beneficial bacteria that deal to toxic ammonia & nitrite become established within a tank. To do this, you need to feed them an ammonia source to encourage them to grow and reproduce - this will be fish food and fish...

Firstly, don't beat yourself up - you did what you thought was right, and you came here for more advice as soon as you realised something wasn't good. You're doing the best you can for your fish now, and that's the main thing :) With nitrites that high, I agree with AdoraBelle that it sounds...

Beautiful tank set up!! That looks great. Definitely won't need the CO2, Seachem Flourish (just the standard one) is a popular liquid fertiliser you could look into, they do root tabs as well for heavy root feeders such as swords. You say you'll add fish once the tank is cycled - how are you...

Duckweed (floating) and pearl weed (planted). Both live up to their name of being weeds - chances are if you can find a local FB aquarist group there will be someone who is overrun with the stuff and more than happy to get rid of a bunch for cheap/free. Also look into various stem plants as...

Where has your betta been living for the past 2 months, and what filtration was with it? That'll probably already be cycled by now, so just use that filter or its media in the new tank. Unfortunately cycling is science, so if you don't follow a solid plan, like the one shared to you, then...

Looked into the Hillstream Loach? They are small, and like the temperate waters and fast flow. As for the oxygen, just angle the filter outlet so you get some nice rippling on the surface of the water, this will allow for the gas exchange between water and air.