Hi Guys
I bought a Juwel Rio 180L tank 4 weeks ago and a book from Amazon called "Setting up a Tropical Aquarium" which I have found to be really helpful.
It was written in 2004 and goes down the Fish - In cycle route.
I set the tank up with gravel and decor, rocks and mepani wood, and turned the filter / heater on for 2 days, then planted the tank with a mix of Amazon Swords,
Java Moss & Ferns, Echinodorus, Hygrophila and some others. I used Tetra Flora Boost and tablets as fertilizer.
I also seeded the tank with Filter Start every 2 days for the first 2 weeks, and honestly believe that it DID get the filter off to a good start.
After 10 days I did a 50% water change and bought 6 Lemon Tetras from my LFS, which settled right down with an Alfa Male setting up a territory and bossing everyone else !
With the introduction of the first fish I did a daily water test each morning with the API Master Test Kit, and almost immediately got the following readings on a daily basis;
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0.25
Nitrates - ususally between 20 and 40
Ph settled at 7.6 daily
For the first 7 days of the Fish - In cycle I did a 25% water change each morning, then on the second week only if the Nitrites moved over 0.25 (which happened once).
Yesterday I finished my second week and did a weekly tank maintenence, not bothering with a water test as I did a 25% water change anyway.
I then bought my second fish, 3 Long Finned Rosy Barbs, 1 male and 2 female.
They are truly beautiful fish and much more active than the Tetras, completely trashing the concept of the Alfa Male tetra holding his own territory.
This morning I did a water test, my fifteenth, and got;
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 20
Ph - 7.6
Its still early days and I will carry on doing daily water tests - I'm expecting an Ammonia / Nitrite spike at some stage.
I think the Nitrates are staying low(ish) owing to the plants which appear to be thriving.
I started off having the lights on for 12 hours each day, they're now on for 10 hours and I still supply Flora Boost every week.
I again seeded the filter with the Filter Start for a couple of days before adding the second batch of fish - it appears to have paid off.
My plan is to get the third batch of fish in 3 weeks time, Livebearers (1 male, 3 female) either Mollies or Plattys.
This really is a brilliant hobby, and a big thankyou to everyone who contributes on this forum. I have spent hours reading it and profited from some
excellent information.
I bought a Juwel Rio 180L tank 4 weeks ago and a book from Amazon called "Setting up a Tropical Aquarium" which I have found to be really helpful.
It was written in 2004 and goes down the Fish - In cycle route.
I set the tank up with gravel and decor, rocks and mepani wood, and turned the filter / heater on for 2 days, then planted the tank with a mix of Amazon Swords,
Java Moss & Ferns, Echinodorus, Hygrophila and some others. I used Tetra Flora Boost and tablets as fertilizer.
I also seeded the tank with Filter Start every 2 days for the first 2 weeks, and honestly believe that it DID get the filter off to a good start.
After 10 days I did a 50% water change and bought 6 Lemon Tetras from my LFS, which settled right down with an Alfa Male setting up a territory and bossing everyone else !
With the introduction of the first fish I did a daily water test each morning with the API Master Test Kit, and almost immediately got the following readings on a daily basis;
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0.25
Nitrates - ususally between 20 and 40
Ph settled at 7.6 daily
For the first 7 days of the Fish - In cycle I did a 25% water change each morning, then on the second week only if the Nitrites moved over 0.25 (which happened once).
Yesterday I finished my second week and did a weekly tank maintenence, not bothering with a water test as I did a 25% water change anyway.
I then bought my second fish, 3 Long Finned Rosy Barbs, 1 male and 2 female.
They are truly beautiful fish and much more active than the Tetras, completely trashing the concept of the Alfa Male tetra holding his own territory.
This morning I did a water test, my fifteenth, and got;
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 20
Ph - 7.6
Its still early days and I will carry on doing daily water tests - I'm expecting an Ammonia / Nitrite spike at some stage.
I think the Nitrates are staying low(ish) owing to the plants which appear to be thriving.
I started off having the lights on for 12 hours each day, they're now on for 10 hours and I still supply Flora Boost every week.
I again seeded the filter with the Filter Start for a couple of days before adding the second batch of fish - it appears to have paid off.
My plan is to get the third batch of fish in 3 weeks time, Livebearers (1 male, 3 female) either Mollies or Plattys.
This really is a brilliant hobby, and a big thankyou to everyone who contributes on this forum. I have spent hours reading it and profited from some
excellent information.
