All Those Things :) ...

[MasterHu]

Hey guys,

Hey around two weeks ago i set up my tank new filter, new everything .. i waited 4 days went and got my water tested, and they said it was fine everything was settling nicely (i have been treating the water)... so i added four fish, they died .. bad times, ... but a day after that my tank went dark, cloudy, and i found out that that was the bacterial bloom, within 3 days the tanks back to clear water..

so im wondering could i possibly go and add a few hardy fish?

THanks

 

[karin]

If you do you will be doing a fish-in cycle. Your tank does not have the beneficial bacteria to support a community of fish without you doing daily water changes.

YOU REALLY NEED TO GET YOUR OWN WATER TEST KIT. This is mandatory if you want to manage your own tank. LFS are notorious for telling people everything is fine when it isn't or it won't be. This is your priority.

Also read about fish-in cycling in Beginner's Resources at the top of New Freshwater Tank section of the forum.

Don't add new fish until you are certain you know what you are doing to culture a new tank.

 

[MasterHu]

where can i obtain a "water testing kit" and which is the best to get ? cheap?..

and as the tank has cleared is this a good sign?

 

[Skins]

where can i obtain a "water testing kit" and which is the best to get ? cheap?..

and as the tank has cleared is this a good sign?

Api freshwater master kit, here is a link to a reliable Ebay seller i use plus you will save a load of cash.

LINK= http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/API-FRESHWATER-FISH-AQUARIUM-MASTER-TEST-KIT-800-TESTS-/190493331118?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item2c5a498eae

Keith.

 

[coldcazzie]

I thought you said you'd read up about cycling? Are you intentionally doing a fish in cycle?

 

[MasterHu]

id like to do a fish in cycle....

thanks..

 

[weezawoo]

A fish in cycle will mean daily water changes and keeping an eye on the water condition with a liquid test kit to help the fish stay alive! It's possibe but you have to stick with the hard work!

 

[coldcazzie]

If you're intending to fish in cycle then fair enough. DO a large water change to make sure your water is nice and clean and then add 2 or 3 fish. Then you NEED a test kit. As mentioned, ebay is a good place to look. You give it 12 hours and test your water. If ammonia or nitrite have risen above 0.25ppm then you water change. If not then give it another 6-12 hours and test again. The amount you change depends on your levels. So, for example, if your levels reach 0.5 ppm after 12 hours, then you need to change almost all your water every 12 hours. This is because, if you change 90% of your water, you remove 90% of the ammonia (which puts your levels back to 0.05% which is almost 0 so good), whereas if you only change 20% for instance, then you've only removed 20% of the ammonia (which would give you a reading 0.4ppm, which is still above 0.25 and therefore still too high). You see why you need a test kit of your own? You can't go to the fish shop every 12 hours to get them to test your water for you. You'll see a pattern after a few days as to how often and how much you need to change to do the fewest changes possible (most people don't like doing multiple large water changes!) while keeping levels below 0.25ppm. Feed sparingly (every 3 days ish) and buy as few fish as possible to reduce ammonia. You only need a trace of ammonia for the bacterial colony to grow, so don't worry about starving them if you remove the water. While fish in cycling, its the fish you need to worry about, not the bacteria