Another Noobie With A New Tank

[BigbruiserAl]

Hi all

I have set up a 50l tank just for snail and shrimp off spring. Now i did everthing wrong with my 1st tank and paid the price, currenly dealing with ich so i cant use anything from that tank.

Now the question is about fishless cycle and i have read the sticky. The new tank is up filter on heater on and water been treated for out the stuff etc. My LFS kindly gave a big bag of gunk from their filter which i added after about 2 hours. Can i just leave this now while testing every few days with my APT kit or do i need to get some ammonia from boots to add?

Here is some pics of main tanks tankmates
Thanks all

 

[Skins]

Yes, you will need to get some ammonia in order to feed the bacteria. A bacteria colony without a food source will die at a rate of 2-10% every 24hrs.

Keith.

 

[weezawoo]

You need to keep ammonia in the tank for the bacteria to feed on and as u cant add ur fish ammonia is the best bet frm boots but keep testing it

 

[Skins]

Forgot to say in my last post, i love your snails.

Keith.

 

[Gvilleguy]

And be patient on the cycle. It can take weeks to get going on the bacteria you need. With a 50L tank I think you will find that about 1.5 ML of ammonia added to the tank will raise the ammonia level to around 5 ppm. Then, assuming you are going with the "add and wait" method, you would wait for that level to drop to around 0 - 1 ppm before adding more ammonia.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Thanks people i thought as much, im slowly picking it up. I Listened to the wrong LFS on the main tank left it for 2 weeks while using the bottle bacteria which i now know is junk! I added 10 tetras and 2 guppys after 3 weeks all died but the guppys. I now realise this was cycling with fish Now i just cant get below 0.25PPM ammonia in the main tank. Im want to do it right this time so will pop down boots in the morning. maybe my LFS will give some more squeezings next week as a top up.


Thanks for your help all

Al

 

[Skins]

Thanks people i thought as much, im slowly picking it up. I Listened to the wrong LFS on the main tank left it for 2 weeks while using the bottle bacteria which i now know is junk! I added 10 tetras and 2 guppys after 3 weeks all died but the guppys. I now realise this was cycling with fish Now i just cant get below 0.25PPM ammonia in the main tank. Im want to do it right this time so will pop down boots in the morning. maybe my LFS will give some more squeezings next week as a top up.


Thanks for your help all

Al

I might be wrong but i think the only way you will get ammonia from boots is to order it online with them and pick it up at the store you choose when it has come in.

Keith.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

oh #28###....hmm didt realise i had to order it in, i assume there is nother tips to get some ammonia in the tank is there?

some said a large pinch of fish food would help but assume its a myth?

 

[Skins]

oh #28###....hmm didt realise i had to order it in, i assume there is nother tips to get some ammonia in the tank is there?

some said a large pinch of fish food would help but assume its a myth?

That will help until you get your ammonia, set your tank temp to 29c.

Keep us all posted, Keith.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

oh #28###....hmm didt realise i had to order it in, i assume there is nother tips to get some ammonia in the tank is there?

some said a large pinch of fish food would help but assume its a myth?

Give them a ring as some stock it and get them to put it aside for you.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Thanks will try the 3 boots i have local someone said hombase may have them

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Thanks will try the 3 boots i have local someone said hombase may have them

Right then got some ammonia and added 1.5 ml to the tank, do I just test and add more to total 5 ppm per day every 24 hours now ?

 

[Skins]

Thanks will try the 3 boots i have local someone said hombase may have them

It will proberly take 1 week until the ammonia gets processed to nitrItes and then a further 2 weeks for the nitrItes to get processed to NitrAtes.
For now dose up to 5ppm and wait a few days and then start testing your ammonia to see if it has started to be processed. In the early stages of your cycle you will only need to dose when your ammonia levels get below 1ppm, then dose back up to the 5ppm level with your h/h ammonia.

Have a good read of the "fishless cycle" article in my signature(bottom of this post), gives you a step by step guide.

Keep us all posted, Keith.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Thanks will try the 3 boots i have local someone said hombase may have them

It will proberly take 1 week until the ammonia gets processed to nitrItes and then a further 2 weeks for the nitrItes to get processed to NitrAtes.
For now dose up to 5ppm and wait a few days and then start testing your ammonia to see if it has started to be processed. In the early stages of your cycle you will only need to dose when your ammonia levels get below 1ppm, then dose back up to the 5ppm level with your h/h ammonia.

Have a good read of the "fishless cycle" article in my signature(bottom of this post), gives you a step by step guide.

Keep us all posted, Keith.

Thanks very much i have no questions about that now lol. I do however other questions and rather then start new post see of anyone can help.

I have a main tank as i said that i did all wrong stats

ammonia 0.25ppm
ph 6.9
nitrItes 0
NitrAtes 20-40 ppm

Tank has been set up since the bad snow so lets say 6-8 weeks no matter what do 25% water chnages to 80% i cant shift that 0.25 ammonia any ideas?

Thank has/had whitspot/ich after turning the temps way up for 10 day it seem to have gone (cant use anything i have snails & shrimp) im a right in thinkning that ich cannot live without water? can i use the gravel filter and net in the new tank if there 100% dry or should a soak them in boiling water or fork out more money for new?

Thanks again defo one of ther better forums for people willing to help, ill pay you back if you need to know anything about poison dart frogs

 

[Skins]

Are you saying that its a under gravel or a internal filter, either way if the gravel or filter media has dried out and there is no chance of any beneficial bacteria being present then a good clean won't hurt.

Keith.