Cloudy Tank & Fluval Edge Questions :)

[Corrine]

I've read in loads of places tht a bacteria bloom is quite common in newly set up tanks, and I thnk that's what I've got.. My tanks bn really cloudy now for 3 days since set up ... It's not the substrate ... How long will it last ? Do I need to do anything ?

I have a fluval edge 23litre tank, i currently have 2 red honey gouramis and 2 oto's in there. I now realise tht it's not the most suitable tank for gouramis (although they seem pretty happy ) they will be getting moved into my 180 litre when ready !

Wat could I put in the fluval tht wud stay quite happy in such a small tank ?

Thanks again guys x

 

[Corrine]

Okay I've just found a helpfull post on a cloudy tank/bacteria bloom ... I'll let it run it's course !

Any ideas on the edge x

 

[the_lock_man]

If you can put a decent amount of live plants in there, then a shoal (8-10) of Celestial Pearl Danios (formerly known as Galaxy Rasboras) would look stunning, as would Chilli Rasboras. Both species need decent planting to feel safe. If there is sparse planting, they will hide in what little cover they have. Paradoxically, if there is a lot of plant cover, they will feel more secure, knowing there is somewhere to hide if necessary, so they are more inclined to swim out in the open.

Could you answer me a quick question? How often are you testing your water for ammonia and nitrite?

 

[Corrine]

If you can put a decent amount of live plants in there, then a shoal (8-10) of Celestial Pearl Danios (formerly known as Galaxy Rasboras) would look stunning, as would Chilli Rasboras. Both species need decent planting to feel safe. If there is sparse planting, they will hide in what little cover they have. Paradoxically, if there is a lot of plant cover, they will feel more secure, knowing there is somewhere to hide if necessary, so they are more inclined to swim out in the open.

Could you answer me a quick question? How often are you testing your water for ammonia and nitrite?

Daily water testing just now... as i beleive i am still in a fish in cycle with the edge .. I followed the advice of a very friendly person in my LFS (the one who thought gouramis would be great in an edge ).. I have since changed LFS and it really is great my 180litre Juwel Rio will be up and running with advice from the new LFS and this forum

I really like the celestial Pearl Danios so i'll have a look at them.. not adding anything more till its cycled ...

Ive been doing a 25% water change every 1-2 days on the edge, should i increase the water changes or % changed?

Thanks again for your advice

 

[the_lock_man]

If you can put a decent amount of live plants in there, then a shoal (8-10) of Celestial Pearl Danios (formerly known as Galaxy Rasboras) would look stunning, as would Chilli Rasboras. Both species need decent planting to feel safe. If there is sparse planting, they will hide in what little cover they have. Paradoxically, if there is a lot of plant cover, they will feel more secure, knowing there is somewhere to hide if necessary, so they are more inclined to swim out in the open.

Could you answer me a quick question? How often are you testing your water for ammonia and nitrite?

Daily water testing just now... as i beleive i am still in a fish in cycle with the edge .. I followed the advice of a very friendly person in my LFS (the one who thought gouramis would be great in an edge ).. I have since changed LFS and it really is great my 180litre Juwel Rio will be up and running with advice from the new LFS and this forum

I really like the celestial Pearl Danios so i'll have a look at them.. not adding anything more till its cycled ...

Ive been doing a 25% water change every 1-2 days on the edge, should i increase the water changes or % changed?

Thanks again for your advice

No probs.

You need to base your percentage change on the level of ammonia and nitrite that you find when you test. If you find more than 0.25ppm, then 25% isn't enough. You need to keep those two poison levels down well underneath 0.25ppm at all times. If you find you've got 1ppm or more, then a 25% change is, if you'll pardon the pun, just a drop in the ocean. Let the maths guide you. If you have, say a level of 0.5ppm, then a dilution of 25% will still leave you with 0.375ppm. Doing a 75% change, however, will leave you with 0.125ppm, which is in the nominal "safe" zone.

I phrase it that way because any ammonia or nitrite at all is harmful, but there needs to be some level that's kinda safe, otherwise you would just be constantly changing water. And that's where the 0.25ppm level that I keep banging on about comes from.

 

[Corrine]

okay great advice .. I didn't realise the maths of it was quite that simple .. I just checked levels and they were: pH 7.4, Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 0.40 .. do these results sound okay.. im on week 2 of cycle ?! Im planning a water change tonight anyway !

Will the otocinclus be okay to stay in the 23l edge?

Thanks

 

[the_lock_man]

okay great advice .. I didn't realise the maths of it was quite that simple .. I just checked levels and they were: pH 7.4, Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 0.40 .. do these results sound okay.. im on week 2 of cycle ?! Im planning a water change tonight anyway !

Will the otocinclus be okay to stay in the 23l edge?

Thanks

In ideal circumstances, you'd do a 50-60% change now, and test again tomorrow. If you've got the time to do it now, then it would be best, as you're right on the "safe" limit.

I think the otos would be too big for the Edge, and they'd appreciate some playmates in the larger tank.

What I suggest is to concentrate on this tank for the moment. A 50% change in an Edge is only 1 or 2 buckets, so it's really easy to do. It's a helluva lot more work in a 180l. Get the Edge cycled properly, this will take a few weeks, maybe a couple of months. It will get easier, (ie less work) as the bacteria colonies build in size.

Once it's done, and you can go a whole week without showing ammonia or nitrite levels at all (Double Zeros), then fishless cycle the 180l. Have a look in the Beginners Resource Centre about how to do this, it's so much less work, and so much less poison for the fish.

 

[Corrine]

okay great advice .. I didn't realise the maths of it was quite that simple .. I just checked levels and they were: pH 7.4, Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 0.40 .. do these results sound okay.. im on week 2 of cycle ?! Im planning a water change tonight anyway !

Will the otocinclus be okay to stay in the 23l edge?

Thanks

In ideal circumstances, you'd do a 50-60% change now, and test again tomorrow. If you've got the time to do it now, then it would be best, as you're right on the "safe" limit.

I think the otos would be too big for the Edge, and they'd appreciate some playmates in the larger tank.

What I suggest is to concentrate on this tank for the moment. A 50% change in an Edge is only 1 or 2 buckets, so it's really easy to do. It's a helluva lot more work in a 180l. Get the Edge cycled properly, this will take a few weeks, maybe a couple of months. It will get easier, (ie less work) as the bacteria colonies build in size.

Once it's done, and you can go a whole week without showing ammonia or nitrite levels at all (Double Zeros), then fishless cycle the 180l. Have a look in the Beginners Resource Centre about how to do this, it's so much less work, and so much less poison for the fish.

Okay i'll get to it now.. yes it has been easy doing water changes on the edge ... 2 small buckets and its 50% !

Thanks for all your advice .. im sure ill be back with more questions soon

 

[Corrine]

moved.. sorry