Complete Newbie

[luque]

it could take longer, but good luck

and just abit of advice from experience of keeping 5 male guppies together they get on fine, never seen any agression. so i'd go with them

 

[mark.w.jones]

I did mention earlier about doing a fishless cycle using the "Add and Wait" method from the link in my signature. Leaving your tank running empty for 10 days using those products is a complete waste of time. You either need to fishless cycle using ammonia solution which is easier than it sounds or do a cycle with fish. The latter is the least preferred option IMO as it damages the fish that are in there and also takes a couple of months before you are fully stocked. A fishless cycle is usually complete within 4 - 6 weeks and you can then fully stock your tank almost straight away.

 

[thelostprophet]

So the people at the fish are telling me complete lies?

Grrr getting really annoyed with the lack of knowledge at these places.

I went down their today to talk to him about it and he said i need to put fish in to get more ammonia for the bacteria etc. Is that just a cycles using fish then?

 

[vinylman]

Oh dear; LFS strikes again. Yes, adding fish will add ammonia to the tank. Unfortunately, ammonia will also permanently damage the fishes gills, and may kill some of them. Can you ask the LFS if you can have a little used filter media (sponge) to kick start your own?. As for SafeStart, it was tested in Practical Fishkeeping magazine and although the ammonia didn't get very high, the Nitrites still did, which is almost as bad. The LFS want you to put fish in now? - of course they do; if the ammonia kills them, what will you do then?. Go back to the shop and buy some more, of course. Not all LFS are the same, of course, but this is a very familiar story. Just spend some time reading the pinned threads on this site and you should get a much better picture of what happens when you start a tank. We're not here to take your money, either. Just don't rush things at the start; take the time to get things right now and you'll save a LOT of problems later on.

 

[thelostprophet]

Just did some tests on my water

pH is 7.6
Nitrite is 0
Ammonia is 0.25
Nitrate is between 20 and 40.

Is that looking good? It was setup on monday so its been 4 days so far.

 

[thelostprophet]

Anyone??

 

[rabbut]

Have you added an artificial source of ammonia yet? either way, no the tank is not ready for fish, as there is detectable ammonia in the water. Are you using dip strips or liquid kits?

Rabbut

 

[thelostprophet]

Have you added an artificial source of ammonia yet? either way, no the tank is not ready for fish, as there is detectable ammonia in the water. Are you using dip strips or liquid kits?

Rabbut

No i havnt added any ammonia yet.

Im using a a liquid kit.

I think ive got some ammonia downstairs ill go check as the tank came with loads of stuff.

 

[rabbut]

Have you added an artificial source of ammonia yet? either way, no the tank is not ready for fish, as there is detectable ammonia in the water. Are you using dip strips or liquid kits?

Rabbut

No i havnt added any ammonia yet.

Im using a a liquid kit.

I think ive got some ammonia downstairs ill go check as the tank came with loads of stuff.

Its unlikely that the tank came with ammonia, and only some of the household stuff is safe to use. Please post if you are in the us or uk, so we can advise on whats available to you, that would be safe to use

All the best
rabbut

 

[thelostprophet]

It came with a bottle of Nutrafin Aqua Plus which is for removing chlorine and chloramine.

Then two bottes of Nutrafin "Biological Aquarium Supplement"

By the looks no ammonia. I know i need to add ammonia for the bacteria to survive. How long before the bacteria will die without it?

 

[rabbut]

It came with a bottle of Nutrafin Aqua Plus which is for removing chlorine and chloramine.

Then two bottes of Nutrafin "Biological Aquarium Supplement"

By the looks no ammonia. I know i need to add ammonia for the bacteria to survive. How long before the bacteria will die without it?

Practical size colonies will suffer in a few hours. That is why most bactirial supliments don't work. Try to find a bottle of ammonia solution. In the UK, Boots own brand ammonia is good, and the stuff I personaly use

 

[thelostprophet]

Have you added an artificial source of ammonia yet? either way, no the tank is not ready for fish, as there is detectable ammonia in the water. Are you using dip strips or liquid kits?

Rabbut

No i havnt added any ammonia yet.

Im using a a liquid kit.

I think ive got some ammonia downstairs ill go check as the tank came with loads of stuff.

Its unlikely that the tank came with ammonia, and only some of the household stuff is safe to use. Please post if you are in the us or uk, so we can advise on whats available to you, that would be safe to use

All the best
rabbut

I live in the UK. I bought the tank second hand so it came with all the stuff the previous user had.

I assume you would advise against a cycle with fish?

Practical size colonies will suffer in a few hours. That is why most bactirial supliments don't work. Try to find a bottle of ammonia solution. In the UK, Boots own brand ammonia is good, and the stuff I personaly use

How can i tell if the bacteria is still alive? Since i added the bacteria on monday ill guess its all died of by now?

 

[SJ2K]

Yeh a cycle with fish isnt a great idea, just head down to your local boots/wilko/homeware store and get yourself a bottle of house hold cleaning ammonia.

*Edit*

The bacteria probably wasnt ever there in the first place, bottled bacteria doesnt work and if it did, yes its long dead by now, fishless cycle it is then.

 

[rabbut]

I live in the UK. I bought the tank second hand so it came with all the stuff the previous user had.

I assume you would advise against a cycle with fish?

Usualy yes, but there are occasions where fish-in cycling is the only option. Did tha tank come with fish?

 

[thelostprophet]

No i didnt....

Arrgh this is far more complex than i needed to be lol. This is the problem with having everyone LFS tell you something different.

Where do i go now then?

Ill assume i have a tank full of De-Chlorinised water but with no bacteria.

Add more bacteria and ammonia?