Confused!

[fish-face]

Setting up my first ever tank,i`ve looked on the site for calculating tank sizes and i seem to be confusing myself can anyone tell me approx what size tank i`ve got in uk gallons
height of tank (water)-31 inches
width 29 inches shortest distance 31" furtest distance
tank is 8 sided with panel sides of 12"

next question is i`ve just set the tank up, gravel filter and filled the tank up half way not done anything else i`m looking to add decorations etc plants (live) rocks (told its eaiser to only fill tank up halfway for planting purposes)or do i fill up and have to do anything to get the water right before planting,will be looking to do a fishless cycle,or do i cycle first then add plants,sorry if its a bit confusing but just a bit nervous and dont want to run before i can walk so to speak.

 

[chishnfips]

I am no good with calculations I am afraid, have you filled it up yet?

The avergare bucket is about 10-12 litres, so from that you would be able to work out how many buckets you filled to fill the tank.

4.52 litres to a UK Gallon.

maybe somewhere around 30 - 40 galllons. But I dont know better waiting for someone who is good at maths.

 

[fish-face]

olny filled it half way at the moment

 

[rdd1952]

If I understand the shape of the tank, it is an octagon, 8 sided with each side being 12". I'm not certain about the width dimensions being different so I guess it's not a perfect octagon. Anyway, I calculated the volume to be about 82.45 UK Gallons or 99 US gallons. Hopefully, someone knows of a volume calculator that includes octagon tanks and can confirm that.

 

[Suzi]

you could measure the length and width at the longest sides and then the height... or perhaps search the internet for your tank (if it has a brand) and find out that way?

 

[fish-face]

seems to be a perfect octagon 29"from flat side of panel to directly opposite,31" from seam/join of panel to directly opposite seam/join-if that make sense.
Should i put live plants in now before doing any thing else or fill tank then cycle then add plants?Thanks all for your advice.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.petfish.net/calculators/calculate.php

 

[rdd1952]

http/www.petfish.net/calculators/calculate.php

Using that site, it came out to 101 US gallons for a round tank. I'm sure with theedges straightened out, the 99US or 82UK would be right.

 

[fish-face]

cheers going by that about 88.6 gal,anyone help with the second part of my problem?

next question is i`ve just set the tank up, gravel filter and filled the tank up half way not done anything else i`m looking to add decorations etc plants (live) rocks (told its eaiser to only fill tank up halfway for planting purposes)or do i fill up and have to do anything to get the water right before planting,will be looking to do a fishless cycle,or do i cycle first then add plants,sorry if its a bit confusing but just a bit nervous and dont want to run before i can walk so to speak.

ps just found some good articles in the plants section. )

 

[dwarfgourami]

Plants don't mind being part of the cycle so you can add those now; gives them time to get established before the fish get there, and some of us believe they speed up thecycling process.

 

[chishnfips]

I was way off

 

[bogwood]

Plants don't mind being part of the cycle so you can add those now; gives them time to get established before the fish get there, and some of us believe they speed up thecycling process.

I'll second that...

 

[LisaV]

Plants don't mind being part of the cycle so you can add those now; gives them time to get established before the fish get there, and some of us believe they speed up thecycling process.

I'll second that...

Don't put any plants in if you try a fishless cycle (adding ammonia instead of fish), it upsets the ammonia levels, but also if you're new to fish keeping make sure you read up lots about fishless cycling too if you plan on giving it a go.

 

[fish-face]

Plants don't mind being part of the cycle so you can add those now; gives them time to get established before the fish get there, and some of us believe they speed up thecycling process.

I'll second that...

Don't put any plants in if you try a fishless cycle (adding ammonia instead of fish), it upsets the ammonia levels, but also if you're new to fish keeping make sure you read up lots about fishless cycling too if you plan on giving it a go.

Thanks all for your advice,now let me get this right i`m going to try doing the fishless cycle by adding ammonia so its best not to add plants till this is done.

 

[bogwood]

[/quote]
Don't put any plants in if you try a fishless cycle (adding ammonia instead of fish), it upsets the ammonia levels, but also if you're new to fish keeping make sure you read up lots about fishless cycling too if you plan on giving it a go.
[/quote]

I disagree... real plants in the tank during a fishless cycle will not make that much difference to the ammonia levels...