Cycling Diary And Need Ideas Of Fish To Get Once Cycled

[Toastycheese]

Hello, So have had my tropical tank been sitting in my living room filled with aquatic sand and water. It's been like this for quite a while due to money so i thought i would post a diary to try get this tank rolling along.

Here are the Readings for Week 1:
PH- 7.6
High Ph-7.4
Nitrate-0-5.0ppm
Nitrite-0 ppm
Ammonia- 0.25

I'm doing a fishless cycle the food method, as it saves going out and buying ammonia. From the readings i got the PH is a bit high for a tropical tank any ideas how i can get this down. There is literally nothing in the tank except aquatic sand and the water.

My Tank is a Fluval 60L tank, i have my heater and a fluval plus 2 filter.

I'm new to tropical tank, i did a bit in college but not alot really.I know to do about a 25% water change ever 2 ish weeks, but no ideas on what fish to get. Sorry for the long post and any help would be great

 

[fluttermoth]

A pH of 7.4 is fine for nearly all tropical fish, and it's much better not to try and change it; that can lead to swings of pH as the water buffers back to it's 'natural' level; and that's bad for your fish. A stable pH is more important.

There are so many different types of fish, it's hard to advise. Best thing is if you go round your LFS (local fish shop) and write down the names of anything you like the look of, then come home and reasearch them yourself.

Do not rely on your shop to give you accurate information; we see many, many people here with totally unsuitable fish that 'the man in the shop said would be fine in my set up'!

 

[Miles_hot]

If anything for a fishless cycle your pH could go up to 8
The only thing with the rotting food method is qualifying the initial and ongoing levels of ammonia. I don't know what your budget is but household cleaner (ammonia) isn't very expensive

 

[Toastycheese]

The adding ammonia method just looked a bit confusing i'm not too great with numbers so food looked easier lol I'll give the ammonia one a try will get some from boots on Thursday =) Thanks.

 

[Miles_hot]

to make life simple use the calculator in the begineer's section. Just measure the depth of water and the lenght and width of the tank (internal) and pop those in the top of the calculator. Take the volume it tells you and put that in the bottom section and it will tell you how many ml of ammonia (9.5%) to add to the tank. Adding is even easier if you buy a syringe

Miles