First Tank

[blackers92]

hello, today i got my first fistank, it is 140 litres. It came with 500g GH Conditioning Salts, 250g of Carbonate Hardness Powder and Aquasafe Waterconditioner. It also came with a EHEIM 200 Heater and 20kgs of Grave Substrate.

I am completly new to fishkeeping and dont know that much (iv read a few books so i know abit), i presume i will still need to purchase
-Ph Tester
-Fish Net
-Siphon
-thermometer
-Food (depending on what fish i want)
-Plants and Bogwood
and obviously fish haha

i just want to know if there is anything i have forgotten?

i want to do a fishless cycle but dont know if i can get pure ammonia or if it is too expensive, otherwise i will cycle the tank with some tough fish

i also would like to stock my tank like this,
1-2 bristle nose catfish
a pair of cichlids
3-4 yoyo loach
and maby some tetras?

i would really appreciate any help i cant wait to start my tank, but i know it will take a while to cycle properly

thanks

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Blackers.
Don't worry about the pH test, you need a kit that does pH, ammonia and nitrites. One that many of us use is made by API and called a Freshwater master test kit.
In the US, you can get the ammonia that you need for a couple of bucks at Ace True Value. In the UK I see that people find it at Boots or B&Q. It is found in the aisle with mops and brooms and other cleaning equipment.
One thing that I do not see on your list of things to buy is a filter.

 

[philak]

Welcome to fishkeeping . Patience is going to be your greatest asset right now becuase you probably want to do everything at once . 140 L is a good size tank to start with though.

You will need the things you mention but rather than just a PH tester i would get a full liquid test kit that meaure Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate,PH levels .Something like the API Freshwater Master test kit which can be had for £20-25 pounds (assuming you are in the UK).

Household Ammonia, for fishless cycling, can be bought from larger Boots stores , again in the UK.

If you want to make a start today you could thoroughly rinse out the gravel substrate using some sort of sieve collander abd get that in the tank after giving the tank a rinse out too.

I'm sure plenty of people will be along later to give you more advice but Christmas day may be slower than normal on here.

Good luck

 

[OpalineAqua]

What type of cichlids do you have in mind for your tank?

 

[blackers92]

What type of cichlids do you have in mind for your tank?

im not to sure maby some dwarf cuckatoo? or keyholes. I would definatly like a pair.

I have a pond in my backyard that has about 13 goldsfish in it it is over 800 litres, could i use that water to speed up the cycle similar to matured filter media. Because ammonia is hard to find in australia.

 

[mattlee]

What type of cichlids do you have in mind for your tank?

im not to sure maby some dwarf cuckatoo? or keyholes. I would definatly like a pair.

I have a pond in my backyard that has about 13 goldsfish in it it is over 800 litres, could i use that water to speed up the cycle similar to matured filter media. Because ammonia is hard to find in australia.

im pretty sure you can use the media/sponges from the filter in the pond as these should contain the bacteria needed in your aquarium just transfer some over into the filter of the tank filter to speed up the cycling. im affraid the water is next to useless as the bacteria grows mainly in the filter not the water.
but make sure you buy a test kit as explained by others its an essential piece of kit, try ebay in UK a kit is £18 posted and in the shops theyre about £30. if you cant find any on OZ ebay try UK and see if they will send it over to you API freshwater master test kit.

 

[blackers92]

I ordered a API master kit off ebay australia so they are sold here! i was amazed. It was about $50 but i chose express postage so i can start cycling earlier.

This must sound like the biggest noob question but. When you say "you can use the media/sponges from the filter in the pond" what would i do with it, would i leave the sponge in the tank.. or squeeze the sponge in the tank. Im sure the pond would be able to not filter for a couple of weeks but definatly not 6, which iv have read it can take.

Another problem i have encountered is that ammonia is ridiculosly hard to find
I have checked with my local aquarium store and they pretty much shunned the idea of ammonia but were all for the fishless cycle and tried to get me to buy a refrigerateable bacteria supposedly similar to it. I was not convinced though as they are obviously trying to sell things to me.

I recieved the tank as a gift and it came with GH salts and KH powder, what are these used for.

i bet a few of you are probably cringing at my questions and thinking "why is he doing this he has no idea" but i am really dedicated and just need to be taught. I really appreciate the help

 

[bitteraspects]

dont buy bottled bacteria. there is no such thing. its all a marketing ploy.
beneficial bacteria needs food and oxygen to live, so unless someone at the LFS is constantly "feeding" the bacteria, it is not live by any means.

if you cant find pure ammonia (your best bet is the local hardware store rather than the LFS) you can always go the MP method. get a raw prawn from the grocery or market and drop it in your tank. after a couple of days it will start to produce ammonia. WC along with your test kit will help you cycle your tank.

 

[mattlee]

I ordered a API master kit off ebay australia so they are sold here! i was amazed. It was about $50 but i chose express postage so i can start cycling earlier.

This must sound like the biggest noob question but. When you say "you can use the media/sponges from the filter in the pond" what would i do with it, would i leave the sponge in the tank.. or squeeze the sponge in the tank. Im sure the pond would be able to not filter for a couple of weeks but definatly not 6, which iv have read it can take.

Another problem i have encountered is that ammonia is ridiculosly hard to find
I have checked with my local aquarium store and they pretty much shunned the idea of ammonia but were all for the fishless cycle and tried to get me to buy a refrigerateable bacteria supposedly similar to it. I was not convinced though as they are obviously trying to sell things to me.

I recieved the tank as a gift and it came with GH salts and KH powder, what are these used for.

i bet a few of you are probably cringing at my questions and thinking "why is he doing this he has no idea" but i am really dedicated and just need to be taught. I really appreciate the help

the sponges/media from the pond can either be added directly into the tank filter, they may need cutting to size but that doesnt matter. otherwise as you said squeeze the sponge in the tank water and let the filter pick up the bacteria through filtering the water.
none of these methods will mean your tank is 100% cycled but its a great boost and should cut cycling time down quite a bit. you will still need ammonia source though either pure in a bottle or the prawn method, never tried this but ive seen it mentioned a few times on here. you can do a fish in cycle but this is not healthy for the fish and involves lots of large water changes too
as bitteraspects said dont buy the bottled bacteria its a waste of money you may as well chuck your cash down the drain.....
also dont worry about asking any questions no matter how daft they seem people here will help you out we all started at the beginning and had to learn too you know