First Tropical Aquarium

[smithyithy]

Decided to start a new thread over here rather than continue with the introduction thread.

Anyway this is my first ever fish tank / aquarium. Picked up the tank with filter, pump and heater, and a rubbish plastic cabinet from Hollybush Garden Centre in the Midlands. Went straight back out to IKEA to pick up a lower wooden unit.

My room's in the loft, so with the layout and sloping roof it's a pain to position stuff, and it was very tedious filling the tank up!

Bought it on Saturday August 11th, got everything set up, gravel in, background on etc. By Monday it was full and running. Here are some relatively uninteresting pictures of that process lol...

Stuff that came with the tank..

Gravel, nice colour?

Choosing a background..

On:

Adding gravel..

Done..

1/4 full lol

And full with plants, decor, and 3 Neon Tetra..

So it's been running for a week now, plants and fish have been in for a couple of days.. I picked up the API master test kit to do regular checks on the water too.

 

[TekFish]

Holy moly, did you cycle that tank

If you didn't; look at the beginners resource center, it's in your new freshwater tank, and look up fish-in cycling it's REALLY important.
Sorry to alarm you.

TekFish

 

[smithyithy]

I had the water in and filter running for 5 days.. The guy at Ripples Waterlife advised me to bring in some water for him to test, to see if the window was still open to do a fish-in cycle..

Tests came back all clear so I got it planted and decorated then put in the 3 Tetras. Doing daily tests and if needed, 25% water changes.

 

[Salam]

I suppose you know what you are doing. I just wish you had listened to us on the other thread I would actually say that all your plants are going to help with the cycling so if you are committed and test daily and change water when needed you could pull it off without major drama.

 

[smithyithy]

I was a bit sceptical but really just followed the advice of the guy at Ripples

Anywho, test results:

API Master Test Kit results..

Normal pH test couldn't give a reading..

High pH test: 8.2

Ammonia: 0.25

Nitrite: 0

Nitrate: 40

 

[Salam]

I'll copy from what I wrote on the other thread:

Uh oh, you are really doing a fish in cycle now. I am actually disappointed with Ripples for selling you fish and bottled bacteria, should have stuck to fishless cycle.

Do a water change now please, ammonia shouldn't go over 0.25.

PH is also very high, some of those fish are out.

I just checked and the limit for bolivian rams and dwarf gouramis is 8, the others are way below that. The neons also won't be too happy in such a high ph. Could you add some bogwood to lower it naturally? I don't assume you want to go down the Co2 route.

 

[smithyithy]

I'll do whatever I can realistically..

I've got no bogwood available..

I'll do a water change now.

 

[Salam]

Good on the water change. You'll find bogwood in most aquatic shops. Pets at Home actually has a good selection and they usually have 3 for 2 offers. Hope all goes well. Please continue sharing the progress.

 

[smithyithy]

Is it worth retesting the pH right after the water change to see if if helps?

I've also got some Nutrafin Cycle, picture's further up the page.. worth a try or leave it out?

 

[Salam]

You can add the Nutrafin cycle. I don't think it will do much, but it won't do any harm, so you never know.

You could re-test, but I doubt there will be much change. Have you tested the ph in your tap?

 

[smithyithy]

Tap water's coming out at 7.5

 

[Salam]

7.5 is much better!

Let me think. Are there any hidden rocks that I can't see in the pics? Something like limestone? What is the gravel? Just normal aquatic gravel?

 

[smithyithy]

Yup, normal aquatic gravel from Hollybush, spent ages cleaning it!

3 types of live plant, the 2 Aztec style resin pieces and 3 resin wood pieces all from Ripples, that's it..

Is it normal for the water to turn alkaline like this? I'd have thought it'd creep into the acidic range like high 6's

 

[Salam]

I'm sorry, but in this case I really can't help out. Am confused why you have such a high ph in the tank but ok range in tap. Nothing of the things you have should have raised it by this much. Have you double-checked the tank ph after a water change? I hope someone will come round here and can advise as I'm stuck now.

 

[smithyithy]

No worries, thanks for the advice

I can't guess why either, I'll keep doing daily water changes while the fish are in there, and hopefully it will level out..