Fishless Cycling... It's Worth The Wait!

[EmilyC]

There's so many threads on here about fishless cycling, I know I've read most of them!!! I thought I would be nice to post some pictures of my tank once all the cycling business is over! After two months of fishless cycling my tank it's now fully stable, I've been testing like crazy since I put this fish in... all pale yellow and pale blue

The whole tank. I had to change some of the plants, but most have been in since I started cycling.

My tetras like playing with my chain loach!

My favourite new fish, two beautiful golden ballon rams, the picture really doesn't do them justice, they are perfect! I've been told I have a boy and girl, but they look the same to me!

The view from the end of the tank! I love bubbles, so I have two airstones in the tank making some beautiful bubbles!

My cheeky liitle chain loach attacking the plant!

I also have some corys in there which are loving playing in the sand!

 

[Geoff1991]

Did you put the corys in straight after the cycle?

How are they? I thought they did best in a mature tank...

 

[youngfisher]

Very nice tank, and fish. One of the cleanest i've seen

 

[AdAndrews]

yeah, its clean, pretty and well just brilliant, i have always loved thouse tetra's. if you want the plants to do best remove them from the pot

 

[EmilyC]

Did you put the corys in straight after the cycle?

How are they? I thought they did best in a mature tank...

They're fine... very happy... I had them in a briob before with gravel, then I learned that wasn't the best thing for them, they've never been so excited to see sand!! Also I'm checking about 3 times a day to make sure the water levels are stable!

yeah, its clean, pretty and well just brilliant, i have always loved thouse tetra's. if you want the plants to do best remove them from the pot

Thanks! It's just the plant in the back that's still in its pot, the others are all out. I only put that one in last week and I didn't want the corys to uproot it before it had a chance to root!!

Very nice tank, and fish. One of the cleanest i've seen

Thanks! Took ages, but totally worth it!

 

[youngfisher]

I love the rummynose tetras, I've had some before. I was quite suprised how long they get

 

[EmilyC]

I love the rummynose tetras, I've had some before. I was quite suprised how long they get

i've got some cardinals that keep hiding, I'm hoping that they shoal with the rummynose's soon!

 

[waterdrop]

Did you put the corys in straight after the cycle?

How are they? I thought they did best in a mature tank...

Yes, most cories are great for going in straight after the fishless cycle but it does vary some by species as there are two or three species at least that I know of that shouldn't go in right away (.. I think pandas and two of the three pygmy species but I'm not a cory expert so maybe one will come along and help me on that!) The popular bronzy and leopardy types I believe are all quite hardy. (there are at least 200 or 300 types I think, I have it in some old post of mine somewhere..)

Emily! What a lovely and vibrant community tank and so great to hear someone feeling good about following through on all the beginners section info here!

I particularly like the combo of the rummys with the chain loaches - if I hadn't seen your picture I would have never thought what a good visual combo they could be!!

Are your cardinals only in a small shoal? You might just need to bring their numbers up and they are such small waste producers, you could easily cheat your stocking plan a little and get a few more of them but let's hear how many you have and then I or some other member could comment...

~~waterdrop~~

 

[meguro]

I notice your rummys have green patches on the top of their heads. Anyone know what that's about?

edit: I also think the plant with the red colouration on the underside of its leaves is non-aquatic, not sure but.

 

[EmilyC]

Thanks WD... you have to take a lot of credit in helping me get the tank this nice

Yeah I only have 4 cardinals, I thought they might shoal with the rummynose tetras, but nope, they just like to play under the leaves of the plants!

Mequro... yeah Dave also advised that the red plant wasn't really aquatic, so i thought I would leave it in a few days and see how it got on, but it's been in for a while now and seems to be flourshing, so it gets to stay!!!

Yeah the rummys do have a faint green tinge on them, I just went to go and see!! Hard to tell as they never stay in one place for long enough to get a good look at them!!! They all seem fine, so I'm assuming that just the way God made them!!

 

[waterdrop]

Thanks WD... you have to take a lot of credit in helping me get the tank this nice

Yeah I only have 4 cardinals, I thought they might shoal with the rummynose tetras, but nope, they just like to play under the leaves of the plants!

<...>

Thanks EC! Poor Oliver's (my son's) tank usually doesn't look nearly as good as my beginner friend's tanks like yours!

Yeah, you gotta understand cardinals, at 4 they don't have enough to play basketball, much less baseball, which would really get them out from under the leaves..

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Amunet]

Yay, congrats on the tank
It really is a nice looking setup ya have there.
Hopefully your thread will inspire other newbies to have faith in fishless cycling heh

 

[Geoff1991]

Got any pictures of the corys?