Fluval 125

[Fandango]

Hi,

I have just purchased a Fluval 125, all seems to be running ok.

I am trying to go for fishless cycling to start the tank off.

My ph is 7.6 , basically the same as my tap water came out at.

I have added some form of chemical that enhances the bacteria growth
initially and placed 5 plants in.

I wish to lower the ph to around 6.6 - 7.0 to be a safe limit for the
types of fish I would like.

Any thoughts on the best way to lower ph quickly and efficiently ?

Any other thoughts on how I can improve my start ?

Many thanks


Carl

 

[minxfishy]

Whilst doing a fishless cycle its best to leave the ph alone, as it can fluctuate during the process anyway.

After the cycle is finished, what fish were you planning on keeping, unless they required absolutely specific ph, then I would leave it as it is as 7.6 is a reasonable ph for most fish. Trying to alter ph is sometimes a trickly thing to do and it is much better for fish to have a slightly different ph than the 'recommended' and for it to be stable rather than a ph that can fluctuate.

 

[rabbut]

^^ seconded. Fish can adapt to a pH that isn't ideal, but they can't adapt to one in the "ideal" range, but that fluctuates. Unless you plan on some realy sencitive fish, 7.6 is fine

 

[Fandango]

I was hoping to have around 10 - 15 Neons, and few other small fish amounting to around 20 - 25 in total.

Any thoughts on this or other types that will go in community tank.

Ta

Carl

 

[minxfishy]

Yep neons will be fine in that ph, no problems at all.

How about a nice sized group of 5 corydoras, sterbai, peppered or albinos all good and help keep the bottom of the tank active.

Maybe some gourami for the centre piece fish, honey gourami, pearl gourami?? Hard to say unless we know which sort of fish you like the look of, then we can advise on compatiblity and size groups

 

[gaz gun man]

Neons arent the best fish for new tank set-ups mate and prefer a mature tank

 

[Fandango]

Ok ta,

I know several people who have placed Neons and other Tetra into new
set ups with no problems, Im sure though that there are others who
have encountered problems, so not to say there wouldnt be.

I'm ideally looking to have 1 or 2 medium sized fish, and the rest of
Tetra size.


Carl

 

[Fandango]

Update so far is -

Added Aqua Plus yesterday 4 cap fulls - 20 mils approx when we tank set up. Measured p.h at 7.6

Added Nutrafin Cycle today, 4 cap fulls which is approx 20 mil for the 75 litres of water at the moment.


Is there anything else I should be adding or anything which will be better than I am doing now.

I have also measured nitrites/nitrates which reads 0 p.p.m at present.


At what point will my readings start occuring to change and what should they be reading ?


Thanks

Carl

 

[Wrams]

Update so far is -

Added Aqua Plus yesterday 4 cap fulls - 20 mils approx when we tank set up. Measured p.h at 7.6

Added Nutrafin Cycle today, 4 cap fulls which is approx 20 mil for the 75 litres of water at the moment.


Is there anything else I should be adding or anything which will be better than I am doing now.

I have also measured nitrites/nitrates which reads 0 p.p.m at present.


At what point will my readings start occuring to change and what should they be reading ?


Thanks

Carl

Ideally your stats should be:

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 5.0ppm
PH depends on fish but 7.6 is about average

If you can buy a API Master Test Kit from your local fish shop.

Also how long has your tank been set-up? You only need to add water treatments to get rid of chlrorine and chlorimine which is in tap water. The only other thing to add is Ammonia if your doing a fishless cycle.

Add live plants and also you'll need to add ammonia to your tank if your doing a fishless cycle, use the calculator at the top right side of this forum and type in your size tank, but make some adjustments and allow for rocks, filter (Internal only) plants, substrate etc etc.

P.S A fishless cycle can take a couple of months so at the end of the day fishless cycle or fish cycle is up to you. Also theres members on here who will allow you to have there old media which will make your tank ready straight away.

Goodluck!

Wrams

 

[Fandango]

Thanks,

We brought the Master test kit with the aquarium, the one with the 7 various bottles, 4 test tubes etc.

The tank was only set up yesterday and we have not added any ammonia yet.

Had originally decided on fishless cycle but still not certain.

Now thinking on adding a couple of fish for few weeks to start process and gradually introduce few more
and so on.


Any thoughts ?

 

[Wrams]

Thanks,

We brought the Master test kit with the aquarium, the one with the 7 various bottles, 4 test tubes etc.

The tank was only set up yesterday and we have not added any ammonia yet.

Had originally decided on fishless cycle but still not certain.

Now thinking on adding a couple of fish for few weeks to start process and gradually introduce few more
and so on.


Any thoughts ?

Why don't you go to the old media section where other members give away there old filter media? You never know someone might live by
you...

Heres the link Media Donations

 

[waterdrop]

Carl,

One of the main things this whole forum is about is fishless cycling. When a fish is put in water where the ammonia level is above about 0.25ppm the result is that its gills are burned and damaged for life. A few types of hardy fish may live through this but in truth the fish are being maimed. Likewise, the other poison, nitrite (NO2) at levels above about 0.25ppm has a different effect - the fish sit still and pump their gills to no avail because they are being suffocated. The nitrite can attach to the hemoglobin molecules of their blood in place of oxygen molecules.

Since about the 1980's, when the Internet first had "usenet" groups and a few fish hobbyist professors got going on this, fishless cycling has become the humane way to do the necessary preparation of a biofilter for an aquarium. The filter is only a bunch of raw hardware and isn't fully functional until its been operating for long enough under the right conditions to grow the right two populations of bacteria in it.

You are so lucky to have stumbled across this forum prior to having fish. It would be a shame not to take advantage of the wonderful recsources here, the really good article written up by RDD and pinned at the top of the "new to the hobby" group here. Day after day, week after week, all of us members here end up having to help people who come here only after their fish are dying and they don't understand why. Once they realize what's going on and that they now have to do lots and lots of laborious water changes to manually give fresh water to the fish, they almost universally end up wishing they had done a fishless cycle.

It takes patience, which is very, very hard, especially in this day and age, but patience is really one of the special things, it turns out, about the calm peaceful world of our underwater friends. Good luck with your decision and I'm sure the members will try to help you, whatever ends up happening,
~~waterdrop~~

 

[minxfishy]

As WD says we are about fishless cycling here so would recommend that you go down this route, its far safer for the fish and less stressful for the owner as it does not required large 50% plus water changes daily to keep the levels safe for the fish. A fishless cycle does not normally take months as suggested, but somewhere in the region of 4 weeks, which isnt really long and gives you time to research the fish you might like to keep and gain plenty of information on the hobby before taking the plunge with fish.

Beware of the miracle cycle products out there, they do not always work, the fishless cycle is the best way to start and hopefully will keep you and your fish happy for the long term of their lives. There are many people here who will be happy to help you along the way through the cycle should you need any advice or just reassurance that everything is going as planned