Getting Started

[marsdend]

Hi all,

Well i think i have found the tank for me and im looking at purchasing this soon, I need advice on the best way to cycle the tank, I have seen the nutrafin cycle bacteria in a bottle stuff you can get but there are different ways of cycling, im just a bit lost at the moment!

Please can someone guide me in the right direction!

Cheers,
Dan

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Hi Dan

See the beginners resource centre for cycling your tank. Fishless cycling is the way to go - nutrafin cycle will do nothing really. You will need ammonia, which you can get get from Homebase or Boots etc. Dosing this ammonia into your tank will generate the nitrogen cycle, thus giving your tank the beneficial bacteria - again, see the BRC for more info on this...

Any more help you need just reply in this thread, theres always someone to help

 

[marsdend]

Hi Dan

See the beginners resource centre for cycling your tank. Fishless cycling is the way to go - nutrafin cycle will do nothing really. You will need ammonia, which you can get get from Homebase or Boots etc. Dosing this ammonia into your tank will generate the nitrogen cycle, thus giving your tank the beneficial bacteria - again, see the BRC for more info on this...

Any more help you need just reply in this thread, theres always someone to help

Thanks that is great, didn't know whether that stuff was any good or not, could you provide a link to a suitable product on boots website, not sure exactly whgat too look for.

Cheers,
Dan

 

[KkAaNnEe]

http/www.boots.com/en/Boots-Household-ammonia-500ml_923908/

I believe thats the one, cant see much as im using my phone at the moment. What is the tank size and what are you planning to keep?

 

[Aqua Tom]

Hi Dan.

Welcome to our fishy family. Good to see that you are doing research rather than jumping right in.

There are links to all you need in my signature.


Tom

V
V
V
V

 

[marsdend]

http/www.boots.com/en/Boots-Household-ammonia-500ml_923908/

I believe thats the one, cant see much as im using my phone at the moment. What is the tank size and what are you planning to keep?

Well this is the tank im looking at:

http/www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquariums/fluval/fluval-venezia-aquarium-sets/fluval-venezia-190-aquarium-and-cabinet-black-titanium-and-zebrano.html

Its a 190 litre tank, so when ive bought the ammonia how much do i need to use and do i need to condition the water first?

Regards,
Dan

 

[KkAaNnEe]

http/www.fishforums.net/aquarium-calculator.htm

Use the calculator at the bottom

 

[Davehutton92]

hi, good to see your doing your research first personally i would get a API test kit for your cycling they are a great bit of kit

 

[marsdend]

Thanks for all your advice, do you know how many fish I can keep in a 190 litre tank?

Cheers,
Dan

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Depends which fish, do you have any ideas?

 

[marsdend]

Well im looking at the starter pack you can get from here: http/www.directtropicals.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_47&products_id=329

And also a common pleco.

I read the guide for fishless cycling and I was wondering, If i am right with the process below to get started?

1. My Tank is being delivered on Wednesday.
2. Wipe out tank just with water to clean any dust or dirt
3. Assemble tank & stand
4. Dechlorinate water and add to the tank
5. Switch on heater and wait for water to reach temperature
6. Add 10ml of pure ammonia for the 190L tank
7. Wait...

Cheers,
Dan

 

[waterdrop]

Sounds good. Bare tank or tank with gravel fishless cycles can be a bit simpler than when you add more things, so your steps sound good to me. Another minor detail is that when using the ammonia calculator for the first time it is sometimes good to make your calculation but then come in a little low at first on the dose and see what your results look like from your test kit. Coming in a little low is better than coming in too high and having to change out water (concentrations up around 8ppm can encourage a wrong species of bacteria, although it takes a while for that to happen.)

So really, the conditioned water (which will contain some unknown number of the two correct bacterial species, which is what is getting it all started) with circulation via the filter causing good surface movement and being brought up to the correct temperature (29C/84F) is all you really need to get started. Leave the light switched off except for the short periods when you are working in the tank to take your sets of tests. Get a simple spiral-bound notebook (or such) so that your daily log records will still be there on the shelf in a few years when your computer dies, lol.

Most of what it is all about is extreme patience and very methodical recording of your daily test results and observations and then discussion of those with the other members when necessary. Remember that one of the main goals of fishless cycling is for you to get some hands-on feel of the nitrogen cycle and what biofilters are all about so that you will be able to apply that knowledge thorughout your coming years in the hobby!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[marsdend]

Thanks thats great, is it possible for someone to find me the best API test kit to use on Amazon.co.uk? There are so many I dont know which one to use!

Also, can anyone recommend the best tropical fish food for my fish?

Cheers,
Dan

 

[KkAaNnEe]

http/www.amazon.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Master-Test-Kit/dp/B000255NCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311596549&sr=8-1

You need the Master as it contains all the tests you need

Lol careful mentioning the best fish food on here, there has been lots of discussion about it of late... I dont know which to recommend, but I have used Tetramin flake, bloodworms, prima pellets, JBL pellets etc etc

They all are pretty good, the rage seems to be New Life Spectrum pellets... But I havent had a chance to see if they are any different yet

 

[marsdend]

ah right lol, can't wait to get my tank, so exited, how long do the fish usally live for?

Cheers,
Dan