Greeings All, Newbie And There Tank And A Few Questions

[Jabb3r]

Hi each nice to be here. I just setup my tank yesterday and are waitin for the g/f to source me some amonia so I can start a fishless cycle.

I've de-chlorinated the water and the temp is currently 23.5c + or - a degree (according to the thermometer packaging.

I want just a basic peaceful community tank, not overly stocked or anythin, would like to prevent algae growth if poss which leads me to my first question...

If I stick with plastic plants will it encourage algae to grow as I wanted to limit my costs from now on and I know different lights are needed for different plants etc (spent over £300 so far, alot for me lol). Tank is not in direct sunlight also.

All thats in the tank currently is the gravel (that'll prolly need a spreading tweak here and there), a piece of bogwood and the heater. I wanted to maximize the swimming space for the fish, but I was intending to add some plastic plants soon to give it a more natural look.

I tested the ph level of the tank water last night which leads me to my 2nd question. I use tetra 6 in 1 test kit (have the amonia ready when needed) but the results are not as accurate as I would have hoped for. Seems to be a bit of play on the chart you use to compare so was wonderin if theres a more accurate test kit or it's really just about being in the right area e.g it seemed that my ph level was between 6.8 and 7.2, but can't be more accurate than that.

Lastly (for now) I was wanting to use a dual air intake pump (Tetratec 300) and have 2 stones in the tank. I was wondering if that would be ok and which way around these check valves should go. It says on packaging arrow pointing towards the stone but I can't see this magic arrow anywhere on them. They are Betta check valves, I assume it's the narrow end that would point to the stones but I aint totally sure.

Thats it and thanks for havin me

Edit: Some specs

Tank = Aqua One Aqua Style 620
90 Litres = About 20 gallons?
Usin the Hood Filtration currently (with a quick mod to reduce the sound of the dripping)

Thanks
Jab

 

[Skins]

Welcome to TFF

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi Jabb3r, welcome to the forum

I know it seems unlikely, but fish are fine with just the ambient light from the room. You will get algae if you have the lights on too long, so if you're not having live plants, then your lighting only needs to be on while your actually there watching the fish.

Test strips are notoriously inaccurate. I know you don't want to spend too much more money, but a good Master test kit that uses reagents and test tubes is a worthwhile investment. The API one is the one most people on here recommend and you'll find it invaluable during your fishless cycle. Those kinds of test kits do last for a very long time; at least a year under normal circumstances, so they do work out as being quite good value overall.

As for your check valves; blow through them; one way they will let the air through and the other way they won't, so you can work out which way they need to be put in

Hope this helps, and best of luck; there'll always be someone about here to answer any more questions you might have

 

[Jabb3r]

Thanks for the replys guys. I shouldda thought about the air thing lol. See I aint lyin. I am a n00b

Edit: I tried the check valve suggestion but air doesn't seem to pass through whichever way I blow. Faulty valve?

Edit2: Tried it on the actual pump (noisy thing!) and seems ok then, v strange. Got 2 of um and one works like you say it should but other only works on pump, Guess I aint got the lungs anymore, lol

 

[Aqua Tom]

Get yourself a liquid based test kit. I have a nutrafin one but there are lots more. The API seems to be the one a lot of people use, you can get them for £20ish from Ebay & are well worth the outlay as they are very accurate.

Helpful linky

If you are going down the artificial plant route I have a few you can have for free if you are in the uk.

 

[Jabb3r]

Get yourself a liquid based test kit. I have a nutrafin one but there are lots more. The API seems to be the one a lot of people use, you can get them for £20ish from Ebay & are well worth the outlay as they are very accurate.

Helpful linky

If you are going down the artificial plant route I have a few you can have for free if you are in the uk.

That'd be awsome Tom. I am in the UK, Gloucester . Yeh artificial sounds a bit better than plastic hehe

 

[Aqua Tom]

No problem. Please PM me & we will organise postage. I think you need to be verified to pm so may take a while.

 

[Jabb3r]

No problem. Please PM me & we will organise postage. I think you need to be verified to pm so may take a while.

Rgr, will do it now or asap. Thanks again.

 

[Jabb3r]

Smee again. Where do you guys source the 9.5% Household Ammonia from?

G/f was told by boots they don't do cleaning products and that ammonia is now illegal to buy in UK because drug addicts use it. I guess it didn't help askin for syringes @ the same time. Only plastic ones mind. I'm @ a loss and I really need some to start me cycle.

Also any tips for quieting down those airpumps, speciffically a Tetratec 300 or should it be better when it's fully hooked up?

And also what are the steps to PM on here cause I can't see any option and I don't know if I've been verified whatever that means.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Boots DO sell Ammonia you just cant buy it over the counter anymore. You can order & pay for it online then have it delivered free to your local boots store & go collect it.

Boots Household Ammonia

And also what are the steps to PM on here cause I can't see any option and I don't know if I've been verified whatever that means.

The moderators have to Verify you, it means that they trust you not to be a spammer & suchlike things.

 

[Jabb3r]

Boots DO sell Ammonia you just cant buy it over the counter anymore. You can order & pay for it online then have it delivered free to your local boots store & go collect it.

Boots Household Ammonia

And also what are the steps to PM on here cause I can't see any option and I don't know if I've been verified whatever that means.

The moderators have to Verify you, it means that they trust you not to be a spammer & suchlike things.

Lol I just put in an order for that exact thing to collect from store next week. Great minds eh. Hopefully I'll get verified soon then and not be labelled a troll. Cheers

 

[Jabb3r]

Just checked me tank. Couple of things.

1 the first filter in the hood and the spray bar has gone a bit brown.

2. The water is of a yellow tint.

I think the bogwood I soaked alot before hand has still bit me in the #16#####.

Will large water changes clear that up over time? I knew fishless was the way to go...

Edit: Done a lil research and looks like carbon media is the way to go. Something else to buy. g/f will be happy.

 

[fluttermoth]

The brown in your filter and spray bar is probably diatoms; a kind of brown algae. It's very common in new tanks and will clear up in time. It's nothing to worry about; it doesn't do any harm.

The yellow tint will be tannins leaching out of your bogwood. Some peices of wood seem to leak tannins for an absolute age, but again, it's nothing to worry about; certainly not while you're cycling. Some fish come from places where the water is like that naturally (that's why neon tetras are so brightly coloured, btw; it's so they can see each other through the 'black water' where they live).
If you want to leave it it won't do fish any harm; if you don't like the look of it, you can add activated carbon to your filter, and that will remove the tannins.

 

[Jabb3r]

Ahh ok. That must be these blackwater setups I was readin about. I'll keep an eye on the filter, the tannnin isn't severe by any stretch yu can just tell. As long as it aint causin any harm then I aint as concerned as I was an hr ago lol but I wil grab some activated carbon sometime soon as the colourin aint really to me preference.

Thanks for the quick response

 

[Jabb3r]

Ok got me tub of activated carbon pellets, includes netting bag do I just fill the bag up and put it in place of my ceramic noodle things in the second tray or something else?