Hello Everyone

[GRW]

Hi Folks, I'm a total newbie to this hobby. This looks like a really great forum with lots of helpful information and advice from experienced members. I have just taken the plunge and have purchased the Juwel Rio 240 litre Aquarium. My local Aquatic dealer delivered the Rio and I spent most of yesterday setting it up. The water is a little cloudy at present but this appears to normal judging by some of the posts on this forum. I have not as yet added any fish to the aquarium as I know that you have to be patient and only introduce fish stock gradually and in small numbers over time in order to keep ammonia levels down and to promote good bacteria in the tank. I am playing it strictly by the book and am following thr guidelines laid down by my fish specialist. I'm really excited however and am really looking forward to getting my first fish. Can anyone recommend a nice colourful fish that will be suitable for starting the tank cycling process?

Anyway it's great to be here among experts as I am a little apprehensive about geting things right. Happy new year to everyone

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Welcome

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum GRW.

It is good that you have come on here before getting your first fish. It is better for the fish, and much less physical work, if you prepare your filter to process the ammonia before adding any fish at all. That can be done using pure ammonia in a 10% solution, as so many people here have done. The methods of doing a fishless cycle of the filter are listed in the Beginner's Resource Center as are the techniques required to do a fish-in cycle. Both can be done with success if you are willing to do the work required. If you go fishless, the only work usually required is to add a trace of ammonia as needed to simulate having fish in the tank and test the ammonia and nitrites as the process moves forward. A fish-in cycle, the kind your fish specialist has laid out, means just as much testing. The big difference is that instead of adding a bit of ammonia now and then to simulate fish presence, you do large water changes to remove the ammonia that builds up when you have fish in the tank. That can mean changes of 100 litres each day depending on how many fish you choose to start with. If you choose to start with a very small stocking, and are very patient about adding any more, it may only take a few of those changes to get through the cycle. More often people arrive for advice here when their fish are already dying from the ammonia build and they have large enough stock levels that it is a daily 50% water change for several weeks to get through it.

There is a link to the Beginners resource center in my signature area to help you find it and read up on the details.

 

[Harlequins]

Welcome

Congrats on your new tank,i agree with oldman,have a read up in the beginners resource centre about the nitrogen cycle and fishless cycle.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

 

[GRW]

Many thanks for the replies and recommendations. I will have a good read in the beginners resource centre as suggested

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Very welcome to the forum GRW, and you'll get all the advice you need right here.... so far, it sounds like you're off to a great start. On this forum, there are no dumb questions.... so ask anything you would want to know.... The experts are right here to assist! Welcome!

 

[Paigan]

Hello,

I am fairly new to this hobby too, It took me over 4 weeks to research for the perfect starter fish.
I have been to numerous fish stores, both big chains and independent ones. They all seem to agree
on "hard wearing fish". I started off with Terta's the fish are so beautiful, i started with rosy
ones which once settled have some amazing markings. I just added some Phantom ones, and apple
snails which seem to have no problems.

Do not forget to put your friendly bacteria in, a lot of the bigger pet shops will do a water test
for you free. So maybe worth going down to check your levels of ammonia and bacteria levels etc.

You can get home dip stick too. Hope its all helpful and enjoy x

 

[GRW]

Many thanks for the welcome and advice Paigan and Ludwig Venter. I was thinking of tetras as my starter fish. I am getting my first fish on Saturday. I have a bottle of the friendly bacteria. When do I add this to the aquarium? Is it at the same time as the first fish or should this be added days in advance? I have purchased a PH/Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate test kit as recommended by my aquatic dealer. I plan to test the water on a daily basis during the early weeks following the introduction of my first fish. I know I am going to be busy with regular water changes in the early weeks but it will be worth it. On the subject of water changes, I am a little concerned regarding how to ensure the correct temperature of the replacement water going into the aquarium. I have monitored the temperature of my aquarium water since installing the tank on Monday. My thermostat ensures that the temperature ranges from 24 to 26 degrees c. I think this temperature is ok for tropical fish. However a water change could lower the tank temperature considerably and it would take the heater several hours to bring the temperature back up to acceptable levels. Would my fish not therefore be at risk during water changes. How do I ensure that the temperature of the replacement water is acceptable? This is perhaps a dumb question but it is a procedure that I am concerned about.

Many thanks again for the help and a happy new year to everyone on the forum

 

[Ludwig Venter]

My policy has always been that you can take colder water (within limits of course) to the fish, but you cannot take the fish to colder water.... This is however not my field of expertees, but I'm sure someone would be along shortly to help you.