Help With New Tank

[newbie011]

Hi all, brand new member on here so bear with me!

Ive recently setup a fishbox 60 aquarium, which came with interpet PF2 (i think) filter and interpet heater. Along with Tapsafe and Filterstart.

Ive setup all as instructed, I have substrate (washed thoroughly) and a few plants (also washed).

I also setup the heater as instructed, and the filter as instructed. the kit also came with Interpets Filter Start, which apparently cycles your filter ready for first use. It advises to add to the tank every 2 days for 2 weeks. Which I have done.... all before adding any fish. I am now at the stage where I am supposedly ready to add fish, but have not bought a tester kit as of yet.

My main concern is that all seemed to go fine for the first week and half, and suddenly after finishing my Filter Start cycle of two weeks, the water has now gone very cloudy! It has stayed cloudy for a good few days now.

I have read up online as to causes, and can only find 'bacterial bloom' as a possibility....

Most places advise I need a 'fishless cycle' with ammonia before I add fish... will this take away my cloudyness?

I have no fish and all I have added to my water is Tap Safe (dechlorinator), and a cycle of Filter Start.

Please treat me as a blank canvas... I know nothing!

HELP!

Thanks

 

[the_lock_man]

Your cloudiness is probably a bacterial bloom, many newly set-up tanks suffer from this. It normally clears itself in a few days.

Most forum members doubt the effectiveness of Filter Start, and similar "instant cycle" products. I can only speak from my experience, which was that when I used one (not the Interpet one) it made little appreciable difference.

I think your best bet is to go into a fishless cycle, the Add & Wait method is favourite. Have a read up in the Beginners Resource Centre, a link to which appears at the top of this forum. To answer your question, it won't take away the cloudiness. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like, there are always plenty of willing helpers on hand to answer.

 

[HayzH]

Your cloudiness is probably a bacterial bloom, many newly set-up tanks suffer from this. It normally clears itself in a few days.

Most forum members doubt the effectiveness of Filter Start, and similar "instant cycle" products. I can only speak from my experience, which was that when I used one (not the Interpet one) it made little appreciable difference.

I think your best bet is to go into a fishless cycle, the Add & Wait method is favourite. Have a read up in the Beginners Resource Centre, a link to which appears at the top of this forum. To answer your question, it won't take away the cloudiness. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like, there are always plenty of willing helpers on hand to answer.

+1.... I agree. the "cycle in a bottle" are useless..and poss cause of the bloom.
get a bottle of Ammonia (Jeyes household cleaner) and have a jolly good read of the beginners resource centre...everything you need to know is in there...and there are plenty of fab ppl in here to answer and any Questions you have...
Just to add...... DO NOT go get any fish. You need to do a fishLESS cycle first.
as tempting as it is..you do need a properly cycled filter on your tank x

 

[newbie011]

Thanks for the speedy response.

I think I will go into a fishless cycle, once I have read up a little more info on this.

I have had the cloudiness now for more than a few days, if a cycle doesnt clear this up, what will?

Do I need to start replacing water? Or do you think it will clear on its own in time?

Thanks

 

[the_lock_man]

Generally it clears itself up, but a water change will help.

 

[newbie011]

thanks!!

Ill start a fishless cycle this weekend and try the add and wait method (ive just had a read of the beginners resource section)

Excuse my ignorance, but whats the easiest way to change water, and how much would you recommmend? The guide says around 75-90% change after ive completed the cycle.

Thanks in advace guys... and any other tips you think ill find useful are greatly appreciated!

 

[the_lock_man]

During a fishless cycle, you don't change water much - just keep an eye on pH, if it drops too low, you may need to change water, to boost pH up to levels that bacteria will grow at.

At the end of the cycle, you do a large change to get rid of the built-up nitrate.

For ongoing purposes, I change 30% every week. I use a syphon tube, which allows me to vaccuum up detritus from the substrate, into a bucket. The bucket water gets chucked into the garden - every now and then, you can rinse the filter sponges in the old tank water as well.

Then fill the bucket up with dechlorinated water (AquaSafe, or whatever), at roughly the same temperature, I then use a smallish jug to refill the tank from the bucket.

That's what fits my circumstances, but so long as the temperature is matched, and the new water is dechlorinated, you'll be fine.

 

[newbie011]

Thank again!

Would I be right in assuming that my ammonia should get broken down a little quicker as I have already dosed the water with the filter start? So there should be bacteria already in the tank?

Also any tip on which test kit is best to use, for beginners?

 

[CezzaXV]

The filter start will probably have done vey little to be honest. If you already had it it cant hurt to use it, as the worst that can happen is it's ineffective, so you might as well go ahead. Unfortunately, even if there were bacteria in it, they'll likely have died off without a source of ammonia to feed them.

For a test kit, most people rave about API or Salifert. I'm a big fan of the API one though I've not tried the Salifert one

 

[newbie011]

Great stuff,

So a bottle of pure ammonia and an API master test kit all I need? Ill pick up on Sat.

Any suggestions / ideas on types of fish for a 60L aquarium? I understand this depends on PH levels, but assuming thats fairly normal how many and what types of species would mix well and be ok in a 60L tank?

I do like neon tetras, but would like some larger fish too. (again im a complete novice with species etc)

Appreciate all the help guys

 

[CezzaXV]

Pretty much, though you may also want a syringe or pipette to make measuring out ammonia easier. There is a guide in the beginners resource centre at the top of this forum on where to find ammonia which may help you. I've heard that Boots don't stock it but can order it in for you, or Homebase might have it. I ended up ordering online.

I've got a 60L and my plan is to keep a betta, 6 leopard cories and 10 neon tetra in I once it's cycled. This would be overstocked by the official stocking guide, but a little overstocked is alright as long as you keep your water quality high.

 

[the_lock_man]

Homebase have ammonia on the shelf.

 

[newbie011]

Cool,

I have a pipette which was provided with my filter start solution, is it ok to use this provided I steralise?

Just had a look at the betta on google images, looks nice!

Is there a guide on how many to add at once? Is it better to start with a few and build up?

 

[the_lock_man]

Cool,

I have a pipette which was provided with my filter start solution, is it ok to use this provided I steralise?

Just had a look at the betta on google images, looks nice!

Is there a guide on how many to add at once? Is it better to start with a few and build up?

If you're going to do a fishless cycle, then once it's cycled, you can fully stock the tank. THat's one of the major benefits of doing a fishless!