Heyy All :d

[daizeUK]

Thanks!
Check that your ammonia is suitable by giving the bottle a shake... if it froths then it's no good.  You don't want the type with surfactants in it.

 

[Typoon221]

Heaters are really not all that expensive to run. Tropical temperatures aren't that hot, for a start; a lot of newcomers are surprised how cool the water feels, its's only just luke warm for most fish. And most people's houses are warm enough that the heater, as daize says, isn't on for much time in every 24 hour period.
 
My eldest son reckons it costs about £2.50 a week to run all my tanks, but I do have six running and two of those are over 200l with big externals (one is a 5'x2'x2'!), so I think that's alright really

Thats brilliant then! I think it was just for my kid that we wanted cold water fish but Tropical fish are so pretty

Im glad they are cheap to run ha ha!!

 
 

Thanks!
Check that your ammonia is suitable by giving the bottle a shake... if it froths then it's no good.  You don't want the type with surfactants in it.

I have just shook it up. had a few bubbles that went within a second or two.. but doesn't seem to froth I have added 3ml of Ammonia to the tank that is roughly filled to 63litres..  The ammonia present in the stuff I have is only 5% so the calculator said around 3 ml.

I have tested with a liquid test and it was at 1 for the ammonia on the chart.

 

[daizeUK]

The calculator says 3.9ml I think, so you could stick an extra 1ml in there.
If the test kit and the calculator disagree, I would trust the calculator.  I've had problems with test kits not reading all the ammonia before.

 

[Typoon221]

Brilliant,

I will keep and eye and if too much ammonia is present I will make a slight water change or just wait longer
 
Thanks for all your help

 

[Typoon221]

Hey,
 
Just to keep you all updated.
 
My tank appears to have entered second stage... Nitrite levels are off the meter (only goes up to 2).

And it appears to be removing any ammonia I put in within about 1 and a half days

so hopefully in a few weeks it will be done

I idiotically added some driftwood to the tank so now its all brown and horrible at the bottom, I am currently boiling the driftwood to remove the tannins.

Should I wait until the cycling process is complete before I start water changes to remove the colour from the tank?

Thanks in advance.

 

[daizeUK]

You don't want to do water changes while your tank is cycling unless you're forced to, e.g. if nitrate gets too high.
If the driftwood is leeching tannins badly you might be better off taking it out and soaking in a bucket / sink / bath until it stops leeching.
Don't boil as it damages the wood fibres, just soaking in hot water is best.