Hi all

[Rhianne]

Hi everyone. Got my first tank today - Fluval edge 46l. It’s currently empty so getting some gravel, wood etc tomorrow before filling.
I’ve been reading up on cycling so will be making sure the water is fine before adding fish.
Is it possible to add plants straight away tomorrow or should I wait before doing this?

Any advice for a beginner would be appreciated!

 

[Crispii]

Welcome!

You can add plants at any time.

 

[Essjay]

Hi, welcome to the forum


You have 2 options.
Either a fishless cycle using this method https://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first.421488/ and plant after the cycle finishes.
Or a silent cycle. Plants use ammonia as fertilser and they don't turn it into nitrite. This method involves planting the tank with plants (obviously!) but more than just the odd couple of slow growing plants. We usually recommend floating plants but these won't work with an Edge. Look for stem plants such as elodea or hornwort. Other members will be able to suggest other plants, but we need to remember that the Edge has a small footprint. Once the tank is planted, wait until the plants show signs of active growth then get the first batch of fish. Monitor ammonia and nitrite every day for several days to make sure the plants are taking up all the ammonia before getting the next batch of fish.



While you are waiting for the tank to cycle/plants to grow you can start researching fish. The first thing is to look on your water company's website for hardness - you need a number and the unit of measurement (UK water companies often use different units from fish keeping), though there are 3 water companies which don't give a number.
Then look up the fish you like on Seriously Fish to see if they suit your water and tank length.

 

[Rhianne]

Thanks that’s very helpful. I’m going to go for a fishless cycle so just getting some gravel, wood and a heater tomorrow before filling. I’m in a moderately soft water area although I couldn’t see any other info with Welsh Water.

 

[Essjay]

Welsh Water is one of the three that don't give a number (mine is another). But 'moderately soft' means between between 50 and 100 ppm and 2.8 to 5.6 dH. Those are the two units used in fish keeping and fish profiles use one or the other.
You have soft water in fishkeeping terms, so avoid any fish that must have hard water. There are many soft water fish to choose from

Keep an eye on your pH while cycling. If your water is at the lower end of that band you probably also have low carbonate hardness (KH). If the pH starts to drop, do a water change to replenish the KH even though the method says you don't need to do a water change. Redose ammonia afterwards to get it back to the level it was before the water change.

 

[HoldenOn]

Welcome!

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Beautiful tank - has a lot of potential!

You can add plants any time. Plants actually help cycle your tank better/faster.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy it here.

I used to have one of those tanks a few years ago, well actually it was my partners tank as she wanted shrimps so I set up a nice shrimp set up in that tank, with 3 or 5 endlers (can’t exactly remember as was quite a few years back when I was first starting in the hobby)

Nice design and the filter is actually pretty good for this tank.

The standard light is fine for low demanding plants like anubias, java ferns, java moss, vallisernias, and certain cryptocoryne plants just to help you out a bit for your research on plants.

 

[Retired Viking]

Welcome and please post pictures of your tank when you have it done.

 

[Rhianne]

I’ve just filled the tank today! Bit cloudy at the moment as the sand has gone everywhere!