Hi Everyone

[kudos1uk]

First post, hi everyone.

I'm in Ringwood, hampshire & a total Newbie to fishkeeping, dont worry I have not just filled my tank with tapwater & 60 goldfish.

Picked up my tank, cleaned and filled on Thursday, managed to pick up some ammonia from Homebase yesterday (sniffed it to check its not perfumed - not a good idea, nearly passed out).

I don't have any media from another tank so I guess the cycling is going to take a while to be ready for my fish.

My PH is 7 and hard (about 300) don't know exactly until my test kit comes. I know my water company use chloramine, I have ordered some stress coat which is on its way to deal with the chloramine.

I have my heater in at 30c so I think I'm all ready to begin cycling.

Only one question, I need to treat the water even without the fish to deal with the chloramine which will kill the bacteria (or at least slow production) but the stress coat says it removes ammonia too (so does prime), will I have to add more than the calculator says (then test) to compensate?

Anyhow, hope this newbie has not got it too far wrong, I have been trying to read up on your great website.

 

[JHR]

dont worry I have not just filled my tank with tapwater & 60 goldfish.

I literally LOL'd

Anyway im not the best person to answer that question but welcome to the forum buddy, to me it sounds like you arent too far wrong at all, infact youre taking a very good and sensible approach to starting up!

Just out of interest how big is it buddy?

 

[kudos1uk]

dont worry I have not just filled my tank with tapwater & 60 goldfish.

I literally LOL'd

Anyway im not the best person to answer that question but welcome to the forum buddy, to me it sounds like you arent too far wrong at all, infact youre taking a very good and sensible approach to starting up!

Just out of interest how big is it buddy?

I know not everyone will approve but it's a 60l Biorb. Got to start someware.

 

[DrRob]

Welcome. Looks like you've been reading already.

The stress coat will work by turning the ammonia into it's non ionised form, which isn't anywhere near as toxic to the fish. It will mess up most test kits temporarily but the effect will not last too long (but the idea is, long enough for an established filter to deal with it). You want enough to break the chloramine bond and not to worry too much about the protective ammonia effect at the moment.

In a nutshell, no you don't need to add more to compensate, it's still there, and it'll be back until the filter starts dealing with it.

 

[kudos1uk]

Thanks for that, it's going to be a long wait until I can get my fish but at least they will be happy when the times comes.

Off to look at fish tomorrow & get some ideas of what to get when the time comes

 

[JHR]

it's going to be a long wait until I can get my fish but at least they will be happy when the times comes.

you got that right there mate and thats the correct approach!

itll be cycled before you know it buddy dont worry!

and i started off with a 30l biOrb mate and my fish were all fine, happy and healthy.

you may just find that its hard to see your fish at all times due to the shape and magnification and no bottom feeders allowed!

but youll have a great first experience i imagine, especially if you keep up this attitude

 

[kudos1uk]

Many thanks, I will post anything else in the main forum.