Hi Everyone

[dracgg]

Hi
I'm new to keeping tropical fish. I have a 100l tank and currently have male guppies, dalmation Mollies, cherry barbs and harlequins. I am looking forward to being part of the online community and getting advice from all you seasoned fish owners out there

 

[The603]

Welcome, like you I'm fairly new to the forum. There's plenty of experience to learn from here.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Something you can do while learning about the fish is check the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply.
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

The following link has information about what to do if your fish get sick. It's long and boring but worth a read when you have spare time. I recommend printing it out and reading it in bed to help fall asleep

What to do if your fish gets sick

If your fish ever looks sick or unwell, then the following steps might help. Test the Water and Clean the Tank. Test the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH and write the results down in numbers. Check it for general hardness (GH) and carbonate hardness (KH) too if you can, but...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Slaphppy7]

Also, be sure you know about cycling of new tanks: https://www.fishforums.net/forums/cycle-your-tank.291/

 

[dracgg]

Thanks for this I have test strips, and test water weekly and I think it is fully cycled now the nitrates and nitrites have been 0 or just above for a couple of weeks now. I also do a 25 to 30% water change and gravel wash weekly I'm hoping I'm on the right track

 

[Slaphppy7]

Thanks for this I have test strips, and test water weekly and I think it is fully cycled now the nitrates and nitrites have been 0 or just above for a couple of weeks now. I also do a 25 to 30% water change and gravel wash weekly I'm hoping I'm on the right track

The strips are OK for now, but you really need a liquid test kit, I'd advise getting one ASAP...many of us use this one:

API® | FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT

The API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT measures the 4 most important levels in freshwater aquariums quickly and accurately, including pH, high range pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

apifishcare.com

 

[Widdy1961]

Welcome
I’m new here myself but started keeping fish back in the late 70’s before I took a break.
Lot’s has changed over the years, cycling a tank was never anything I’d heard of back then
I would echo what Slaphappy said regards the API Master Test Kit though, from all the reading I’ve done, it appears to be the ‘go to’ test kit, I have one myself
You’ll love it here, so many helpful and knowledgeable members

 

[Jadzir]

Welcome to the world of the fish crazy.

 

[Anonymous Fox]

 

[Tez_20]

Hi @dracgg to the forum.