Hi New Member

[Boo1966]

Hi,

I have finally plucked up the courage to join today after studying the forum and reading the new members information for around a month!

I purchased a small tank an Aquastart 320 which was a complete starter package and a week to 10 days later as per the LFS brought some 6 neon tetras as directed by the man in the shop.

Then two weeks later after him checking our water again we purchased 4 ballon Mollys 2 platys and 4 guppies. Unfortunately I have lost all but one of the neons 2 guppies and 1 platy.

I purchased my own Nutrafin testing kit and tested the water each day and did the changes as necessary always adding the declorinator and stress enzyme. My tank is now cycled after 8 weeks. The tank is 27 litres and my temp is 25.

My readings today were:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
PH 7.5.
My Tap PH is 7.5.

I am totally hooked on this new hobby and have purchased a Fluval Roma 200 New from Ebay a complete kit (Orignialy from SeaPets) It comes with a Fluval U4 internal filter, light strips and lots of extras all brand new. I paid £150 for the tank and the cabinet which I though was a good price.

My question is after reading on this site about Fishless cycling I feel this is the way to go! I have read the beginners threads and stickys but am still not 100% about how to do this an wondered if I could seek some advice. I am hoping to purchase black gravel this weekend and move it into its postion this weekend. I am currently soaking some bog wood which has been soaking for about a week! Question 1 How long do I have to soak this? Question 2, is this a good tank? Question 3 Help please with the fishless cycle? I want to do this properly this time but really do not know how to work out once I buy the Ammonia how much to add etc. Question 4 I have not touched the filter in my small tank but I have read about using some of the media from cycled filters but would not have a clue how to do this?

Sorry lots of questions I just want to make sure that I do it properly? I will not move the other fish over until my new take has completed its fishless cycle!

Sorry to waffle but really new to all this!
I live in Medway in Kent anyone else on her from that area?

Thanks in anticipation of some help!

 

[Westwood]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

So you have caught the fish keeping bug

Westwood

 

[Moley.]

Welcome aboard mate

 

[CrazyAirborne]

I have a Roma 90L and think its a great tank, havent had any issues and would happily own another Roma. good luck with ur new tank! fishless cycle is the way to go! u can figure out how much ammmonia to add by checking out the calculator tab at the top of the forums.

 

[Boo1966]

Thanks Guys for the Welcome!

I have now puchased my gravel and Ammonia just need to wash the gravel work out how much Ammonia and get started!

Do I add the bog wood in whilst I cycle the tank it has been soaking for two weeks as it is too big to boil?

Also what about plants as not sure can add them whilst cylcling with Ammonia?

Looking forward to getting started!

I will read the post about pictures and add some but not done this before so will have to see how its done.

Thanks for your kind support and welcome

Theresa

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi Theresa, welcome to TFF

Sorry I've come to this thread so late! Are you transfering the fish from your small tank to the larger one? If you are, you don't need to cycle the new tank at all, you can just move the filter media from the old filter into the new one when you move the fish.

If you really want to go through a fishless cycle (I wouldn't bother!) you can put the bogwood in any time you like, but it's generally recommended that you don't add plants until the cycle finishes, as you need to have the lights on for the plants, and light + ammonia = algae.

 

[Boo1966]

Hi Theresa, welcome to TFF

Sorry I've come to this thread so late! Are you transfering the fish from your small tank to the larger one? If you are, you don't need to cycle the new tank at all, you can just move the filter media from the old filter into the new one when you move the fish.

If you really want to go through a fishless cycle (I wouldn't bother!) you can put the bogwood in any time you like, but it's generally recommended that you don't add plants until the cycle finishes, as you need to have the lights on for the plants, and light + ammonia = algae.

Hi Fluttermoth,

Thanks for the welcome and your post, the new tank is 200litres and the old one is only 27L I will be using a new U4 filter in the new tank and the other tank is only really just finished its fish in cycle and has a little filter that came with it! I do want to transfer the fish over to the new tank but want to make sure that the new completly cylcled and do not want to put the poor fish through anymore stress and ammonia spikes why the new tank cycles. Any advice would be great! I thought fishless cycling my new tank was the way forward ? I would appreciate some advice!

Theresa

 

[fluttermoth]

Well, a fishless cycle is, of course, better than fish in, but once you've cycled one filter, there's really no need to do a cycle ever again; unless you give up fishkeeping and then come back to it!

You can just move bits of media around where ever you want/need them. It's more complicated to try and explain than it is to do!

For example, I set a tank up last week because I wanted to move a couple of fish out of the tank they were in (a pair of rams being too rough for my panda cories). So, I took some of the media from the old tank's filter and put it in the new and I had an instantly cycled tank, ready to go.

You can do the same thing for quarantine or breeding tanks.

You just need to move roughly the right amount of media; so if your tank had 10 neon tetras in it, half the media will have enough bacteria for 5.

 

[algir]

Welcome, and good luck!

 

[colleen0309]

Good Luck and welcome!