Just Started

[Chunkster999]

Hello!

My Name Is Ross And I Am 15 Years Old And Recently Bought A 180 Litre Tank, Here Is How It Has Been Going


I Bought A Under Gravel Filter And Bought Some Gravel, I Cleaned The Gravel As Much As I Can And Put It In The Tank (On Top Of The Under Gravel Filter) At the moment my tank is only half Filled Up With Water (I Also Bought A Machine That Makes The Special Water For Me ) I Plan To Fill It To The Top Later Tonight.

At the moment my tank is quite Cloudy (From The Gravel) And i hope it shall soon settle, and when i set the under-gravel filter up it goes cleaner

I Plan To Get Around 15 Fish in There In About a month

But My Dad Told Me I Have to Put A couple of mollies In There To Get The Circulation Started For A While



If anyone would like to give me advise on my tank

or what plants and what fish are really nice to have in a tank please tell me

Thanks!!!!

 

[Axleuk]

Hi Ross,

Thanks for joining the forum.

The circulation that your father is referring to is called 'Cycling'. This is needed to give the fish an ideal environment to survive in. It is a good idea that you understand what this 'cycling' is and why it may be needed.

This is a very good start and is highly recommended by forum members. Fishless Cycling

I suggest you give it a read and if you have any questions regarding it, please do not hesitate to post your question here.

With regards to your query about plants and fish. Have you had any thoughts yourself? Would you prefer a live planted environment or perhaps fake plants for easse of maintenance?

Choosing your fish for the tank is not as easy as you may think as you will no doubt change your mind several times. I will allow some other forum members to give their views on what fish to stock as they will have more experience than i currently do.

Good Luck and keep us informed

 

[toshapetriji]

Hi Ross and welcome to TFF. Please have a good read about cycling and tell your Dad there are better ways than to use Mollies to cycle your tank. Fishless cycling is the way to go. Good luck and feel free to ask lots of questions.

 

[minxfishy]

Hi Ross, welcome to the forum

As already mentioned, using mollies or any other fish these days is not considered the best way to start a cycle on your tank, its actually the filter that you need to cycle and the link that Axle gave you will give you a guide on how to do a fishless cycle.

Also have a good read through the beginners resource centre link here: http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...ease-Read-Here/

That will help you in deciding how best to set up the tank, there are also links in there for all the different species of fish you might like to keep, have a look and see which fish you like the look of and then you can come back here with a list of those you like and people here can guide you through the best ones to keep, their compatibility with others and the size tank they required.

Well done for coming on and asking questions first, Im sure you will gain a wealth of knowledge here, that will help you become a lifelong fish keeper

 

[Chunkster999]

Thanks For All Theese Replys

They Rearly Helped Me Alot,

Im planing to get fake plants i think, becaus i hear normal plants need alot of maintance

Once again thanks For Theese Replys

They Helped Me Alot

 

[doresy]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Would you consider scrapping the undergravel filter system in favour of an internal or external power filter?

 

[Chunkster999]

I dont know...

I hear under gravel filters are rearly good

 

[minxfishy]

In all honesty Ross, having never used an undergravel filter, I can only comment on what I have read of other peoples experience with them, which isnt always good. If you can afford it an external canister filter is the best option, they contain more media for the bacteria to thrive on, are easier to keep clean and keep the water much cleaner.

 

[Chunkster999]

Oh, Ok well its coming out of my dads pocket so il ask him ;-)

 

[Efren]

Oh, Ok well its coming out of my dads pocket so il ask him ;-)

lucky you man - - LOL
must look for a "financer" as well so i know where to stand when i upgrade to a bigger tank -

okey, seriously now - - -
we're very lucky to be in this forum mate
so i suggests you to read around - -loads of interesting and helpful topics
it will help you a lot - -

 

[Chunkster999]

Yep, will do, and thanks

 

[rhostog]

...
Im planing to get fake plants i think, becaus i hear normal plants need alot of maintance
...

Nothing against fake plants, and they can look really good, but real plants don't necessarily mean a lot of maintenance. When I started out, I bought 8 random plants (one of these deals in the shop, you know?) and stuck them all in. I add a bit of feed every week when I do a water change. Two of the plants have really thrived and would take over the tank if I didn't occasionally chop bits off them, but that's all I do, just snip with a pair of scissors every now and then. Two others looked very sickly, so I pulled them out. The others are doing OK, and the overall effect is really good. I think you just need to find the plants that like your particular set-up - what does well in one tank will die in another - the ones that do well for me are I think called cabomba and water wisteria.

The plants mop up excess nitrate which they use as fertiliser (the nitrate in my tank is actually lower than in our tapwater, which might be useful for you too in Norfolk - unless from your first post you might be using RO water?), and apparently will also help with any ammonia that's around. The fish like hiding in them, and picking bits of stray food off the leaves. The only downside I've noticed is bits of leaf in the filter, and that they make it more difficult to catch a fish if you need to. You can put the plants in before or during your fishless cycle, so they'll be established by the time you get your fish.

I've just noticed you've got an under-gravel filter - not sure how real plants would work with that. But if you do decide to replace it, then I wouldn't rule out real plants - they can be really easy.

Good luck!

 

[Fruba]

I was gathering from his first post he is using RO water? I was told its maybe not such a good idea/waste of time and effort? but maybe someone with a bit knowledge of it might correct me?

 

[Chunkster999]

Thanks For the info rhostog, Il keep that in mind!!!

Fruba, Im Not experianced, but RO water doesent have the chlorine in it and that can halm the fish



Also, i just like to tell you gyes, My tank is now full, the under gravel filter is up and runing and once its cetled im gona start the cycling

 

[rhostog]

RO water means extra expense and hassle if you don't really need it. Most people use tap water - you just buy a bottle of dechlorinator, costs a few pounds and will last for months, add the specified amount to your tapwater, and that gets rid of chlorine and chloramine.

You only really need RO water if there's a problem with using tapwater - for example, if you're planning on keeping fish which need acidic water, and your tapwater is very alkaline. Most fish will be fine in your tapwater, as long as you use the right amount of dechlorinator.

Good luck with the cycling.