My First Test :)

[Joinerlavin]

Just set my tank up, put the sand in (eco-complete), put my filter in, and heater and filled the tank up. Going to leave the tank for a day before I start to cycle, but I tested my tap water with my API Master test kit.

Readings :

pH - 7.2
Ammonia - 0 ppm

Thats good isnt it.

Should I test for anything else in the tap water???

 

[GShorty1981]

Yes you need to test for Ammonia,Nitrate and Nitrite...but not yet.

It will be Ammonia 0 because you have nothing in there to create Ammonia (ie: fish waste,food waste)

This is what i do when i first cycle tanks:

Set the tank up,dont bother with decholrinator on the initial fill as you have no bacteria or fish or inverts to harm.

Leave it 24 hours to gas off naturally

Plonk in a prawn from the supermarket and leave it there for a week,it will cause a significant amount of Ammonia (it will go furry)

Take out the prawn then leave the tank for another week or 2 then test to see if the Ammonia/Nitrate/Nitrite has disappeared.

If there is some Ammonia left start your water changes,if there is not start stocking slow with a small fish.

PH 7.2 is perfect for a community tank,most fish are bred in that water and the only times i personally change the PH is if i am keeping Discus,Malawis or Marine.

If you want to keep Tetras and live bearers together then 7.2-7.5 is perfect.

People will start saying well 'Livebearers liek brackish' 'Tetras like acidic' but i can tell you first hand they are fine

 

[minxfishy]

NitrAtes is always a good one to test for, some people have 0, some up to 40ppm, its just useful to know as a guide for the fishless cycle.

Glen posted before me, edit to add, that some people can actually get ammonia traces in their tap water Glen, its not common but it does happen.

 

[GShorty1981]

Yeh that is true,i think it is mainly unreadable amounts tho,Nitrates are usually a definite in tap water,I always get a reading of 0.5.

 

[Joinerlavin]

Well I am going to add the ammonia with household ammonia, and do the fishless cycle which is on this site

 

[GShorty1981]

Cool cool,i have never done it like that,always the way with the Prawn,i dont know if it has any benefits one way or the other (other than do the same thing).

Glad you are reading up before jumping straight in like most do

 

[Joinerlavin]

yea its really anoying thoe, its quite boaring looking at a fish tank with no fish lol

 

[GShorty1981]

Haha tell me about it! been there so many times.

 

[bordercollie05]

If you're interested in live plants, you can add those during the cycle....It's better than nothing at all to play with


Laura

 

[Joinerlavin]

If you're interested in live plants, you can add those during the cycle....It's better than nothing at all to play with


Laura

I am getting live plants but only a few as i only have a 48 litre tank, but I dont want to put them in yet because I read that the tank gets filthy and full of algae, so I dont want to get my plants dirty hahaha.

 

[GShorty1981]

Nooo it will be fine and will stop that as the Plants will enjoy the Ammonia and Nitrates!

 

[Joinerlavin]

maybe i can buy some then, any ideas for a small tank, type of plants with low lighting 15w

 

[GShorty1981]

Cabomba and Java Fern grow like crazy even in low light,definitely recommend these.

Vallis is another popular one but is very hit and miss and most people find 'Giant Vallis' the easiest to grow but would be to big for your tank.