New Hobby, Need Some Help!

[cturner14]

Hello Everyone,
 
I was on holiday in Canada in October, where I walked into a Pet-shop.... walked out an hour later having fallen in love with the tropical fish on display. So after I returned from holiday I ordered a Juwel Rio 125.
 
I received my tank on Monday, set it up. Bought 7  plants which look lovely. I used water conditioner and also started my tank with some Tetra Safestart. I haven't added fish yet even though safestart states you can introduce a small amount of fish.
 
I have just received my API testing kit. Results ;
 
PH - 8.0
Ammonia - 0.50
Nitrite - 0.00 ppm
Nitrate - 40ppm
 
Just looking on some feedback on these results if possible, I have read various pages on the internet. some say the ph is to high, some say its ok.
 
What figures should I be looking at? and how can I achieve them. I know ammonia needs to be 0.00. Tanks been set us for 3 days now.
 
Ideally I would love to get a couple of fish this weekend, but want my results to be safe for this fish first.
 
Thanks for reading this, and I appreciate your help.
 
Cal
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[baker360360]

Welcome...

Best to wait for a full cycle, that way you will reduce any chance of getting into deep water. As for your ph it may drop a little but it's perfect for a cichlid setup.

Best of luck.

 

[Madness13]

Welcome! You will need a source of ammonia to begin the "nitrogen cycle".
 
Give the blow link a good read and if there are any questions, please feel free to ask.
 
I'd strongly advise against buying fish until the cycle has completed, because there's a very good chance the high levels of ammonia/nitrite will kill them, or greatly shorten their life span.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

 

[Smelliot]

to lower your pH you can add drift wood.

 

[CrimsonBoli]

Just to say, congratulations on starting your tank the best, smartest, and quickest way! 
 
A PH of 8 is not too high, but it depends on what fish you are planning to keep. Some will like/tolerate it higher. Some prefer it below 7.0. Do you have an idea on your stocking yet?
 
Also GH and KH should be checked as well as it is a parameter that some fish are sensitive to. And temperature

 

[cturner14]

Just to say, congratulations on starting your tank the best, smartest, and quickest way! 
 
A PH of 8 is not too high, but it depends on what fish you are planning to keep. Some will like/tolerate it higher. Some prefer it below 7.0. Do you have an idea on your stocking yet?
 
Also GH and KH should be checked as well as it is a parameter that some fish are sensitive to. And temperature

 
I prefer smaller fish and have been looking at the following (nothing decided yet)
 
zebra danio 
cherry barbs
cardinal tetra 
black phantom tetra 
rummy nose tetra 
dwarf gourami. 
 
I do like the look german blue rams, but think I will wait until I am bit more experienced.

to lower your pH you can add drift wood.

I have two large bits already in there!

Welcome! You will need a source of ammonia to begin the "nitrogen cycle".
 
Give the blow link a good read and if there are any questions, please feel free to ask.
 
I'd strongly advise against buying fish until the cycle has completed, because there's a very good chance the high levels of ammonia/nitrite will kill them, or greatly shorten their life span.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

Thank you for the link, I will have a good read tonight after dinner.
 
This tetra safestart product which my local shop advised me to start with, I know its basically bacteria that I have effectively added to my tank to get the process started...(so I was told)
 
are these products a load of rubbish then? or are they just cutting corners for impatient people ? 
 
I was told to set tank up, add safestart, wait a week, add fish. 

 

[fluttermoth]

The general feeling here is that most of these products don't work.

Some of them may (safe start is one that people have had good results with, tbf), but they're best used in conjunction with a fishless cycle, rather then relying on them on their own.

 

[Fishmanic]

I used a bacteria booster and dosed with ammonia.  Still took 35 days to complete the cycle properly.      You will be rewarded with healthy fish.   Just follow the directions on this site.

 

[l_l_l]

From a lot of reading, you will realize that the more patience you have, the better of a fishkeeper you will be.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

A proper bottled bacteria will get a tank fully cycled in a week or so. If it takes you 35 days it means there was nothing helpful in the bottle. Safe Start is the second choice for starters after Dr. Tim's One and Only. The Tetra product is harder to use due to more complex instructions that must be followed carefully.
 
I wonder how you got ammonia into your tank without adding any.

 

[Madness13]

I honestly wouldn't bother using any kind of "bacteria starter" and let nature take its course.
 
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kleen-Off-Household-Ammonia-Suitable-for-fishless-aquarium-cycling-500ml-/230928834948?pt=UK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item35c46e6184
 
I bought some of this, loads of people use it to start their cycle.
 
Go to Google and type in "Aquarium Calculator". Hit the first page that comes up and at the bottom there'll be a Fishless cycling calculator. Fill out that stuff and it'll give you exact measurements of ammonia you need to add into the tank to get it going.

 

[l_l_l]

A proper bottled bacteria will get a tank fully cycled in a week or so. If it takes you 35 days it means there was nothing helpful in the bottle. Safe Start is the second choice for starters after Dr. Tim's One and Only. The Tetra product is harder to use due to more complex instructions that must be followed carefully.
 
I wonder how you got ammonia into your tank without adding any.

Maybe he put his hand in the tank after going to the bathroom

 

[daizeUK]

 
Maybe he put his hand in the tank after going to the bathroom

 

 
Ugh that's gross!
 
Welcome Cal
 
Don't worry about your pH, I have pH 8.2 and I am just a little more careful about which fish I choose to make sure they can cope with my hard alkaline water.  I can give you some ideas for fish who will be happy at that pH if you like.

 

[cturner14]

 

A proper bottled bacteria will get a tank fully cycled in a week or so. If it takes you 35 days it means there was nothing helpful in the bottle. Safe Start is the second choice for starters after Dr. Tim's One and Only. The Tetra product is harder to use due to more complex instructions that must be followed carefully.
 
I wonder how you got ammonia into your tank without adding any.

Maybe he put his hand in the tank after going to the bathroom

 

 
haha. I forgot to mention I have added small pinches of fish food (flakes), which would explain the ammonia right?

 

[l_l_l]

 

 


A proper bottled bacteria will get a tank fully cycled in a week or so. If it takes you 35 days it means there was nothing helpful in the bottle. Safe Start is the second choice for starters after Dr. Tim's One and Only. The Tetra product is harder to use due to more complex instructions that must be followed carefully.
 
I wonder how you got ammonia into your tank without adding any.

Maybe he put his hand in the tank after going to the bathroom

 

 
haha. I forgot to mention I have added small pinches of fish food (flakes), which would explain the ammonia right?
 


It would explain yes
But I prefer my theory hehe