New Starter

[d1yer07]

hello everyone,

well another newbie...lol

i have been doing some browsing of the net,my tank is set up and i have added my tetra safe start liquid.
i was just wondering the best kit to buy that that is easy to use and gives a good reading to make regular test on my tank to ensure that my water levels are safe for my fish when i get them....?

also my heater is pre-set at 24 but i have since put it upto 26 is this ok

also waht fish are good to start off with.

thanks

d1yer07

 

[Ian H]

Hi and welcome good to see some one looking into the hobby instead of jumping in at the deep end!

I (aswell as most other members on here) use the API master test kit. It's quite expensive at around £20 but covers all the basics and last ages

Before you get any fish you will need to cycle your tank/filter. Search for a fishless cycle on this forum or if you know some one with a tank already set up thats even better since you can have some of their mature filter media

 

[d1yer07]

hiya thanks ian,

well i have to ask as im a worrier..lol

i asked my local aquatic place the other day they gave me some tetrapac safe start bacteria treatment liquid which i put in, they said that will get my filter and tank set up nicely..lol

thanks for help i cant wait to get started but i have to wait till next monday for the fish in order to let it all sort its self out...lol

regards
d1yer07

 

[Ian H]

sorry to say but the safe start stuff wont do anything. Sadly almost every fish store will tell you its fine and to add fish (end of the day they are a business!)

I'll have a look for the fishless cycle thread

EDIT

http/www.fishforums.net/content-page/113...Cycling/page/0/ there it is

I'll try to explain but im not very good at it!

Basically in your filter lives bacteria (good and bad) when a fish poo's it creates ammonia. Ammonia is VERY toxic to fish and can even burn them so obviously you dont want this in your task!! Anyways the bacteria in the filter will turn the ammonia into nitrIte. This is also toxic to the fish, so dont want any of this either! Some of the other good bacteria will then change the nitrIte into nitrAte, now this is no where near as toxic as the other two and you remove this when you do water changes.

Sadly there is no way that the bottled products on the shelf of a fish store can hold this bacteria as it needs food and oxygen just like most other living things! The cycling process varies alot depending on the size of the tank, but it's "normal" for it to take over a month.

If you know some one with a tank set up then you can have some mature filter media off them so that all the bacteria is there ready (you will still need to cycle a bit though unless you have enough for the size of the tank)

If your doing a fishless cycle you add the ammonia in yourself, either buy "household ammonia" which is a cleaning product and has about 9% of ammonia in it or add flake food and wait for it to rot.

Hope that helps! i know it seems confusing at the moment but it's really not! just takes a while to get your head around

 

[doresy]

Yes, the API Freashwater Master Kit is the most tried and tested (and prefered) water testing kit.

At £20 for 700 odd tests I personally think it is very reasonably priced especially as some LFS have started charging around £3 for just testing the 3 major tests once! Then, of course, they will try to sell you alsorts of remedies to combat your lousy results when all you need to do most times is to do more water changes and cut down on the feeding! (steps down from soap-box)

Quick start bacteria treatments are just putting more petrol in the LFS owners nice new Merc!.......money down the drain for you though