New Tank - Need A Recap Of How To Start Fresh

[Carolinesugar]

Hi all,

Well it has been along time since I came on here - mainly as I was living with my ex boyfriend, and he sorted all the fish out and wouldn't let me touch them..

I've got a Rio 300 at the moment, that has been matured and settled with no problems for about a year now. As my ex has moved out, and I dont think i can look after a tank that big, I have got a new tank which is smaller, and should be easier to manage.

Problem I have now, is that I cant remember what im meant to do to get the tank up and ready to transfer the fish...

I have set the tank up with new stones, new clean water, new filter (but using old media from the bigger tank to get sum germs going), and have added some aqua plus to declorinate the water.

Next steps - left the tank running for 2 weeks, just letting the water settle and mature abit (with filter heater and air pump running).

I have now tester the water for NO3, NO2 and PH

The water has a PH of 7 - which is very high, and needs to be reduced

The NO 2 and NO3 are both between the normal/acceptable readings according to the box of the tester kits.

Can someone remind me what I need to do now, and how to get the PH down?

Thanks in advance

 

[granpa]

The ph is fine i would have thought between 7 and 7.5 is neutral lower than 7 is acidic and higher is alkaline, you could then follow either the fishless cycling method found on here (thats probably already started because of the old media) or use the fish method of adding a hardy fish.

 

[Tolak]

First you need to look into cycling, your test results come back the way they are because you have no fish in there. Here's a link for cycling; http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=141946

A pH of 7 is neuteral, there is no reason to bring it down. a pH of 1 is incredibly acidic, much like battery acid.

Your next step should be to pick up some ammonia & do a fishless cycle.

 

[northy]

Hi all,

Well it has been along time since I came on here - mainly as I was living with my ex boyfriend, and he sorted all the fish out and wouldn't let me touch them..

I've got a Rio 300 at the moment, that has been matured and settled with no problems for about a year now. As my ex has moved out, and I dont think i can look after a tank that big, I have got a new tank which is smaller, and should be easier to manage.

Problem I have now, is that I cant remember what im meant to do to get the tank up and ready to transfer the fish...

I have set the tank up with new stones, new clean water, new filter (but using old media from the bigger tank to get sum germs going), and have added some aqua plus to declorinate the water.

Next steps - left the tank running for 2 weeks, just letting the water settle and mature abit (with filter heater and air pump running).

I have now tester the water for NO3, NO2 and PH

The water has a PH of 7 - which is very high, and needs to be reduced

The NO 2 and NO3 are both between the normal/acceptable readings according to the box of the tester kits.

Can someone remind me what I need to do now, and how to get the PH down?

Thanks in advance

hi, i dont know if this is a problem it is just an idea i wouldnt use the media from the other tank to the new one i would clean it out or use a new one that could be your proble.