New Tank & New To The Hobby

[wonkydog]

Hi, just set up my tank 30x12x15, filter & heater going ok. Temp says 81f 27c. I haven't got any testing kits at all yet and would appreciate a good one be recommended. Also when is the best time to get a few fish to 'cycle' it??? I was going to set it up with just plants for a couple of weeks before i added any fish at all but having read a few bits and pieces in various books/online i get the impression I should add 6 platy's or similar for a while? Any advice welcomed, thank you X

 

[lilacamy931]

Hello wonkydog, welcome to the forum!

It may be advised if have access to some mature filter media (local shop or friend with tank) that you can either clone a filter or do what is called a fishless cycle (much safer and from what I have read also quicker than fishin cycle as no danger to any fish), will try to find you a link on fishless cycle. All you would need is test kit, ammonia source and mature media for filter.

Recommended test kit for freshwater is API (dropper kit), I personally do not like the dip test strips, others may recommend differently. The droppers are easy to use and also easy to keep a diary of and track the cycle.

Plants are always good to add and from what I have read good to help with the cycle.

Here is fishless cycle:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

Here is fishin cycle:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306

There is also a link to find people in the local area that may be able to donate mature media to you:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=150631

Really hope that helps. Just remember when cycling and completed cycle the tank needs ammonia to feed off of, stock slowly as to not crash the filter

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Wonkydog.
Lilacamy has given you the best advice. Rather than subject some platies to the poisons of a new tank, read through the fishless cycling thread and have a look to see if one of us is close enough to provide you with some donated media. A fishless cycle will pevent injuring any fish and with a donated media sample it can go very quickly. I have links to the same places in my signature area for Fishless cycling and for Donors because the need for this kind of referral is so common.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with the others and welcome to the forum! A filter is not really ready to handle fish for a couple months until an aquarist has prepared it properly. It would be a good idea to work out exactly what media types you have in the filter and whether you want to change any of them before you start your fishless cycle to prepare the filter.

You've stumbled on a site with plenty of very experienced aquarists, like OM47 up there for instance and the mods here and others. I don't think a beginner could find better advice and probably not a friendlier atmosphere usually. As a beginner, some of the things they tell you may seem a little arcane at first but eventually you'll realize that they've taken you in the direction of having a really healthy tank for your fish and plenty of new knowledge to use later.

~~waterdrop~~