New Tank Set Up

[darcieflynn]

I need more help, have had new set up for 16 days, 95 ltrs, I wan't 2 angels now & others, not sure what to get with them. Tanks 18 inch high, what is good with angels? I put 2 gorami in after 1 week & doing water change every other day 30%, ammonia nearly clear, nitrite 0.1- 0.3, shop is keeping 2 small angels for when I am ready. Shall I get them when tests are clear? what else would be good? might get single ram, perhaps keyhole, maybe later clown loach( 12 weeks), am I doing too many water changes? or too much? any tips? am I doing right?

 

[waterdrop]

The way to know if you are doing the right number and size of water changes is first to have a good test kit (liquid-reagent based kit, not strips) and next to test morning and evening for ammonia, nitrite(NO2) and pH. Only if you are keeping ammonia and nitrite(NO2) below 0.25ppm at the max, are you free to wait another 12 hours without a water change. You want to get into a pattern that keeps these two toxins as close to zero as possible. Its still possible the gouramis may die, do to the fish-in cycling (the ammonia permanently damages their gills and the nitrite suffocates them, causing permanent nerve damage.) If you've managed to keep the toxic levels low though, they may come through ok.

On average it takes about 4 weeks to cycle with fish in and you'll know when the filter is finally ready because you'll be able to go two days with zero readings without a water change. Good luck! Other fish should of course not be added until the filter is ready.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[darcieflynn]

The way to know if you are doing the right number and size of water changes is first to have a good test kit (liquid-reagent based kit, not strips) and next to test morning and evening for ammonia, nitrite(NO2) and pH. Only if you are keeping ammonia and nitrite(NO2) below 0.25ppm at the max, are you free to wait another 12 hours without a water change. You want to get into a pattern that keeps these two toxins as close to zero as possible. Its still possible the gouramis may die, do to the fish-in cycling (the ammonia permanently damages their gills and the nitrite suffocates them, causing permanent nerve damage.) If you've managed to keep the toxic levels low though, they may come through ok.

On average it takes about 4 weeks to cycle with fish in and you'll know when the filter is finally ready because you'll be able to go two days with zero readings without a water change. Good luck! Other fish should of course not be added until the filter is ready.

~~waterdrop~~

The way to know if you are doing the right number and size of water changes is first to have a good test kit (liquid-reagent based kit, not strips) and next to test morning and evening for ammonia, nitrite(NO2) and pH. Only if you are keeping ammonia and nitrite(NO2) below 0.25ppm at the max, are you free to wait another 12 hours without a water change. You want to get into a pattern that keeps these two toxins as close to zero as possible. Its still possible the gouramis may die, do to the fish-in cycling (the ammonia permanently damages their gills and the nitrite suffocates them, causing permanent nerve damage.) If you've managed to keep the toxic levels low though, they may come through ok.

On average it takes about 4 weeks to cycle with fish in and you'll know when the filter is finally ready because you'll be able to go two days with zero readings without a water change. Good luck! Other fish should of course not be added until the filter is ready.

~~waterdrop~~

The way to know if you are doing the right number and size of water changes is first to have a good test kit (liquid-reagent based kit, not strips) and next to test morning and evening for ammonia, nitrite(NO2) and pH. Only if you are keeping ammonia and nitrite(NO2) below 0.25ppm at the max, are you free to wait another 12 hours without a water change. You want to get into a pattern that keeps these two toxins as close to zero as possible. Its still possible the gouramis may die, do to the fish-in cycling (the ammonia permanently damages their gills and the nitrite suffocates them, causing permanent nerve damage.) If you've managed to keep the toxic levels low though, they may come through ok.

On average it takes about 4 weeks to cycle with fish in and you'll know when the filter is finally ready because you'll be able to go two days with zero readings without a water change. Good luck! Other fish should of course not be added until the filter is ready.

~~waterdrop~~

The way to know if you are doing the right number and size of water changes is first to have a good test kit (liquid-reagent based kit, not strips) and next to test morning and evening for ammonia, nitrite(NO2) and pH. Only if you are keeping ammonia and nitrite(NO2) below 0.25ppm at the max, are you free to wait another 12 hours without a water change. You want to get into a pattern that keeps these two toxins as close to zero as possible. Its still possible the gouramis may die, do to the fish-in cycling (the ammonia permanently damages their gills and the nitrite suffocates them, causing permanent nerve damage.) If you've managed to keep the toxic levels low though, they may come through ok.

On average it takes about 4 weeks to cycle with fish in and you'll know when the filter is finally ready because you'll be able to go two days with zero readings without a water change. Good luck! Other fish should of course not be added until the filter is ready.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[darcieflynn]

ta, waterdrop, keeping levels low, shop says i am doing too many water changes so none yesterday, fed this morning, now go to test, if low will do change tomorrow. So best to get angels till 1 month after 1st fish & clear tests for few days. shops water clear so will not get till mine are same! learnt lesson before with 40 ltr tank, got right now 3 months on!

 

[tenohfive]

Quick note - the clown loaches will outgrow your tank, they grow to over a foot long so steer clear of them.

 

[waterdrop]

Sorry darcie, its just not enough information for us to be helpful. We don't know what test kit you are using and we don't know any specific test number results.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[darcieflynn]

Sorry darcie, its just not enough information for us to be helpful. We don't know what test kit you are using and we don't know any specific test number results.

~~waterdrop~~

using nutrafin liquid test 0.1-0.3ppm nitrite, API ammonia liquid 0-0.25ppm, never been above this level.