New Tank

[LittleMissDynamite]

This may be a silly question but here goes.I have just purchased a 100 litre tank and external Aqua one 700 filter to set up at the old peoples care home where i work.The owner of my LPS has been very helpfull and very genorous with his discounts.He doesnt have any mature filter medium but has told me he will give me water from his tanks to start the nitrogen cycling.I have two sources of water from work,one is the usual tap water but the other is a water collection system that is collected from rain water on the roof and stored in underground tanks.The easiest The most convenient water to use would be the hose pipe from the water collection source but my concern would be has it picked up heavy metals and it has not been purified.It does not have chlorine etc in it though.Does anyone have any ideas or experience of this.The safest bet i think would be to simply use the tap water,but i am curious for the opinion of others.

 

[Clarousel]

I would worry about the rainwater too since you can't check if it's passed through anything harmful from the roof to the tanks. I would just go with tap water unless I know the rainwater is safe to use.

 

[fluttermoth]

Agreed about the water. You could always use a dechlorinator that locks up heavy metals, even though it doesn't have chlorine in it, but I'd still be worried myself. I use rainwater, but it's from a 'safe' roof and stored in a proper water butt.

Water from your LFs tanks will do you no good at all for starting your cycle; the bacteria grip onto the media very strongly; there are none loose in the water column.

 

[LittleMissDynamite]

Agreed about the water. You could always use a dechlorinator that locks up heavy metals, even though it doesn't have chlorine in it, but I'd still be worried myself. I use rainwater, but it's from a 'safe' roof and stored in a proper water butt.

Water from your LFs tanks will do you no good at all for starting your cycle; the bacteria grip onto the media very strongly; there are none loose in the water column.

 

[LittleMissDynamite]

Thanks to both of you.I have just sat and read the beginner section and all the posts and pinned articles.I now understand that the lps water will make no difference.I thought i understood the cycling process but now realise i was only half way there.The pinned articles gave me a "light bulb moment".The reason i am having trouble with the tank i thought was established is the arrival of so many babies.The bacteria need to increase to cope with the extra fish waste,hence it is cycling again.I now feel a bit stupid for not realising this is the obvious answer.I will stick to tap water with Aquasafe and bacteria boost in it.I will then cycle the new tank with ammonia if i can get hold of it at my little boots store.Thankyou for the advise and endless patience you all show to us newbies and our endless questions.

Advice to anyone starting out read all the pinned threads a couple of times and then read them again.Every time i read them,i learn something new.Thankyou Tropical Fish Forum and all your members

 

[LittleMissDynamite]

Thanks to both of you.I have just sat and read the beginner section and all the posts and pinned articles.I now understand that the lps water will make no difference.I thought i understood the cycling process but now realise i was only half way there.The pinned articles gave me a "light bulb moment".The reason i am having trouble with the tank i thought was established is the arrival of so many babies.The bacteria need to increase to cope with the extra fish waste,hence it is cycling again.I now feel a bit stupid for not realising this is the obvious answer.I will stick to tap water with Aquasafe and bacteria boost in it.I will then cycle the new tank with ammonia if i can get hold of it at my little boots store.Thankyou for the advise and endless patience you all show to us newbies and our endless questions.

Advice to anyone starting out read all the pinned threads a couple of times and then read them again.Every time i read them,i learn something new.Thankyou Tropical Fish Forum and all your members

New tanl all set up yesterday with an aqua one external filter which i love but omg,the water in the tank is ph 8.8.Wonder if that is from the gravel.Going to test the water from the tap today.I realise this tank has not even began to cycle but my limited experience up to now has shown the ph in my tanks does not really alter.

 

[LittleMissDynamite]

Thanks to both of you.I have just sat and read the beginner section and all the posts and pinned articles.I now understand that the lps water will make no difference.I thought i understood the cycling process but now realise i was only half way there.The pinned articles gave me a "light bulb moment".The reason i am having trouble with the tank i thought was established is the arrival of so many babies.The bacteria need to increase to cope with the extra fish waste,hence it is cycling again.I now feel a bit stupid for not realising this is the obvious answer.I will stick to tap water with Aquasafe and bacteria boost in it.I will then cycle the new tank with ammonia if i can get hold of it at my little boots store.Thankyou for the advise and endless patience you all show to us newbies and our endless questions.

Advice to anyone starting out read all the pinned threads a couple of times and then read them again.Every time i read them,i learn something new.Thankyou Tropical Fish Forum and all your members

New tanl all set up yesterday with an aqua one external filter which i love but omg,the water in the tank is ph 8.8.Wonder if that is from the gravel.Going to test the water from the tap today.I realise this tank has not even began to cycle but my limited experience up to now has shown the ph in my tanks does not really alter.

Ok,i tested the tap water and that is ph 8.4.still very high but the gravel must have altered it to the 8.8,either that or the stresscoat and stresszyme has altered it.Anyone got the answer to this please???