New To Everything From Nyc

[Xavier10]

Sup everyone my name is xavier. Finally got a fish tank set up. I am new to the proper care for fish procedures. I just bought a 50 gallon tank and plan on getting tropical fish. I have my eyes set on tiger barbs, black phantom tetras, glo fish, zebra danio, and glow light tetra. I just set everything up last night still need to buy a heater since I made the mistake of buying a 50L heater instead of a 50gal one. Was buying like mad that day I'm running a marine land bio wheel power filter penguin 350. I was reading here about fish less cycles but I'm nervous about it since I'm so new to this field. I did a water test today with a water test kit I bought at the store. It's a liquid in a small container type. Here we're my readings
PH 7
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

I'll be buying the right heater soon. Was wondering if the heat will change my readings? Also I'm leaning more towards the fish cycle since its only getting colder around here I don't wanna lose any fish during transport. I'm trying to provide the best possible life for my fish. Will get real hardy fish that are community type like tetras to cycle the tank. I plan on buying them next Thursday. I know the fish cycle isn't the best but with these readings will it be okay to go flaw arid with my plan. I put some pics of my tank any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also I'm a Honda technician so if anyone has car questions ill do my best to help. Hope to hear from everyone soon thanks.

 

[Xavier10]

http/s2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/xdabest/?action=view&current=0C24677D-0A55-42C5-A867-529DEE0BFC13-20968-000006996FA27EE4.jpg

 

[Chad]

Heat will change some readings yes, so it's a good idea to get it as soon a you can.

If you want to provide the best possible life for your fish, an admirable goal by the way, then stick with a fishless cycle. Fish-in cycles expose the fish to toxic ammonia and are considered by many modern aquarists to be cruel.

Personally I use the table shrimp method to start my cycle. I put a piece (or two) of table shrimp in the empty tank. As this rots it provides fuel for the bacteria that drive the nitrogen cycle in the tank. Because it's large it puts off a rather consistent amount of ammonia. It's also cheap and easy to do.

Of course there is the ammonia method where you put in ammonia as a liquid...works too.

Welcome!

 

[Xavier10]

Heat will change some readings yes, so it's a good idea to get it as soon a you can.

If you want to provide the best possible life for your fish, an admirable goal by the way, then stick with a fishless cycle. Fish-in cycles expose the fish to toxic ammonia and are considered by many modern aquarists to be cruel.

Personally I use the table shrimp method to start my cycle. I put a piece (or two) of table shrimp in the empty tank. As this rots it provides fuel for the bacteria that drive the nitrogen cycle in the tank. Because it's large it puts off a rather consistent amount of ammonia. It's also cheap and easy to do.

Of course there is the ammonia method where you put in ammonia as a liquid...works too.

Welcome!

Oh cool I'm going to look up more on that shrimp method. I don't want to put the fish in but that ammonia adding one ain't really something I want to do. I'll be buying the heater tomorrow.