Newbie Gravel Question

[stuart264]

I am really new to this having bought my first fish tank this afternoon having enjoyed watching the fish swim in my friends tank and the way that it helps me relax and bring down my pain levels.

I wanted to start fairly small so I have bought a Aqua One 320 28 Litre tank from a specialist fish supplier in Worthing who were very good, talked me through a lot of questions especially about starting the bacteria cycle and have told me a few do's and don'ts and pointed me at this site as a good starting place for a total newbie.

Sadly i forgot to ask one question, I bought a bag of blue gravel at the same time as I liked the colour but I forgot to ask what I do with it before I start the tank going, do I just tip it in out of the sealed bag or do I wash it off or anything else?

And once I get it going in about a week's time once the bacteria cycle starts, I plan to start with half a dozen neons as a good starting base to add to but I wanted advise on what else would be a good idea to include in it over time?

 

[kewskills]

wash the gravel

you really need to read about the fishless cycle, before thinking about adding fish. i will go find the link for you.

Also to the forum

infact at the top of this section (new to the hobby) is a pinned topic called fishless cycle. have a good read

 

[stuart264]

Thanks, I saw the link at the top of the forum, I will have a read through in the morning as I am too tired and in too much pain to do anything tonight and remember what I am doing.

 

[Helen G]

Hello and welcome

Obviously a good specialist fish supplier to direct you here!

 

[waterdrop]

A specialist fish supplier directed you HERE? shock!

..must not be like a LFS, usually they don't have a clue! (LFS=Local Fish Store)

gravel washing: rinse in clear tap water in a large bucket. Be careful not to clog your drain with gravel. If you a new pair of dishwashing gloves, that will help you avoid cuts under your fingernails as you run your fingers through the gravel. It can take quite a few passes until the water stays clear, but this is all dust that won't be getting in to your tank.

Please take the comments about fishless cycling seriously, the information can save you lots and lots of work that would come if you had to do a fish-in cycle instead. The LFS folks, if and when they've ever considered it, have never decided they can sustain a business if they tell the truth about how long it can take to cycle a filter. Its almost impossible to do without a good test kit and some fairly detailed instructions to follow.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[stuart264]

So where does the API Stress Zyme I bought come in as they said that would get the cycle going?

 

[stuart264]

Ignore that, I just read the fishless cycle stuff, I will pick up some amonia and a dosing syringe this morning

 

[kewskills]

Ignore that, I just read the fishless cycle stuff, I will pick up some amonia and a dosing syringe this morning

Good luck, and don't worry about the cycle taking forever. cause that wot it seems like, just hang on in there.

 

[stuart264]

Thanks, did want to get fish in the tank sooner but I would rather look after their welfare than kill fish.

 

[kewskills]

That's the sort of attitude that makes a good fish keeper wish more people were like you when starting the hobby

 

[stuart264]

One question, if I add the amonia and wait 24 hours is it ok to use the API Stress Zyme as a "booster" to get things going?

 

[kewskills]

I don't suppose it would do any harm, but i also don't know how effective it would be either, maybe someone else has a opinion.

 

[stuart264]

OK Bought myself some Tetra Test strips (can someone tell me a cheap online supplier of those in the UK as I nearly cried at the price of them)

Got the Following initial readings

N03 = 50mg/l
NO2 = 0 mg/l
GH = >16 Degrees hardness (water round here is like concrete)
KH = 20
PH 7.2

Used the cycling calculatior and I am now going to add 1.47 ml of Ammonia

Anything else I should do especially given the waters hardness?

 

[kewskills]

the best advice at this point would be to get a good liquid test kit, general feeling is that the test strips are rubbish.

 

[stuart264]

the best advice at this point would be to get a good liquid test kit, general feeling is that the test strips are rubbish.

All I could get locally as I was in too much pain today to go upto the specialist marine place and went to the big chain pet store in town and that was all they had.