Newbie Here

[snr1968]

Hi Guys, totally new to tropical fish. Looks a great forum and looking forward to learning all bout tropical fish and keeping them.

Just got a new tank yesterday, 125l Fluval Roma set up, got a u3 filter, heater, also cycle and aqua plus bottles. Done everything as per instructions and looking good so far, apart from 9,956 bubbles, just a guess at the number i never counted them. Where the filter is they seem to be going away very very slow, is this normal? I know to leave the tank for a few days b4 adding some hardy fish, i've added the chemicals and got to add them daily for the first 3 days. Just want to make sure i'm doing everything i should be.

I live in Aberdeen, Scotland, does anyone know the best place to get the fish.

Scott

 

[the biffster]

hi and welcome your tank needs
to be cycled before you can add
fish so you will need to do a fish less
cycle which could take up to
six to nine weeks before you add any
fish the member you need to be talking
to is water drop as he is very knowledgeable
on the fish less cycle i have found this link
it will be help full

good luck the biffster


http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

 

[Carlovel1]

Hi Guys, totally new to tropical fish. Looks a great forum and looking forward to learning all bout tropical fish and keeping them.

Just got a new tank yesterday, 125l Fluval Roma set up, got a u3 filter, heater, also cycle and aqua plus bottles. Done everything as per instructions and looking good so far, apart from 9,956 bubbles, just a guess at the number i never counted them. Where the filter is they seem to be going away very very slow, is this normal? I know to leave the tank for a few days b4 adding some hardy fish, i've added the chemicals and got to add them daily for the first 3 days. Just want to make sure i'm doing everything i should be.

I live in Aberdeen, Scotland, does anyone know the best place to get the fish.

Scott

Welcome Scott.
First of all, you need to perform a fishless cycle before adding any fish. It may take a week or a month or a lot of months.
Carl

 

[snr1968]

I knew i had to wait till i put fish in, did'nt realise it would take so long, the shop said to wait for a few days b4 adding some hardy fish.

 

[the biffster]

I knew i had to wait till i put fish in, did'nt realise it would take so long, the shop said to wait for a few days b4 adding some hardy fish.

the tank needs to be cycled before
fish are put in waterdrop is the best
person i know to explain this if you
just put fish in without doing a cycle
if you did the fish would die very quickly
as the fish in cycle is very time consuming
and is hard on the fish they could even die

 

[the biffster]

got the link to the resources center


this will help

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

 

[fluttermoth]

I knew i had to wait till i put fish in, did'nt realise it would take so long, the shop said to wait for a few days b4 adding some hardy fish.

Shops always say that, I'm afraid; it's in their best interests as the fish will probably get sick and you'll be back buying medicines, then the fish die and you'll be back buying more fish...

A fishless cycle is the best way, and when you consider the years of pleasure you'll get from your aquarium it is well worth the wait. It's far better than trying to do a fish-in cycle (which is what the shop has recommended) which leads to a lot of hard work, fish deaths and is what causes a lot of people to give up on the hobby very quickly.

 

[snr1968]

Have looked at the link, cheers for that, lots of information there. Been reading up all day about cycle and tanks..
One thing i'm not quite clear about, the cycle and aqua plus bottles i got, how often do you use the cycle bottle, i'm on the second day and got 1 day to go, but, how often do you use it on a regular basis, once a week? when you clean the tank?? also the aqua plus bottle ? also seems to be lots and lots of tank bottles as in additives, whats the basic ones you need regular. found a good website for the stuff www.chemistdirect.co.uk you probably know that already...
Going to get a test kit tomorrow. Oh, whats the best algae cleaner, seen one thats magnetic, looks good and easy, or is the one with a handle better......
ok, enough questions for now lol

If this topic is not in the right area could an admin move it please......

Cheers

Scott

 

[the biffster]

how long you been cycling your tank

 

[waterdrop]

Hi Scott and Welcome to TFF!

The biffster and fluttermoth are right! Fishless cycling is one of the core skills that not only gets your tank ready for a good first experience, it is also a good way to learn one of the most core aspects of the hobby and the skill of working with it.

You'll actually not need all that many bottles or potions from the local fish shop (LFS) to get started and it sounds like you are heading in the right direction! As mentioned, one of the most important tools is a good liquid-reagent based test kit and then the skills you get from our forum to interpret what the kit tells you over the coming weeks. Many of us like and use the API Freshwater Master Test Kit or the Nutrafin Mini-Master Test kit although there are some other kits, both better and worse. Ideally, you can run a fishless cycle on a bare tank with just filter, heater and perhaps substrate. The other chemical you'll need is simple household ammonia and sometimes it can be a bit of adventure finding that - although lately the members seem to have that covered depending on which country you live in. So they'll help you with that.

While you're finding the right ammonia, the members might also discuss what type of filter you have and whether to modify any of the media choices in it. For instance, often we choose not to use carbon in our filters because it needs to be replaced each week to be effective at anything and most of us don't want to go to that expense for somethng that is really meant for special problems and used on a temporary basis (its going to feel like lots of strange little tips here on TFF because you are now among hobbyists rather than browsing a retail store!)

Currently this thread is in our welcome section as you know and its now time for you to go ahead and start a "fishless cycling" thread over in the "Your new freshwater tank" section. Include your ID and the fact that its a fishless cycling thread in the title and then be sure and post up lots of "facts" about your tank volume, startup equipment, what continent you are on and tap water parameters (if you've got them yet) in the first post.

~~waterdrop~~