Newbie In Need Of Some Advice

[Falling Ash]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the hobby and have recenty purchased an aquarium (65 litre, so fairly small), which I set up a few days ago.

The aquarium came with the Interpet Filter Start bacteria product, which after researching is apparently pretty much useless. After two days my aquarium water has gone a little milky which I am lead to believe is a bacterial bloom? And I've recently researched fishless cycling in more depth and have realised how complex it all seems. I understand I need to purchase household ammonia (with no added fragrents etc), is this correct? I don't have access to a water test kit, are these absolutely necessary? Are there any alternative ways of fishless cycling? Unfortunately I don't know anyone else nearby who has a functioning aquarium so mature media is unavailable. I don't want to stress out / or kill any fish by doing this wrong.

Thanks for reading!

 

[twodoctors]

Hi,

There are many articles about fishless cycling on the net. Obviously you have read some of them so you have an idea. Easiest way is to get ammonia from your local fish shop (LFS). The ones they sell, manufactured by aquarium people, tells you exactly how much to add. It is a bit more expensive than househould ammonia but if you want simple, you'll have to pay for it I'm afraid.

A water test kit is an essential bit of kit that you must buy if you want to do this properly (ie no dead fish).

Fishless cycling in essence is supplying the aquarium with a source of ammonia. This will encourage the ammonia-to-nitrite bacteria to grow. If you monitor the water with your test kit, then you'll see ammonia level drop and nitrite level rising over a few days. The presence of nitrite will encourage the nitrite to nitrate bacteria to grow and ovee a week or two you'll see nitrate rise and nitrite fall. People usually advocate keep adding ammonia to keep the level above 2mg/L (ppm) at all times. When there is enough bacteria in the tank your ammonia and nitrite level will fall very quickly every time you add ammonia in the tank. You have then completed your cycle. It takes a few weeks to do. Adding the bacteria-in-a-bottle may help. It remains inconclusive.

The alternative is as you said get somebody else's filter media and put it in your tank. However you still need a bit of ammonia to "feed" the bacteria so it will colonise your filter. You'll then need the water test kit to make sure ammonia and nitrite are both zero before adding fishes, slowly.

Or you can go the fish-in cycling route, by buying some "hardy" fish and again, using your water testing kit, keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite level daily and do water change (probably also daily at least) until the ammonia and nitrite stays zero. This will of course stress the fish as it will be swimming in its own poo, but that is how people used to do it.

Hope that helps.

Adrian

 

[electropunk06]

hi
Yeah it sounds like a bacterial bloom but should be ok in a few days.
Household ammonia is the right thing to use for a fishless cycle.
If you are going fishless you will need a test kit, you could take a water sample to your LFS but they can't always be trusted and by the end you will be testing every 12 hours so its best to get your own kit, a liquid test kit is best (api masters) as its the most accurate.
The only real alternative is to fishless is a fish-in cycle which means you use the ammonia produced by fish to cycle the filter. This isn't always the preferred way as it exposes fish to harmful chemicals and lots of water changes are needed to keep them safe and happy.
Hope this helps
Lloyd

edit: Adrian you beat me to it, took to long typing

 

[twodoctors]

Oh and remember to get a water conditioner to remove chlorine/chloramine.

The other reason to test your water is also to know your pH, which would dictate what fishes you can keep without doing drastic things to your water.

Adrian

PS Lloyd - I'm at work and I'm bored. 4 hours to go...

 

[Aqua Tom]

so to recap. You need to get -

1 A liquid based test kit

2. Aquarium water treatment

3. Ammonia

With these items you can fishless cycle like a pro.

 

[Falling Ash]

Thanks for the all replies, very informative. I'll order a test kit now. Also, when I first filled the aquarium I used the suggested amount of 'Tapsafe', this should be ok to get rid of the all the chemicals and metals etc, right?

Also, another question: what type of fish would be best suited to a 65 litre, and how many? I was looking at Platies, Guppies and I like the tetras too, though I heard they need a more mature tank so I was going to wait a good few months before getting any of those. Thanks again!

 

[twodoctors]

Thanks for the all replies, very informative. I'll order a test kit now. Also, when I first filled the aquarium I used the suggested amount of 'Tapsafe', this should be ok to get rid of the all the chemicals and metals etc, right?

Also, another question: what type of fish would be best suited to a 65 litre, and how many? I was looking at Platies, Guppies and I like the tetras too, though I heard they need a more mature tank so I was going to wait a good few months before getting any of those. Thanks again!

Personally I would check your pH first. A lot of fishes prefer acidc water, and may not do well (or die prematurely) in alkaline water. Tetras in general prefer acidic water. Platies and guppies in general prefer alkaline water (I think).

Start cycling first. You have probably 2 weeks to decide!

Adrian

 

[Falling Ash]

Good call, I can be a bit eager at times. I'll be back next week when the kit arrives and I've got everything sorted, is that ok? If I post my readings would anyone be able to advise me on my next step? That would be much appreciated, thanks!

 

[twodoctors]

Good call, I can be a bit eager at times. I'll be back next week when the kit arrives and I've got everything sorted, is that ok? If I post my readings would anyone be able to advise me on my next step? That would be much appreciated, thanks!

There's always someone around eager to help.

Welcome to the wonderful world of fish keeping.

Adrian