Quick Question - New Set Up

[andy_sheff]

Hi all,

Firstly, wicked forum ive been readin bits and bobs, some very helpfull folk on here!

Ive printed off the fishless cycling sticky, had a quick read, think ile need to read it 20 more times to get my head round it fully

basically, i have got myself a 180ltr tank, (juwel rio) with an aftermarket filter and heater (suitable for 200ltr)
got my gravel in after giving it a through wash, filled it with water from the tap and thats how it stands at the moment with the heater on and pump going.

Now,... i have got some tap water treatment and some bacteria starter..... im just checking that its ok to put these things in the water or should i have done this to the water before putting it in the tank?

Im gonna get a liquid test kit tonight... what else do i need to buy to do the fishless cycle? once ive got all i need i can read and learn it off the forum hopefully!

any pointers would be helpfull!

cheers
Andy

 

[Geoff1991]

Just use the tap water treatment and dose ammonia. These not much need for bateria starter.

Also youll need a syringe for measuring amounts of ammonia you put into the tank.

 

[andy_sheff]

well,... today ive been looked at like ive just asked for hard drugs in about 4 aquatics shops when asking for amonia, and told twice to piss in the tank and told to just put the bacteria starter stuff in!

 

[degsod]

well,... today ive been looked at like ive just asked for hard drugs in about 4 aquatics shops when asking for amonia, and told twice to piss in the tank and told to just put the bacteria starter stuff in!

Go to Boots, they sell it there on the shelf with the household stuff, you can also get a syringe there as well

 

[arobinson1984]

Only the larger boots stores tend to sell the ammonia so if it's not available in your nearest boots then you can get it from

homebase

Andy

 

[andy_sheff]

right, there is a homebass down the road from me, whats its purpose in general household? homebase is a big place lol

 

[Geoff1991]

Its with all the household cleaning stuff...

 

[andy_sheff]

got it, i made the fatal mistake of taking lid off and smelling it

started my cycle last night so ile see how things go!

 

[Geoff1991]

Dont worry, i did the same

 

[waterdrop]

Ammonia can hit your head pretty hard, can't imagine eating it like our bacteria do!

Welcome to TFF Andy!

Sounds like everyone's got you off to a great start, already finding the right ammonia and getting a liquid testing kit!

Before you get to far down the fishless cycling road it would be a good thing to describe the various "media" in your filter to the members in detail. We've had a fair number of fishless cyclers recently get a ways along only to find out that zeolite of some other bad or non-ideal media is in their filter and that it has been keeping them from getting cycled or has been slowing their cycle down.

Another detail to take care of is to run all your tests on your -tap- water and post up the results here just so that we'll have that data in your thread in case anyone needs to look at it later when giving advice.

Other than that, its just now a matter of watching your first dosing of 5ppm of ammonia to see if it begins to drop, which can sometimes take up to two weeks!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[andy_sheff]

yo!

not been able to get on as i dont have the net at home grrr,
the cycle is started, i put the amonia in last wed evening, ive been checking daily and there doesnt seem to be much happening as yet... perhaps a SLIGHTLY less dark shade of green on the reading..

should i take a close up pic of the media and post it up, are there noticeable differences in the stuff i need and the stuff i dont?

I tested my water ph from the tap, 7.2, didnt test the other things in it so ile do that tonight and get that posted up!

p.s, what causes the bad bacteria that i dont want in there?


also, ive put a few plants in and now there not looking too healthy?

 

[andy_sheff]

checked the filter. There is a browny green slime forming around the edges, a green slime just around water line and some very random slime which is like white or clear on one of my peices of wood! Also plants are looking a bit sabby and going brown in places. . Ive not got any lights til wed, not sure if thats causing it?

 

[K-Holed]

Light is important for plants to be able to photosynthesise. Some plants need more light than others to thrive. Other factors that need to be taken into consideration are "food" for the plants and also CO2. There are some plants, such as java fern that are relatively undemanding than then there are those that require a little more thought.