Smudgers First Tank

[smudger123]

Hi all,

Getting my Rio tomorrow and aquarium bits and bobs have started to arrive now...yay! I know I'm going to have loads of questions over the next few weeks so I'll confine them all to this thread

Today my strip tests arrived- I've got a API master kit on the way but needed strips for GH and KH. Its the first time I've tested my tap water and results are:

pH 7.2
KH 6
GH >10
NO3- 25
NO2- 0

Is this all good? My favourite fishies are Panda Corys, Otos, Neons, Glowlights and Sparkling Gouramis - would these guys be ok in there?

 

[minxfishy]

The only problem which isnt that bad is the nitrate content of your tap water, but its not unusual for people to have upto 40ppm, it just mean if you wanted to keep some very sensitive fish you may find problems, but most community fish would be fine.

I know you have a long way to go yet, assume you will be fishless cycling? But when you start to add the fish in the list (all of which I think would be ok) you might like to wait until the tank has had time to mature before adding the cory's otos and neons are they all prefer mature tanks and dont do so well in new set-ups

Look forward to hearing your progress and pics of the tank when its set up

 

[kim03333]

hi as you have tested your water with strips you cannot take the readings too seriously. i did this when i first set up my tank and then i found out that they were inaccurate so i went out and brought a liquid test kit. i found the ph test strip was accurate but nitrite, nitrate and ammonia were way off. you may find that when you test your water with the liquid tests the results differ. nitrates may not be this high.

 

[tyyrlym]

The evidence of nitrates in the tap water certainly needs investigating. At the very least you should be able to take a sample of your tap water to the LFS and have them run the test on it if you can't swing the liquid test kit at the moment.

 

[smudger123]

Thank you for your replies all,

Oh dear, I didn't realise my nitrates were high for tapwater. I received a dispatch notice on my master kit yesterday so hopefully I can do the more accurate tests tomorrow morning and post the results. Fingers crossed on that one.

That's very good to know about the sensitive fish minxfishy, I would have started with corys so good job you said! I will perhaps start with the glowlights instead then and see how they do?

I will indeed by fishless cycling, starting tomorrow hopefully. Getting my easy grow plants tomorrow but if i'm short for time would they be ok in a bucket overnight, perhaps two days? Do I snip the roots before planting to promote new growth?

Can't wait to get going!!!

 

[minxfishy]

Your nitrates are not particularly high, as I said some people have them up to 40ppm from the tap (UK especially) and they may well not be, hard to tell until the test kit arrives, test strips are notoriously inaccurate.

The plants should be ok, but not a plant person cant really advice on that one

I assume you are using the add and wait method as described here :
http/www.fishforums.net/content-page/113...ination/page/0/

Any problems along the way, everyone here will be glad to help you along

 

[tyyrlym]

The nitrates aren't a deal breaker, but they are something you have to be aware of. If your nitrates are that high out of the tap you'll have to be a little more on top of things with the water changes as yours will be less effective since you'll be diluting high nitrate water with water that already has 25 ppm of nitrates. I wouldn't get too excited until your water was tested by a more reliable method. If worse comes to worse a lot of plants will help to combat the nitrates.

 

[smudger123]

I was going to do the add and wait method but had already ordered a bottle of SafeStart before a forum member advised against it. I'm a bit torn really, when I did my research on the stuff a lot of people reported good results. Is there any way to not completely rely on it but have it as a kind of supplement to my cycling? How do I incorporate it into the add and wait and be sure the tank is fully cycled at its end?

Thank you for your support all

Edit: I ordered SafeStart not to quicken the process but because It was included in a few beginners "tropical kits" online and I assumed it was the norm. I'm in no rush!

 

[minxfishy]

Well you could start with a fishless cycle and also add the safestart at the same time, it may help the cycle go quicker than normal or it may do nothing - certainly dont think it will hurt the fishless process.

 

[Mikaila31]

I've got 20ppm in my tap, and tbh its nothing to worry about. IMO as long as the nitrate in the tank stays below 40ppm it should be fine. I do do large water changes to keep it down, at least 50% every week.....

 

[wackystarfish]

Your safest bet is to cycle using both Go along doing your fishless cycle and add doses of the freshstart according to the instructions. It (may) speed things up. Also, when the fishless cycle is done and if you have some left over after the cycling process you can add a dose once a month, which (should) give your filter a little boost It all depends on how good the product is. (I haven't used them myself) Also, you have a good, neutral PH which is always good!
The plants should be ok in the bucket for a day or two, but i'm not sure about snipping the roots or anything like that as i have never done it
Good luck with the cycling!
Finlay

 

[smudger123]

My API tests confirm pH at 7.2 but show nitrate is actually 10ppm! Will be fishless cycling with a SafeStart boost then

 

[tyyrlym]

Giving it a boost with the Safestart is a good thing to do. If it works great, if not, no big deal.

 

[smudger123]

Woo, my tank has arrived!!! The petrified wood came today as well and it's abolutely gorgeous so i've been a very happy bunny

Substrate hasn't arrived yet so I cant get going but I had a go at making a little cave....

 

[sarapova]

hello,


While you are waiting on the dust to settle and the water to clear, I suggest you do a couple things. First, test the parameters of your tap water. It is important to know the pH and KH of your tap water so you will know what fish are compatible with your pH. It is also very important to know if there is any ammonia, nitrite and nitrate in your tap water. A lot of municipal water supplies have some or all of those present and well water could also have them present. Knowing that could save you a lot of head scratching later when you have an elevated level that may be caused by your tap water rather than a problem in the tank.

You should also run a little test to determine how much ammonia to add to your tank. Since medicine droppers come in all different sizes, it's hard to say that you need X drops per gallon to get to 4 or 5 ppm to start. I have 3 different droppers for adding fertilizers and for drawing tank water for testing and there is a big difference in the size drops they dispense. Take a small bucket, one of the buckets you used to fill your tank or wash you're sand. Fill it with water and then add 2 to 4 drops of ammonia per 5 gallon of water. Swirl it around to mix it and test to see what the ammonia reading is. Continue to do this until your reading is 4 or 5 ppm. Remember how many drops of ammonia you added and then, some simple maths will tell you how much to add to your tank to get the 4 or 5 ppm required to begin cycling. You can also use a test tube to add it. The amount required will depend on the concentration of the ammonia but 1ml (about 1/5th US teaspoonful) will usually raise 5 gallon to about 5ppm.

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