Sorry To Be A Pain

[webbie]

Sorry if this subject has been worked to death,packed in fishkeeping over twenty years ago,got a bit upset that my hobby was in some way helping to damage coral reefs,anyway family bought me a small tank for xmas,Fluval edge,filled it with water last weekend,8th jan,also sand and a bit of bog wood,sent for a test kit API,which came yesterday,did a test,PH 7.4,ammonia 2.0 ppm,nitrite.25 ppm and nitrate 10-20ppm,tested again today,ph down to 7.2,ammonia 1.0 ppm,nitrite no change,nitrate 5-10 ppm,I know its early days but should I do a water change?,also my nephew has offered me the charcoal insert from his established tank,hopefully this will speed up the cycle,been reading about a product Seachem do to help the bacteria grow , forgot what its called,does it work? or should I save my money?,when it is set up I would like to keep some Killifish,also like the look of the German Rams,are they compatable?

 

[waterdrop]

Hi webbie and welcome to our freshwater section!

You don't say whether you have fish in there or not yet, but you also don't mention what the ammonia source is. A lot has changed in the intervening years, what sort of "cycling" of the filter were you familiar with back then, if any?

Here we usually try to catch newcomers before they buy fish and help them learn the latest techniques of the Add & Wait Fishless Cycling concept, since this is usually an easier way to prepare the water for fish.

Even from the best of companies like Seachem or One and Only, it's not clear yet that it's been figured out how to get anything out of bacteria in a bottle products, so we still use the straightforward method of cycling with simple household ammonia.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[webbie]

Hi webbie and welcome to our freshwater section!

You don't say whether you have fish in there or not yet, but you also don't mention what the ammonia source is. A lot has changed in the intervening years, what sort of "cycling" of the filter were you familiar with back then, if any?

Here we usually try to catch newcomers before they buy fish and help them learn the latest techniques of the Add & Wait Fishless Cycling concept, since this is usually an easier way to prepare the water for fish.

Even from the best of companies like Seachem or One and Only, it's not clear yet that it's been figured out how to get anything out of bacteria in a bottle products, so we still use the straightforward method of cycling with simple household ammonia.

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks for the reply,no fish in the tank yet,I ,used the bottle of Nutrafin cycle which came with the set up,maybe its age but I dont remember doing all this when I started keeping fish 30 years ago,I think I just put water in my first freshwater tank waited a couple of weeks then put fish in,learned the hard way,so did the fish,my journey into marines was the same except the local aquarist shop gave me some seeded sand,all a bit of a wing and a prayer,but I must say only remember losing marine fish because the ones I chose,mostly butterflies were unsuitable and refused to feed,but now I am sticking to freshwater,but the kit you seem to need to buy just blows your mind away

 

[karin]

Welcome Webbie.

I too kept fish a long time ago and now, wow has it changed. I love it though, feeds my inner chemist. And as long as you take the attitude that you are going to be learning a whole new hobby, you'll be fine and no such thing as being a "pain".

The "Beginner's Resource" section on this part of the forum is great. Have a read on fishless cycling. To cycle your tank you will need a source of ammonia, dosing a tiny bit of ammonia to help "feed" the beneficial bacteria that you will grow in your tank, your filter secifically. Are you in the UK, US, or other? I only know the US and if that is where you are find an Ace Hardware and by pure ammonia (9%) there. The carbon insert from your nephews tank should help speed the process, a piece of one of his sponges would be even better.

The Edge is sort of a particular tank and a small tank at that. It will pose challenges, but again, attitude is everything. Make certain you research every fish you are considering and pass your stocking ideas here for great feedback. I'll say this about what you are thinking now.

German Blue Rams are cichlids and generally need an absolute minimum of 12x20 for a pair. They also require acidic conditions, a Ph of around 6 and higher temperatures around 28C. They are a fragile fish by many accounts. Bolivian Rams tend to be the hardier version but not as colorful.

The Edge seems to be ideal for small fish... Have a look at

pygmy corydoras
celestial pearl danios
sparkling gouramis
small tetras - neons, golights, etc

Avoid bettas as they are hard to stock around and need more surface air than the Edge allows.

ABOVE ALL HAVE FUN. Welcome again.

 

[webbie]

Welcome Webbie.

I too kept fish a long time ago and now, wow has it changed. I love it though, feeds my inner chemist. And as long as you take the attitude that you are going to be learning a whole new hobby, you'll be fine and no such thing as being a "pain".

The "Beginner's Resource" section on this part of the forum is great. Have a read on fishless cycling. To cycle your tank you will need a source of ammonia, dosing a tiny bit of ammonia to help "feed" the beneficial bacteria that you will grow in your tank, your filter secifically. Are you in the UK, US, or other? I only know the US and if that is where you are find an Ace Hardware and by pure ammonia (9%) there. The carbon insert from your nephews tank should help speed the process, a piece of one of his sponges would be even better.

The Edge is sort of a particular tank and a small tank at that. It will pose challenges, but again, attitude is everything. Make certain you research every fish you are considering and pass your stocking ideas here for great feedback. I'll say this about what you are thinking now.

German Blue Rams are cichlids and generally need an absolute minimum of 12x20 for a pair. They also require acidic conditions, a Ph of around 6 and higher temperatures around 28C. They are a fragile fish by many accounts. Bolivian Rams tend to be the hardier version but not as colorful.

The Edge seems to be ideal for small fish... Have a look at

pygmy corydoras
celestial pearl danios
sparkling gouramis
small tetras - neons, golights, etc

Avoid bettas as they are hard to stock around and need more surface air than the Edge allows.

ABOVE ALL HAVE FUN. Welcome again.

Here what you say about german rams,my nephew has a pair cockatoo rams nice fish might go for a pair myself,based in the uk by the way,and I have not put any ammonia in just the Nutrafin cycle,thanks for the advice