Starting From Scratch.

[pestey]

Hi guy's.

well I'm back on the fishy front and everything is setup ready to go bar the plants arriving.

for the last 3 weeks I've been searching for some pure ammonia for my fishless cycle. up until today I've had no luck what so ever. but tried a cheeky backstreet chemist's and managed to get some. I've seen most people talking about a 9.5% mix, but I've got hold of a 25% mix, Is this ok??

I've also read the topic on the ammonia within the fishless cycle thread and have seen about the shake test. this 25% mix passed it. when the chemist asked what I wanted it for, I told them it was for the aquarium bacteria cycle. he probably thought I was going to make a bomb with it.

hopefully the plants will arrive this week so I can get them rooted, the water treated and start my cycle.

If anyone cares to add anything I could or should do before I start adding the ammonia it would be gratefully appreciated.

Pestey.

 

[Joshwainwright]

http/www.fishforums.net/aquarium-calculator.htm
The calculator at the bottom of the page above is very useful when it comes to cycling with household ammonia.

Are you starting completely from scratch as the title says or do you have some mature filter media?

 

[pestey]

no this is totally from scratch. was also thin king of letting the system run fully for a day or two so the plants get used to the water prior to the introduction of the ammonia.

anything that will benefit me in the long term I will try. because like many people I am one who likes to get things right first time with prior research

 

[Joshwainwright]

Oh, get ready for a long wait then...

Remeber to watch out for algae blooms while you have the lights on for your plants. Ammonia and light usually results in algae which you cannot remove from plants yourself.

 

[pestey]

once the cycle is done Two plecs are going straight in to much it all up. I've already said to myself to go at a slow and steady pace. not to rush and not to get carried away.

at first i had a 8-10 week plan. but after much research and investigating that has now shifted to being a 8-16 week plan before i start thinking of anything but plecs. as this is going to hold mainly bottom feeders and general cleaners well apart from 6 angels, I've got time on my hands.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Great, I need to find some patience. I'm only 3 days in and I don't actually plan to plant the tank until it has cycled. I won't be surprised if I change my mind.

It's good to hear you know about the algae blooms and also know how you will get rid of them nice and quicky! Are you going to be stocking any corys?

 

[pestey]

cory's will go in after the plecs have done a fair bit of work. i'm going to go on the basis of 2 fish per week until it's time for the Angels. then will wait a month for it to fully re settle then add the 4/6 in one hit but they will be juvie angels.

i may empty and refill a few times whilst i'm waiting for the plants as it may get rid of most of the tanning from all the Bog wood i have. well it's only two pieces, but they are 60cm jobbies in length and almost the same in width.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Nice plan there. Hopefully, all the fish will get on.

Have you got a photo of how your tank looks at the moment?

 

[pestey]

not yet, still adding 1/8 fills every two days, just to make sure the tank don't go and crack on me. this process is going to be long for me but it will be worth it. i may just fill it up totally tomorrow so i get a idea of how it will look "under water". then i'll take a pic of the 400ltr baby.

 

[Joshwainwright]

I don't think it will crack on you if you fill it, unless it is extremely old?

I didn't know it's 400L
It's a beast!

 

[pestey]

when i said baby i meant compared to my old one that i had when i was married was 750ltr and the bio-log filter was 120ltr. that one is in the shed as it's too big for any of my rooms, well until i find a house big enough for it.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Chuffing hell!
The 750L must have took some filling, stocking and cleaning. Then there's me with my baby, baby, baby 125L

I'll have a beastly tank one day, when I have my own house. I'm dreading going to university in a few years though, I may not have any tank at all!

 

[pestey]

tank is filled up and looking sort of nice, now the water is in I know what i'll be re-aranging when i empty it in a day or two.

also found a wee beasty lurking in the water on some of the wood.

have been told it's a silverfish although it's not actually a fish.......

hopefully the plants arrive by the end of the week so i can start my cycle.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Maybe start the cycle before the plants arrive?

High ammonia + Light = Algae blooms
Obviously if you are going to be cycling with plants in, you are going to have the lights on...

 

[pestey]

nah i don't fancy starting without the plants, it's something i'm sticking to.

not really fused about any blooms, because as soon as i can some plecs are going in. but yes, when the plants are in there will be light.