Stupid Newbie Question Alert!

[Trops_Newbie2012]

Hi,

I'm new to keeping Trops after keeping marine for a while...

When topping up evaporated water from a marine set-up, I used to top up with RO water (as only the pure water evaporates, which I know)

But what is the case with Tropical set-ups?

I have a small trop tank set-up in my spare room for my girlfriends little brother. It's currently sat empty, just heater, filter, water and background.

I'm going to get him his first fish today, but there has been a bit of evaporation and needs topping up.

I originally used tap water, and tapsafe to get it up and running.

But what water do i use to top it up?

Mike

 

[sadguppy]

Tap water with dechlorinator heated to the right temp. If you don't have copper pipes you can use the hot tap.

BTW as an experienced fishkeeper I am sure you have cycled the tank with ammonia while its been empty to get the filter bacteria growing?

If not, check out the pinned topic in the newbies section

 

[creeker]

Remember that the minerals from the water don't evaporate. If water continually evaporated and all you did was fill it, eventually you would have very hard water. I'm sure you will be doing weekly partial water changes. That will take care of the problem.

 

[Trops_Newbie2012]

BTW as an experienced fishkeeper I am sure you have cycled the tank with ammonia while its been empty to get the filter bacteria growing?

Its only a 19 litre tank for him to have some guppies or something....

My LFS has said that I shouldn't need to cycle it...

I will obviously for my bigger display tank.

Do you reckon I should have cycled a small tank then?

Mike

 

[hilly81]

BTW as an experienced fishkeeper I am sure you have cycled the tank with ammonia while its been empty to get the filter bacteria growing?

Its only a 19 litre tank for him to have some guppies or something....

My LFS has said that I shouldn't need to cycle it...

I will obviously for my bigger display tank.

Do you reckon I should have cycled a small tank then?

Mike

Every tank needs cycling!

Have a read in here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

 

[Trops_Newbie2012]

BTW as an experienced fishkeeper I am sure you have cycled the tank with ammonia while its been empty to get the filter bacteria growing?

Its only a 19 litre tank for him to have some guppies or something....

My LFS has said that I shouldn't need to cycle it...

I will obviously for my bigger display tank.

Do you reckon I should have cycled a small tank then?

Mike

Every tank needs cycling!

Have a read in here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

WOW!!!!! I'm going to have to keep me laptop in the toilet if I'm ever going to read that lot lol......

I understand the principals of Cycling......It's just for a small tank. I think I would be OK to cycle with fish (hardy fish) guppies, clown loach etc.......

I know most peopel are apposed to cycling with fish (inhumane etc...) but I have been informed that cycling with fish will help them adjust better, and also the bacteria that builds up will be more sustained as the ammonia will be that of the fish waste?

Mike

 

[fluttermoth]

Chemically, household ammonia is no different to the ammonia from fish wastes, it makes no difference to the bacteria. Even so-called 'hardy' fish (which would be things like danios, goldfish etc, neither of which are suited to smaller tanks anyway) will suffer from ammonia poisoning in an uncycled tank.

Clown loaches are one of the more delicate fish, and would be totally unsuitable for fish-in cycles, quite apart from the fact they need to be in groups of 6+ and grow to a foot long!

We always, always recommend fishless cycles here.

The risk of causing diseases, stress, long term health problems or even death to the fish is just too great, in most people's opinion. The size of the tank, nor the intended occupants, is neither here nor there.

 

[hilly81]

BTW as an experienced fishkeeper I am sure you have cycled the tank with ammonia while its been empty to get the filter bacteria growing?

Its only a 19 litre tank for him to have some guppies or something....

My LFS has said that I shouldn't need to cycle it...

I will obviously for my bigger display tank.

Do you reckon I should have cycled a small tank then?

Mike

Every tank needs cycling!

Have a read in here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

WOW!!!!! I'm going to have to keep me laptop in the toilet if I'm ever going to read that lot lol......

I understand the principals of Cycling......It's just for a small tank. I think I would be OK to cycle with fish (hardy fish) guppies, clown loach etc.......

I know most peopel are apposed to cycling with fish (inhumane etc...) but I have been informed that cycling with fish will help them adjust better, and also the bacteria that builds up will be more sustained as the ammonia will be that of the fish waste?

Mike

It doesn't matter if its 2 litres or 2000 litres. The principle is exactly the same. Ammonia is ammonia and 0.25ppm in a small tank is the same as 0.25ppm in a large tank. The fish will suffer.

 

[TropicalJuwel]

Hi, if there is ever anything that you are unsure of make sure that you post it on here first, no matter how stupid you think it may sound as information given to you by some lfs isnt always the greatest, remember they are running a business.

As said above ammonia is ammonia, its better that its in your tank fish-less cycling than fish-in cycling. Not to say it cant be done but why put the fish through it and make your life harder needing to keep changing the water everyday to keep ammonia and nitrites down. The last thing you want is to show him the new fish you have bought him and next day its dead.

Good luck with getting it set up and hope it all goes well for you.

 

[Ruskull]

Welcome to the forum!

You should do a quick info search on any fish you want to add, this way you'll know if the fish are suited to the tank.

Of course you will need to "cycle" the tank regardless of it's size. You can do this easily if you get established media from a tank that's larger than the one you're "spiking" with the dirty filter full of beneificial bacteria that you get from the fish store or a friend's tank. Fishless cycling takes weeks, fish-in cycling is bad for the fish and ultimateley bad for a child to see. Getting donor media is the best alternative in my opinion.

You will need a test kit for ammonia & nitrite right away & eventually you'll need one for nitrates. You can use the strips but they're notoriously inaccurate.