Tank Setup

[bexyjane]

Hi everyone, i've spent most of the day getting the rest of the bits to set up my tank, apart form fish obivously!

Theres a few things i'm stuck with and i'd be really grateful of some help, so here it goes

Firstly the water is very cloudly, i'm using sand as the base to my aquarium could this be that I haven't cleaned it enough first or do I just need to give it a little more time to settle? If i haven't cleaned it enough should i empty the water?

Secondly i've decided to keep real plants in the tank, personal choice i suppose but i like them best, do i need the plant food and co2 bottles that all the shops keep trying to sell me?!

And finally!! I've read so many things about cycling the tank that my heads going round in a whirl, how do i know when my tanks ready for some fish?!!

Thanks everyone for all your help, so so much better than any book or shop

One very excited Bex hehe

 

[Xebadir]

Well ill go through each of these:

1. Sand is more likely to give cloudy water due to difficulties in washing(washed sand really is not), however given time an an adequate filter this should clear up.

2. With plants, unless you are going for high maintenance or heavy planting you will not need what the shops are trying to sell you. Mine exist fine with the presence of fish and filtrage.

3. If you have had the Ammonia Spike and Nitrite spike of the cycle then you are ready to have fish: Either without fish, or fish with a bacterial additive(not essential but nicer to the fish). Water testing is essential.

Hope this helps.

 

[hoppybunn]

Sand usually makes water cloudy, as sand particles/silt are stirred up from adding the water, your filter if it's doing it's job properly should clear it up in a few days, and the sand will settle. Most tanks when first set up are a bit cloudy.

As far as plants go, I haven't set up an adequate planted tank (though it is my next project), so I can't help you right now.

If you are doing a fishless cycle, you can add fish after your ammonia and nitrites go down. If you are doing a cycle with fish, I would wait a couple of days until the water becomes less cloudy and add some hardy fish (like danios). Make sure you buy good test kits (the ones where you use the test tube, not the dipping sticks) and test the water everyday. You know your tank is cycled when both ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0.

 

[bexyjane]

So lets get this straight...in my head lol

The water should become less cloudly in a few days? I think it has over night, unless its just wishful thinking!

The plants should be fine without any plant food or fertiliser?

And I can start adding fish when the water has settled, and water tests show that its fine? Am I best investing in my own kit to do this (which is the best one on the market)? Or should I let my local fish store do this (they charge £1)?

Thanks for all your help again guys

Bex

 

[mark.w.jones]

If you want to get tank set up quickly I would recommend the following:

1. Do a fishless cycle on you tank with ammonia solution. You'll need to buy a master water test kit. Best one IMO is Aquarium Pharmaseuticals one which looks like this:

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/AQUARIUM-FISH-TANK-F...1QQcmdZViewItem

You'll also need a medicine dropper, found in most fish meds + the ammonia solution.

Finally, follow the add & wait method in this post:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...3861&hl=methods

Loads of members have used it successfully. Takes about 3 - 5 weeks.

2. Plants. There are easier and harder to grow plants. The harder ones need regular fertilizer, CO2 addition, phosphate, the correct substrate, high light levels etc. Easier to grow plants (click the link in my signature) just need a liquid fertilizer every so often and a trim when they get out of hand. If you go with the beginners plants, especially the thai onion plant and java fern you'll have no probs.

Buy online here. Very reliable:

http/www.aquaticplants.eu.com/

 

[hoppybunn]

I agree with jonesy, as a fishless cycle is faster and a more humane way of cycling a tank, but some still prefer to do it with fish....It's all a matter of personal opinion.

And yes bexyjane, water will become less cloudy when your filter starts to kick in, though sometimes it make take a while (like a week or two if the gravel wasn't washed properly).