Very Excited

[Twinklecaz]

Some of you may know I've been having trouble finding a LFS that I'll actually be happy to buy my fish from. So many bad places round here! I found a good one a couple of weeks ago but they didn't have great choice and it was a bit far away.

ANYWAY, I went to the last one today - and I loved it! All the fish looked healthy except for one slighly sad looking Dwarf Gourami and they had such a good choice of Platys. They had some lovely yellow ones that I've never seen before so I think I'll be getting one of them. AND then had Pygmy Corys which I haven't seen anywhere round here.

The only thing is they didn't have any Pandas ( ) or Red Honey Gouramis (had yellow Honeys but ideally I want one of each). This does leave me in a dilemma coz although I orginally wanted Pygmys, coz I thought I couldn't get them anywhere I moved on to Pandas and now I actually prefer them. But I guess it would be worth me asking when I get my first fish (next week hopefully) if they can get me some Pandas? Or who knows, by then they may have some anyway!

So yeah, I've definitely found the LFS for me. I just hope they still have the Honeys next week coz there wasn't many of them.

 

[PDSimon]

Have a chat to them, or in this case now give them a call and ask

glad you have found a decent supplier... Its always good

 

[Twinklecaz]

Some of you may know I've been having trouble finding a LFS that I'll actually be happy to buy my fish from. So many bad places round here! I found a good one a couple of weeks ago but they didn't have great choice and it was a bit far away.

ANYWAY, I went to the last one today - and I loved it! All the fish looked healthy except for one slighly sad looking Dwarf Gourami and they had such a good choice of Platys. They had some lovely yellow ones that I've never seen before so I think I'll be getting one of them. AND then had Pygmy Corys which I haven't seen anywhere round here.

The only thing is they didn't have any Pandas ( ) or Red Honey Gouramis (had yellow Honeys but ideally I want one of each). This does leave me in a dilemma coz although I orginally wanted Pygmys, coz I thought I couldn't get them anywhere I moved on to Pandas and now I actually prefer them. But I guess it would be worth me asking when I get my first fish (next week hopefully) if they can get me some Pandas? Or who knows, by then they may have some anyway!

So yeah, I've definitely found the LFS for me. I just hope they still have the Honeys next week coz there wasn't many of them.

 

[Liverbird36]

Well done hun. Can't wait to see a pic of your tank plus lots of happy fish swimming around

 

[Twinklecaz]

I think I'm gonna get my plants online though. I just need to get some recommendations of where from. They had some plants but not loads and I figured there's no harm buying online and getting what I want.

Simon, do you (or anyone else) know if it's ok to do my final big water change, add my plants and get my fish on the same day? Just if I order online and the plants come this week then that's what I'll do on Saturday (assuming my cycle continues to behave).

 

[PDSimon]

I think it will be fine, if you have a low KH and add something like bogwood though, like mine..messes things up

 

[Twinklecaz]

What's KH? Hardness? I have to confess I have no idea about that. I think my water's hard coz it leaves white marks but that's it. I do have bogwood though

I know, I tried to take one on my phone and it was just not worth it. When it's all set up I'll pich my sisters camera!

 

[PDSimon]

if you already have bogwood in your tank and your pH is stable i'm sure its fine

 

[Twinklecaz]

It did dip to 6.8 after my water change so I added some bicarb again. It was still 7.5-6ish yesterday. WD said my PH would prob change about for a while before I know what it's gonna be constantly.

 

[OldMan47]

If you must add bicarb right after a water change to control pH, I would avoid any fish that need a high pH or hard water. Often fish of that nature really need water that is high in mineral content, as my mollies do. They will not do well in the soft water that you are working with. With that kind of water you would do better working with the South American species of fish than with typical livebearers or African cichlids.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Nooo even Platys? I thought they were basically happy as long as there's water (exaggeration I know)??

Thing is, I think my water IS hard. My tap water is about 7.6 PH and it leaves white marks on glass. It's only been dipping every now and then whilst I've been cycling. Will is level out at a more Platy friendly PH/hardness do you think when it's all settled?

Gah, I'd ignore so many people if they said that but not you! Must have the Platys, they're my favourite

 

[waterdrop]

I would not rule the platies out yet. Perhaps do a jar of tap water just sitting and see how your tap pH holds up from that 7.6 figure as you move through these final days of watching for the right fish to be at your LFS and watching your 12-hour biofilter performance, which seems to be hovering right on the edge of always solid zeros. I'm remembering the tank size as fairly small although I can't remember it specifically. Could you remind me of that again? (its probably staring me in the face in your stuff but Ive just missed it) Obviously I'm not the livebearer expert that OM is but he'll look back in on your pH data again and any further clarity we can get on mineral levels.

By the way, just having a look down the line of your fishless cycling log entries makes me feel you should be out of any danger of mini-cycles re-occuring after the big water change. It seems to be performing pretty consistently now.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Twinklecaz]

Hiya

It's 60L. I need to make a decision about this coz I planned to get my Platys this Saturday. I just figure my cycle is basically there and I've waited long enough.....it's surely gotta be safe?

My Ph didn't drop for AGES through the cycle, I think I was almost out (if not out) of Nitrite spike before it did. That's why I wasn't too concerned about it. The only strange thing is it dropped a few days after my big water change a couple of weeks ago.

 

[PDSimon]

simple solution - get your GH and KH tested

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yeah, I just don't understand what they or how they work. Are they both for hardness?