Day 1: Fri 15 Feb
Got a phone call from the driver to say it had arrived. Despite the fact that the store had told me (by email as well as phone) that the delivery company would arrange a date and time in advance. The driver went to lunch, I told everyone I was working at home and met him an hour later. Unpacked the box outside because there was no way I could lift it or fit it through the doorway. Assembled stand filters etc and washed the sand (occasionally checking email cos I was supposed to be working). Had to wait for my wife to get home cos I needed to get help to get the tank onto the stand. Put in the sand and hooked everything up. (For the record 25 Kgs of sand isn't really enough but patience is not my strong point). Half filled it in the morning and turned everything on.
Day 4: Mon
Temp ok, no leaks - dropped in 8 MTS (Malaysian Trumpet Snails)
Day 5: Tue
Plants arrived so they went in. First water test - ammonia and nitrite zero. Filled tank, added Seachem Prime. More tests the next day. Ammonia up to 0.1 - wonder if the Prime caused an inaccurate reading(???). Thursday added Red Sea Co2 (fermentation) system Friday the bubbles stopped. Guess I won't be using the free refill they sent with the kit.
Day 9: Sat (early)
Ammonia and Nitrite 0. Replaced carbon in 1 of the new filters trays with biomax from old tank. Replace the rest of the carbon with Purigen. Moved over fish:
5 guppies (4 female)
6 cardinals
3 platys (2 female)
4 platy juveniles
Left loads of fry in old tank. One feed Saturday night, two feeds Sunday and 12 hourly tests. Ammonia and Nitrite zero for the rest of the weekend. Bought some yeast on Sunday and restarted the CO2
Day 13: Wednesday
So far all tests showed zero ammonia and nitrite. Came in after work and found a dead guppy with the rest of the guppies looking stressed. Oops. Test showed nitrite of 0.3 and zero ammonia. 40% water change, lots of Prime, no food and the fish calmed down again. Thursdays test showed less than 0.2 nitrite and 0.1 ammonia. Don't understand the ammonia - maybe it is the prime after all. Still no food, 10% water change and more Prime. Friday nitrite down to about 0.15 ammonia still 0.1. Fed them and did 20% water change.
Day 16: Today
Early start. 40% change so I could change the heater for an external heater. Also hooked up a second CO2 bottle (soda bottle this time). Here they are
Nitrite less than 0.1 this evening Won't relax yet cos it was a big water change today. Ammonia still hovering around 0.1 - fish seem fine. Here is the tank this evening
Things to do tomorrow
Conceal cables and hose at the back.
Test water and change if necc.
Will redecorate once I see which plants grow fastest etc. Next fish once the mini cycle is complete will be pepper corys.
Thanx to everyone for all the tips along the way and the loads of useful info on here. BTW - fry tank is doing just fine
Got a phone call from the driver to say it had arrived. Despite the fact that the store had told me (by email as well as phone) that the delivery company would arrange a date and time in advance. The driver went to lunch, I told everyone I was working at home and met him an hour later. Unpacked the box outside because there was no way I could lift it or fit it through the doorway. Assembled stand filters etc and washed the sand (occasionally checking email cos I was supposed to be working). Had to wait for my wife to get home cos I needed to get help to get the tank onto the stand. Put in the sand and hooked everything up. (For the record 25 Kgs of sand isn't really enough but patience is not my strong point). Half filled it in the morning and turned everything on.
Day 4: Mon
Temp ok, no leaks - dropped in 8 MTS (Malaysian Trumpet Snails)
Day 5: Tue
Plants arrived so they went in. First water test - ammonia and nitrite zero. Filled tank, added Seachem Prime. More tests the next day. Ammonia up to 0.1 - wonder if the Prime caused an inaccurate reading(???). Thursday added Red Sea Co2 (fermentation) system Friday the bubbles stopped. Guess I won't be using the free refill they sent with the kit.
Day 9: Sat (early)
Ammonia and Nitrite 0. Replaced carbon in 1 of the new filters trays with biomax from old tank. Replace the rest of the carbon with Purigen. Moved over fish:
5 guppies (4 female)
6 cardinals
3 platys (2 female)
4 platy juveniles
Left loads of fry in old tank. One feed Saturday night, two feeds Sunday and 12 hourly tests. Ammonia and Nitrite zero for the rest of the weekend. Bought some yeast on Sunday and restarted the CO2
Day 13: Wednesday
So far all tests showed zero ammonia and nitrite. Came in after work and found a dead guppy with the rest of the guppies looking stressed. Oops. Test showed nitrite of 0.3 and zero ammonia. 40% water change, lots of Prime, no food and the fish calmed down again. Thursdays test showed less than 0.2 nitrite and 0.1 ammonia. Don't understand the ammonia - maybe it is the prime after all. Still no food, 10% water change and more Prime. Friday nitrite down to about 0.15 ammonia still 0.1. Fed them and did 20% water change.
Day 16: Today
Early start. 40% change so I could change the heater for an external heater. Also hooked up a second CO2 bottle (soda bottle this time). Here they are
Nitrite less than 0.1 this evening Won't relax yet cos it was a big water change today. Ammonia still hovering around 0.1 - fish seem fine. Here is the tank this evening
Things to do tomorrow
Conceal cables and hose at the back.
Test water and change if necc.
Will redecorate once I see which plants grow fastest etc. Next fish once the mini cycle is complete will be pepper corys.
Thanx to everyone for all the tips along the way and the loads of useful info on here. BTW - fry tank is doing just fine
