Samba2641

So, if anyones still looking at this thread I have failed completely at sourcing ammonia and used filter media so as going get a few danios to start cycling the tank. Fingers crossed when I go out to the pet shop on wed. the fish guy will be back and I can get me a little used filter media but if not i am prepared to do daily water changes until the ammonia and nitrite levels are 0ppm. How many would be adequate to start off with? -tank is 38L. Cheers, Sam

I'm in Brooklyn, went to the local pet shops today, neither could help me out on the used media side of things but I'm not too unhappy about that as I don't know what bugs could be lurking that could have infected my tank. Should I ask if anyone around Brooklyn has any used media on the trade link? And of course, thank you for your help:) Sam

Thanks all:)!!

Hey, thanks for so many replies:) I wanted to go the ammonia way for three main reasons: 1. I love the idea of precisely manufacturing a whole wee ecosystem. 2. I don't have any other tanks or friends in Wellington to nick filter media from. 3. I'd hate to damage or kill any fishes just because I'm impatient to get some action in there. that said, it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to find any ammonia so I may have to go the fish way, I think I'll add some fish food to an empty tank for a week or so first though to bolster the bacteria numbers if that would work? @ Diver, yes, I have the aqua one hob filter that came with the tank, thinking of grabbing another one off trademe at some point for extra filtration and then perhaps a second tank... Cheers, Sam

Hey, I've read different opinions on this so thought I'd see what all you knowledgeable people think:) I am going to cycle my tank using ammonia (if I can find it-Nelson doesn't seem to have it anywhere, will have to search in Wellington...),Once its done can I put all my planned fish in at once or should it be staggered? The main reason I ask is that I don't have a Q tank yet and would hate to introduce some greebly with the second or third batch of fish. Tank stuff: 38L, lightly planted, sand substrate, driftwood. Stocked with Zebra and Leopard Danios and Corydoras hastatus/pygmaeus. Cheers, Sam

Thanks:) I'll go for a cruise when I get back.

Thank you everybody:) @ Josh: It was indeed, oh the joys of trademe:) then I started learning and now the only thing I'm using from the set is the tank itself:) @ Caryl:Good to know, thanks:) @ Sam: Its such a wonderful name huh, so easy to spell... @ Neon: I love it, especially as a holiday destination as its just so great to cruise in. And theres always a river nearby:) @ Scottie: I'm currently in Brooklyn, might be moving soonish if we can find a better flat, but not too far. And apologies for the many smilies I use, at least I admit I have problem:)

I'm Sam, grew up in Nelson and am now living in Wellington with my partner studying Biology and Anthropology at Victoria University. I had a wee goldfish a few years ago, it somehow survived living in a tiny glorified cup with no dechlorination or filtration until it got released into a pond a few weeks later, poor thing. I don't like not being around at least a few animals so a small aquarium is ideal for a flat, moving every year etc. I've been planning it obsessively for the last few months and will begin fishless cycling the tank when I get home from xmas in Nelson. It will be a lightly planted tank-with low maintenance plants ie. Java Fern. The tank I have is not large, 38L, and I want to stock it with a mixture of 6 Zebra/Leopard Danios (preferably long-finned) and 4 pygmy Corydoras. I have been researching and asking questions on other forums and this seems to be acceptable. Any comments or tips would be welcome, I love to learn:) Also, a question to the people in wellington: at the moment I am planning on getting stock from the Pet Centre in Lower Hutt, is this place reliable in terms of prices and healthy fish? When I went in it seemed well managed with a knowledgeable man in the fish section, just wanted to ensure that it was the rule and not the exception.. Anyway, I'll stop talking now:) Cheers, Sam :happy2: