Ash T Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Got my 1st tank today for my birthday Looking foward to setting it up over the next day or two. Will post some photos soon too Now, who offered free guppies a few months ago ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polgara Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Coolies Ash T .........I hope you have lots of fun settin it up. ANd you will get heaps of help here if you need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Good one Ash. Watch out for those high Cant temps... Remember to leave the tank to cycle before adding fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Cheers Plenty of info here on setting up etc etc and also my stepfather has a few tanks here too 1st fishes in are gonna be guppies after it is filled/cycled for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 The tank won't cycle without any fish in it unless you've got some source of ammonia. Just filling the tank with water doesn't make it start cycling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 Yea thats right Wording failed me the other night :lol: Well, tested the tank for leaks, have the gravel washed. Just gotta get plants, fish and find a place to set it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 Got the bits n pieces in the tank. Get some guppys tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 Don't get carried away and stock it too quickly will you? Tank is looking very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 Cool! 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 Thanks Yep from reading the info here, and also info gained from stepfather, i know to only put 3-5 hardy fish in at first to "cycle" the tank Will also probably get some water testers and the like, altho, the 2 other tanks here have never been tested, just filled up from the tap, and the fish are all doing pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 Its usually best to wait 2-3 weeks to let the plants get a hold + the filter will cycle without fish to a reasonable extent. When fish are added it's then easier on them as the tank will then get a micro-cycle by comparison... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 I also got some cycler and tap water treatment stuff, prolly use some of that to get things going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2004 Went to get a ph test kit and came home with 2 of these Looking quite happy so far... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 10, 2004 Report Share Posted January 10, 2004 I know you are new to the hobby Ash but those are fish, not test kits :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted January 10, 2004 Report Share Posted January 10, 2004 But they'll work like a test kit in a newly setup tank... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2004 Yep, i get what ya mean Warren :roll: Well, the're still looking happy now at 11:15pm. So thats been about 8 hours. Before i added them, i did a ph test and it was about 7.5 I also added some tap water treatment the day before. This site here is the one that i looked up when i got home, to find out what they were. Sorta forgot to look at the name and stuff before i left :lol: Lady at the lfs said they were pretty hardy, so that was me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 Well 4 & 1/2 days gone, and the 2 fish are still ok. Tested the water today and came up with ... Ammonia = less than 0.6 mg/l Nitrite = less than 0.1 mg/l Nitrate = less than 5 mg/l Ph 7.5 Im guessing this means that the tank hasnt started to cycle yet. Are 2 penguin tetras enough to start cycling a 50 litre tank ? Or would it be better if i went and got 4-6 more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 Tested again today, NH³, NO² and NO³ were all clear ( 0 ), Ph still at 7.5 :-? Sure, its only been 7 days since i added the 2 fish, but i thought there would be some sorta readings by now ??!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 I'm not sure how big the tank is, but just two little fish may not be enough that you'd ever see a measurable amount of ammonia or nitrates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 Thats what i started to think after reading thru stuff on the net. Tank is 61cmx36cmx31cm, with two 4 cm penguin tetras. Time to go get some more tanks mates maybe ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriber Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 I cycled my 3' 1.5' 1.5' with three guppies. After a week - 10 days bought eight more fish (6 zebra danios, 1 chinese algae eater 1 sailfin plec. Never experienced any deaths. I would think 2 fish would be enough to establish enough bacteria so that you could add a few more fish, just not your tanks total capacity. Although the water here is absolutely awesome, used to be bottled here and sold all over the world! Great water prob means you can get away with a lot, eg higher NH4+ and NO2- levels (going by my friends tank maintenance anyway!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 Yea the water here is pretty good aye 8) Ill be off to the lfs tomorrow morning then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish_Tank Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 I think your tank is only just starting the cycle..... In a few more days the ammonia should start to drop and your nitrItes will start to rise. Did you add anything like New Imroved Cycle........it will speed the cycle process up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash T Posted January 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Yes, i guessed the cycle has only just started, but i have been getting clear ( 0 ) results for the Ammonia... So, i went and got 4 more penguin tetras this weekend One of the original 2 has become quite a bully !!!! Will be keeping a very good eye on the conditions, prolly test the water every day for the week or two. I have also put in a air filter to put a bit more oxygen into the tank, and the extra filtering helps too i guess No, i never did add the cycle stuff, altho i do have some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish_Tank Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 I recomend you put some in as it speeds the process up by quite a bit. being a charachin, penquin teras like shoals so it is good you got them some buddies......good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.