editkid Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 Hi one and all. Hope you're all well, and I hope the same for your fishies, tanks, ponds and other watery items. I'm a real newbie, having just started a 100 liter planted tropical tank a week ago. I've conditioned the tank for two days with Nutrafin Cycle and it now houses two Three Spot Gourami and a school of 6 Head Tail Light Tetra. Monitoring ammonium, nitrite and nitrate levels very carefully and keeping the Cycle close by in case anything should spike. So far, all seems very well, the fishes have settled down great, look healthy, feeding nice. Look forward to participating in this nice forum! Have a good one! Peter (Wellington) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danilada Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 Welcome to the forum- another wellingtonian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 Welcome Peter. Have you considered joining one of the local fish clubs? They could then give you cycled filter media which will be a lot more useful than Cycle. Don't add any more fish for at least a month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editkid Posted September 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 Welcome Peter. Have you considered joining one of the local fish clubs? They could then give you cycled filter media which will be a lot more useful than Cycle. Don't add any more fish for at least a month Thanks Caryl, that's a great idea. Why fish stores don't give you these things... I don't know. I've found Animates to be particularly negligent of the common knowledges surrounding starting a tank. They almost sent me home with tank and fishes on the same day, until I asked if that was possible at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 I suggest you send a PM to billaney. I am sure he can help with some mature filter media He's in Wainuiomata. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanuts Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 if you are free tonight why don't you come along to the Kapi Mana club meeting out at Tawa. Starts at 8pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 Welcome to the forum Peter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editkid Posted September 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 Thanks for the offer Peanuts. Sadly I have to work late tonight and then go for a swim of my own. I'm in Brooklyn, by the way. Thanks everyone for the welcoming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 hi and welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 welcome to FNZAS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 Hi and thats better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 Hi Peter & welcome! I have no doubt that you will learn lots here & in no time offer advice Post a pic of your tank sometime. Good idea to keep a close eye on the water conditions. You may have to do more frequent changes until your tank is fully cycled. Take care & have fun, Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editkid Posted September 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 He he he, nice one davidb. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editkid Posted September 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 Yeah, thanks for the tip Caper. I was loosely planning on doing my first water change tonight, actually. We'll see if I get home in time... 25% would be good, or would you do 10%? The ammonium, nitrite and nitrate are still almost 0. Maybe I should wait with the water change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 Very nice Davidb Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 26, 2007 Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 No need for a water change until you start getting readings above 0. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editkid Posted September 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2007 Cool! Thanks Caryl. It's advice like this that makes this forum great - amongst other things I'm sure. No unnecessary water changes means less stress for the fish, and more cycling goodness for my young tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Welcome editkid. You've certainly come to the right place for fish advice. Finding this forum has probably saved me heaps of cash and the lives of many fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editkid Posted September 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 Thanks Mark! Ammonium and nitrite are at 0.35 ppm now. And I can detect a sliver of nitrate. I guess I should change some water today? I did a 25% change yesterday. Might be time for daily 10% changes? The point is to keep nitrite and ammonium under 0.5 ppm, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editkid Posted September 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 Tank conditions: Temperature: 26C pH: 6.5 Ammonia: 0.35 Nitrite: 0.35 Nitrate: 5.00 GH: 0.00 KH: 40.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Hi. I'd continue with 25% daily until you get the ammonia and nitrite down to 0.00. The ammonia will finish spiking first and the nitrite will drop next.When they are both at 0.00 you can then relax and do a weekly water change to control the nirates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editkid Posted October 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Cool beans! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editkid Posted October 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Tank cycled! Thanks so much people. Couldn't 've done it without you, ahhhh bless. The nitrite levels dropped by themselves almost and have been sitting at 0 for the last few days. It was a very, very gentle cycle. My ammonia never went over 0.5ppm and my nitrite spiked to 2ppm one day, which I promptly answered with a 50% water change and adding Nutrafin Cycle. And after that it dropped from 1ppm to 0.5ppm to 0.25ppm to 0ppm. And I've added a little Bristlenose and a Black red-tailed shark to celebrate. :bounce: (yes, I'm that excited) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editkid Posted October 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2007 Some preliminary photos of the cycled tank and its inhabitants... If anyone knows a good resource to identify plants, do let me know. I know there's Java Fern in there and that's it! Head-Tail Light Tetra: Head-Tail Light Tetra, Opaline Gourami and Black Red-Tail Shark: Just put in heaps of new plants yesterday, as well as an airpump with some fizzy stones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 14, 2007 Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 Very nice Is the tetra the same as a red eye except with the different shape? Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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