kiwiplymouth Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 I spent last weekend setting up my new 8 footer and sump etc etc. I wanted a heap of shells in the sump for buffering, minerals etc as we are on rain water. I kept approx 20L of pipi shells from a recent hunt and gather and after we ate the pipi's i added the shells to the sump. The remaining meat and skirt was left on the shells and is now starting to decompose in the tank. After one week I now have an ammonia level of 1.2ppm. Its looking good for a fishless cycle. Comments and advice appreciated. Cheers P.S I decided on the "herbie" system to keep the overflow noise to a minimum and I am really impressed with the outcome. Has anyone else used this system ? http://dinardiengineering.com:80/blog/?p=34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 Congrats on getting the tank up and running, I would love to have an 8f tank IMO There is almost no point in doing a fishless cycle on an 8ft tank just gradually stock it up anything that builds up will be diluted in so much water it wont harm the fish.. However now you have the meat and stuff in there working it wont hurt to wait as I am sure you are aware until the ammonia drops off before adding anything:) Any pics of tank? And what is going in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 I wasn't going to post pics yet as it is still a work in progress. The sump is a mess, the difusser for the wet/dry is not yet installed. the filter media is not properly contained, the lights,hood and doors are not on yet, not to mentaion the aquascaping is not done and the fact that wife has put a horrible plastic plant in it as well as a couple of angels. It has a 160L sump, an 8000lph pump and the fish that i plan to add are 2 x ornates, 2x talking cats, 1x fire eel, 1 x BGK, 1 x plec and 1x oscar overflow sump before wet/dry Shells Wifes horrible plastic bits overview Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 8 footer wow...looking good :bounce: :bounce: Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 nice one I presume an 8footer for the plecos is on the cards too? :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 nice one I presume an 8footer for the plecos is on the cards too? :bounce: Not at the moment, once this tank is up and running I will have a spare 4 footer and 5 footer that I have already have earmarked for pleco's. But if ive learnt anything since ive been keeping fish it is to never say never Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 good man! :lol: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-town... Posted May 23, 2009 Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 wow those are beautiful baby angel fish 8) lol the tank looks awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted May 23, 2009 Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 Looks good, but most of those fish will prefer softer water so you might need to get rid of the shells (or some of them). What is the pH of the water you're adding to the tank? Unless its well below 6 I wouldn't worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted May 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 I had a bit of a play with the aquascaping today. I got 4-5 feet semi done and managed to murk up the water a bit. I'm not entirely happy with it yet but this is where I got to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted May 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 Looks good, but most of those fish will prefer softer water so you might need to get rid of the shells (or some of them). What is the pH of the water you're adding to the tank? Unless its well below 6 I wouldn't worry. My ph test kit only goes down to 6 and that is what the results show. So my ph is 6 or less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted May 23, 2009 Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 sigh. I love aqua-scaping large tanks. think of all the space you have to grow some real plants! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted May 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 sigh. I love aqua-scaping large tanks. think of all the space you have to grow some real plants! Not if my wife gets her way and the Oscar and silver dollars move in :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted May 23, 2009 Report Share Posted May 23, 2009 silver dollars! that is like a swear word as far as i am concerned :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted May 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 I can't believe it. I did my normal ammonia test today and it had gone down a little so i decided to test the nitrite. It was off the chart. I have never seen a tank produce nitrite so quick. I recon that it has only been at operating temp for 7-8 days. Its was a mad rush to remove the angels. I also did a ph test and its at 7.4 Im cool with that but will keep a close eye on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 1tsp of table salt per 19L/5USg blocks Nitrite toxicity. Your fish will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted May 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 Very nice Kiwi! I have White Angels in mine too. Wat are the measurements of the tank? Thanks mystic. Its 2400 x 750 x 500. Sometimes i think that i should have gone 600 wide but 500 suits the room better. Its not quite 8 foot but 8 foot sounds better than 7.87 foot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 I love how you did the rockwork, awesome Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 The fishless cycle is now complete and only two weeks from when it started. ammonia 0. nitrite 0. nitrate 10ppm. ph 7.4. kh and gh both 71.6 ppm :bounce: I did a 10% water change and added 1 oscar, 1 pleco and 1 BGK all about 30cm in size. I plan to do daily water checks for a while yet and slowly add the ornates, fire eel and perhaps a couple of chocolate talking cats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freakyfish Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 1tsp of table salt per 19L/5USg blocks Nitrite toxicity. Your fish will be fine. Im not sure exactly what ur thinking but Salt isnt going to help with Nitrite Salt wont affect the Nitrite at all Its still going to kill your fish Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Im not sure exactly what ur thinking but Salt isnt going to help with Nitrite Salt wont affect the Nitrite at all Its still going to kill your fish Brad Actually according to a number of experienced Ichthyologists Sodium chloride does in fact block Nitrite toxicity in fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 I can see it forming NaNO2 quite happily. thus blocking Nitrite toxicity, as there are no Nitrite free ions swimming about. I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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