Asmodeus Posted June 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2013 The brown stringy stuff is just your tank settling in. A few weeks and a few water changes should sort it out. Flourish excel would do the trick on the BBA as long as you don't have any plants sensitive to it (twisted val mostly). I squirt it straight onto the bba every day for a few days and it'll soon die off. OK cool, I'll try some flourish excel. I have a couple of twisted val plants in my tank but they are not doing very well anyway. I'll try your method of syringing it directly on to the swords that have it. As far as the snails are concerned, should I bother trying to get rid of them? I could just crush them as I see them I guess? Or make a little snail trap and yank them out? They are only tiny little transparent things at the mo but I know how they can get out of control if left to their own devices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted June 9, 2013 Report Share Posted June 9, 2013 I had BBA in two of my tanks and I used a double first dose and then two days later another first dose on one tank, on the bigger tank I just used two or three first doses two days apart - fixed the problem in both tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted June 9, 2013 Report Share Posted June 9, 2013 Personally I wouldn't worry about the snail at this point. They're going to be a pain to get rid of any time you try so just squash what you see and maybe make a trap a bit later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmodeus Posted June 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 Tank has been going for 2 weeks now and is looking good to me I bought some more plants and I'm liking the way it looks now. I will leave this lot to establish or succumb before adding many more. I may add a wee bit more grass.... Spent enough for now though Tested the water today and got pH = 7.1, NH3 = 0-0.2ppm, NO2- = 0ppm. I added a good pinch of flake food after I did a 40% water change today as it seems like it's struggling to cycle a bit, or is this normal after 2 weeks? Should I add a few small hardy fish? Get another bottle of cycle stuff? I dosed with flourish excel today too after my water change. Managed to suck a load of the algae out carefully with the gravel vac :bggrn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 You can chuck something hardy in. I'd keep a bottle of prime on hand in case you get an ammonia spike but with that much water you'll need quite a few fish to create enough for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 That tank is looking good, very healthy plants! Are all of the leaves moving? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoFishing Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 Tank has been going for 2 weeks now and is looking good to me It's looking good to me too! :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 That tank is looking good, very healthy plants! Are all of the leaves moving? :gpo2: Flow is Super Important in helping to stop algae growing! Looking Good btw :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmodeus Posted June 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 Thanks guys. All the plants are moving a little, as in some gentle swaying but could move more. I only have a 1000lph wavemaker but at the mo it is pointing upon a diagonal so it stirs the surface well. I shall experiment pointing it in different directions and see if I can get a better current going. 2000lph might be too much. Adjustable would be good... OK then suggestions for a hardy fish to add and how many? Have heard mountain minnows are good starters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmodeus Posted June 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 OK I'm feeling a bit iffy about using live fish to cycle the tank. The more I read people saying it's mean the less I want to do it. I think I will try the supermarket/chemist for some pure ammonia first :smln: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Just chuck 10 small tetras in. They will be fine, just do regular WC's ( 3 time a week for the first few weeks). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmodeus Posted June 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Just chuck 10 small tetras in. They will be fine, just do regular WC's ( 3 time a week for the first few weeks). OK. I thought they weren't very hardy, or won't it matter? Also, what % water changes should I do and how often should I test for NH3+ / NO2- during this time? :dunno: Thanks! Just don't wanna hurt the little buggers if I can avoid it :love: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 If done correctly there is no harm done to the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmodeus Posted June 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 OK thanks To confirm; "Correctly" is 3 water changes per week of 30%, have some ammo lock on hand in case there's a spike and keep an eye on their behaviour/condition? Test water every day, every 2 days? EDIT: Local hardware store has ammonium sulphate, so gonna grab a bit of that instead and try the fishless option :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 if you have ysed cycle (or another good product), and have lots of plants, I doubt that you would see much ammonia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 TLC startsmart (bottled bacteria) allows you to fill your tank and put your fish straight in (once temperature is reached). It works really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 TLC startsmart (bottled bacteria) allows you to fill your tank and put your fish straight in (once temperature is reached). It works really well. :iag: Tested and proven by using 8 adult Wild Discus in a 245 ltrs. tank. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmodeus Posted June 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 OK thanks guys. I just see so many conflicting bits of info here and everywhere elswe. Some people claim all the store-bought cycle products are junk, others swear by them. Some say add fish, others would rather chop their own leg off than do so... Kinda confused now but I figured if I add actual ammonia I'd get things rolling better/fasterr with no risk to any critters. (NH4)2SO4 is cheap as chips and a bag will last me literally forever so I think I'll go with that. I did add a good pinch of fish food last night so hopefully that starts to rot soon and help out too :nilly: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Lesson one: There are many ways to cycle an aquarium. Lesson two: The best way is the one that works for you. Lesson three: Only experience will allow you to find out what the best way for you is. In the mean time enjoy your experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmodeus Posted June 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Lesson one: There are many ways to cycle an aquarium. Lesson two: The best way is the one that works for you. Lesson three: Only experience will allow you to find out what the best way for you is. In the mean time enjoy your experiences. Thanks! I believe I have now learned lesson one Still working on lessons 2 & 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Wow looks awesome, very inspiring. Am leaning towards the Canyon Rock myself now but unsure about all the fiddly behind the scenes bits! How much depth (back to front) of your tank does it take up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmodeus Posted June 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 It doesn't take up too much room actually. A couple of parts jut out a bit but only 10cm or so I think. You can kind of tell from this pic (mine is the other way up) Today is my 3 week update All is going well, algae is minimal, I did a double initial dose of flourish excel which knocked it right back. Val didn't like it though and has melted right back too... Hopefully it will re-sprout I have been dosing with cloudy ammonia and by tomorrow it should be up to 4ppm. I was due to do a weekly water change today but I figured no point as water is OK (wee bit cloudy) but still no fish and I would just be delaying the cycle more. Ammonia was 2ppm today, nitrite 0 and pH 7.1. Once I get to 4ppm I will keep it there until nitrites and nitrates start showing, then once the ammonia and nitrite drop off, I'll do an 80% water change and add some fish Anyway here's what she looks like today. Val has died back but other plants are doing fairly well so far. Not added any more since last time Do you agree about holding off on the water changes for now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomGilberg Posted June 18, 2013 Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 looks real natural, only thing i dont like is the different pebbles in contrast with the larger rocks. also in the future the swords upfront will look horribly out of place as they get bigger. perhaps move them backward and replace with dwarf sag? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmodeus Posted June 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2013 Thanks for the feedback Good call on moving the swords. They look good where they are at their current size but I agree they will be too big for there eventually. I didn't mind the other coloured stones and other people had commented on them positively but I guess it's down to personal preference. As they get some more algae on them and look more aged they will probably look better. Easy to move anyway and I'm sure I'll want to change the way it looks eventually Has anyone got any input about the ammonia vs water change thing? I am up to 4ppm now but nitrite still 0. Should I still do my weekly water change (20%) and then add a bit more NH3 or just wait? Is 4ppm where I want it or should I go higher? Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M@. Posted June 19, 2013 Report Share Posted June 19, 2013 this makes an interesting case for doing water changes while cycling http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/226664-why-water-changes-during-cycling-are-good/ so I wouldn't feel too bad about doing your once a week change if you want, but you probalby dont need to. I think the ppm you want to go up to depends on the number of fish you want to put in initially - the more ammonia your bio filter manages to deal with the more fish it can deal with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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