New Tank - Page 2

Quinnfrie · 10-22-2006, 09:51 PM

no not at all,

. Tommorow I am going to buy a test kit, a water filter, and some whater conditoner. Thanks for all your help, I am very greatfull

Tommy Gun · 10-22-2006, 09:57 PM

Ok, that is a good plan then. Trust me, you will be a lot happier if you can take your time and do this right. Once the tank is up and established well, you are going to have a lot less problems than I did when I first started out!

Loman · 10-22-2006, 11:45 PM

Quinnfrie, Tommy,
I am also reluctant to suggest the ammonia seeding because I do not know how much to put in to get a a reasonable level but not over dose the tank insanely. If you add Ammonia and then test it let us know what the amount of ammonia was and the reading. The food also works well and people have that usually or can get it easily. It might start bad habits though of putting too much food into the tank

Jay · 10-23-2006, 07:39 AM

Hi Quinnfrie,

I have a couple of thoughts

Bio Filter:

Quote:

This will also be a huge element for the good bacteria that you need for your fish to grow within.

The beneficial bacteria will establish themselves everywhere in the tank, they do not have to be in the filter. The colonies are more efficient if there is water moving around or over them, this is where the filter idea comes from. They are just as efficient if you have good water circulation in the tank, which you should have for overall health and well being. What I'm saying here is that it is risky to encourage your bacterial colonies to be all or mostly in the same place.

Straight ammonia can be found at most good pharmacies. For fishless cycling you can add 1 drop at a time (start with 10 drops) until you get a measurable amount showing up on your test kit. You need to keep an eye on it and possibly add a little more each week until Nitrites start to show up.

Regards,
Jay

Tommy Gun · 10-23-2006, 05:25 PM

I did some research and found three sources that say 5 drops of pure ammonia per 10 gallons will raise the ammonia levels in a tank to 5 ppm. Then, just keep doing this daily until you cannot get a 5 ppm reading as this would be a sign of the ammonia getting converted into nitrites.

The reason I brought up the biofilter media was to bring up the topic of cloning the tank. Since she does not have a source for this, the point is mute.

Quinnfrie · 10-23-2006, 10:02 PM

I'm getting my conditoner, water filter, ammonia, and test kit tommorow. And once it settels the only fish I have decided i am gettting is, one angelfish at least. anything that would go good with this? what order to put them in the tank?

Loman · 10-23-2006, 11:26 PM

Quinnfrie,
I think you said this but just to be sure let me repeat that you really want to wait to get any fish until the cycle settles down. I realize the wait can be hard but it is better than killing several fish and paying the money to replace them as well as the ethics involved.

To answer your question about compatibility, if you have an Angel I would consider them at least semi aggressive and on the large side. I would get other relatively large and semi aggressive fish personally. You can find charts at several of the on line stores that talk to specific compatibilities too that can be good reference material. I would look at like graumies, some of the bigger catfish maybe. You can get some smaller fish too but you want to be a little cautious and remember that the angel will grow relatively quickly. Also watch out for size and plan ahead a bit. Do not think that the angel or other fish will stay the same size as when you buy them.

It has been a while since I had angels but I am not sure that is the best fish to start with because if I recall they need relatively good water conditions. Maybe someone else will have some more recent personal experience in this regard.