Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fishtank Filtration and Cycling => Topic started by: Manjr on April 07, 2016, 09:39:09 AM
-
I am attempting a fishless cycle on my new tank but seem to be stuck with high nitrites. I may be impatient.
Today's readings are
ammonia 0.00
Nitrite off the scale high
Nitrates 5 ppm ( roughly )
I started the cycle on Saturday 2nd and readings were after adding 3ml of ammonia
Ammonia 3.00
Nitrites 0.25
The cycle was started using ceramic and foam from my pond filter in my Fluval 206.
On Wednesday 6th readings were
Ammonia 0.00
Nitrites 5.00+
Nitrates 5, just thought I'd check. Water company site says nitrates <2.08
Added 3ml of ammonia
I've just checked my water and ammonia is again 0.00, nitrites are still off the scale and nitrates still 5.00
Is this normal or if not do I just have to be patient or is there a plan B.
-
That's fine for a cycle using mature media (your ceramic and foam from the pond filter).
Your ammonia eaters seem to be there in large numbers hence the drop form 3 ppm to zero in 4 days. However you don't appear to have many nitrite eaters - I wonder if that's due to the temp as a pond would be running cooler than a tank, though I don't know how temp could affect them.
1 ppm ammonia is converted into 2.7 ppm nitrite, so the first 3ppm that you added is now around 8ppm nitrite which is off the top of the tester scale. And the second 3 pm ammonia means you now have around 16 ppm nitrite in there. This is at danger level as the nitrite eaters stop multiplying around 15 ppm nitrite.
Have you tested your tap water nitrate yourself? Nitrate testers are the least accurate of the ones we use so it is better to use them to compare levels. Try testing nitrate on your tap water and tank water at the same time so you can compare the colours side by side. If the tank colour is higher than the tap colour, you do have some nitrite eaters.
And if you are using liquid testers, are you shaking one of the bottles even more than the instructions say to?
Once you've done these nitrate tests you'll know for sure if your nitrate is going up and if it is you do have some nitrite eaters, you just need to grow more.
You have just completed stage 6 in the method stickied in this section. Because you are potentially at the upper safe limit for nitrite, don't add any more ammonia yet. Go from stage 7. Since your ammonia is dropping very quickly, you'll test in 2 days and get zero ammonia, then test again in 4 days to get the second zero ammonia. That's when to add the 1 ppm dose. Then repeat this until your nitrite falls below 1.0 ppm
Please don't be tempted to add more ammonia more often than this or your nitrite will get high enough to stall the cycle.
It shouldn't take very much longer :)
-
Welcome to the forum Manjr.
I've just matured a filter using some mature ceramic media to kickstart the process and I ended up with off the scale nitrites, however the whole process finished yesterday. Because I had some mature media it only took 23 days.
Good luck with your cycling :)
-
Hi Manjr and welcome to the forum. :wave:
Good luck with your tank cycling. :)
-
I did test my tap water and all readings except hardness were 0.00. I also tested the tank water immediately after setting up the tank, adding substrate and plants and filling with water containing Seachem Prime. Nitrites showed 0.00 and NitrAtes 15:00. I am using the API Master liquid test kit and temp is 30°C. I am sure I'm simply being impatient, I've had tanks on and off for around 30 years but the Nitrogen cycle is like trying to teach an old dog new tricks, I'm literally of the old school (got the bus pass). When I started I don't think Nitrogen was around never mind the cycle. My first tank stand I made myself from angle iron though I can't remember how big the tank was but it had a UG filter. Anyway, enough rambling I'll keep testing.
-
It shouldn't take you too long, it took me 23 days start to finish to cycle a sponge filter seeded with mature media, I imagine you'll be about the same. The nitrite eaters are the slow moes of the bacteria world I'm afraid
-
When I started I don't think Nitrogen was around never mind the cycle.
lol nice one. :rotfl:
Welcome to the forum. :wave:
Good luck with your cycle, as you're off to a headstart with mature media it shouldn't take too long.
-
Have taken your advice Sue and done a comparison of the nitrates in the waters, the tank water contains, guesstimate, a couple of ppm more than the tap water about 5.00 against 7.00. Looks like I'll have to keep on waiting.
Edit: Surprised at the tap water, not seen that much nitrate before.!
-
Edit: Surprised at the tap water, not seen that much nitrate before.!
Mine comes out the tap at 40ppm :( It's a right royal pain in the bum
edited to add I have between 4-5ppm phosphates coming out my tap too
-
Mine comes out the tap at 40ppm :(
Same here. >:(
-
With the number of plants I have you 'd think the water in the 200l would be lower but it's not. The tanks not even 50% stocked atm either. 1 soft algae pellets divided between 7 cories and 6 ottos isnt excessive and I only put a small pinch of flaked in for the others. I also hang a slice of courgette in the tank now for the ottos and gobies to share. Twice a week they all share half a cube of bloodworms. Am I over feeding do you think?
I know the quarantine tank where the shrimp are currently residing is down to 20ppm nitrates.
-
My tap water is 40ppm nitrates too.
::)
-
Fiona what you've described certainly doesn't sound like overfeeding to me.
The Nitrate in the QT are nice and low considering the level in your tap water! Do you have different plants in there? Maybe the plants are gobbling up the Nitrate?
-
Same plants....I grow on cuttings from the main tank in there normally, a lot of the stemmed plants go bald at the base so every now and then I replace them. Although that said there is a spare potted amazon sword in there. Maybe that's sucking up the nitrates
-
I would dearly love a pair of rams, the guys in MA said they'd be ok with hard water or high nitrates but not both. Mind you that said even if I could get the nitrates down, my male 'possibly rainbow' goby is so territorial there'd be a blood bath, so I'd need to wait for him to pass to the great fish tank in the sky first.
He even chases off the ottos sometimes, they do look a bit like stiphs at a quick glance..a brief one..from a distance....I guess he's just stoopid :)
-
Welcome, Manjr :wave:
Hopefully it won't take too long for the cycle to finish.
What fish do you have in your pond, what fish have you had in the past over your years of fishkeeping, and what fish are you planning in your aquarium this time round?
-
My pond is about 100 gallon and stepped, it has 8 ordinary run of the mill Goldie's 2 or 3 ins. It's got lillies and other plants in it. I've had it for about 5 years and the fish tend to breed most years although nature seems to keep the number fairly steady. There's a local heron and some cats.
As for the tank it's an Aquaoak 76 from MA, lovely tank and just the size for me now. My last tank was a Rio 180 which I had for about 10 years up until last year but had to get rid of it for health reasons, mine and the fish. It had angel fish, kribs, cherry barbs, neons, Otto's, panda Cory's and a big golden loach that terrified everything else.
My present plan is some of what's in my creator.
-
Very good - I'm a goldie fan although mine were kept in a tank; I'm learning a little about pond fishkeeping as my parents' neighbour has a pond and I hear updates on it from them. Good luck with the new tank once it's cycled - great choice of fish you have planned for it.
-
Some nice choices, personally I'd up the ottos and especially the cories a wee bit , they're happier in bigger groups.
I've found glowlight tetras to be lurkers, they prefer the shadier areas and with foreknowledge of that I wouldn't have picked them, if you want something interesting to look at you'll have a bit of a wait.
It all depend what you want from your tank though.
-
On further reading and using the creator I've decided to forget the Agassiz's and replace the tetras with cherry barbs and up the Otto's and pandas to eight of each. I'll put the barbs in first as they seem a good choice for that honour. I've kept the cherry's and kribs before and the kribs usually bred though no fry ever matured and the barbs always seemed very hardy and busy. The problem is that all the fish always look great in the bare tanks of the LFS. I've also got a diy cave in the tank waiting for them.
I almost forgot Fiona, I have had frogs in the pond for the last few years and they always breed, there's a load of spawn in there now.
-
With fishless cycling you can get virtually all your fish at once, you don't need to add some first, wait, then add more. The exceptions would be cories and otos. Otos need to wait until the tank has grown enough algae to feed them, and cories need a mature tank.
Cycling just grows the bacteria that deal with ammonia made by the fish and the nitrite made from that ammonia. There are countless other micro-organisms that live in a mature aquarium, and cories seem to need most of those micro-organisms to be in the tank when they are added. This is one thing that fish-in cycling does better, it allows the build up of all the micro-organisms not just the ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria.
-
Otos need to wait until the tank has grown enough algae to feed them, and cories need a mature tank.
Ooops forgot about that ::)
I've got a pond too Manjr but we designed it just for wild life, it too is full of tadpoles atm :)
-
Sorry Sue does this mean every 2 days or 2 days then wait 4 days? My mind is awash with tanks, chemicals, fish and cycles at the moment.
test in 2 days and get zero ammonia, then test again in 4 days to get the second zero ammonia. That's when to add the 1 ppm dose - See more at: http://www.thinkfish.co.uk/forums/fishtank-filtration-and-cycling/high-nitrites-in-cycle/#.dpuf
-
You added ammonia on 2 April to give a reading of 3 ppm. Stage 1.
You tested on 6 April and had ammonia 0 and nitrite 5+, and you added ammonia to give a reading of 3 ppm. That is, your ammonia was under 0.75 ppm and your nitrite over 2.0 - this is stage 6.
Stage 7 is test every 2 days. So test on 8 April and again on 10 April. I am expecting both of these to show zero ammonia with the way the first ammonia addition dropped, but if the 8th's test shows anything above zero, test again on 12th. You should be testing every 2 days and looking for 2 zero ammonias. So zeros on 8th and 10th, or 10th and 12th April. Or possibly 12th and 14th.
Once you get those two zeros, add a 1 ppm dose of ammonia and continue testing every 2 days, adding 1 ppm when you get to the second zero ammonia.
At the same time as testing ammonia, also test for nitrite. On the days you are due to add a 1 ppm dose of ammonia, if nitrite is over 1.0, add the ammonia. When you reach a day where nitrite is below 1.0, that is stage 10.
I'll not mention stage 10 yet, there is time for that later :)
The reasoning behind having a minimum of 4 days between additions of the 1 ppm dose of ammonia is to stop the nitrite level getting so high it stalls the cycle. And that 4 days is only if you have zero ammonia on the second and fourth days after adding ammonia. If the ammonia readings are above zero, it will be 6 or even 8 days between doses.
It used to be thought that the ammonia eating bacteria would starve if they had no food, so other methods have you testing every day and adding ammonia every time ammonia drops to zero. And so much ammonia was added that nitrite went sky high and the cycle took forever.
It is now known that the bacteria don't starve, they can go several days without food. And even after a few weeks, they don't die but become dormant.
This is why on most sites you'll find the add-ammonia-every-time-it-drops-to-zero method, but I found the method I've written up on here on another forum and it seems to work.
-
Thanks for being so patient with me. :isay:
-
We've all been in similar situations at some point, and the people here have given advice and seen us through.
;D
-
I like chemistry ;D
I may be getting on a bit now, but I can still remember a lot of what was in my chemistry degree, and I can manage to get my head around cycling quite easily ;D
-
Couldnt have done my cycling without the benefit of Sue's advice, the woman has the patience of a saint. :)
-
I think it's done. I got double zeros on the 10th and have double zeros today. Presumably this means I can do the big water change and start stocking the tank, which brings me to my next question. I intend stocking with fish with my creator choices. I'm not going to stock all at once but get 1 choice per week apart from the cats, they'll be a month or so yet. Is it OK to go ahead and get my 12 cherry barbs. I don't want to sound like an Oscar winner ( though I do feel like one) but I'd like to thank everybody who's guided me through this surprisingly stressful cycle. I think I may be getting too old for this. :cheers:
-
Before you rush and do the big water change:
You need to add a 3ppm dose as soon as you have 2 days of double zeros 2 days apart. So double zeros on 10th, double zeros on 12th - add 3ppm ammonia on 12th and test on 13th. If you get double zeros again, do the big water change and get fish. The final stage is clearing a 3 ppm dose of ammonia in 24 hours.
You can get up 75% of the fish on your list as soon as the cycle finishes. This method of cycling grows enough bacteria to cope with the waste from more fish than 100% stocked, but I don't like to stock to the max, preferring to leave a bit of wiggle room should something not go quite right.
So yes, get your 12 cherry barbs. But don't leave it too long to get more fish or a lot of the bacteria you have just grown will become dormant due to lack of food. They will 'wake up' when there is more food (more fish) but the longer they are dormant, the longer they take to 'wake up'.
Just one word of caution. Some shops will sell you anything, others won't sell you more than a certain number of fish in one go. Arguing that you've just done a fishless cycle won't cut any ice - they have their instructions and they don't understand fishless cycling. If you get the latter type of shop, get 6 then go back next day for the other 6.
-
Thanks for that, I am planning on getting the fish tomorrow afternoon anyway as we are going out for the day and calling at the aquarist's on the way home (cycled or not). It's about 30 mins away so will take my hot/cool box just in case for transportation purposes as traffic around Manchester can be very busy early evenings and hold ups can be horrendous.
-
Thinking about it after I posted - if you don't intend stocking fully straight away, you won't need the full 3 ppm-worth of bacteria. You'll probably be fine with the amount of bacteria you do have.
Remember to check the ammonia and nitrite levels after getting each batch of fish - it is safe to get more when you've had double zeros for a week. If you do see a blip for either of them it won't last long, and water changes will keep the fish safe. Just delay the next batch of fish till the bacteria have caught up.
-
Thank you Sue, can you get someone to nail my feet down so I don't go rushing out to P@H today and live to regret it.
-
P@H is one shop that won't sell more than half a dozen fish at one go. Does that help ;D
That's the policy in my local one, no exceptions for people with 1000 litre tanks either.
-
Is that as well as giving you the third degree about you tank? I never know if they know why they ask really. It must be so easy to just say what they want to hear. I never know if it's the dog expert or whatever that is serving me, I was in one yesterday looking at plants but I gave up after 10 mins and not seeing a soul.
-
I've heard tales from people who work at P@H. They are given a check list - no sale to anyone who refuses to tell them how big the tank is. I think most people will lie to get the fish they want.
I have to admit I hardly ever go in P@H these days as the nearest one sells very little variety of fish, and not the ones I want.
-
I've had quite mixed experiences at P@H. A few times I think I was served by someone who wasn't particularly knowledgeable about fish, but there is at least one chap at the local store who pretty much lives and breathes fish and is very happy to talk about tanks, plants, fish and food whenever the opportunity arises.
I still have a preference for MA or LFS though.
:)
-
Ironic they only let you have 6 fish at a time when they're perfectly happy to sell you fish and tank at the same time.
That said, I nearly got hugged by one P@H shop assistant fish specialist when I told her I'd cycled all my tanks with a fishless cycle. She was genuinely delighted.
-
That said, I nearly got hugged by one P@H shop assistant fish specialist when I told her I'd cycled all my tanks with a fishless cycle. She was genuinely delighted.
That tickled me. ;D
I have about six different stores I can visit all within a half-hour drive from home, each one has several staff, and I could count on one hand the total number of staff that would even understand what it means to cycle an aquarium.
-
One burk working in MA in St Albans once told me you could keep a betta in a really small tank and not worry about the water quality too much as they live in puddles in the wild. ??? No wonder people get given bad advice sometimes.
-
That's a common myth, unfortunately for bettas :(
-
I'm not surprised that many people don't know about fishless cycling. As I've mentioned before I had my first fish tank about 30 years ago and I've had a few since then, the last one I started about 10 years ago. If I hadn't had to wait some weeks for my tank to be ordered and delivered I would probably not have done one, it's only because of the wait that I started surfing the internet regarding fishkeeping and found out about it on here. If I'd been able to get my tank in a day or so I'd probably have filled it up, left it for a week or so and then put a few fish in it to make sure they didn't die and then continued to stock it. I seem to remember with my first tank I didn't check the water for ammonia, nitrates or anything else, I didn't do water changes, just topped it up from the tap when the level dropped below the angle iron rim. What I'm trying to say is a lot of people who've been keeping fish for a long time just continue doing what they've always done. The fishless cycle could deprive the LFS of a sale of fish, once someone has the tank they might see prettier fish somewhere else. Also there is as far as I know only one fishkeeping mag PFK and it's not something that is stocked widely. I've only ever seen it in WH Smiths so the average fishkeeper may never have seen a copy never mind bought one. Sorry, this isn't meant to be a rant but just my observations. This forum is full of people who've never heard of cycling, either with or without fish and I've even seen posts on here from people who don't want to do a fishless cycle but want to use fish. In a way it's understandable, who wants to sit and look at an empty tank for four to six weeks.
-
The hobby is also full of people that believe a Goldfish belongs in a bowl and a Betta lives in a puddle in the wild.
In years gone by, before the Nitrogen Cycle was understood, it was generally accepted that fish didn't tend to have long lives in tanks and bowls. Of course that was true then, because most of us had been doing it wrong.
I worked in a large aquatic store when I was 15 and 16 and fishless cycling was unheard of.
Everyone did the fish-in method, not by choice and not with any understanding of what was happening, but because the nitrogen cycle takes over eventually whether we plan for it or not.
Thankfully, (most) humans have the capacity to learn from our mistakes. :)
What annoys me is that, in this day and age of free and easy access to information, people are still so often being given poor advice when they buy their fishtank.
There's just no reasonable excuse not to do it properly now.
"Who wants to look at an empty fish tank" ... ?
I'd think most people would prefer to look at an empty tank for a few weeks rather than a tank full of dead or dying fish.
If it were explained, by the LFS when selling the tank, in those terms most people would appreciate the good advice, especially given the costs involved.
-
There are a few reasons why fishkeeping has become more 'difficult' in recent years.
The source of the bacteria is our tapwater and it is thought that water companies have got better at killing bacteria so we have a lot fewer going into our tanks than a few decades ago - so it takes longer to build up the colonies.
We now have a wider choice of fish, and a lot of them are quite delicate. Just topping up water leads to high nitrate and hormones etc in the water, and there are many fish now that just can't cope with this.
Even the fish that have been in the hobby for decades are not a hardy as they used t be because of the way they are farmed. Some are raised in poor conditions, leading to sickly fish in the shops. Others are inbred and breeders do not select the best quality specimens to breed from so any genetic problems become set into the offspring; guppies are the classic example of this, they used to be hardy fish but are anything but hardy nowadays.
And don't forget humans have turned into "I want it and I want it now". No-one is prepared to wait for anything. Even the older fish-in cycling, where fish are added a few at a time over a period, is not fast enough.
-
(Written before Sue's post)
I don't think the highly detailed ammonia method is absolutely necessary, more that it's a safe way for people to start who don't know what they're doing. It's only been around for a few years and it would be absurd to suggest that everybody before that was a terrible monster who tortured their fish by subjecting them to water full of ammonia.
Consider this, if you start with a planted tank and have a filter with some starter bacteria e.g a piece of used media or some muck squeezed out of an old filter than you will already have enough to start stocking at a low level. Using soil under the substrate will help greatly as that will also contain a few billion bacteria. The reasons people spend weeks cycling their tanks are :
a) they start with nothing but tap water, which by definition should be pretty well sterile and devoid of bacteria, not surprising that it takes ages for a sufficient number to develop
b) as noted, the full cycle enables you to heavily stock in one go, something which very few people seem to do (though I did). It isn't necessary to go that far if you want to add fish a few at a time, you just need to ensure that the cycle has started.
The real problem is with people who buy a tank, put nothing but gravel and "ornaments" in it, fill it with water and then with fish, usually unsuitable ones. There are perfectly acceptable methods between this extreme and the long ammonia method.
-
Extreme one, I agree that if people knew the reasoning behind the cycle then most would employ it but as you say if the LFS aren't behind it it's going to be an uphill battle. I bought my latest tank from MA but nobody so much as mentioned the cycle, and they seem to be becoming a very large presence in our hobby, they seem to have branches everywhere. They didn't ask if I'd kept fish before nor if I had any idea what I was doing. I'm not singling them out, whilst I was looking for a tank no LFS asked me any questions except "how do you want to pay" I think that says it all. Sue, you may also be right about the 'I want it now' mentality but the main problem is still that few if any people who sell the fish and equipment even mention it. I am certainly not branding anyone a monster, I've done all the wrong things the wrong way in my time but I don't consider myself a monster, just ignorant of the facts because nobody told me or even pointed me in the right direction I didn't set out to cause pain or suffering to fish I just didn't know any better.
-
Manjr I agree with you. I want implying you, or anyone else that has suffered bad advice, is a monster.
I fell foul of bad advice too. >:(
I bought a 20L tank for the boys' bedroom - I was advised to fill with tap water add water conditioner and leave for a week before bringing 10ml of tank water to the shop for testing.
They tested the water and said "It's fine, you can add fish now".
I added six male guppies and wondered why one died about 9 days after. Then a few days later another died and another one was looking decidedly peaky.
It was only then that I did my research on the internet and discovered the nitrogen cycle.
Now, I could have (should have!) done the research first. And I still regret that I didn't.
However, I was under the impression that, the advice I'd been given was good. I was after all talking to the experts!
-
Very interesting and very useful points raised in the various posts above.
The following might make interesting reading:
* http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=1567 [a survey undertaken of LFSs and their approaches - 2008]
* https://fishkeeper.co.uk/further-info/faqs/how-long-do-i-need-to-leave-my-tropical-tank-before-i-can-add-my-first-fish and https://fishkeeper.co.uk/further-info/faqs/why-do-i-need-to-add-bacteria-e-g-aquarium-munster-s-bactosprint-to-my-tank [MA's views on the issue of fishless cycling]
* https://www.dobbies.com/media/2041941/APETS_8988-Freshwater-Aquarium-leaflet-EXPRINT.pdf [available via https://www.dobbies.com/ideas-advice/pet-care/how-to-set-up-maintain-a-freshwater-aquarium/ - Dobbies' views on the issue of cycling in "Maturing your tank" section]
* http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/advice/fish-care-advice/setting-up-your-aquarium [PAH's views on the issue in "Fill your tank" section at bottom of page]
Of course, whether and the extent to which any such advice is conveyed to customers generally tends to depend on the individual sales assistant, many of whom are just that rather than experts or experienced fishkeepers. The stores which specialise in aquatics/fish, rather than a wide range of animals, have a greater chance of having experts/experienced fishkeepers in them.
As for fishkeeping magazines, PFK is one of several. I'm fortunate in that there's a wonderful chain of stores, with one close to my parents' home, selling every magazine imaginable (and well beyond) in it, so my parents post every edition of PFK to me. PFK can also now be posted out directly to people's homes http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=7038 for those unable to get to shops.
Hope that's helpful.
-
That's interesting, I have subscribed to PFK so do get it delivered now, I got sick of having to get down on the floor looking for it in Smiths. I don't know of any other mags, what are they called I'll keep an eye out for them.
-
I'll get my parents to check next time they're at the store and let you know. Last time I was over there and in the store, the others didn't seem anywhere nearly as good - mainly adverts and little substance.
-
What puts me off PFK is that it seems to emphasise expensive kit. When they do an article on a specific set up, they often spend more on a filter or lighting than I would on a whole tank completely equipped and stocked with fish. I do wonder if that's to keep their advertisers happy. It's not uncommon for them to say something like "and it only cost us £1200, which we think is very reasonable". This for a fairly small tank, £350 for an external filter, £250 for some flashy lighting system, £50 for some brand name special substrate and so on. This is entirely from reading their on line articles, not the paper version. There are some interesting articles, I agree.
-
I agree, R - there are many articles which I read "with a pinch of salt" (such as those you describe) and others (mainly options of fish for certain sizes of tank or articles on certain species of fish) which I find particularly interesting. You may well be correct in that their advertising is more subtle than those in the other fishkeeping magazines, and they have a tendency to slip in statements that make you think "hmmm - I could do with that item" when actually it's not necessary at all.
-
Morning all. Just to get back on track, I did an 80% water change yesterday afternoon then added 1ml of ammonia as a double check and in case I couldn't get to LFS. Did a check of water this morning and amm 0, nitrites 0, pH 7.6 and nitrates around 40. So all looks well and will be able to buy some fish :). I'm going to a shop in Salford that I haven't been to before but apparently has a v good reputation, at least for fish. It is in the PFK top 40. Unfortunately I have to take my wife, she wants to look in The Lowry shopping mall as we are looking for clothes to wear at my nephew's wedding in Italy later in the year and 'it's on the way'. The problem is going to be that she likes big colourful fish so she's likely to be disappointed with my choices.
-
I hope you have a great day and enjoy your fish shopping.
Please update us later, preferably with photos of your new fish. ;D
-
Unfortunately I have to take my wife
:rotfl: I prefer going on my own too :))
-
In the event of difficulty, the bottom line is that the ultimate choice comes down to whoever is doing the tank maintenance. :)
-
The problem is going to be that she likes big colourful fish so she's likely to be disappointed with my choices.
That sounds like my husband. He is always drawn to the tanks with oscars and discus. My response is usually 'let me get a 5 foot tank and I'll get some'. That hasn't worked yet :(
-
Keep trying Sue, you never know, you might get lucky one day ;)
-
I tried twice to post a pic but failed I've resized it so will try again. I have up on the shop in Salford, it's almost in the centre of the city and roadworks and traffic made me give up. Went to MA at Knutsford and bought these dozen.
-
The tank looks really lovely, Manjr. Sorry that city-centre traffic and roadworks meant that the Salford shop wasn't an option but glad you got to Knutsford. Can you tell us what species your dozen fish are? I can see them but not clearly enough to work out what they are.
-
Sorry, they are 12 very small and pale Cherry Barbs. Tried to take a close up but they won't keep still long enough, they are non stop and seem to be settling in. That's probably put the kiss of death on them. Hoping to get another 12 small shoaling fish at the weekend, water permitting. Not vexactly sure what yet I have CA few species in mind, either Rasbora's or tetras.
-
Harlequins go beautifully with Cherry Barbs. I have those two together and am looking to add Glowlight danios on my next restocking, I think they match nicely in colour and temperament, lovely peaceful fish all of them.
-
Very good. Glad they're settling in well. That's useful advice from Richard - not just for you but for me too (as cherry barbs are top of my list to add to my tank of harlequins and x-ray tetras once the inevitable happens and shoals start to deplete - I thought they'd mix particularly well with the harlequins and aesthetically look well together).
On another note, I did some hunting online for fish magazines, following your question yesterday. It seems that two magazines - Today's Fishkeeper and Tropical World - are no longer published. The only two UK magazines are allegedly Practical Fishkeeping and one called Tropical Fish. On the site which I found, and which had been updated in Jan 2016, there was a link to Tropical Fish magazine but it seems to no longer exist, and I can't find it in a google search. However, the US equivalent of Practical Fishkeeping is Tropical Fish Hobbyist, and, to my surprise, it seems to be available in the UK at http://magazines.whsmith.co.uk/Magazines-From-Abroad/GENERAL-INTEREST/General-Interest/Tropical-Fish-Hobbyist-Magazine.cfm .
-
Oh the joys of trying to photograph fast-moving fish! :fishy1: :fishy1: :fishy1:
I do like Cherry Barbs. :cheers:
-
Me too ;D
-
Sue have i remembered correctly, you have some Albino Cherry Barbs? Do you have them in a mixed shoal wth standard colouration too?
-
Congratulations on your cherry barbs and glad to hear that they are settling in well. :cheers:
-
Sue have i remembered correctly, you have some Albino Cherry Barbs? Do you have them in a mixed shoal with standard colouration too?
Yes I do. I have 1 male, 5 female natural coloured barbs (did have 2 males but he's the one that got fungus and died), and 3m 3f albinos. The male albinos are orange with red eyes and the females are light yellow with red eyes and orange fins. And red lips. They look as though they are wearing lipstick. If I look closely at the natural females, they have red lips too, it's not as visible on their body colouring.
It is hard to say if they mix together because whatever the colour they seem to go their own ways.
One comment I would make is that a lot of the albinos in the MA tank were deformed. I had to stand over the chap to make sure he got non-deformed fish. They are also smaller than the natural ones. I put this down to the huge amount of inbreeding that must go on to develop and maintain this strain.
But for anyone who wants yellow fish with the temperament of cherry barbs, there is this choice provided you can accept red eyed fish. Apparently that puts a lot of people off them.
-
A lovely looking tank :)