Author Topic: New beginnings (Read 6207 times) 36 replies

barneyadi · « **Reply #20 on:** January 06, 2020, 08:01:11 PM »

Quote from: Matt on January 06, 2020, 07:21:42 PM

Are you planning on heavily or lightly stocking the tank and what are your tap water nitrates?

Tap nitrates are 5ppm. Just want to stock as much as I can safely.

LeakysLab · « **Reply #21 on:** January 06, 2020, 09:12:53 PM »

Quote from: barneyadi on January 06, 2020, 03:10:45 PM

Any thoughts?

It looks nice good work.

Matt · « **Reply #22 on:** January 07, 2020, 04:49:31 AM »

In that case I would get BOTH TNC Lite and Complete. You can then dose around a half dose of Complete and a half dose of Lite after your weekly water change, i suspect this will provide the best results. Keep a note of your nitrate levels pre your weekly water changes and let me know and we can adjust this if needs be.

barneyadi · « **Reply #23 on:** January 07, 2020, 03:46:12 PM »

Quote from: Matt on January 07, 2020, 04:49:31 AM

In that case I would get BOTH TNC Lite and Complete. You can then dose around a half dose of Complete and a half dose of Lite after your weekly water change, i suspect this will provide the best results. Keep a note of your nitrate levels pre your weekly water changes and let me know and we can adjust this if needs be.

@Matt how long should I keep lights on, was thinking 6 to 7 hours.

Matt · « **Reply #24 on:** January 08, 2020, 05:28:31 AM »

Sounds sensible, I would start with 6, ramping up to 8 by the end of the first couple of months of the tanks life - this will give it time to settle, minimise chance of algae etc...

barneyadi · « **Reply #25 on:** January 08, 2020, 03:40:30 PM »

Ok, been hit with a slight delay. Checked my water parameters and Ammonia at 4ppm and Nitrites at 2pm. Suspect the Tropica soil is to blame.

fcmf · « **Reply #26 on:** January 08, 2020, 03:41:54 PM »

Don't panic. Better for this to have occurred now, rather than when fish were in the tank.
I'll leave this to others to advise what, if anything, you ought to do next in the circumstances.

LeakysLab · « **Reply #27 on:** January 08, 2020, 03:56:24 PM »

Quote from: barneyadi on January 08, 2020, 03:40:30 PM

Ok, been hit with a slight delay. Checked my water parameters and Ammonia at 4ppm and Nitrites at 2pm. Suspect the Tropica soil is to blame.

This article on the forum that talks about tropica soil not releasing ammonia however I’m not sure if helps narrow down your reasons for the parameters
https://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/aquascaping/substrate-3879/msg46883/#msg46883

fcmf · « **Reply #28 on:** January 08, 2020, 04:52:47 PM »

There was a great booklet that I've seen in the past few years that featured all sorts of different substrates - a page on each. I can visualise it, and know I've seen it on here, but can't for the life of me find it. Can anyone help? I'd be intrigued to see what its Tropica soil page said.

Edited to add: I know JPC has helpfully since replied but I'm still keen to see the aforementioned booklet anyway, if anyone recalls it, as it would be quite good to "sticky" it in the forum as a useful source for those considering the pros/cons of different substrates.

Edited to add (again): This might be it https://www.ukaps.org/index.php?page=guide-to-substrates although it's not quite how I visualised it; perhaps there's something similar or it appears in a different format as a hard-copy booklet with more pictures.

jaypeecee · « **Reply #29 on:** January 08, 2020, 06:33:17 PM »

Quote from: barneyadi on January 08, 2020, 03:40:30 PM

Ok, been hit with a slight delay. Checked my water parameters and Ammonia at 4ppm and Nitrites at 2pm. Suspect the Tropica soil is to blame.

Hi @barneyadi

There's obviously a good reason why Tropica have this to say about their Aquarium Soil:

"Aquarium Soil is further an active bottom layer that lowers the pH value and slightly affects the water chemistry. We recommend that you change 25-50% of the water min. twice a week during the first 4 weeks after establishing the aquarium".

The last four words of the second sentence make no sense to me! I despair with some of these suppliers. I think I'm also correct in saying that their Specialised Nutrition fertilizer contains ammonium. You may want to check this out.

JPC

barneyadi · « **Reply #30 on:** January 08, 2020, 06:48:31 PM »

Thanks for all the replies. I did research Tropica soil and went for it as it was suppose too not cause a ammonia burst. But unless wood or plants can cause the ammonia, it is the only thing it can be. It's not a big problem, been told about something that can remove it, but as with everything I will watch the chemistry closely. It's a shame as two LFS are just getting new fish in after Christmas break, but will get there.

LeakysLab · « **Reply #31 on:** January 08, 2020, 08:27:48 PM »

Edited to add (again): This might be it https://www.ukaps.org/index.php?page=guide-to-substrates although it's not quite how I visualised it; perhaps there's something similar or it appears in a different format as a hard-copy booklet with more pictures.
[/quote]

Thanks @fcmf I am yet to choose a substrate so this will make light reading tonight

barneyadi · « **Reply #32 on:** January 08, 2020, 09:04:32 PM »

Quote from: LeakysLab on January 08, 2020, 08:27:48 PM

Edited to add (again): This might be it https://www.ukaps.org/index.php?page=guide-to-substrates although it's not quite how I visualised it; perhaps there's something similar or it appears in a different format as a hard-copy booklet with more pictures.

Thanks @fcmf I am yet to choose a substrate so this will make light reading tonight

[/quote]

Strangely Tropica Aquarium Soil isn't on the list.

Matt · « **Reply #33 on:** January 09, 2020, 01:07:03 AM »

It's likely the wood that is releasing the ammonia. You will also likely see a fungus growth on the outside which will disappear after a couple of weeks. Wood is not particularly well know for releasing ammonia when first entered into the aquarium but it does do so fairly reliably and you have a large chunk of wood there.

jaypeecee · « **Reply #34 on:** January 09, 2020, 11:18:11 AM »

Quote from: Matt on January 09, 2020, 01:07:03 AM

It's likely the wood that is releasing the ammonia...Wood is not particularly well know for releasing ammonia when first entered into the aquarium but it does do so fairly reliably and you have a large chunk of wood there.

Hi @Matt

I wasn't aware that aquarium wood released any ammonia that would be of concern. I think we should draw attention to this post on the UKAPS forum:

https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/another-tank-cycling-question-kind-of.59143/#post-579380

It looks as if you replied to this post.

JPC

barneyadi · « **Reply #35 on:** January 09, 2020, 01:36:39 PM »

Quote from: Matt on January 09, 2020, 01:07:03 AM

It's likely the wood that is releasing the ammonia. You will also likely see a fungus growth on the outside which will disappear after a couple of weeks. Wood is not particularly well know for releasing ammonia when first entered into the aquarium but it does do so fairly reliably and you have a large chunk of wood there.

@Matt So how can I get rid of this ammonia?

Matt · « **Reply #36 on:** January 09, 2020, 08:03:15 PM »

I recently learned from DIY AquaPros. The soil may of course be releasing some too but it seems the wood may also be the culprit. Regardless, let's help you deal with it!...

You need to prevent the ammonia from going to high. Anything above three on your water tests and I would do a water change to bring it back down. The ammonia is a good thing in a sense, it will feed the plants and help establish the beneficial bacteria. Likely the quickest way to ensure the tank can process the ammonia efficiently and be able to take fish is to establish some used media into the filter if you can get hold of some.

New Beginnings

New Beginnings

Author Topic: New beginnings (Read 6207 times) 36 replies

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