First Tank. Need Advice On Ammonia And Ph Levels.

Just checked the tap water @fishtales ammonia reading was 0.

Had a look on the Welsh water site couldn't see info on chloromine. But will email them @fcmf

Another point regarding advice from fish stores - get to know the staff at your LFS, and find out what they specialise in and/or keep at home.
You may find that some staff are only there on certain days, and that you may have to make the effort to visit on a specific day to talk to the assistant you trust and/or whose knowledge covers the areas that you are interested in.
There may also be some more experienced members of staff, but also some younger/newer totally fish obsessed aquatic nerds that have successfully been keeping fish since they were almost toddlers. Although they will all be trained in the requirements of the store (chain, franchise, or independent) some may go that extra mile to help.
I will say that it seems quite rare to find someone working at a fish store just because they want a part time job, it seems to attract people who are more involved than that.

By the way, just being nosey, what part of Wales? I'm originally from Cardiff, and still go back a lot to visit family & friends. If you are ever in that area (or if anyone else reading is visiting Cardiff) I would suggest visiting the Cardiff MA in Morganstown, if only to gaze in wonder at their display tank, and will also recommend Aquatic World in Cathays as one of those independent shops that stocks an impressive range of species & equipment, and are also very helpful. 

Another point regarding advice from fish stores - get to know the staff at your LFS...

...particularly the Store Manager. 

JPC

I will get a email off and keep everyone updated @jaypeecee

@Littlefish I'm in Caerphilly so I'm just a few miles from the Morganstown MA. Been a few times the big tanks are great. We've a MA at caerphilly garden centre also. Did pop in into the St Mellons MA last week believe there is another in the vale of Glamorgan also. Would like to check out a few independents now so Aquatic World is on the list. There is another 1 north of me in Blackwood that I see won an award off practical fish keeping magazine last year. So will get up there soon.

A gentle reminder to look at the leaflet I signposted to in my earlier post, from Welsh Water, before all fishkeepers descend on the hills and valleys of Wales. I've tried to copy and paste the relevant paragraph in here but it's not working. Suffice to say that they state that in some areas, they do use chloramine.

Hi @fcmf

Just taken a look at that leaflet. Quite informative and very relevant to what we are discussing here.

JPC

Should have said I'm using Interpet bioactive tapsafe plus to condition the water. Is this sufficient to treat water if chloromine is present?

Hi @Betta2020

I cannot answer your question above but the Interpet product may not be the best choice if you'll be adding a Betta to your tank. This is because this water conditioner contains Aloe vera (according to their web site). @Sue can probably help you here as she keeps a Betta but I think she uses API Tap Water Conditioner.

JPC

Just tested the water again. Ammonia up to 1.00ppm. Nitrite up to 0.25pm. Combination of the soil and white fungus on driftwood I guess.?

Hi @Betta2020

The ammonia is almost certainly coming from the aquarium soil as I've suggested previously. But, it's interesting that you now have nitrite as well. That may be the result of the Interpet Bioactive Tapsafe Plus which, according to the Interpet web site, "Adds beneficial bacteria to help maintain a healthy balance in your aquarium". It is unusual for a tap water conditioner to include nitrifying bacteria. This is what Tetra SafeStart contains. So, we have a complication here but not one that we cannot handle...

What this means is that both the plants and the bacteria will use the ammonia. When I'm cycling a tank, I prefer not to have plants in the tank. But, if I remember rightly, @Sue often/always has plants in the tank. I prefer to get the biological (bacteria) filter established before adding plants. That way, only the bacteria gobble up the ammonia in the water and multiply more rapidly. They don't have to fight with the plants for food.

JPC

Hi @Betta2020

For how long has your tank been running since adding plants?

JPC

Quote from: fcmf on January 12, 2020, 12:16:24 AM

A gentle reminder to look at the leaflet I signposted to in my earlier post, from Welsh Water, before all fishkeepers descend on the hills and valleys of Wales. I've tried to copy and paste the relevant paragraph in here but it's not working. Suffice to say that they state that in some areas, they do use chloramine.

Hi @fcmf
Just taken a look at that leaflet. Quite informative and very relevant to what we are discussing here.
JPC

Absolutely!

Quote from: Betta2020 on January 12, 2020, 08:20:54 AM

Should have said I'm using Interpet bioactive tapsafe plus to condition the water. Is this sufficient to treat water if chloromine is present?

Hi @Betta2020
I cannot answer your question above but the Interpet product may not be the best choice if you'll be adding a Betta to your tank. This is because this water conditioner contains Aloe vera (according to their web site). @Sue can probably help you here as she keeps a Betta but I think she uses API Tap Water Conditioner.
JPC

Having been looking into this issue lately, I would say it's not sufficient if you do have chlorAmine. Seachem Prime OR API Tap Water Conditioner in conjunction with API Ammo-Lock would be your options, the latter combination likely being the better option if you have a betta as we're not entirely sure of the ingredient in the slime coat protector of Seachem Prime (the product safety sheet states that the ingredients are "trade secrets").