Tropical Fish Forum

Think Fish Tropical Fish Forum => Introductions and hello's => Topic started by: Robert on August 24, 2018, 02:27:34 PM

Title: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Robert on August 24, 2018, 02:27:34 PM
Welcome to TF @Bazza2000!

Great to have you here!

Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Matt on August 24, 2018, 02:42:25 PM
Welcome to the forum  :wave: and the amazing community that we have here.

Let us know a little about yourself, what tanks you have etc?
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: fcmf on August 24, 2018, 02:49:15 PM
Welcome, @Bazza2000  :wave:

Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Littlefish on August 24, 2018, 02:58:31 PM
Hi there and welcome to the forum. :wave:
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Bazza2000 on August 24, 2018, 11:04:17 PM
Thanks for all the friendly welcomes!!!

Very new to fish, although been doing a lot of reading on the forum about the do's and don't etc.

This all started a few months back when the kids were pestering for a fish for birthdays, I resisted for a few months but eventually decided to visit our local shop to get the low down.  My initial view was a small bowl with a couple of fish, nice and easy like you see everywhere.  However, the more I've read the more I see this is a terrible way to keep them ultimately results in an early trip to fish heaven and a couple of unhappy kids.
So, after more reasearch, I've punted for the following Emotions Pro 80 (Sorry can't post external links)

Aquarium dimensions (LxWxH)   81.2 x 40.2 x 56 cm
Useful Volume   142 L

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KoWDWJlc-S8wRhtmW05RV5ks28Fvud0V4jXgfch10swfAbUDUlVzcca-R_hyEhChegr51o-WPdO-jStxfk5yE1GVIqpQIJfhnjckCXDbbIjGN3Hdy-KseMwwfKyDb4wTGzVeJMCDrj8cT3VFLSMwwOOjEIR5lQSoUpEVmHTgVT8CB9pzsgg8nR7XdhN7Rg5xGYXyZhgNmA62VBHvqysTVsLLywOBD65J15pvl51hXHYTPJgVsjfKNkuf0MTVVBNJy87g7RAWIlPZZuYVaY46EqTJrhn36w7ulqz2wG4rpix8vl4IU_Pu3N-n93n-TylYLtX0gZNDvOYk5eUjNpNPdN-JO0zNc13_Z68nlHOEFkp_wJnBvY7PpMqblGDKOrjB8NZDU1xGwY54hE4toDGgp3fkzxWHb3rYHiYrOf21WkNIM3_h-KscZ7hx6cS6pyFgZyxkPaEzruhCLLMy_IiMSuC8b59B2C35WTyjF6Vmp1ZAN1gNTXas664bC-H0HA7Div2iFAoiM4VjhiLN_Oe6zdc1O9U4MPtl7SO5IKoebkhfklJ-QI8mCATgTwTaJi7EVXyUospeRHWPt6kMUs3TmqtRdFFRkY5vi466wq0oRv1MNqxkH-rHLpXdN1VAeY-7=w432-h886-no)

I've ordered gravel a novelty sunken wreck and a couple of smiling crocodiles and star fish (kids choice) and now I'm debating the fish or fishless cycle.  I'll be honest, I don't think the kids could hold out for 6 weeks for the fishless cycle so I'm trying to work out the most humane way of doing a fish cycle with maybe just a couple of tougher fish and rigorous daily testing and water change schedule (Using an API freshwater test kit)
(https://www.swelluk.com/img/shop/original/freshwatertest_image-1.jpg)

My thinking is if I keep only a couple and with the size of the tank I can hopefully keep the suffering down to a minimum and then hopefully get through the cycle and after a couple of months start adding a couple more every few weeks.

I've only taken delivery of the tank on Wednesday and its all build and ready for a quick clean before water treatment and away we go.  I'm looking to setup next weekend as I'm away for a few days this week, but looking to run for at least 1 week to ensure filter, heater etc are all working, then start with the Fluval cycle biological enhancer for a few days and then add a couple of fish the week after.

Apologies if I've gone on as this was meant to be just a introduction, but once I started, didn't know when to stop.

Any advice on my approach and plan would be most welcome, also recommendations for the 2 starter fish and also future fish as I want to create a community tank with a few nice coloured but easy to look after starter fish that can all get along.

Thanks

Bazza.


Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Matt on August 25, 2018, 07:44:41 AM
Get some hardy fast growing plants (even if temporarily) if your going fish in cycle.  Elodea is widely available and would be perfect, though anything that says 'easy' and is fast growing will do. Get some floating plants too if you can. These will help process the waste from your fish whilst the filter establishes. You will still need to to Do big regular water changes though this will take the pressure off significantly.
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Littlefish on August 25, 2018, 08:09:30 AM
Glad to heat that you've decided not to go with a fish bowl.  :)
As for the tank you have bought, that range has had excellent reviews in Practical Fish Keeping magazine. Great quality, lots of usable space, value for money. Sounds like you made a very good choice.
Another way to speed up the tank cycling is to seed it with mature media from another tank. Do you know someone who already has a mature tank? If not, we have a few people here on the forum who are happy to send people mature media from our own tanks to help with cycling. Have a look at this section for info on who can provide mature media (I'm one of them), seeding a filter, and fish in cycling.
https://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/fishtank-filtration-and-cycling/
I understand the need to get fish quickly if you have excited kids in the house (I get just as excited about possibly getting some more fish), and I can only say that mature media in your tank will make a massive difference to a fish-in cycle, both to the speed of the cycle and the health of the fish. It's not uncommon to cycle a tank with mature media in around a week or so.  :)
As for fish choices, what sort of water to you have in your area? Check for water hardness on your water providers website. If you can let us know the figure in degrees German, ppm, or just post the link to the information, and we can go from there to suggest fish suitable for your water.

Exciting times.  ;D
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Rustle on August 25, 2018, 08:21:21 AM
Welcome to the forum Bazza2000 follow the advice given and you will be fine.  :)
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Bazza2000 on August 25, 2018, 07:47:48 PM
Glad to heat that you've decided not to go with a fish bowl.  :)
As for the tank you have bought, that range has had excellent reviews in Practical Fish Keeping magazine. Great quality, lots of usable space, value for money. Sounds like you made a very good choice.
Another way to speed up the tank cycling is to seed it with mature media from another tank. Do you know someone who already has a mature tank? If not, we have a few people here on the forum who are happy to send people mature media from our own tanks to help with cycling. Have a look at this section for info on who can provide mature media (I'm one of them), seeding a filter, and fish in cycling.
https://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/fishtank-filtration-and-cycling/
I understand the need to get fish quickly if you have excited kids in the house (I get just as excited about possibly getting some more fish), and I can only say that mature media in your tank will make a massive difference to a fish-in cycle, both to the speed of the cycle and the health of the fish. It's not uncommon to cycle a tank with mature media in around a week or so.  :)
As for fish choices, what sort of water to you have in your area? Check for water hardness on your water providers website. If you can let us know the figure in degrees German, ppm, or just post the link to the information, and we can go from there to suggest fish suitable for your water.

Exciting times.  ;D

Can't thank everyone enough for the advice, was kind of lost before I posted, but feeling a whole lot better and more confident now.

Really appreciate the advice you've given on my new tank and fish cycle.  Could I ask, do you have an mature media you could send me?  I'm in Liverpool, so not something I could pick up.  I plan on setting up my tank next weekend and then leaving for a week and the mature media sounds like it would be ideal.

Happy to re-imburse you for your troubles, new sponge filter + anything else etc and also postage if that will help,

In relation to water hardness, I can't post external links but the summary from United Utilities is as folllows:

Analysis   Typical value   UK/EU limit   Units
Hardness Level   Mod. Soft      
Hardness Clarke   6.09      Clarke
Aluminium   <8.17   200   µg Al/l
Calcium   28.3      mg Ca/l
Residual chlorine - Total   0.53      mg/l
Residual chlorine - Free   0.40      mg/l
Coliform bacteria   0   0   number/100ml
Colour   <1.14   20   mg/l Pt/Co scale
Conductivity   256   2500   uS/cm at 20oC
Copper   0.0373   2   mg Cu/l
E.coli   0   0   number/100ml
Iron   15.0   200   µg Fe/l
Lead   <0.281   10   µg Pb/l
Magnesium   4.01      mg Mg/l
Manganese   <0.647   50   µg Mn/l
Nitrate   9.05   50   mg NO3/l
Sodium   20.8   200   mg Na/l

Hope this helps in identifying the type of water we have in our area,

Thanks.
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Matt on August 25, 2018, 08:06:49 PM
Your water is about 110mg/l or 6 degrees hardness. You can use this on the seriously fish website to determine which fish are suitable.

I'm a bit far from you to pass on mature media. Open to understanding from others on here if you can post it?
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Littlefish on August 25, 2018, 08:11:21 PM
I have posted mature media to others previously, and am happy to do so again.
What sort of filter to you have? We can work out whether sponge, ceramic, or both would be suitable to send.
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: fcmf on August 25, 2018, 09:59:14 PM
Open to understanding from others on here if you can post it?
Yes, I've also posted mature media, ensuring that I removed it from the tank towards the end of the day and thus close to the time of the postal lift to minimise beneficial bacteria dying off, and having worked out size of container and foodsafe bags to put it in and appropriate padded envelope and postal price established in advance.

Unfortunately I'm unable to help on this occasion due to having moved mature media into the quarantine tank and having to build up new beneficial bacteria to replace it in the established tank.

Looking forward to reading about what fish you might be interested in getting, now that you know what your water hardness levels are.
 :fishy1:
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: TopCookie on August 26, 2018, 11:42:25 AM
Welcome to the forum Bazza...  :)
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Bazza2000 on August 26, 2018, 12:56:09 PM
Get some hardy fast growing plants (even if temporarily) if your going fish in cycle.  Elodea is widely available and would be perfect, though anything that says 'easy' and is fast growing will do. Get some floating plants too if you can. These will help process the waste from your fish whilst the filter establishes. You will still need to to Do big regular water changes though this will take the pressure off significantly.

Thanks for the info Matt, will get some at the weekend, can you recommend the same for the floating plants, or are they all just as good as each other?

Also, I've been reading that an air stone can be good to oxygenate the water and help with the cycle, do you think this would be worthwhile, and if so, any air stone and pump recommendations?
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Lynne W on August 26, 2018, 04:01:26 PM
hiya bazza, I'm a 6mths newbie too, and can completely recommend the advice these guys provide. Welcome
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Sue on August 26, 2018, 04:06:35 PM
An air stone is really just for the looks of bubbles. A good filter properly angled means you don't need an air stone. By this I mean a filter rated for the size of tank or a bit larger, and the water outflow angled so the water causes a few ripples on the surface. All airstones do is churn the water up so that water from lower down in the tank is brought to the surface, but the filter should do that just as well.



If you can bear the thought, duckweed is a very good floating plant. When it gets out of control, all you need to do is scoop a lot off the surface and throw it away (in the compost bin if you use one).
Water sprite is just about the biggest plant used floating and it can also be planted in the substrate. It might be too big.
There are other plants such as salvinia, water lettuce, Amazon frogbit, though these have the disadvantage that if the tank has cover glasses, condensation will drip onto the plants and cause them to rot.

Plants prefer ammonia as their source of nitrogen and they take it up faster than filter bacteria. The speed with which they take it up depends on how fast growing the plants are, how much light they have and also how much carbon dioxide they have access to. The reason floating plants are known as ammonia sinks is because they are close to the lights and they can get their carbon dioxide from the air.
And plants turn the ammonia directly into amino acids so they don't make nitrite like the bacteria do, another plus for live plants.
Title: Re: Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself!
Post by: Matt on August 26, 2018, 09:45:32 PM
Good advice from Sue below... I've not much to add really! Other than that I've recently learned the hairs on footing plants are shaped like a wisk which is how they trap air...  :isay: