Tropical Fish Forum

Think Fish Tropical Fish Forum => Introductions and hello's => Topic started by: TourinGolem on May 30, 2019, 03:39:06 AM

Title: Hi Noob here
Post by: TourinGolem on May 30, 2019, 03:39:06 AM
Hi,

I'm Carl, I'm new to forums so patience please.

My fishy History.

In my mid-late teens I bought a ClearSeal 36" tank with hood and got a starter kit, under gravel filter, cheap heater etc This included tap safe. I could never keep anything alive and it just upset me and suffering from depression this was counter productive as I thought it would be something to help me find peace. Anyway I stopped. For a few years now I have really wanted to get back into it and try again, wondering if I was just immature. I now realise that it is rather odd that they sold me a load of Neon Tetra at the same time I bought the tank. Brain starts going, was it not just me, was it that I was simply too young with zero knowledge taking advice from people who were only interested in selling fish? Shop has gone now you'll be pleased to hear.

So here we are now, all my old tank and all equipment, yes never sold or threw any of it away,  is being brought to me this weekend. Gonna fill tank to check for leaks gonna replace under gravel with probably Fluval U2 (suggestions welcome) and gonna check the rest works properly and replace what doesn't. Gonna allow up to 2 months for the cycle. My local fish shop here, 300 miles from old one, says that in this area once chlorine removed from tap water the ammonia will be so high I won't need to add any? Will probably get some anyway so I can keep cycle going until I am convinced we are good to go with the fish.

Anyway end of Fishy History. I have used your brilliant Community Creator to create a tank for each step of stocking once cycle complete. Hoping with your wise minds and my willingness to learn this will finally be what I always hoped it would be all those years ago!

Well done you made it to the End.  :cheers:
Carl.
Title: Re: Hi Noob here
Post by: Matt on May 30, 2019, 09:19:43 PM
The Fluval u2 is a good filter. The filter are generally rated for the volume of water in the tank so if you can calculate this you can identify if the u2 is the right model to go for. If anything you want to go one bigger with filter sizes (unless you want e.g. a Betta which needs low flow).
https://www.thinkfish.co.uk/calculators/aquariumvolumecalc (https://www.thinkfish.co.uk/calculators/aquariumvolumecalc)

You will definately need to add ammonia - the fish shop statement doesn't make any sense to me at all! There is a great fishless cycling methodology here...
https://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/fishtank-filtration-and-cycling/fishless-cycling-how-to-do-it/msg5482/#msg5482 (https://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/fishtank-filtration-and-cycling/fishless-cycling-how-to-do-it/msg5482/#msg5482)
Title: Re: Hi Noob here
Post by: Littlefish on June 08, 2019, 09:06:06 AM
Hi Carl, and welcome to the forum.  :wave:

Thanks for provide a bit of your fishy history. It is very sad when shops provide "advice" that leans towards quickly selling products & fish, rather than providing the information for a more long term suitable set up for good fish health. A lot of shops are getting better. Technology, research, and knowledge has moved on. There is a LOT of information available on the internet, even though some of it is conflicting.

It's also great to hear that you didn't get rid of your tank & kit, and that you are ready to have another adventure in the watery world of fish.

I started with zero knowledge, then found this forum, which I used as a guest whilst attempting to fishless cycle my first tank. After that I joined the forum, and the advice and experience available has been brilliant.

I agree with Matt, the fishless cycling methodology is great, and I have used it many times.

I'm also a big fan of the community creator when planning a tank, and if you let us know the water parameters of the mains water in your area (available on your water providers website), we can help with what fish would be suitable for your water.

I look forward to hearing about your plans.  8)
Title: Re: Hi Noob here
Post by: TourinGolem on June 13, 2019, 03:14:45 PM

I'm also a big fan of the community creator when planning a tank, and if you let us know the water parameters of the mains water in your area (available on your water providers website), we can help with what fish would be suitable for your water.

I look forward to hearing about your plans.  8)

Hi Thanks for your reply!

So my water company says mean ph is 7.4 with low of 7.1 high of 8.1 from 78 samples, my water tests around 7.5, I haven't tested the hardness but it comes up on their website as 148 mg/l or 11.1 Degrees German. But i will do an actual test to confirm before getting fish etc. I had been using the community creator myself to work out the initial stocking at each stage once the cycle is complete, it is a fantastic tool. Any suggestions on what to use to add ammonia to my tank?

I have had my tank setup for around a week now to check the equipment is working, amazingly it all seems to be. My heater is set to approx 26c and is showing a max of 27.0c and low of 25.6c that seems ok to me?

Am now contemplating getting it cleaned, emptied and situated ready for a fishless cycle. Wish me luck.  :cheers:

Carl.
Title: Re: Hi Noob here
Post by: Sue on June 13, 2019, 05:05:53 PM
It's sounding good, though I would turn the heater down a tiny bit. Excepting those fish that need water in the high 20s, most prefer the 23 to 25 C range.
Title: Re: Hi Noob here
Post by: Matt on June 13, 2019, 08:43:58 PM
Fishless cycling guide link below, including example products:

http://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/fishtank-filtration-and-cycling/fishless-cycling-how-to-do-it/msg5482/#msg5482 (http://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/fishtank-filtration-and-cycling/fishless-cycling-how-to-do-it/msg5482/#msg5482)
Title: Re: Hi Noob here
Post by: Sue on June 13, 2019, 09:11:39 PM
Regarding my comment about the temperature, that's for after the tank has cycled and you have fish. Cycling goes a bit faster if you have the temperature set to the upper 20s C as that makes the bacteria multiply faster.
Title: Re: Hi Noob here
Post by: Littlefish on June 14, 2019, 08:07:41 AM
Good luck Carl, and keep us posted on progress.  :)
Title: Re: Hi Noob here
Post by: Matt on June 26, 2019, 07:39:44 PM
Hi @TourinGolem
Just wondering how you've been getting on?
Matt
Title: Re: Hi Noob here
Post by: Hampalong on June 27, 2019, 09:32:51 AM
Hi Carl,

From what the shop told you, I assume your water has chloramine rather than chlorine. A dechlorinator will break this down into chlorine and ammonia. Then it will detoxify both, but the ammonia will still be usable by bacteria. It shouldn’t be much ammonia, not much more than a trace I would imagine, so it’s better to add your own and cycle with a ml or three, just to make it easier to follow... and if you’re going to add a few fish at once when it’s cycled.

What fish are you going for?

Welcome to the forum btw. It’s not the busiest that can be found, but that’s a good thing, because we (if I may be so bold) are a very experienced and knowledgeable lot, so every answer you get will be a good one.

:)

Edit... a bit of advice that you already know... take everything a shop tells you with a pinch of salt. Check it for yourself. We’ll help, and also offer reliable sites for you to do your own research.

“And finally”... the key to fishkeeping is in my signature.

:)