Author Topic: Introduce yourself! (Read 266129 times) 715 replies

Robert · « **Reply #240 on:** April 04, 2014, 07:03:25 PM »

Great stuff, thanks for sharing Justin! Keep us all posted!

ColinB · « **Reply #241 on:** April 05, 2014, 01:28:19 PM »

Hello Tommo, and Welcome.

Christine Snape · « **Reply #242 on:** April 05, 2014, 04:13:17 PM »

hi I am Christine ,I have 48litresbox tank just a nice size for my living room,i thought it would be a good ideato join the forum for tips and ideas,i recently changed from gravel to sand and my ammonia has gone up to 0.5-1.0 I have done a part water change I have also put some live plants in ,so I will see how I get on

Sue · « **Reply #243 on:** April 05, 2014, 04:27:53 PM »

Hi Christine

Do you have fish in the tank, and was the ammonia at 0.5 before changing the gravel?

You can get an increase in ammonia when changing the substrate because there will be muck in the gravel and when it is released during the change over it can release ammonia. Also there would have been some bacteria on the gravel, how many depending on how long your tank has been running.

But if your ammonia was at 0.5 before you changed the gravel, how long has the tank been set up, how many fish do you have and what is your nitrite reading? 0.5 is high for a tank that has been running a while, it should be zero.
Water changes are now your friend until the ammonia level drops to zero, and if the nitrite also shows a reading above zero.

Christine Snape · « **Reply #244 on:** April 06, 2014, 11:39:59 AM »

Hi thks for the reply my reading did go up a little after introducing a dwarf placo,but when I put the sand I it messed my readings went up.I have had my tank for12mths,I have4small fish and my dwarf. placo

Sue · « **Reply #245 on:** April 06, 2014, 12:35:34 PM »

I just needed to check you weren't in the middle of a fish-in cycle

The readings can go up after adding fish, usually ammonia first then sometimes nitrite as the ammonia spike falls. The filter has exactly the right amount of bacteria for the fish that were in the tank, when you add fish you need more and although these bacteria can double in 24 hours under optimum condition, our tanks are rarely optimum. With plecs creating a lot of waste for their size, adding one to a tank containing 4 small fish did add quite a lot to the bioload, the most likely explanation for the ammonia rise before you changed the gravel. It's why I always recommend checking ammonia & nitrite for a few days after getting new fish. And removing the gravel probably stirred up a lot of mess which contributed more ammonia.

The way to deal with ammonia and nitrite levels above zero is water changes to get them to zero until they stay there by themselves. This does mean checking the readings every day, and possibly doing daily water changes. The good news is that these mini spikes don't usually last long.

ColinB · « **Reply #246 on:** April 06, 2014, 12:49:04 PM »

Hello Christine, and Welcome to the forum.

Christine Snape · « **Reply #247 on:** April 07, 2014, 05:34:29 PM »

Quote from: Sue on April 06, 2014, 12:35:34 PM

I just needed to check you weren't in the middle of a fish-in cycle

The readings can go up after adding fish, usually ammonia first then sometimes nitrite as the ammonia spike falls. The filter has exactly the right amount of bacteria for the fish that were in the tank, when you add fish you need more and although these bacteria can double in 24 hours under optimum condition, our tanks are rarely optimum. With plecs creating a lot of waste for their size, adding one to a tank containing 4 small fish did add quite a lot to the bioload, the most likely explanation for the ammonia rise before you changed the gravel. It's why I always recommend checking ammonia & nitrite for a few days after getting new fish. And removing the gravel probably stirred up a lot of mess which contributed more ammonia.

The way to deal with ammonia and nitrite levels above zero is water changes to get them to zero until they stay there by themselves. This does mean checking the readings every day, and possibly doing daily water changes. The good news is that these mini spikes don't usually last long.

Methe3rd · « **Reply #248 on:** April 08, 2014, 03:36:07 PM »

Hi all, I am Mason and
I am returning to the hobby after 10 years.I have really missed my fish but health and toddlers meant it was out of the question until now.

My brother in law is a keen fishkeeper so we consult each other on issues and this site is a constant guide.

My interests are fish health and diseases, taxonomy and biotope aquaria.

So I just wanted to say 'hi'

ColinB · « **Reply #249 on:** April 08, 2014, 05:13:26 PM »

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

dbaggie · « **Reply #250 on:** April 08, 2014, 05:47:08 PM »

Hi Methe3rd

BurningGiraffe · « **Reply #251 on:** April 13, 2014, 06:47:43 PM »

Hi to all.

Just getting back into fishkeeping after a break of 15 years or so after a friend gave us a tank they no longer required about 5 months ago. It has been stocked with a variety of tetras, alongside a bulldog plec and an angelfish.

That has gone pretty well but it has been a learning curve too. Just purchased a 240L tank and I am currently just letting the plants grow in.

Previously my interests were South American cichlids and catfish but I am just mulling over options about this new tank at the moment.

Sue · « **Reply #252 on:** April 13, 2014, 07:01:25 PM »

Hi there BurningGiraffe

The new tank sounds a good size, plenty of options there. You'll have to tell us what you decide to do with it.

And we like pictures

ColinB · « **Reply #253 on:** April 14, 2014, 09:06:36 AM »

Hello, and welcome to the forum, BurningGiraffe. (There's a story in that name, surely

)

Yep - piccies please.

James Harper · « **Reply #254 on:** April 15, 2014, 04:26:15 PM »

Hi all

I'm James,

I've had a fish tank for a around 14 years, although it's been empty for a few years. I'm currently in the process of moving and would like it to start it back up on once we moved into our new home.

Would definitely like to go with a planted aquarium any thoughts on a decent substrate would be helpful

Richard W · « **Reply #255 on:** April 15, 2014, 05:01:04 PM »

I've written enough about it already, so won't go into details again, but I've found an inch of ordinary garden soil topped off with another inch of sand or gravel to give great results. Put "Walstead" into the search box and you should find the info. I would never pay the ridiculous prices asked for "special" substrates which just seem another way to get us to spend money without need.

chris213 · « **Reply #256 on:** April 15, 2014, 05:15:30 PM »

hi james
I to have just followed richard's advice about using garden soil after reading many of his posts here (thank you for sharing your knowledge btw richard ).iam just starting my fishless cycle but am looking forward to planting once its done.

ColinB · « **Reply #257 on:** April 15, 2014, 05:32:59 PM »

Hello, and welcome to the forum, James.

jaypeecee · « **Reply #258 on:** April 27, 2014, 06:28:48 PM »

Hi Folks,

I have had an interest in fishkeeping for - wait for it - 45 years! Approximately fifteen years ago, I actually started keeping freshwater tropical fish. A few months ago, now that I am semi-retired (whatever that means!), I have started keeping fish in earnest.

So, I am currently in the process of setting up an 120 litre freshwater tropical tank with live plants. I am taking this opportunity to dig deep into the science of fishkeeping whilst not losing sight of the beauty of the fish and plants, which grace my home.

I look forward to being part of this community.

JPC

Sue · « **Reply #259 on:** April 27, 2014, 07:03:39 PM »

Hi jaypeecee, welcome to the forum

Subject - Started by	Replies	Last post
Hello Bazza2000 - Please introduce yourself! Started by Robert Introductions and hello's	16 Replies 18256 Views	August 26, 2018, 09:45:32 PM by Matt
Hello Avin - Please introduce yourself! Started by Robert Introductions and hello's	3 Replies 10853 Views	November 12, 2018, 09:27:17 PM by Matt
Hello Joolia - Please introduce yourself! Started by Robert Introductions and hello's	8 Replies 12767 Views	November 12, 2018, 09:32:21 PM by Matt
Hello Derrick - Please introduce yourself! Started by Robert Introductions and hello's	4 Replies 11179 Views	January 23, 2019, 06:43:10 AM by Matt
Hello Larkin - Please introduce yourself! Started by Robert Introductions and hello's	2 Replies 13421 Views	August 08, 2019, 09:10:31 PM by Littlefish
Hello Mussoda - Please introduce yourself! Started by Robert Introductions and hello's	7 Replies 64997 Views	February 13, 2021, 05:24:28 PM by Mussoda
Hello Tez-20 - Please introduce yourself! Started by Robert Introductions and hello's	0 Replies 57442 Views	July 08, 2021, 01:00:58 AM by Robert

Introduce Yourself!

Introduce Yourself!

Author Topic: Introduce yourself! (Read 266129 times) 715 replies

Assess Tankmates In The Tropical Fish Community Creator

Topics that relate to "Introduce yourself!"

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice

Tropical Fish Keeping Product Reviews

Tropical Fish Market Place

Tropical Fish Keeping Community