Just starting out...

[Crabbyj]

Hello everyone,

I'm a newbie starting up a tank for the first time. I started reading up on aquariums and their care and purchased a few supplies, but I'm still feeling a little shaky about it all.

Here is what I have so far:
A 20L tank with a full hood, silent air x2 air pump, elite hush 20 power filter, an elite tank 100 watt tank heater, dechlorinator, tubing, gravel, a water test kit that tests ph, nitrate, nitrite, hardness, alkalinity, ammonia...

I'm wondering if I made good choices on these purchases. I know there are so many types of filters and I do have a carbon stone plastic reservior along with a bubbler piece that I purchased with a 10 gallon aquarium kit long ago. I wasn't sure if these were good enough to use with the 20L.

We want to set up a warm fresh water tank. I know it's better for newbies to set up a cool water tank, but we didn't want to start out with that and convert later.

I'm planning on putting water in today and getting everything set up and running. I know I need to purchase plants and hiding spots and I'm taking a trip to the store today.

So I guess my question is "Am I on the right track?". Am I missing anything?

Thanks!

[ron v]

Sounds like you are on the right track. The best thing you are doing is checking out this forum.
Lesson #1 is DON'T listen to your pet shop. Ask questions here. Go ahead and get your plants and decorations. Set every thing up and get it running but DON'T buy any fish yet. If you are unfamiliar with "nitrogen cycle" or "new tank syndrome", research that first.

[Georgia Peach]

As a matter of fact, Ronv has a good post about the Nitrogen Cycle and Fishless Cycling here on this site! check it out!

[Crabbyj]

Thanks! I am not familiar with the nitrogen cycle or new tank fish syndrome yet. Cycling is something I need to read up on. I'll check out those posts.

Don't worry, I'm not buying any fish until the tank is just right. I don't want problems if I can help it. I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes by since I know all about petshop advice...

Thanks for the quick replys and helpful advice!

[Ownager2004]

There are fish out there that can live through cycling a tank. Like zebra danios. 1 or 2 would do it.

[IloveCichlids]

I would get one or two hardy fish such as the zebra danios to help get your tank started on the nitrogen cycle, as I think Ownager was trying to convey. But that is it for a while. You need a source of ammonia to get the cycle started, you can also try stress zyme and/or bio-Spira to help you along.

[happyfrosty10]

I think its much better if you get 5 or 6 zebra danio's because zebra danio's are schooling fish they won't be comfortable with jst one or 2

[ron v]

Crabbj, you are going to get conflicting advise, even on this forum. Study cycling and decide how you want to do it and we will help you from there.

[fish_doc]

Be sure to rinse out any gravel or anything for that matter that you are going to put in the tank. This will eliminate some problems with clouding of the tank due to "stuff" floating around in a new tank. It will also limit the amount of possible contaminants entering a new tank. Do not use soaps or other cleaners when setting up the tank either. This includes windex on the outside of the tank.

[Crabbyj]

Thanks for the input. I read cycling and thought about using zebra danios to help my tank cycle, but I'm really afraid something would go wrong and I'd' kill the fish. I have 2 children who would probably be quite upset if mom made a mistake and killed the fish right away.

I read about bio spira. Sounds like great stuff and is really my choice for the way to go but I can't find it locally and only found one website to order from. I'm not real keen on ordering from sites I'm not familiar with and the sites I do use for pets don't carry it.

I decided to use ammonia to cycle the tank. Sounded quicker (and I already have it) than using fish flakes so I'll let you know how the progress goes. And at least if I mess something up this way I can always change the water and start over, without harming fish and upsettng kids in the process.

I didn't realize how much there was to keeping fish. It's a bit overwhelming and quite expensive to get started. And then once everything is purchased it takes weeks to actually get the fish. I must admit it's a bit discouraging for me at this point.

I added ammonia last night and checked the levels. The results are:

PH = 6.0
Ni = 0
Na = 25
H = 75
Alk = 30
Amm = 3.0
Temp = 58 F

Is there a reference to tell me what ranges these other numbers should fall in. Or what to do about them if they don't get into a good range once my tank is cycled?

[ron v]

Do you have a heater? Cycling bacteria will develop faster at a higher temp... 80F is not too high.

[Crabbyj]

LOL! Yes I do have a heater, but didn't realize it never turned on until I adjusted the knob this morning. It's almost 68 F already.

[pokagon55]

Originally Posted by happyfrosty10 I think its much better if you get 5 or 6 zebra danio's because zebra danio's are schooling fish they won't be comfortable with jst one or 2

I would just get 2 to start with. As this is good info. after you have your cycled, it is not good info. to start with.

[pokagon55]

Originally Posted by Crabbyj Thanks for the input. I read cycling and thought about using zebra danios to help my tank cycle, but I'm really afraid something would go wrong and I'd' kill the fish. I have 2 children who would probably be quite upset if mom made a mistake and killed the fish right away. I read about bio spira. Sounds like great stuff and is really my choice for the way to go but I can't find it locally and only found one website to order from. I'm not real keen on ordering from sites I'm not familiar with and the sites I do use for pets don't carry it. I decided to use ammonia to cycle the tank. Sounded quicker (and I already have it) than using fish flakes so I'll let you know how the progress goes. And at least if I mess something up this way I can always change the water and start over, without harming fish and upsettng kids in the process. I didn't realize how much there was to keeping fish. It's a bit overwhelming and quite expensive to get started. And then once everything is purchased it takes weeks to actually get the fish. I must admit it's a bit discouraging for me at this point. I added ammonia last night and checked the levels. The results are: PH = 6.0 Ni = 0 Na = 25 H = 75 Alk = 30 Amm = 3.0 Temp = 58 F Is there a reference to tell me what ranges these other numbers should fall in. Or what to do about them if they don't get into a good range once my tank is cycled?

With your PH being at 6.0 your bacteria will not grow. You must have a PH of 7.0 or better in order for the bacteria to grow faster. Bacteria will grow at a PH of 6.5 but it will take forever. I would check you water sorce and see what the PH range is. I have facts to back this up with if you need it.

[Crabbyj]

Oh, my water source is my tap well-water. I did use Tap Water Conditioner because we do have copper pipes and I know the conditioner will remove heavy metal toxins.

I just found the bio spira locally. Can I stop the ammonia cycling and put in the bio spira today?

If I do, do I need to do anything differently to correct the ph levels?

Also, I used the test strips and I might have mis-read the results. I'll do another check to see if it's the same.