New To Tropical Fish Keeping: My Cat Litter Tank (Tesco Low Dust)

pdludbrooke · Mar 8, 2012

Hi all, I have never kept fish before, but I have always wanted to.
I was lucky to find a converted marine tank (aquael reefmax 60) on a boot sale, I paid £3.00 for it over a year ago as it was in a terrible state.
At the beginning of this week I decided to get it cleaned up and start an aquarium.
I let the tank stand for a week, all seems ok

CezzaXV · Mar 8, 2012

Yay! Congrats!

Make sure you read up on cycling before you get your fish. It'll seem long and boring but it'll put you in the best place for long term success

fishprotector · Mar 8, 2012

Wow that is cheap! What are your plans for scaping and stocking?

pdludbrooke · Mar 8, 2012

The tank holds 105 litres, the filter I have to use on this tank is a Fluval U2 (from the boot sale too)
I decided to try the tesco low dust cat litter for the substrate, I would like to have some plants (no idea about which ones no experience)
I read some good stuff about this cat litter, and I am in the process of saving for a much bigger tank, so money is limited.
The cat litter really needs a good clean, it took me about 2 hours to get the 1 and half bags I needed.

Cazgar · Mar 8, 2012

What a bargain!
Look up fish less cycling on the beginners section, as for plants, ask on the planted section, they know their stuff

pdludbrooke · Mar 8, 2012

Here is the tank with the cat litter substrate just put in and filled with water, it's a bit cloudy....

fishprotector · Mar 8, 2012

I have never used it myself, but heard that it is very good as it absorbs and releases nutrients slowly. I am going to use it on next planted venture. Sounds like it is a pain to clean though!

pdludbrooke · Mar 8, 2012

I'll need your advice with this, I have read a few bits and pieces about it

mattyeatsmatts · Mar 8, 2012

tank looks very clean

Did you condition the water?

pdludbrooke · Mar 8, 2012

Here is the tank 24 hours after, the water has cleaned up reall nicely!

fishprotector · Mar 8, 2012

Oh and the u2 filters are good. My only tip is that you may want to stick filter floss around the sides of the frame. When I used to have one, my fish used to squeeze behind it and get stuck. It did not always have a happy ending.

pdludbrooke · Mar 8, 2012

A closer look

mattyeatsmatts said:
tank looks very clean

Did you condition the water?

I didn't treat the water, I was expecting to have to do several water changes, also is it true that after 24 hours the water is safe to use with fish ?

fishprotector said:
Oh and the u2 filters are good. My only tip is that you may want to stick filter floss around the sides of the frame. When I used to have one, my fish used to squeeze behind it and get stuck. It did not always have a happy ending.

Thanks for that, I'll defo get that sorted before getting any fish.
I don't really know where to go from here (except to get a heater)

Cazgar said:
What a bargain!
Look up fish less cycling on the beginners section, as for plants, ask on the planted section, they know their stuff

Thanks for your advice, this is all really exciting!

fishprotector said:
Wow that is cheap! What are your plans for scaping and stocking?

I have no idea, I have never done this before, got loads to learn

fishprotector said:
Oh and the u2 filters are good. My only tip is that you may want to stick filter floss around the sides of the frame. When I used to have one, my fish used to squeeze behind it and get stuck. It did not always have a happy ending.

This tank has two T5 lights and a blue LED, the person who converted it took out the glass bits at the back which held the internal marine filter system and they have re wired the light system as this was originally controlled by a thing in the hood according to the aquael website

CezzaXV · Mar 8, 2012

That cat litter looks great!

It's true that after 24 hours any chlorine in the water will have gassed off, but you'll still need to use a good dechlorinator to get rid of any chloramine and heavy metals which won't disappear no matter how long you leave it to stand for.

pdludbrooke · Mar 8, 2012

fishprotector said:
I have never used it myself, but heard that it is very good as it absorbs and releases nutrients slowly. I am going to use it on next planted venture. Sounds like it is a pain to clean though!

It is a pain to clean, but it does look nice and good things have been said that you mentioned, I am dreading my next water bill as my water is metered ???

CezzaXV said:
That cat litter looks great!

It's true that after 24 hours any chlorine in the water will have gassed off, but you'll still need to use a good dechlorinator to get rid of any chloramine and heavy metals which won't disappear no matter how long you leave it to stand for.

Thanks, what would be the correct stuff to get ?

CezzaXV · Mar 8, 2012

Any good dechlorinator should do the trick, but the stuff that is most commonly recommended around here and I use myself is Seachem Prime. It can be a little more expensive than other brands to buy but it's super concentrated and you really don't need to use much of it at all, so it works out cheaper for the amount of water it treats.

New To Tropical Fish Keeping: My Cat Litter Tank (Tesco Low Dust)

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