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Essjay · Jul 30, 2023

It should be. But I once bought a rock from a fish store, put it in my tank and got up next day to find the tank very cloudy and the hornwort had dropped all it's leaves. The tank was full if bare stems and what looked like Christmas tree needles all over the bottom of the tank. I put the rock in a bucket of water and that went cloudy as well. It looked great in the lounge with an air plant attached to it.

777james777 · Jul 30, 2023

O

Essjay said:
It should be. But I once bought a rock from a fish store, put it in my tank and got up next day to find the tank very cloudy and the hornwort had dropped all its leaves. The tank was full if bare stems and what looked like Christmas tree needles all over the bottom of the tank. I put the rock in a bucket of water and that went cloudy as well. It looked great in the lounge with an air plant attached to it.

Oh no! See this is my concern

I have slate, it’s what I want and it’s free, I’m just worried that I’m making a mistake

Do many people opt for it?

Essjay · Jul 30, 2023

My mistake, before I knew any better, was not leaving the rock to soak in a bucket overnight. I always do that now with any decor, though wood has to be soaked a lot longer till it sinks.

I have used slate caves in the past, I bought them off eBay. Later I dismantled them and used them for decor.

What do you want to use the slate for? Making caves or to just place aound the tank?

777james777 · Jul 30, 2023

Essjay said:
My mistake, before I knew any better, was not leaving the rock to soak in a bucket overnight. I always do that now with any decor, though wood has to be soaked a lot longer till it sinks.

I have used slate caves in the past, I bought them off eBay. Later I dismantled them and used them for decor.

What do you want to use the slate for? Making caves or to just place aound the tank?

So when I picture it, I want a lot going on in the tank, lots of plants and lots of hiding places,

Presumably “slate caves” is slate all put together to make a cave ?

I wanted to construct some kind of shelter for them or build something

Essjay · Jul 30, 2023

Yes slate caves are pieces of slate siliconed together. I bought them as caves for peacock gudgeons to spawn in, but I hadn't realised just how small a cave they prefer. In the end I dismantled them and used very narrow pvc pipes which I disguised with the slate.

I would look at pet stores but soak overnight in a bucket of water. You might see rocks you prefer

777james777 · Jul 31, 2023

Essjay said:
Yes slate caves are pieces of slate siliconed together. I bought them as caves for peacock gudgeons to spawn in, but I hadn't realised just how small a cave they prefer. In the end I dismantled them and used very narrow pvc pipes which I disguised with the slate.

I would look at pet stores but soak overnight in a bucket of water. You might see rocks you prefer

Yeah, I will have a look in the pet store. Im guessing at the end of the day these slates they sell could have come from anywhere. Is it a case of the longer I soak the better? Because iv got a good 3-4 weeks yet before my cycle finishes, so i could soak the ones I have now in new water every day for a month.

Essjay · Jul 31, 2023

Soaking it is probably the way to go - at least will show up any problems like my rock with cloudy water.

777james777 · Jul 31, 2023

Essjay said:
Soaking it is probably the way to go - at least will show up any problems like my rock with cloudy water.

Okay, il stick them in tomorrow morning and will see what happens

777james777 · Aug 4, 2023

Todays results.

PH Level - dropped
Ammonia - dropped slightly
Nitrite - disappeared

What’s the best course of action now @Essjay

Essjay · Aug 4, 2023

The pH is still in the OK range, but keep an eye on it.

Ammonia can evaporate from the water as well as be 'eaten' by bacteria. As you don't have any nitrite yet, keep in testing every third day until you have both ammonia less than 0.75 and nitrite over 2.0.

jaylach · Aug 4, 2023

Also, considering ammonia, do you have any plants in the tank? Sorry but it is late and past bed time and I'm not going through all previous posts to see if this has already been stated,

If there are plants present they can totally mess with the wanted numbers for cycling a tank. There are plants that will suck up ammonia like a thirsty person in a desert. if there are plants involved please state what they are.

777james777 · Aug 4, 2023

Essjay said:
The pH is still in the OK range, but keep an eye on it.

Ammonia can evaporate from the water as well as be 'eaten' by bacteria. As you don't have any nitrite yet, keep in testing every third day until you have both ammonia less than 0.75 and nitrite over 2.0.

@Essjay

What PH is the ideal again? Am i right in thinking we don't want it to go lower...

If you remember 3 days ago when I did my test I had nitrite, so I was expecting to see a bit more but it has gone completely? I thought the Nitrie was supose to raise, do I not need to add anything at this stage? Am i just to wait again another 3 days?

jaylach · Aug 4, 2023

777james777 said:
@Essjay

What PH is the ideal again? Am i right in thinking we don't want it to go lower...

If you remember 3 days ago when I did my test I had nitrite, so I was expecting to see a bit more but it has gone completely? I thought the Nitrie was supose to raise, do I not need to add anything at this stage? Am i just to wait again another 3 days?

If you had ammonia AND nitrites and now don't make sure to check for nitrates. If you are using an API Master kit to test make sure to shake the stuff involved for at least the time recommended. If you do a full test and ammonia and nitrites are zero and nitrates are at or lower than 20 ppm you are cycled. Check your parameters again to be sure as to water but what you say sounds good.

Just remember the old rule that says measure twice and cut once...

There is no ideal PH. Unless you want to spend a lot of time and effort to change your normal water's PH to match fish you happen to want it is a futile effort. Don't worry about your PH level just know what it is. Once your PH tests consistent look for fish that like the level, don't try to change the PH to match fish. Easier for you and better for your fish.

Essjay · Aug 4, 2023

The pH needs to be above 6.5 for cycling. The lower the pH, the slower. This is what the method on here says about pH during cycling

TwoTankAmin said:
Lastly, the ammonia converting bacteria do not function as well the lower the pH gets. If your pH drops under 7.0, they start to slow their activity markedly and under 6.5, they slow dramatically and by about 6.0 they will appear to stop completely.

If it does drop, it can be raised again using bicarbonate of soda, but one the cycle is finished, let the pH be what it wants to be.

777james777 · Aug 4, 2023

Essjay said:
The pH needs to be above 6.5 for cycling. The lower the pH, the slower. This is what the method on here says about pH during cycling

If it does drop, it can be raised again using bicarbonate of soda, but one the cycle is finished, let the pH be what it wants to be.

My pH level is on approximately 7.1 (so above the 6.5)
My ammonia level is on 2.0
My nitrite is on 0

Sorry if I am mistaken, but isn't the goal to have ammonia under 0.25 and nitrite over 2.0 ?
My Nitrite has dropped after appearing on the last test.
I'm going away for 3 days in a couple of hours. Is there anything I need to do at this stage @Essjay or is it a case of wait and test when im back?

(sorry to be repetitive i just want to get it right

)

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