148.6L (39.2 gallon) aquarium journal

[Naughts]

Seachem Flourish and Flourish Trace for the plants. Twice a week for Flourish and once a week for Flourish Trace.

That’s perfectly fine. Nothing there that would upset the cycle.

 

[elephantnose3334]

That’s perfectly fine. Nothing there that would upset the cycle.

Yeah, I thought I crashed my cycle as the nitrite results came up (around 0.50ppm, but not the fatal 5.0ppm)... but I'll keep an eye on them.

 

[EmmaS]

I clean mine in tap water but it is not recommended, especially not for newer tanks. This is because the chlorine in tap water can kill the beneficial bacteria which maintain the cycle.

If you have a bucket of tank water that you have taken out, use this to clean the filter as it doesn’t contain chlorine.

Apart from dechlorinator, are you adding any chemicals or medication to the tank?

This is true. I clean my sponge filters in tap water because my aquarium is very established with many plants and rocks. Beneficial bacteria is everywhere including in the substrate. I wouldn't dream of doing this in an aquarium less than 6 months old. If I do a big maintenance job on my aquarium and trim plants etc I will rinse my sponge filters in used tank water only.
I wouldn't recommend inexperienced people rinsing there filter media in ordinary tap water.

 

[EmmaS]

Ah, right. I had never tested water before via a chain petstore, which offers free water testing. The results are okay, but the nitrites and the pH of our tap water is something I need to keep a watchful eye on.

Never trust the word of a store person. Listen to what they say and go and double check. Lots of places are no better than a used car salesperson.

 

[EmmaS]

Do yourself a favour and go and get a small pot of beneficial bacteria. Do a large water change and add the bacteria. As mentioned you really should get a testing kit of some sort and don't rely on others to do it.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Do yourself a favour and go and get a small pot of beneficial bacteria. Do a large water change and add the bacteria. As mentioned you really should get a testing kit of some sort and don't rely on others to do it.

Yeah... good idea. I will do that in the future. I just hope I don't make the same mistake again.

This is true. I clean my sponge filters in tap water because my aquarium is very established with many plants and rocks. Beneficial bacteria is everywhere including in the substrate. I wouldn't dream of doing this in an aquarium less than 6 months old. If I do a big maintenance job on my aquarium and trim plants etc I will rinse my sponge filters in used tank water only.
I wouldn't recommend inexperienced people rinsing there filter media in ordinary tap water.

Ah, I didn't know that.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Never trust the word of a store person. Listen to what they say and go and double check. Lots of places are no better than a used car salesperson.

I am being careful about store advice, and I do some research online before proceeding to do something about important advice.