Biorb Flow 15 Litre Shrimp Tank

[Ch4rlie]

Exactly my train of thought too.
 
I did use some of my mature bio media from main tank into the BioFlow filter so that must help a bit.
 
Will test again tomorrow and see if any differences.
 
Thanks Daize

 

[TallTree01]

I did yeah, lol, have edited it to show the right way round now 

 
Righto, that makes sense to me, your explanation of not adding ammonia until nitrite comes down to zero then add 3ppm ammonia but in meantime can add a snack of ammonia every 4 to 5 days. 
 
If both reaches 0 then add 3ppm ammonia until both 0 in 24 hours. 

 
To be honest don't think it will take very long for nitrite to get to nil so may not need any 'snacks'. (Famous last words!.............)

 
I thought that too and one week later nitrite is still present. If yours goes down quick be sure to tell me your secret xD.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Whooohoooooo!!!
 
Nitrites at 0, zero, nil, nada!! 

 

 
That means gonna add 3ppm ammonia today then wait to see how long that takes to get nitrite and ammonia to zero.
 
Quicker than I thought but hoped would be the case though 

 
So results are:
 
pH -            7.4
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrites -     0 ppm 

Nitrates -   80 ppm (maybe just over, call it 100 ppm!)
 
Sorry TT! No real secret at all, pure luck I guess.
Did not do any water changes at all, just gave live plants a trim to get rid of brownish leaves, that all I did to the tank over the last 2 weeks.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Update - 
 
Just tested 24 hours after adding 3ppm ammonia yesterday.
 
Result - 
 
Ammonia - 0.50 ppm
Nitrites -     0.25 ppm
 
Very nearly there!
 
So, do i dose again with 3ppm ammonia, tonight or wait for to reach 0 on both, that would be tomorrow probably.
 
And in the back of my mind theres a niggling thought, is 3ppm ammonia is too much for a 15 litre tank?
Thought I read or someone told me (maybe TTA) somewhere that 2ppm is right for a smaller tank. 
 
But am a bit unsure about that.  

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

I don't really know, but great to see that you are taking such a perfect effort and great care. Top work! A lesson to all 

 

[Ch4rlie]

I don't really know, but great to see that you are taking such a perfect effort and great care. Top work! A lesson to all 

 
Thanks for that great comment! Cheered me up! 

 

[daizeUK]

So, do i dose again with 3ppm ammonia, tonight or wait for to reach 0 on both, that would be tomorrow probably.
 
And in the back of my mind theres a niggling thought, is 3ppm ammonia is too much for a 15 litre tank?
Thought I read or someone told me (maybe TTA) somewhere that 2ppm is right for a smaller tank. 
 
But am a bit unsure about that.  

 
Wait for both to zero first.
 
To the best of my knowledge 3ppm is equally appropriate for all size tanks, since it's a concentration based on the number of litres of water you have in your tank so the size is already factored into the calculation.  But TTA might have a good reason for suggesting 2ppm that I'm not aware of.  It is certainly possible to cycle a tank with 2ppm ammonia or even less, it just means that your initial stocking must be lighter.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Shrimps is all I'm gonna put in it, maybe a few snails too.
 
When I say "I'm", I mean the GF, its her tank! lol

 

[daizeUK]

I think that would certainly qualify as a light stocking
 
In which case you might want to dose 2ppm now.  Then I'd wait for ammonia and nitrite to drop to at least 0.25 before dosing again.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Cool, thanks 

 

[Ch4rlie]

Update:
 
Yesterday -
 
Ammonia - 0.50 ppm
Nitrite -       0.25 ppm
 
Almost!!
 
========================
 
Today
 
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite -       0 ppm
 
That result is from this morning (24th) at 07:30, i dosed tank 3 ppm ammonia at 17.30 on 22nd so that means it's taking the tank between 24 to 36 hours to reduce ammonia and nitrite back to zero.
 
Do I dose ammonia to 3 ppm today?
 
And then hope it takes 24 hours to get back to 0, then test once more, if returns to 0 within 24 hours, then tank is ready, is that about right?
Before adding stock, do a large water change 

 
Sorry if am asking basic questions, just wanna be sure am doing things correctly.

 

[daizeUK]

Sounds like you've got it right

 

[Ch4rlie]

 

[Ch4rlie]

GF went with me to LFS earlier today while was buying some T8 bulbs and she saw some Venus Guppy, now, I don't know if these are a guppy or an endler as they are tiny, probably an endler/guppy hybrid but does anyone know about these?
 
GF now considering getting 3 or 4 males Venus Guppies for the 15litre Biob Flow. I told her I was not sure if thats ok.
 
Would this be ok or a no no? 
Better with endlers?
Or none, just shrimps and snails?
 
I'm not sure as always considered the Biorb too small for anything other than shrimps and snails, or at most a betta.
 
Anyone with opinions?

 

[paradiddle]

Yup, you read my mind 

 
Was planning on getting some moss balls next time go to LFS. 
 
I've got some in my main tank but far too big for the little BiOrb so will get some from LFS.
 
Thanks for your comment. Will pass that on to GF, she'll be pleased as punch got a nice comment! lol

the good thing with moss balls is you can cut them into pieces so take one from your big tank, cut it in quarters, take a quarter to the biorb.
Cut it in half again and youve got 2 nano moss balls