Bubbles, bubbles everywhere...

[Danny Boy]

Hello all,

I have today set up my new 40 litre tank as per the instructions of my local aquatic centre.

At present I have installed gravel, the filter, the heater and tap water to which I added a dechlorinator. I have the lighting set on a timer, and have been told to now let this run for two weeks, before the aquatic centre will test my water for me and see what needs doing.

My first question is whether I have missed anything...and the second is to do with the fact that I seem to have bubbles EVERYWHERE in the tank, on the gravel, the sides of the tank, and every few seconds my filter seems to eject a whole new set. Is this normal?

Thanks, from a newbie scared of killing fish!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Yep, bubbles are normal and will probably go by tomorrow. My advice is to read the pinned topic on fishless cycling firstly before the shop tries to rip you off with some rubbish chemical.

 

[Danny Boy]

Thanks Feeshy,

I have read that article, very informative.

A question from it, it says that I need to add 'potted plants' to the tank to help the cycle, what kind of plants should these be, and why potted? Can they be rooted in the gravel?

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Adding potted plants to fishless cycle isn't necessary and personally I wouldn't do it anyway. You would risk getting dirt from the pot, as well as any kind of fertlilzer in the potting soil into the water and could end up killing your fish.

 

[Danny Boy]

Adding potted plants to fishless cycle isn't necessary and personally I wouldn't do it anyway. You would risk getting dirt from the pot, as well as any kind of fertlilzer in the potting soil into the water and could end up killing your fish.

Should I add some kind of plants?

 

[AlexsDaddy]

I've fishless cycled with aquatic plants, and without. You can add some aquarium plants if you want to, but they aren't a necessary part of fishless cycling. The proper bacteria colonies will grow without them. HTH!

 

[Danny Boy]

Thanks AD, so I can just add the ammonia as instructed in the article and wait for the nitrite to appear?

So many questions...apologies.

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Yup. You got it. It might take a couple weeks till you start reading nitrIte. Patience is key when fishless cycling. I'm working on a 10 gal right now. It's been about 3 weeks and I think I am only a couple days away from getting my nitrIte spike. Hopefully another week or so and the nitrites will be at 0 then I can finally get new fishies!!!.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

if you have a friedn or even a nice lfs thay may give u some gravel forman established tank whichc an help seed the tna with bacteria, or if you have a fish keeping firend may be see if you can run you filetr on there tank for a week or so to get thigns going

 

[fishwatcher]

You can also purchase BioSpira. A small pack treats up to 30-gallons. I used in on one of my tanks and it cycled in less than for 4 days, and you can add the fish when you add it. It cycles without the amm/nitrite levels getting really high (mine never got above 1ppm), so it's easier on the fish than a traditional cycle. Just another idea.
What do you plan on stocking the tank with?
Good luck!