Confused As Hell

[Ardvark]

Hi Everyone,
                   Setting up a 64 ltr tank for some Guppies and I thought I'd do some research. Now I'm a confused as ever. This is how I thought it would go,
 
1) Clean tank with water only
2) Clean gravel with water only
3) Put gravel into tank with it sloping high at back
4) Fill tank with tap water
5) Fit filter, heater, thermometer
6) Measure out, add and stir in Aquasafe
7) Fit lid on tank
8) After 15 mins or so plug in and turn everything on
9) After 3 days or so add 3 Fantail Male Guppies
10) After a week or so if fish are ok add 3 more Fantail Male Guppies
 
Now this is what I had planned BUT some sites and forums suggest longer waiting time to add fish. Some sites suggest testing water before adding fish. What's this about adding bacteria? Now I know I'm a "newb" but some explaining wouldn't go amiss here. Any replies would be greatfully recieved.
 
                                                                               Al
 
 

 

[fluttermoth]

to the forums

Bacteria are essential. Without them your filter does nothing, except remove 'bits' from the water.

Unfortunately, it's not 'bits' in your tank that are important; what is important is the ammonia excreted by the fish (mainly in poo and wee, but also as a by-product of respiration). Ammonia is extremely toxic, and will kill fish in a matter of days, if the tank has none of those good bacteria living in the filter.

Running a tank for three days, empty, will not grow enough bacteria to support any fish. First of all, it's too short a time and, secondly, without a source of food (ammonia), no bacteria will be able to grow.

So, you have to add a source of ammonia (we use a solution of ammonia and water, sold for cleaning purposes!) to the tank and keep testing, over a period of weeks, until all the ammonia is gone; then you can add fish safely. This is known as a 'fishless cycle', and it's what we always recommend on this forum, as there's no risk of harming any fish if it goes wrong.

The other way of doing it is to add some fish and let them be the ammonia source, but you have to do a lot of water changes (daily, or sometimes even twice daily) and there is a very real risk of your fish being extremely sick, or even dying, during the process. This is called 'fish-in cycling', and we never recommend it.

I would suggest you take a look through our 'Cycle Your Tank' sub forum, as there are plenty of threads and articles there which will fill in the extra details I haven't mentioned.

 

[Mamashack]

to TFF, Ardvark!
Better to wait a few weeks to make sure the tank is safe to add fish by doing a fishless cycle as fluttermoth says.
You are less likely to lose your stock and dent your wallet in replacing them if they are given every opportunity to thrive, not just survive.
Once your tank is ready for fish, make sure you are able to offer fish what they need in terms of tank size, water hardness, pH. Don't try to change these things to suit the fish you want, research what you might like and buy with your head not your heart. (Easier said than done!)

 

[Ardvark]

Thanks for your replies. Another question if I may? This Startsafe live bacteria. Would this help my plight?

 

[Mamashack]

Hopefully you haven't got a plight yet, unless you've already added fish.
If you mean Tetra Safe Start then yes tho you would still have to do a fishless cycle just to make sure they are at sufficient strength to cope by adding ammonia as in the article linked at the end of my signature. It's not a plug and play product tho. However with added bacteria it shouldn't take as long.
The only other added bacteria known to work is Dr Tims' One and Only but you'd still need to add ammonia as with Tetra Safe Start.
If it's not the Tetra one you are referring to then don't waste your money, try to get hold of the other 2 mentioned above.

 

[Ardvark]

Water changes. 25% every week or so is the gist I'm getting BUT when do I start after putting Guppies in me tank?

 

[Mamashack]

It's usually 25% once a week once there's fish in there. 
Just keep an eye on the water quality daily for a few days after adding until you are certain there hasn't been an ammonia spike. There shouldn't be if you have cycled it properly.

 

[Ardvark]

Got another question for you all. Tetra fish flakes. Now I've got Guppies and have been sorting what flakes to feed them. Tetra is the brand most recommend BUT which one? Online there are loads of different flakes made by Tetra for Guppies but which one do I get in the UK?
 
                                                                                                         Al

 

[Mamashack]

You can't possibly have cycled that tank in 11 days. Did you just add the guppies as originally planned?

 

[Ardvark]

Four Guppies were added on Monday. They are swimming around quite happily. They have a pinch of flakes twice a day and this afternoon I put a 2" chunk of cucumber in for them to chew on. Only one of them seems interested atm.
The reason four were added instead of three was because they were £2.25 each or 4 for £8. Now getting back to my original question. Tetra flakes, which ones?

 

[attibones]

You've added fish too soon. You're going through a fish-in cycle. Keep the feedings minimal. I use Omega flakes. For Tetra, you'll use a tropical flake (they also sell goldfish and cichlid flakes and pellets, but you are looking for a tropical flake). The color enhancing ones are fine, though this brand of food is not top notch, I believe. If you can return the guppies, I would strongly advise you to do so and then Start a fishless cycle for the benefit of any future fish.

Make sure you are testing your water now. You'll likely have ammonia in the tank.

 

[Ninjouzata]

I agree on returning them and doing a fish-less cycle. If you do that then you'll want to read THIS.
 
If you don't do that you'll want to read THIS and THIS.
 
As for food I'd personally feed something like new life spectrum small fish formula.
 
Do you have a test kit yet? You'll need one. Preferably liquid as they're more accurate than the strips. API is a popular brand for this.
 
*Edit* Please know that no one is trying to ignore your other questions or badger you or anything. We are just concerned about the well being of your fish.

 

[Ardvark]

I'm sorry, I've reread what I've put and have noticed I've missed something out. Below is how it should have read. Whether it'll have an bearing on members comments or not I'll leave it to members to further comment. 
 
 
 

1) Clean tank with water only
2) Clean gravel with water only
3) Put gravel into tank with it sloping high at back
4) Fill tank with tap water
5) Fit filter, heater, thermometer
6) Measure out, add and stir in Tetra Aquasafe
7) Plant 10 bunches of plants in the gravel then fit lid on tank
8) After 15 mins or so plug in and turn everything on
9) After 3 days or so add 4 Fantail Male Guppies along with the recommended dose of Tetra SafeStart Live Bacteria
10) After a week or so if fish are ok add 4 more Fantail Male Guppies

 

[Ninjouzata]

That does not make your tank cycled, though it will help. Do you have a test kit?

 

[misterluke44]

From my experiences with freshwater cycling has been fairly easy. On all the freshwater tanks I've had the cycle started by itself and was finished within a week. I know that many people suggest bacteria and ammonia, but the truth is the tank is fine on its. Even if the cycle is not complete, guppies are hardy enough to survive the tail end of the cycle. Hope this helps.