Getting Set Up - Something's not quite right.

[CillyNM]

Hello everyone. If this is in the wrong section - I apologize.

I am new to fish and am setting up my son's first fish tank. Its a 10 gallon and will be very simple. I set it up according to the directions - and the website it led me to. I added 10 lbs of rock (rinsed first), 2 rock ornaments (cave-like), 2 small fake plants and 2 large fake plants - - - all rinsed first. The filter seems to be working, the heater as well (according to the thermometer). When I added the water I added the water conditioner stuff as well - - All sounds good so far.

I've been keeping tabs with the water to get it to stay at the right temperature. I was having probs with that but I was also having problems keeping the heater attached to the wall. After about a day of the heater staying on the wall - the water seemed to be staying the same temp. I woke up this morning and checked it. Imagine my suprise when I noticed little "somethings" growing up from the gravel!!! I have no idea what it is - but it looks like bean sprouts - has anyone ever experienced this?? Did I do something wrong?? - What can I do to get rid of this - should I start over?

I just don't want to put fish in until this problem is solved - do NOT want to kill my son's first fish -

Any advice or information would be most appreciated.

 

[Nospherith]

Having plants sprout up in the aquarium shouldn't be a problem. They probably hitched in with the gravel. It's not that uncommon.

However, you need to cycle your tank! Just be sure to let the tank sit for a few days with filter running to get rid of the chlorine and other bad stuff in the water. It's also important to add some instant-cyle stuff like Bio-Spera or Nitromax well before you add the fish. This way, when you add the instant cycle stuff, you're introducing the bacteria that is essential to every tank for breaking down fish waste and other nasties that could cause your son's first fish to die. Just ask about it at your Local Fish Store and make sure you get some of that stuff.

You should also know the PH of your tap-water. Over here it's 7.6... A little high for a community tank, 7.0 is optimal. So I add some of the liquid PH-Down to remedy this every week when I do about a 1/3 water change. You could pick up a test kit for this.

It's also a good idea to keep track of your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. These are all chemicals in the water that need to be balanced in order for your fish to survive. Optimally, there would be practically no ammonia or nitrites (very bad for fish), and just a little bit of nitrate. The cycling bacteria turns fish waste and uneaten food, or the ammonias, into nitrates. You might want to get a test kit for at least nitrite/nitrate levels. The level of nitrIte is an indicator of how much ammonia you have in your tank. Usually if you're being good with the water changes (weekly for a 10g) you won't have a problem.

So... I guess that's it. Good luck.

You might also want to consider getting some low-light live plants, like some java fern, anubias, or moss.

 

[CillyNM]

WOW - that is a lot of info to digest! I have had the tank set up and running (the filter) for 4 days now - should I wait longer? I will take your advice and get the test kits tomorrow. I'm hoping by next weekend I'll be able to introduce fish to the tank.

Thanks for the info!

 

[aqtaquaman]

Welcome to a never ending source of knowledge. i NOTICED YOU SAID ROCK? iS IT JUST PLAIN ROCKS? oR STORE BOUGHT GRAVEL? iT MAY EXPLAIN THE SPROUTING.

 

[CillyNM]

Hi, its store-bought gravel. I have another question - I just read an excellent & detailed post on the Nitrogen cycle called "New Tank Syndrome" (posted by Alien Anna) and I"m wondering about how long this process takes? I was wanting to get fish by next week but am willing to wait to get the tank/water "just right".

any ideas?

 

[Discomafia]

However, you need to cycle your tank! Just be sure to let the tank sit for a few days with filter running to get rid of the chlorine and other bad stuff in the water.

Leaving the water out to rest for days won't cycle the tank. The tank won't cycle without a source of ammonia. And the de-chlorinator that you use to treat the water before you add it in your tanks already kills chlorine, so there's no need for any wait. Please read up in the Beginners section about fishless cycling, because if you don't cycle your tank properly, your fish will probably die.

 

[Nospherith]

sorry, what I meant to say was:

Just be sure to let the t.... It's also important to add some instant-cyle stuff like Bio-Spera or Nitromax (nix)well before you add the fish(/nix) during those few days.

It worked for me.

 

[fraservet]

And the de-chlorinator that you use to treat the water before you add it in your tanks already kills chlorine, so there's no need for any wait.

There are however other compounds that need time to dissipate such as chloramine. So it really is best to let water sit for 24h.

 

[Yenko]

Just find out wether your city uses chloramine in your water. If you don't know, treat the water with dechlorinator then leave it for 48h. If you use a dechlorinator on chloramine, it converts it to ammonia, which eventually evaporates.