Hello, General information needed and a little bit about cycling my tank.

[TomRadford12354]

Rock that is calcareous, meaning composed of minerals like limestone, marble, and similar primarily-calcium rock, along with coral and shells, will very slowly dissolve over hundreds of years. Such rock is usually found in the earth, and water that flows over or through it picks up the dissolved minerals which is what makes the water "hard" to some degree. If you have calcareous rock in your aquarium, it will still be slowly dissolving long after you and I are no longer here. There is a test to determine if rock is calcareous or not. This involves using a strong acid with a few drops on the rock, and the degree to which is fizzes tells you it is calcareous.

Rounded "river rock" which you can buy in landscape supply places and quarry outlets should generally be safe as it will usually be granite.



The intensity is likely OK (maybe even too bright, but floating plants can help with that) but what is the spectrum? Is there any data on the unit, the package, or the manufacturer's online site that gives the Kelvin for this light? Anywhere between 5000K and 6500K is ideal light.

All I could find was it operates at 6500 Kelvin and I will look into getting some floating plants.

 

[Byron]

All I could find was it operates at 6500 Kelvin and I will look into getting some floating plants.

Good, 6500K is perfect. So light is not going to be an issue here with plants, and floating really do help not only with brightness (forest fish do not appreciate overhead lighting that is bright) but as nutrient and especially ammonia "sinks." This is the principle behind silent cycling with plants.

 

[TomRadford12354]

Good, 6500K is perfect. So light is not going to be an issue here with plants, and floating really do help not only with brightness (forest fish do not appreciate overhead lighting that is bright) but as nutrient and especially ammonia "sinks." This is the principle behind silent cycling with plants.

Interesting thank you .
Do you know if "Wood Rock" would be ok? As it is fossilised wood so I guess that means it it will dissolve over time .

 

[Byron]

Interesting thank you .
Do you know if "Wood Rock" would be ok? As it is fossilised wood so I guess that means it it will dissolve over time .

No, if it is petrified wood it can be calcareous according to my research some years ago.

Real wood has several benefits and fish living in such waters will appreciate them. And some of the small plecos (like Bristlenose) need wood for a healthy digestive tract.

 

[TomRadford12354]

No, if it is petrified wood it can be calcareous according to my research some years ago.

Real wood has several benefits and fish living in such waters will appreciate them. And some of the small plecos (like Bristlenose) need wood for a healthy digestive tract.

Yes I have researched that actually so I've got some spider wood coming .

 

[Byron]

Yes I have researched that actually so I've got some spider wood coming .

I don't like scaring members, but be careful here...spiderwood is a known carrier of a toxic fungus. Some wood has it, some doesn't seem to. I nearly killed my tank of fish with one piece, and I have known others who lost fish. Shame because this wood is nice and branchy, and that type is not easy to find it seems. I just use chunks of Malaysian Driftwood in my tanks, and in some I have dead oak branches I have collected from my back garden.

 

[TomRadford12354]

Well I will contact the supplier about the wood see what they say. Thanks for the heads up imagine if it did kill some of my fish that would be a bad day at the office.