Hello!!

[BLUE FIN]

Hi everyone, I just found this great place via a google search. I am in the south of England and have just bought myself a little 3ft tank, i'm having a few problems so expect a few questions here and there to put me straight.

 

[Alien Anna]

Don't tell me: New Tank Syndrome? You bought fish at the same time or a week after the tank and now they're all dying?

Before I start making wild guesses, can you please give me the following information so we can help you (which we will do if we can):

1. How big is your tank?
2. How long have you had it?
3. What sort of filtration to you have?
4. If you have fish yet, what species and how many of each.
5. What are your water test results. Most importantly, we need to know about ammonia, nitrite (note the "i"), nitrate, pH and water hardness.

Welcome to the forum. Don't worry - whatever the problem, it can be sorted. Fish keeping can be pretty tricky when you start out but we've all been there.

 

[BLUE FIN]

1. How big is your tank?
2. How long have you had it?
3. What sort of filtration to you have?
4. If you have fish yet, what species and how many of each.
5. What are your water test results. Most importantly, we need to know about ammonia, nitrite (note the "i"), nitrate, pH and water hardness.

lol i haven't even got the fish yet

To answer some of your Q's:
1)Tank is 36"Wx13"Hx12"D
2)1 day lol
3)under gravel tray
4)no fish as yet but went to local pet super store yesterday and saw many
that i like inc: show very nice little neons.
5)I haven't done any water tests

My main problem at the mo is how to adjust the temperature on the Atlantis heater, unfortunatly i bought the tank and bits secondhand and it didn't come with any instructions.

 

[MattL]

Hi Bluefin, welcome aboard!!

Not too sure on all the different heaters, but they are generally all the same. Is there a small nob on the top or dial of some kind?? U just plug em in turn the nob and away you go normally.

Hope that helps (prob not, lol)

Matt

 

[Alien Anna]

lol i haven't even got the fish yet

Well, that's a relief. Please read up about Fishless Cycling before doing anything more - it's a lot easier and safer than trying to cycle a tank with fish and means that you don't have to worry about fish being delicate.

1)Tank is 36"Wx13"Hx12"D

That's about a 20-25 US gal tank. We use US gals on this site mostly - it's a convention.

2)1 day lol

It's good you came to us before you bought any fish - you'll notice if you hang out on this site that we have an endless procession of newbies with disasters in their tanks, usually caused by New Tank Syndrome.

3)under gravel tray

Not the best form of filtration IMHO, but better if you have a powerhead on it, rather than running it off an air-pump. A back-up internal canister filter of some kind (such as a Fluval 2) is a useful little addition.

4)no fish as yet but went to local pet super store yesterday and saw many
that i like inc: show very nice little neons.

Neons are nice - not a problem provided your tank is cycled before you add any fish. When the times comes I'd be happy to make other suggestions.

5)I haven't done any water tests

For Fishless Cycling you'll need ammonia and nitrite tests. Also get yourself some eSHa multisticks to measure nitrate, pH and KH and GH (water hardness). If you know the pH and water hardness now it would be easier to guide you as to species of fish most compatible with your water.

 

[BLUE FIN]

Hi Bluefin, welcome aboard!!

Not too sure on all the different heaters, but they are generally all the same. Is there a small nob on the top or dial of some kind?? U just plug em in turn the nob and away you go normally.

Hope that helps (prob not, lol)

Matt

Thanks for your reply Matt However i have already tried turning the knob on the top but it will not move The top is a green rubber thingy with a tie wrap around it, with the knob one side and the power cord the other. I am concerned as last night the temp settled at 83.2F this morning however i have moved the heater and the temp has settled at 81.5F which is better but still too hot

Adminsorry for the questions in this section but as this has already been replied to i didn't see much point in putting the question in another forum as it would be seen as double posting