Help On New Tank

[barker_23]

Hi all,

Just wondered if someone could give me a bit of advice?

I recently filled my tank with my bog wood in it, i did soak the wood before but as you can see by the size, it was quite difficult.

I have already done a 80% water change in the tank, but it still looks quite yellowish.

Im not sure if this is the bog wood or if my lights need changing. The lights are T8's one warm white and one day light
(i think!!)

I will be doing another water change soon.

How do you know if the tubes you have a past it as i brought mine second hand and not sure on the life of them??

Also if anyone can give me any constructive criticism on my tank, that would be great.

Thanks

P.s. Hope you like the reflection!!!!

 

[doresy]

Nice bit of wood

Good camera too I like the ixus range

Anyway where were we, oh yes the tea stain. Some people like the colour that comes out of bogwood but if you don't then it needs soaking for like ages.
Carbon can help filter it out but if it's leaching that bad then carbon will struggle to keep up.

 

[barker_23]

Thanks doresy.

Got a bargain on the wood, i didnt know if it was tooo big or not?

I have a Tetratec Ex1200 on the job with Carbon in it, it doesnt seem to be doing much.

Is it best to just keep doing water changes until i get clear water, then start my cycling.

I guess i cant start the cycling until this is sorted???

 

[flippajh]

Lovely looking bit of wood!

I soaked my piece of bogwood in boiling water for about 4 weeks, just left the wood in a big bucket and emptied it every day and just topped back up with boiling water every evening. It leached for about another 4/5 weeks in the tank, but with regular water changes this got less and less, and now its fine.

 

[petertr]

Lovely piece of wood.

Ignore the colour - its nothing to worry about and won't affect the fishless cycle you're planning.


Less colour will leak out of the wood in time, don't let it bother you.

 

[OzeN]

i real like that bit of wood

 

[barker_23]

Thanks guys,

I got the wood from e bay, very pleased with it. I could only soak it in the tank due to the size of it.

Right heres another question, will i be able to do this.

On thursday do about a 90% water change (to take the staining away)

Then start the fishless cycle. BUT will i be able to do anymore water changes whilst going through the cycle or will this ruin it?

Thanks

 

[petertr]

Can't see any reason not to do small changes. I wouldn't advise dropping the temperature, or letting the water level drop below the top sponge in the filter.

Remember to dechlor the water or your cycle will never run.


*** Someone who knows much more than me might disagree!!

 

[waterdrop]

Lovely looking bit of wood!

I soaked my piece of bogwood in boiling water for about 4 weeks, just left the wood in a big bucket and emptied it every day and just topped back up with boiling water every evening. It leached for about another 4/5 weeks in the tank, but with regular water changes this got less and less, and now its fine.

The OP's piece of wood should be ready about June, 2010.
Seriously, looks like good advice from flip there.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[aaron11]

wow makes my tank look like a tiddler ha !
what a wonderful peice of wood and set up

I know mine small peice of wood did that to the water for a few days

wow yours is amazing

 

[barker_23]

Would adding any plants help do you think?

 

[barker_23]

Thanks for your help guys,

I did a big waterchange, and also put some plants in, just sort of dotted them about a bit just to get something in the tank.



The Left side



and the right side



I was thinking about putting some java moss on the wood, would it take over the whole peice or would i be able to control where it goes?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

re the tannines, they won't disrupt anything except for your viewing pleasure, some fish actually prefer them, so don't worry about water changes or anything like that, just do the fishless cycle as normal and the water colouring will clear with time.

it is awkward to soak massive bits of bogwood, we've had that problem before nad the same situation as you. trust me it does just fix itself and won't hurt anything.

controlling the java moss, well how good are you at pruning the plants in your garden??! If you regularly prune it it'll only be where you want it, if you leave it to do it's own thing it can become a bit of a weed.

 

[barker_23]

Thats great, thanks for the help Miss Wiggle

Now all i need to know is where i can get some ammonia from, tried boots, will be trying homebase at the weekend.

Anyone know of anywhere in the Nottingham area???

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i don't, but if you don't find anything in homebase then stick a post up in tropical chat asking for local members as they may be able to help you out some more.

in a big city like nottingham you'll find it somewhere!