Help to start - first 30L tank

[redtailshark34]

Has anyone got a link to the ammonia that is suggested I add?

DR. TIM'S AQUATICS Ammonium Chloride Solution for Cycling Aquariums, 2-oz bottle - Chewy.com

Buy Dr. Tim's Aquatics Ammonium Chloride Solution for Cycling Aquariums, 2-oz bottle at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

Let me know if you can’t access it

 

[marklcfc]

DR. TIM'S AQUATICS Ammonium Chloride Solution for Cycling Aquariums, 2-oz bottle - Chewy.com

Buy Dr. Tim's Aquatics Ammonium Chloride Solution for Cycling Aquariums, 2-oz bottle at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!

www.chewy.com

Let me know if you can’t access it

I can get it in the uk. How much would I use of that for a 30 litre tank?

 

[redtailshark34]

I don’t completely understand what to use to measure the ammonia / nitrate part. I’m not made of money and all this is adding up for two £4 fish

Option One: Test Strips
Cheaper than a liquid test kit, but they don’t work as well.

Option Two: Liquid Test Kit
You can get test kits that come with everything you need (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and high range pH) or you can get ones that are individual tests. These last a lot longer than test strips and are much more accurate.

Option Three: Local Fish Store or Petstore
For free, most pet stores will test your water if you bring them a sample for pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, gH, and kH.

 

[redtailshark34]

I can get it in the uk. How much would I use of that for a 30 litre tank?

Typically they recommend one drop for gallon (despite what the bottle says) because the drops are quite big. For a 30L tank you should use about 8 drops.

 

[marklcfc]

Typically they recommend one drop for gallon (despite what the bottle says) because the drops are quite big. For a 30L tank you should use about 8 drops.

It says on label 4 drops per gallon. I worked out 30 litre is 6.5 gallon so wouldn’t it be around 24 drops

 

[redtailshark34]

Also when the fish are in do you have to keep measuring those readings and adding ammonia or is that just before the fish go in

Only add ammonia before the fish go in, otherwise the fish will die.

The reason we add this ammonia is to build up the beneficial bacteria (or BB as some people call them) to keep our fish safe from ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Fish naturally produce ammonia so you won’t need to add any once you get them in there. Decaying plant matter and uneaten food will also create ammonia.

Ammonia then turns into nitrite which is also very harmful to fish.

Nitrite will eventually turn into nitrate which isn’t as dangerous as nitrite but you should try to keep it as close to 0 as possible.

Cycling the filter is important because it serves as a way for the filter to be able to process ammonia from the tank to keep the fish inside safe.

 

[marklcfc]

Thanks for all your advice @redtailshark34 i wish I could say I understand what I have to do though, still confused by the cycle part and my sons going to be disappointed if he can’t get the fish in a few weeks

 

[redtailshark34]

It says on label 4 drops per gallon. I worked out 30 litre is 6.5 gallon so wouldn’t it be around 24 drops

The bottle says 4 drops per gallon, but in most cases doing this will result in an overdose of ammonia because the drops are so large and come out so fast, which means you will need to change the water and add in some more. It is easier to add ammonia than to remove it, one drops per gallon is good to start so you can raise your tank to 3ppm (the amount needed to start the cycle).

Wait 15 minutes after the initial drops and then test. If it isn’t at 3ppm then add more drops and wait 15 minutes again before testing.

 

[redtailshark34]

Thanks for all your advice @redtailshark34 i wish I could say I understand what I have to do though, still confused by the cycle part and my sons going to be disappointed if he can’t get the fish in a few weeks

I’m glad to help out, please let me know if you have anymore questions

 

[marklcfc]

Wait 15 minutes after the initial drops and then test. If it isn’t at 3ppm then add more drops and wait 15 minutes again before testing.

What is the easiest way to see this ppm reading? I need a quick and easy way for someone who doesn’t even know what it means

 

[FF_Member146894]

What is the easiest way to see this ppm reading? I need a quick and easy way for someone who doesn’t even know what it means

the quickest and most reliable? electronic testers
budget friendly? liquid test kit

 

[marklcfc]

the quickest and most reliable? electronic testers
budget friendly? liquid test kit

Does the liquid test kit specially say the number and ppm or do I have to work it out myself?

 

[marklcfc]

I’m glad to help out, please let me know if you have anymore questions

I suppose I’m still wondering should the heater be on during the cycle process or off as it isn’t mentioned on that long post on link on post #2. Other than that I suppose I’ll get the ammonia and give it a go but I can see myself going wrong, I didn’t want it to be a stressful fiddly experience

 

[FF_Member146894]

Does the liquid test kit specially say the number and ppm or do I have to work it out myself?

no, only electronic testers show results to the hundredth. with liquid test kits, you get a sample of the tank water, add testing liquid, and it'll show you a color that you have to match with a (pretty vague) chart to get results.

should the heater be on during the cycle process

yes

 

[marklcfc]

with liquid test kits, you get a sample of the tank water, add testing liquid, and it'll show you a color that you have to match with a (pretty vague) chart to get results.

Sounds like something I’d be lost with then