Just Bought My First Tank

[Mola Mola]

Hi,
I've only just bought my very first tank, and it should be arriving tomorrow (it is an 80L Boyu/Orca MT-50).

To be honest I've gone into this without a lot of research, except having a chat with a guy at one of our local fish shops. I've bought it so that I can keep a few tropical fish for the viewing pleasure of my kids.

However, I do want to do things properly and so have been reading up on the beginner's guide on this forum.

My mind is spinning a bit with thoughts and questions.

1) How long will the fish-less cycling take with the 80L tank (assuming that I don't get any mature medium to seed it with)?
2) Why did the guy in the shop tell me that I could put fish in, within 3 days? (as far as I can tell, the shop is long established and pretty reputable)
3) The guy also told me that a tropical tank could easily be left for 3 weeks without attention, without doing any damage. That certainly doesn't seem correct from what I have read. Could he have perhaps meant that, as an extreme one-off, it would be OK?
4) He also told me that I should buy some algae eating fish and gravel cleaning shrimp. I've read up on the realities of algae eating fish, but what about gravel cleaning shrimp?
5) Do shops/suppliers really inject dye into fish!?!?!
6) I can't see the images on the post about ammonia, is this stuff OK? http/www.boots.com/en/Boots-Household-ammonia-500ml_923908/
7) It seems that it is a good idea to quanratine new fish for up to a couple of weeks. Does that mean that I need to set up another, smaller tank?
8) Is the nitrogen cycle the reason that goldfish in bowls always seemed to die quickly when I was a kid?
9) I've heard that you can buy fish online. Is that a good idea, considering that you can't inspect them until they arrive?
10) Is it likely that I'll want to change the filter, lights, heater, or any of the other basic equipment that comes with the MT-50?

If anybody can help with any of the above questions, I'd really appreciate it. However, I realise that it's a lot of questions, and mainly I'm just making a list of things that I have to research, but, as I said, any input would be appreciated.

 

[minnnt]

1. Depends on the readings you get from testing your water.
2. So you put the fish in, then if they die you go back and buy more from them
3. This is true, but you would have to sort some automatic feeder out. You would probably be alright leaving it for a full week with no food or anything, but i wouldn't recommend it.
4. Shrimp are very good for clearing up algae on the bottom of the tank. But if the lighting is kept something like then algae shouldn't be too much of an issue
5. Usually breeders
6.
7. With your first fish, no as your tank will be a quarentine tank effectively as there is no other fish in there to contaminate. Alot of people do this, but tbh, i never have.
8. No. The nitrogen cycle is all part of the cycling of the filter. A bowl with no filter is probably the reason they died. Although mine always did fine?!
9. Alot of people buy them online. But i guess it is a risk you take. When considering something like an Electric Blue Jack Dempsey, you can get some ugly as sin ones. Others are beautiful like Verminator89's so it's pot luck. Try and find a LFS that will order fish in for you.
10. Can't comment as i don't know the tank in question but the filter is usually a piece of hardware that gets changed for a better one. The heater should be fine, as should the lights. When the lights need replacing then you can look into other lights.

Probably all wrong, but thats the way i see it anyway. HTH

 

[Harlequins]

Hi,
I've only just bought my very first tank, and it should be arriving tomorrow (it is an 80L Boyu/Orca MT-50).

To be honest I've gone into this without a lot of research, except having a chat with a guy at one of our local fish shops. I've bought it so that I can keep a few tropical fish for the viewing pleasure of my kids.

However, I do want to do things properly and so have been reading up on the beginner's guide on this forum.

My mind is spinning a bit with thoughts and questions.

1) How long will the fish-less cycling take with the 80L tank (assuming that I don't get any mature medium to seed it with)? Fishless cycles can vary between 4-6 wks on average,but each cycle is different,some shorter,others longer.
2) Why did the guy in the shop tell me that I could put fish in, within 3 days? (as far as I can tell, the shop is long established and pretty reputable) Unfortunately its money where they're concerned,has opposed to welfare of fish...
3) The guy also told me that a tropical tank could easily be left for 3 weeks without attention, without doing any damage. That certainly doesn't seem correct from what I have read. Could he have perhaps meant that, as an extreme one-off, it would be OK?Maybe a mature established tank with lots of plants can go this long,but weekly w/c's is the way to go once the filter is cycled
4) He also told me that I should buy some algae eating fish and gravel cleaning shrimp. I've read up on the realities of algae eating fish, but what about gravel cleaning shrimp?Any algae eaters do best in a mature tank with good supply of algae to keep them going,shrimp may eat the leftovers on the gravel...
5) Do shops/suppliers really inject dye into fish!?!?!Yes unfortunately
6) I can't see the images on the post about ammonia, is this stuff OK? http/www.boots.com/en/Boots-Household-ammonia-500ml_923908/ Yep thats fine
7) It seems that it is a good idea to quanratine new fish for up to a couple of weeks. Does that mean that I need to set up another, smaller tank? Not really needed on initial set up,but once your tank gets going,it might be good to have a small tank handy for a qt tank
8) Is the nitrogen cycle the reason that goldfish in bowls always seemed to die quickly when I was a kid? possibly,also bowls stunt the growth of goldfish,which leads to an untimely death and not having a filter doesn't help.Goldfish are pond fish.
9) I've heard that you can buy fish online. Is that a good idea, considering that you can't inspect them until they arrive?Trial & error really,i've never bought online,but if you did want too,then best to ask the good peeps here for reccommendations for online fish sellers
10) Is it likely that I'll want to change the filter, lights, heater, or any of the other basic equipment that comes with the MT-50?You may want to upgrade later on...thats your personally choice filters are the ones peeps tend to upgrade in time

If anybody can help with any of the above questions, I'd really appreciate it. However, I realise that it's a lot of questions, and mainly I'm just making a list of things that I have to research, but, as I said, any input would be appreciated.

 

[Mola Mola]

Thanks for the replies so far guys, they've been very helpful.

I'm a bit disappointed to hear that it might take 4-6 weeks to do a fish-less cycle of the tank. I seem to remember an old friend of mine that keeps tropical fish telling me it takes about 3 weeks before you can put in fish (he didn't explain the nitrogen cycle at the time), so that was my original expectation, but then the guy in the shop telling me 3 days, got me excited.

I haven't been in touch with that friend for a while, but maybe I should get in touch and see what he has been up to...oh, and ask for some bacteria too!

Can anybody advise me on how much adding a source of existing bacteria might bring down the cycling time? I thought I had read somewhere in the beginner's guide that it could be very substantial (down to only a few days), but that might be wishful thinking because I couldn't find it when I looked again this morning.

Thanks again.

 

[Harlequins]

If you can get hold of some mature media/sponge to put in your filter that will kick start and depending how much you can get,it is possible to 'cycle' the filter within a week

Where do you live? there is a pinned topic at the top with members donating mature media,might be worth a looksie

 

[Mola Mola]

If you can get hold of some mature media/sponge to put in your filter that will kick start and depending how much you can get,it is possible to 'cycle' the filter within a week

Where do you live? there is a pinned topic at the top with members donating mature media,might be worth a looksie

Thanks. I'll definitely see if can get hold of some then.

Even though I've ordered the tank, I still need to pick up lots of stuff from a local fish shop, so I'll see if they'll give me anything (I guess they might have a policy of not doing that, because loads of people would ask for it).

I'm in North London, and I see that Neo8223 has offered to donate media in London. I'll try contacting him, although it seems that he hasn't visited the forum in a while.

If my friend can't give me anything, would it be useful if he just let me put my filter in his tank for a few days?

Thanks again.

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm afraid the filter would have to be running in his tank for at least a mnoth to build up any significant amount of bacteria.

Even a clipping of media from his filter would be better than nothing, but he could donate up to a third of his media without impacting his tank.

In theory (or if you're brave!) you could stock immediatly, up to the level that your part of the media has been supporting; so if he gave you a 1/4 of his media and he has 100 neons, you could put 20 or 25 in your tank.

This is how most of us with multiple tanks set up new ones. Just feed sparingly and test often for a week or so, in case of a mini-cycle from the bacteria being disturbed, which does sometimes happen, but only takes a few days and a couple of extra water changes to sort out.

 

[Mola Mola]

In theory (or if you're brave!) you could stock immediatly, up to the level that your part of the media has been supporting; so if he gave you a 1/4 of his media and he has 100 neons, you could put 20 or 25 in your tank.

Thanks, that's very helpful to know.

In a similar vein, if I just did a fish-less cycle for a couple of weeks (without a bacteria source to start it off), is it possible that I would then have enough bacteria to safely start to stock slowly? Could I put, say, a single small fish in, keep an eye on the levels, and then very gradually add fish, if the bacteria seem to be keeping the tank in balance?

I certainly don't want to put any fish in a tank when the filter can't manage their ammonia output, but I am a bit impatient to get started.

 

[Miles_hot]

Mola

The issue wth "cycle for a bit and then add fish" is that you need to allow the two colonies of bacteria to settle out so that the Nitrite eating ones keep up with the Ammonia eating ones. Tnis takes time. The very best idea is to get your mate to give your 1/3 of his media and your cycle will be much much faster. Adding some plants (well actually quite a lot of plants) will also help as they do a similar job to the bacteria.

Failing that do a fish in cycle but you will end up doing one heck of a lot of water changes

Miles

 

[Harlequins]

In theory you need a bacteria source for a few weeks,just leaving it won't cycle the filter,so hence dose with the right amount of ammonia and start testing daily...

The way you're thinking can be done has a fish in cycle,but to be honest its a lot harder work,testing and doing w/c's maybe upto 2-3 times a day to keep the fish alive

patience is a virtue whilst fishless cycling,but its well worth it in the end and you wouldn't have killed any fish in the process...

Always risky getting mature media from the lfs if they let you,you never know what diseases they may have in their tanks.

 

[coldcazzie]

the issue is that you're not just growing one bacterial colony, you're growing two, and the second can't start to grow until the first is off to a good start. Sure after 2-3 weeks, the ammonia-processors might be able to take care of the ammonia from a tank full of fish, but the nitrite-processors would only just be starting to grow, so the fish would just die from nitrite poisoning instead of ammonia poisoning!

Honestly, the only way to get around a lengthy cycle is to add mature media. Although, dont feel limited to only local people. Less local people could work too, but you'd have to.pay for postage thats all...

 

[Mola Mola]

Thanks guys, all very helpful.

I'll certainly aim to stick to a completely fish-less cycle, even though the guy in the shop today just advised me to use Dennies (not sure if that is the correct spelling).

I've got the tank setup in the kitchen now. I'll filled it with tap water and will be adding the dechlorinating stuff.

I just wanted to get it filled and make sure that it basically worked. All seems fine, but there is nothing which "bubbles"

Do I need to add something to "bubble" and help oxygenate the water. I'm sure that's a very stupid question, sorry.

 

[scentless]

Hi Mola,

Welcome!

I know it's really exciting getting a new tank and you want to get the fish in as soon as possible but it really is better to get the bacteria right before you put the fish in!

I went in all guns blazing with a fish-in cycle and only found this great forum after I had started and it was a nightmare!

I spent about 2 weeks in a constant panic. I had do 80% water changes twice a day (sometimes even three times!).

So my advice would be to do the full fishless cycle and you can spend the 4 weeks or so researching what fish and plants you want to get and asking questions on here about them. Then finally when you do get round to buying some fish you can resy easy knowing that they are in the healthiest possible tank.

It'd also be a great idea to start a journal on here documenting your water test results throughout your fishless cycle so everyone can see and advise.

 

[Mola Mola]

It'd also be a great idea to start a journal on here documenting your water test results throughout your fishless cycle so everyone can see and advise.

Hi, thanks for that advice, very helpful.

Yes, I'll definitely create a journal of the fish-less cycle. I bought a test kit today (one of the API ones), and I am going to get some ammonia tomorrow (the only place I can find it is Robert Dyas).

Thanks again.

 

[Mola Mola]

Yes, I'll definitely create a journal of the fish-less cycle. I bought a test kit today (one of the API ones), and I am going to get some ammonia tomorrow (the only place I can find it is Robert Dyas).

Just done my first test, checking the pH of the tap water. Looks like it is 7.8, is that OK?