My First Fishy Adventure!

[Stureid]

Hi everyone, If you have a little time I would like to tell you my story

My name is Stu from Bristol and I’ve recently taken the first steps into fish keeping!

When I was growing up we always had fish in the house, my father kept marines back when, in his words, we didn’t have all this live rock and technology to help! Because of this I’ve always enjoyed the relaxing effect watching fish had on me.

So a couple of months ago, just before we moved into our house, which was another adventure being our first steps onto the property market, I started looking around for a fish tank with a view to start marine keeping once we had moved. I found a very cheap 4’ tank with sump on EBay, got it in the back on the van and home!

However after some research I decided that keeping marines for my first ever endeavour was probably not the right thing for me, so I sold the tank and made a tidy 50% profit towards another tank!

I spent the following month, in-between moving house and decorating, searching for a tank. I eventually settled on the Roma 240 which was a little expensive at £450+ but a beautiful tank for me.

In the mean time I popped to Almondbury garden centre to check out some fish that I had been thinking of and to get some advice and there it was! A Fluval Roma 240 with 25% off!! I brought it there and then for £330, struggled with it into the car and raced home.

The tank came with:
Fluval GLO lighting unit,
One Power-Glo Fluorescent Aquarium Tube 40W 106.68cm (42in) T8
One Aqua-Glo Fluorescent Aquarium Tube 40W 106.68cm (42in) T8
Filter Model Fluval 305 External Filter with Filter Media inside, see media product for replacement schedule: Fluval Media Kit 305
Heater, Fluval Mirrored M Series Heater 300watt,

Also included,
An LCD thermometer
Nutrafin Aqua Plus water conditioner 100ml
Nutrafin Cycle 100ml
Nutrafin Tropical Flake food 26gm
Fluval Aquarium Care Guide.


Day 1 I put the cabinate together, which I was very impressed with, at 60kgs it is sturdy and well built. The tank went on top and I was very pleased with my purchase.

Day 2 I brought some aquarium sand for the substrate, a piece of bogwood, some South American plants and ordered a CO2 kit all from my LFS (Aquatic Pet Centre)
I spent the rest of the day washing the sand and soaking the bogwood and due to the fact I have no hose pipe, filling the tank by hand!! I took my time and was pleased the water didn’t go too cloudy. The plants were planted and I then added my Nutrafin Aqua Plus water conditioner and Nutrafin cycle to kick things off.

Day 3 I took my bog wood out of soaking and added it to my tank. I am pleased with the piece but feel there needs to be either another piece or some rocks added to make the tank look a little more natural.

I am in no rush to add fish, sometimes I even just sit and watch the plants moving about! But when I Do add fish I am going for South American fish. Here is a rough list of what I’ve got in mind so far:

4 Apistogrammas
4 Angels (2 pairs)
2 Rams (German or electric blue)
10 Blue Emperor Tetras
6 Corydoras catfish
2 Small Plecos (Bristlenose?)

Today I am collecting my CO2 kit with an inline diffuser and perhaps some more bog wood or rocks. I am excited for the adventure ahead but being patient to ensure it all goes…swimmingly!

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and any contributions or suggestions are much appreciated. I have added some photos of the past 3 days.

Day 1
http/img207.imageshack.us/img207/6403/day1u.jpg[/IMG]

Day 2
http/img221.imageshack.us/img221/340/day2b.jpg[/IMG]
http/img837.imageshack.us/img837/4884/day2h.jpg[/IMG]

Day 3
http/img338.imageshack.us/img338/6356/day3s.jpg[/IMG]
http/img440.imageshack.us/img440/6681/day3l.jpg[/IMG]

 

[hilly81]

Next purchase..... a water testing kit. Then have a read in the beginners section at fishless cycling and crack on with that.

 

[littlenemo]

hey stu hello and welcome mate. sounds like a good project. just a heads up mate i started with that nutrifin cycle stuff and to be honiest mate it does nothing. do you no about cycling your tank ammonia nitrites natrate ph levels etc, you will need to cycle the tank the good old fashion way mate with pure ammonia. i was advised to do that when i was a newbie on here ask question after question and now i have over 30 fish in my tank all is going well

 

[Stureid]

Next purchase..... a water testing kit. Then have a read in the beginners section at fishless cycling and crack on with that.

I have my water testing kit ready

 

[Stureid]

hey stu hello and welcome mate. sounds like a good project. just a heads up mate i started with that nutrifin cycle stuff and to be honiest mate it does nothing. do you no about cycling your tank ammonia nitrites natrate ph levels etc, you will need to cycle the tank the good old fashion way mate with pure ammonia. i was advised to do that when i was a newbie on here ask question after question and now i have over 30 fish in my tank all is going well

I thought the product was too good to be true!!! I will have a read of the fishless cycling thread and plan my route ahead, luckily I am a patient person!

 

[littlenemo]

its good to add to the water while you cycle using ammonia but on its own it rubbish, go to pets at home and they will tell you its the best thing since sliced bread. they no nothing lol.

 

[Welshweeks]

Hi Stu,

Lovely looking tank you have there. I'm a total newbie too and hoping to get my tank up and running this weekend.

 

[Stureid]

Would this be the right Ammonia to get?

http/www.toolstation.com/shop/p96503

Also I have the tetra 6 in 1 test kit, but would it be better to get one with pipettes?

many thanks

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Would this be the right Ammonia to get?

http/www.toolstation.com/shop/p96503

Also I have the tetra 6 in 1 test kit, but would it be better to get one with pipettes?

many thanks

People on this and other fora have used that in the past so I assume it's ok. The problem is that its strength is quoted at 5-10% so your initial dosing will be a bit of a guessing game.

You definitely need a liquid test kit for this as the test strips are very inaccurate. The one usually recommended is the API master freshwater test kit, which is cheapest off eBay. But any liquid test kit that measures ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH will suffice.

 

[Essjay]

You need to be careful with ammonia as some contain detergents, and this type is not suitable for fishless cycling. If you go to the barrettine (manufacturer) website, they have a contact form so you can ask them exactly what's in it.
I got jeyes kleenoff ammonia and that didn't say on the bottle, the company were very helpful when I asked them.

 

[snazy]

Lovely tank. If I were you I would run to the shop to get another one of these before the 25% offer is finished Soon that tank won't be enough...

P.S. If that's java fern to the right you need to plant it on driftwood or something with the rhimozomes out of the substrate as it will rot.

 

[phoenix2081]

Welcome and good luck.

Looking good so far.
=]

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Would this be the right Ammonia to get?

http/www.toolstation.com/shop/p96503

Answer from the manufacturer:


"There are no other chemicals in this product. It is 9.5%.



Kindest Regards



Fiona Nash

Barrettine"

 

[Stureid]

Lovely tank. If I were you I would run to the shop to get another one of these before the 25% offer is finished Soon that tank won't be enough...

P.S. If that's java fern to the right you need to plant it on driftwood or something with the rhimozomes out of the substrate as it will rot.

Than k youfor letting me know this, Pets at home however did not!!! I will attach it to my bogwood via fishing line

Would this be the right Ammonia to get?

http/www.toolstation.com/shop/p96503

Also I have the tetra 6 in 1 test kit, but would it be better to get one with pipettes?

many thanks

People on this and other fora have used that in the past so I assume it's ok. The problem is that its strength is quoted at 5-10% so your initial dosing will be a bit of a guessing game.

You definitely need a liquid test kit for this as the test strips are very inaccurate. The one usually recommended is the API master freshwater test kit, which is cheapest off eBay. But any liquid test kit that measures ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH will suffice.

I thought this would be the case. i will get my self one ASAP and relive my A level Chemistry days!

 

[Stureid]

Would this be the right Ammonia to get?

http/www.toolstation.com/shop/p96503

Answer from the manufacturer:


"There are no other chemicals in this product. It is 9.5%.



Kindest Regards



Fiona Nash

Barrettine"

Thanks so much for doing this for me Working these silly shifts leaves me little time atm!