New Juwel 96 Tank - Fish/Plants/Cycle Log

[bushbrother]

Hi All,

This is my first post here, hope someone can help me out. I have been looking after my sister goldfish for a few months and have become quite attached to the guys, she takes them back soon and so I decided I would buy myself a tank and have some fish too <img src="http/www.fishforums.net/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

I recently won a Juwel 96 (96 litres, I think thats 25USG) tank second hand which I pick up later this week. Basically I wanted some advice on what I could put in there.

I wanted to have some plants in there so it looks good, along with some bogwood and coconut hut/plant pots for hiding spaces. Are these kind of things ok to put in a gravel substrate, I looked at some substrate threads and sand looks way too complicated! Also not sure if the filter in the tank could deal with sand.

Then we come to the fish, I wanted to put a couple of Weather loaches in (I read these are fine in tropical?) together with a few smaller size fish. Ideally I don't want anything that would grow out of this tank, but I would like a "good" amount of different fish if possible. I have read about Danios, Tetras and Barbs that all seem to stay below 3", is that right?

What kind of maximum numbers of fish am I looking at and are there any other breeds I should consider?

Thanks!

<b>~~~***LATEST STATS & INFO***~~~</b>

<b><i>
<u>Day 9/u>

Ammonia = 0ppm (down from 2ppm y'day)
pH = 8-8.2 (could not tell)
Nitrite = 5ppm (purple drops)
Nitrate = 0-5ppm (results strange due to Nitrite spike)

Dosed back to 5ppm @ 8pm

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 10/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 1ppm (down from 5ppm in 12 hours)
Nitrite = >5ppm (purple drops)

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm (purple drops)

Dosed back to 5ppm after 24 hour test

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 11/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0.5-1ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm (purple drops)

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm (purple drops)
pH = 8.0

Redosed ammonia back to 5ppm after 24 hour test

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 12/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0.25ppm (almost doing 5ppm in 12 hours now)
Nitrite = >5ppm (turning purple at the bottom now)

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm (purple @ bottom)
pH = 8.0

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 13/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm (almost looks like it is 5ppm now, not going darker after 5 mins)

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm
pH = 8.0

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 14/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm
pH = 8.0

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 15/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm
pH = 7.8

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 16/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0.5ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm (estimated to about 15ppm by doing some dilution testing)
pH = 7.8

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 17/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm
pH = 7.8

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 18/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm
pH = 7.6

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 19/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = ~0.25ppm (very close to 0ppm)
Nitrite = >5ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm (slower to turn purple now)
pH = forgot to test

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 20/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = >5ppm
pH = forgot to test

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 21/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = ~0.75ppm (definately <1ppm but above 0.5ppm) YAY! <img src="http/www.fishforums.net/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
pH = 6.8

***Performed a 70-80% water change to recover pH***

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
pH = 7.8

Added 5ppm Ammonia

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 22/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = ~0.75ppm
pH = 7.8

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
pH = 7.8

***First double zeroes after 24 hours <img src="http/www.fishforums.net/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> <img src="http/www.fishforums.net/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />***
-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 23/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 1ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
pH = 7.8-8.0

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 24/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 1ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
pH = 7.8-8.0

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 25/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 1ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
pH = 7.8-8.0

-------------------------------------------------------------------

<u>Day 26/u>

<u>12 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 1ppm

<u>24 Hour Test/u>
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
pH = 7.8-8.0

Away on holiday now ... will get a friend to dose ammonia once inbetween, will also leave flakes in tank. Fingers crossed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
</i></b>

 

[greenscooby]

to TFF.

First off you are going to have to cycle your tank, there is plenty of info in the beginners resource centre, i've just looked at weather loaches in google and it says they can grow up to 12" long, this would be far to big for your tank.

 

[bushbrother]

to TFF.

First off you are going to have to cycle your tank, there is plenty of info in the beginners resource centre, i've just looked at weather loaches in google and it says they can grow up to 12" long, this would be far to big for your tank.

Thanks for your quick reply ... Hmmm, didn't realise they grew so big I guess its a no to those guys then

I understand I have to cycle the tank, would you recommend doing it with fish or fishless?

What fish types should I be looking at and in what numbers? As I said above I have noted Danios/Tetras/Barbs as being small and staying small (< 3") and they seem quite an easy fish to start with ... what are my other options?

 

[shahrezsyed]

kribs(kribensis) are the ones for you. also put a halved pot or make a small cave for them and they will also breed without hesitance and they're also beautiful fish.
shahrez

 

[tropic_john]

9 GUPPIES [3m 6f]
5 cories
cherry red shrimp

 

[bushbrother]

9 GUPPIES [3m 6f]
5 cories
cherry red shrimp

Thanks for the replies guys ... I didnt really want anything that would breed in there, I read guppies are renowned for this ...

What about bottom feeders? I like the loaches but they all seem to grow huge! Are there any that wont get so big? I read about a bulldog plec?

 

[bushbrother]

Nobody else?

 

[rabbut]

Bulldog Plec's aren't really a bottom feeder as such, as they don't spend too long on the bottom. They do best in a mature tank also...

You could look a Dwarf Chain Loach, Botia Striata, Botia Kubotia and Botia Locharata (spelling?) in that tank if you like loaches

You can stop Guppies and any other live barer from breeding in your tank by keeping all males Guppies will need a really mature tank though, unless you are getting them from a good locally bred source, as there is no strength left in the trade fish due to inbreeding. They are actually one of a very select few species of fish that I've just had to completely give up on keeping

Lots of Danios, Barbs and Tetras stay small, but may do not. Give a list of the ones that attract your eye and we can advise you from there Also, may Tetra and Barb species are fin nippers, so a few of those will need to be watched with fish with long fins

All the best
Rabbut

 

[kelly528]

I just wrote up a big thingy for a fellow with a Juwel 80 a couple posts below... you should check it out!

 

[waterdrop]

to TFF.

First off you are going to have to cycle your tank, there is plenty of info in the beginners resource centre, i've just looked at weather loaches in google and it says they can grow up to 12" long, this would be far to big for your tank.

Thanks for your quick reply ... Hmmm, didn't realise they grew so big I guess its a no to those guys then

I understand I have to cycle the tank, would you recommend doing it with fish or fishless?

What fish types should I be looking at and in what numbers? As I said above I have noted Danios/Tetras/Barbs as being small and staying small (< 3") and they seem quite an easy fish to start with ... what are my other options?

I recommend a fishless cycle. Its a lot less work usually and this forum is very attuned to helping people with them. In fact, a fishless cycle can be a wonderful combo when used in parallel with what you are already doing: the long difficult road to working out your ideal stocking list! Its really good that you are getting started as there are so many stages: You have to get a feel for how many and what sizes. You have to get a feel for the minimum groupings that many fish require. You have to work out the many complications that occur when you want to combine various fish in a community. Its not that its hard, and as a beginner there are lots of pleasing combinations that are very common and will give lots of pleasure and experience for your first community tank, but its by definition just a lengthy bunch of communication if you go about it with a fair amount of completeness.

But besides choosing the right community, there's a boatload of beginning info and skill development that is wonderful to get during startup. These things too can be ideally absorbed while conducting a fishless cycle and asking questions about it and other things here in your thread. Understanding the nitrogen cycle is fascinating and getting a feel for how biofilters work and then for all the other ins and outs and functions of aquarium filters is a core thing of the hobby. You've stumbled across a great group of serious hobbyists who can impart things that might be nearly impossible to get from books or local fish shops, they're a great bunch usually and they enjoy hearing about each beginners fishless cycle.. its entertainment!

Some of the fish that experienced aquarists might have grown bored of are actually fantastic fish for beginners: zebra danios, corys, rasbora heteromorpha, neons/cardinals.. all of these are great beginner fish. Besides the neon and cardinal tetras there are a whole host of great tetras to look at.. rummynoses head&taillights, glowlights, too many to name. The trick with tetras though is to work out which will be too nippy or mean and which will be ok given your water volume and the size shoals you'll be able to add and still have other community fish. Zebras and harlequins and many of the corys are hardy and can be included in the first stocking. Neons/cards are unique in needing the tank to be more like six months old to help have a successful introduction. Many fish (like the kribs mentioned) that will be a "centerpiece" or are expensive are also often saved for a later introduction just to raise the chances of success.

Anyway, good luck and I hope you enjoy your stay here on TFF!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[kbod]

hi i have a juwel 96 rekord very nice tank ..i purchased it 2nd hand and after quick clean up ..added new sand and decs and it runs great

the filters fine at handling sand ..infact its a lot quieter than i was led to believe..

heres hows mine looks now ..

i have inhereited some fish with it ..but i also moved my fish from 2 smaller tanks in here ...

i now have glowlight tetras a great 1st time fish ,black neons same again cant go wrong with either of these ..neon tetras , dwarf gourami ..and soon to be added a male bristlenose plec great ,and corydora trillineous , all of these are excellent fish in my opinion

fishless cycling is definatly the better way to start..saves a lot of problems and gives you plenty of time to choose what to stock ...kaz x

 

[bushbrother]

hi i have a juwel 96 rekord very nice tank ..i purchased it 2nd hand and after quick clean up ..added new sand and decs and it runs great

the filters fine at handling sand ..infact its a lot quieter than i was led to believe..

heres hows mine looks now ..

i have inhereited some fish with it ..but i also moved my fish from 2 smaller tanks in here ...

i now have glowlight tetras a great 1st time fish ,black neons same again cant go wrong with either of these ..neon tetras , dwarf gourami ..and soon to be added a male bristlenose plec great ,and corydora trillineous , all of these are excellent fish in my opinion

fishless cycling is definatly the better way to start..saves a lot of problems and gives you plenty of time to choose what to stock ...kaz x

Wow, your tank looks great ... so is the sand difficult to maintain? I am guessing you let it all settle for a while and only then turn on the filter ... Which sand did you use?

Also are your plants real? If so, what are they? and one final question, where did you get your bogwood?

 

[kbod]

thanks ..the sands easy to maintain ..gravel vac keeps it tidy i used the make called roman gravel it was the finest i could find but cost £12.. big bag n £3. smaller bag i used 1 big +1 small for here....ive used this is other tanks had lots of gold flakes in 1 bag in prev tank ..very good corys love it ..
if you rinse bit of sand at a time in a bucket it'll be better at clearing quicker ..i had 10litre bucket filled with sand upto 2litre mark n rinsed on average 6 x ..pain but worth it isnt as bad as you think ..
then once sand in tank n water on switched on filter ...my tank was clear very quick in fact so quick fish had clear water to go in ..

yes real plants i have anubias i think its called you tie it with cotton to bogwood or rock n it'll take root very well isnt shown in pic as just added ..but great small plant ..
java moss on right of pic again tie to bogwood n it will spread ..mine does great in all my tanks ..
java fern tallish looking plant in mid pic thats again tied onto bogwood

im afraid unsure of the proper names for the rest maybe someone else can help but the grassy types do well as does the redish leaved plant near filter..

bogwood was actually donated to me from a freecycle site ..ive also got some from a carboot before n boiled it ..most lfs will have it ..

corys n bristlenose plec are good bottom fish ..and you could always get just male guppies if you dont want to breed ...

kaz xxx

 

[kbod]

also there are some other nice suitable wood i got this the other day from lfs for my 64litre cory tank ...

soaked it for few days ..

tied moss onto it ..added it to cory tank ..waiting for moss to grow but reckon its a cool looking wood ..

so have a good look around as you can get some great pieces ...kaz x

 

[bushbrother]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

I collect the tank on Wednesday so now I have all this advice I will be able to make a great start, trip to the LFS this weekend to get the sand and maybe the bogwood

I will post pictures when I have it set up and the fishless cycle beginning ...