New Member From Devon

[nitrotaff]

[SIZE=medium]Hi guys,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]I`ve only recently bought a 125 ltr tank.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]It’s my first tank and hopefully I’ll get it right.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]That’s one of the reasons I’ve joined this forum.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]I filled the tank last Wednesday and hoping to put my first fish in on the weekend. (All being well.)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]I`m sure there will be many questions coming your way.[/SIZE]

 

[fluttermoth]

to the forum, nitrotaff

We would very, very strongly recommend that you complete a fishless cycle before you add any fish.

Basically, fish produce ammonia, which is toxic and will kill the fish, if it's allowed to build up in the water. Luckily for us fishkeepers, there are families of bacteria that eat ammonia and turn it, first into nitrite, which is also toxic, and then into nitrate, which is only toxic at very high levels and that we keep low with regular, partial, water changes.

Growing those colonies of good bacteria in your filter is called 'cycling'.

There are some great articles in our beginner's resource centre (link for that is in my sig), which it might be a good idea for you to have a read through

 

[ncguppy830]

 

[nitrotaff]

to the forum, nitrotaff

We would very, very strongly recommend that you complete a fishless cycle before you add any fish.

Basically, fish produce ammonia, which is toxic and will kill the fish, if it's allowed to build up in the water. Luckily for us fishkeepers, there are families of bacteria that eat ammonia and turn it, first into nitrite, which is also toxic, and then into nitrate, which is only toxic at very high levels and that we keep low with regular, partial, water changes.

Growing those colonies of good bacteria in your filter is called 'cycling'.

There are some great articles in our beginner's resource centre (link for that is in my sig), which it might be a good idea for you to have a read through

Thanks fluttermoth.
I had a substance which came with the tank.
had to put some in on the first, second and third day.
apparently it should make the tank safe after 3 days but i`m waiting for at least a couple of weeks.
getting the water checked tonight hopfully at the local aquatic store.
Thanks ncguppy830

 

[the_lock_man]

I had a substance which came with the tank.
had to put some in on the first, second and third day.
apparently it should make the tank safe after 3 days but i`m waiting for at least a couple of weeks.
getting the water checked tonight hopfully at the local aquatic store.

 
 

 
With a tank with only water in it, there is nothing to make the water unsuitable. What the LFS would look for is ammonia and nitrite, but there is nothing currently in the water that will produce ammonia. It is the fish that produce it. The "substance" is presumably a "bacteria-in-a-bottle" product. Leaving aside the various arguments about whether any bacteria have survived in the bottle, even if they were alive when you poured the stuff in, they haven't been getting their food, ie ammonia, because there are no fish in the tank. The point is, even with the use of that product, you will still find huge problems if you just rely on the water test by the LFS. Remember that they are not there to safeguard your fish, they are there to make a profit.
 
Please have a read of this it will explain what cycling is, and then follow the link in there to "fishless cycling".
 
Also, because I am a very nosey person, can I ask which part of Devon you're from? I have family in Barnstape and Ivybridge, and had a number of very happy family holidays in Paignton.

 

[nitrotaff]

@the_lock_man 
Hi,
yeah, i live in Paignton.
I`m originally from S.Wales and kept coming to Paignton on holidays so i thought one day, Why not move here.
Been here 15 years now.
All this setting up is complicated.
The bottle i put in was called NUTRAFIN CYCLE.
I was told this would make my tank safe.
I took a sample in on Sat and they said the water wasnt ready and to leave it another week.
I shall have a read up on the cycling.

 

[the_lock_man]

In that case, definitely don't rely on the LFS staff, if they said a water with no ammonia in it wasn't safe. Read up on those two posts I linked you to. Ultimately, bacteria need ammonia to be viable. If there's no fish, there's no ammonia, there's no viable bacteria to process the ammonia when you do put fish in. Doing a fishless cycle, with bottled ammonia is less work, quicker, no fish get harmed, and you get to fully stock in one go. THe fish shops will probably recommend against this idea, because it isn't profitable for them.
 
We used to stay in a B&B behind the Palace Hotel, up at the northern end of the Prom - happy days.

 

[nitrotaff]

Bought a test kit last night.
All ok so legged it over to the local fish store and................. I HAVE FISH

 

[the_lock_man]

So what are your water tests saying today? Remember that anything other than 0ppm for ammonia and nitrite is bad.

 

[phoenixgsd]

im in newton abbot

was it a liquid based test you got or the paper strips, how many and what fish did you add? as your now doing a fish in cycle, be prepared to change water daily and dont be too surprised if your fish die as this is often the case, if you need anything or just not sure about something just holler

 

[nitrotaff]

Thanks @phoenixgsd  Newton ay?
A local lass.

It was a liquid test kit.
Did one myself and also took a sample to the shop.
Only got six Neon tetras to start.
Doing another test tonight.
You heard of Aquator in Torquay?