New Starter! Help!

[Dr1_veR]

i bought a new starter tank kit for pets at home. Has dechloinate soloution, bateria growth soloution, pH and Nitrate testing tablets (look like paracetamol!). Are these better?

 

[Curiosity101]

Hmm, I imagine they're better than paper strips but... sadly they're not really at all useful to you at the moment. What you want is ammonia and nitrite testing kits. Preferably liquid based.

 

[Embrace]

I got mine from ebay (http/shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1311&_nkw=api+freshwater+master+test+kit&_sacat=See-All-Categories)

These are one of the most accurate out there

 

[Dr1_veR]

cool. Thanks for the advice. Ill use these ones for now then get a proper kit when i next get paid.

 

[Curiosity101]

If you can find anyone in your local area with a tank then you could get some filter gunk/mature media from there to speed your cycling up.

With a fresh set of pads it often takes between 6-8weeks to get properly cycled. But I'm currently cycling a filter for some new fish I'm getting this weekend, I squeezed some cycled pads in the water of the tank that houses the filter I'm cycling and am already halfway through my cycle.
I started it Wednesday night.. so it's going to take me 4-5 days vs 6-8 weeks.


Where abouts are you based?

 

[Dr1_veR]

Rochdale, Greater manchester. only decent shop near me is Pets a Home

 

[Dr1_veR]

Ive just done a Nitrite test and pH test! pH of 7.5, Nitrite 0.0!

thats with only 5 days of cycling. Must be because its a small tank

- Graham

 

[Curiosity101]

Lol, sorry don't get too excited.

From the rotting fish food it goes...
Ammonia --> Nitrites --> Nitrates

If the fish food has started rotting by now then you'll have ammonia showing. But no nitrites, cause the bacteria that eat the ammonia can only start growing ONCE the ammonia is present.

 

[OldMan47]

You are not even beginning to get moving yet Driver. Until you get into a nitrite spike, there is no reason to bother testing the nitrates. There will not be any from the processing of ammonia.

 

[OldMan47]

You really need an ammonia test capability to do an effective fishless cycle. The first few weeks, all you will really be dealing with is ammonia. After 2 or more weeks, you may see some nitrites and shortly after you see nitrites you will have so much you won't be able to measure it.

 

[Dr1_veR]

Is it worth getting 1 fish in the tank? or best not to risk it for awhile?

oh heres a pic of how the tanks looking now. If you see anything wrong let me know

- Graham



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[OldMan47]

If you start placing fish into the tank you will be in a fish-in cycle. It is really up to you, but you must recognize that having fish in a tank means you then will be doing an incredible number of water changes to keep that fish healthy. It is the reason we always advise a fishless cycle.

 

[BethK]

out of experience a 17ltr is a pain to cycle, having the low volume of water is harder to control the water parameters. so, don't get excited yet, it's gonna be a long ride

i, personally, wouldn't do a fish-in cycle with a 17ltr, if it was a 30ltr plus, maybe but from experience, you are better off with a fishless cycle, good luck x

 

[Dr1_veR]

out of experience a 17ltr is a pain to cycle, having the low volume of water is harder to control the water parameters. so, don't get excited yet, it's gonna be a long ride

i, personally, wouldn't do a fish-in cycle with a 17ltr, if it was a 30ltr plus, maybe but from experience, you are better off with a fishless cycle, good luck x

ok cheers for the advice. should i be doing 15% water changes or so daily then why it cycles?

ive got anubis nan and java moss that seem to be fine but the Hygrophila Polysperma seems to be sruggling. leaves wilting and looking shabby! anything i can do to help it?

 

[OldMan47]

There is no need for water changes in a fishless cycle. It is one of the benefits of going fishless. As long as your pH is staying above 6.5 reliably, a water change can wait until the next stage of cycling has passed. If you decide to go fish-in things are entirely different. In that event you must do water changes to keep the tank water healthy for your fish.