New To Keeping Fish. Pls. Help.

[sherrie]

Hello,

I have a 20 litre tank. I have put some gravel in it (which I had to wash loads, it was very dusty). I have put some tap water in with some stuff that neutralises heavy metals and some biological aquarium supplement. I was adv. to get some proper pH 7.5 so I did but I don't know whether to put it in cos it say's don't use with live plants. I have four live plants and a power filter with carbon in it.

Do I need to use the pH 7.5 or will the plants and filter sort out the pH balance?

I tested the water and it's currently got a PH of 6 according to the colour chart.

Can anyone offer advice please? I haven't even chosen a fish yet. This is very complicated stuff!

Thank you

Sherrie
xoxoxox

 

[RyanV]

The ph is not a huge thing to worry about, the most important is having soft water. Adding chemicals to change the ph is not advised, as rapid changes are more harmful than a ph that is a little off. When I started my tanks the ph was about 8.0 and my plants and fish were living just fine and naturally it lowered over time. You can also google things that lower ph such as peat moss or bog wood, I have heard work.

 

[sherrie]

Thanks for the response Ryan. I think I'm gonna leave it running for a week as it is and see how it is. I'm not gonna put that chemical stuff in. I'm gonna trust my initial instincts (and your advice) and see how I go on.

I hope to be posting to you next week about some very happy fish swimming in my new tank!

So excited!

Sherrie
xoxoxox

 

[turtlegirl]

Thanks for the response Ryan. I think I'm gonna leave it running for a week as it is and see how it is. I'm not gonna put that chemical stuff in. I'm gonna trust my initial instincts (and your advice) and see how I go on.

I hope to be posting to you next week about some very happy fish swimming in my new tank!

So excited!

Sherrie
xoxoxox

What is your nitrite and ammonia readings?

 

[alistairw]

Thanks for the response Ryan. I think I'm gonna leave it running for a week as it is and see how it is. I'm not gonna put that chemical stuff in. I'm gonna trust my initial instincts (and your advice) and see how I go on.

I hope to be posting to you next week about some very happy fish swimming in my new tank!

So excited!

Sherrie
xoxoxox

You need to get your filter cycled first before adding fish. Please read the beginners resource centre in this forum. Cycling your filter means establishing a colony of bacteria that are able to turn the ammonia produced by fish to nitrite and then nitrate. It is very important to do for the health of your fish. Ammonia will burn the fins and gills and nitrite will affect the nervous system and stop the fish absorbing oxygen readily which is why fish suffering from nitrite poisoning appear to be gasping at the surface.

Cycling can take a while and I understand that you want fish in your new tank, but doing this will save you a lot of hassle and the fish's lives ultimately. You can do a fish in cycle but this is very time consuming testing the water and then doing massive 90% water changes if ammonia levels are above 0ppm. My advice is to do the fish less cycle by dosing with ammonia to get the bacteria going.

The supplement you have got that tells you that it will add the biological stuff probably won't work. Makesure when you add water it is always dechlorinated.
As turtle girl says, please post your water stats. If you haven't already got one, the most important thing you can buy is a liquid based water test kit such as the Ali master test kit.

Please take note of this because I guarantee you will be back on this forum asking why all your fish are dieing.

Remember, we are here to help!

 

[sherrie]

My nitrite test say's it's 0.1
My ammonia test is 0
The pH today is 6.5.

I'm still getting my head around all this cycling stuff but appreciate the advice. I have read the beginners guide and am digesting all the info.

Regards

Sherrie
xoxoxox

 

[sherrie]

I am looking at fish options and recognise that with my really small tank (I didn't think it was small a week ago but do now), I am limited (and Goldfish is a definate no-no) but there doesn't seem to be many small fish that would like to live in a 20 litre tank that also like Cold Water. My temperature seems to be a steady 20 degree's celsius. I am thinking I should get a heater and then get some teeny tropical fish that will think my tank is a dream.

p.s I am still monitoring my pH/Nitrite/Ammonia levels and am confident that cycling is going well and maybe it might take another week or two but I will be ready for some fishes soon. I really couldn't cope with getting some fish, falling for them and having them die on me so everything will have to be perfect. I don't mind waiting!

Sherrie
xoxoxox

 

[phoenixgsd]

I am looking at fish options and recognise that with my really small tank (I didn't think it was small a week ago but do now), I am limited (and Goldfish is a definate no-no) but there doesn't seem to be many small fish that would like to live in a 20 litre tank that also like Cold Water. My temperature seems to be a steady 20 degree's celsius. I am thinking I should get a heater and then get some teeny tropical fish that will think my tank is a dream.

p.s I am still monitoring my pH/Nitrite/Ammonia levels and am confident that cycling is going well and maybe it might take another week or two but I will be ready for some fishes soon. I really couldn't cope with getting some fish, falling for them and having them die on me so everything will have to be perfect. I don't mind waiting!

Sherrie
xoxoxox

yes a few small tropicals is a option, however, how are you cycling your tank, 'another week or two' suggest you arnt adding any ammonia, cycling can take up to 6-8 weeks

 

[dbanner]

If you can I would suggest getting some mature media (maybe from a friend or your local fish store) and then adding that to your filter. In this case it would probably be a bit of sponge as I would think you are using a small sponge filter? This way is far easier and would almost instantly cycle your tank

Once you are cycled you could maybe have a group of small tropical fish like neons tetras or a betta with pygmy corys? Bare in mind corys need sand

You say you've come to realise your 20 litre tank is small... Trust me when I say that every tank iv had looks big to start with but a few weeks later starts to look small lol I started off with a 40 litre and told myself over and over again that I wouldn't need a bigger tank... I'm now on a 450 litre with an 800l on the way lol you will soon get hooked