Newbie Tropical Fish Tank

[sylvia]

Do a large-ish partial water change first.
I would then get the water tested for everything before you buy fish. If ammonia/nitrites are at 0 (ask for a specific number not 'it's fine') and nitrates are reasonable (below 40), buy your first fish.

Monitor the levels daily for the next week, as mentioned. You will need to invest in a test kit - the liquid-based ones are best and a pH test is useful too.
If your tank is cycled, ammonia/nitrites should stay at 0 and nitrates should slowly increase. Whith one fish they shouldn't get too high so do a partial water change at the end of the week and you can then get your next fish. If, however, you find you get an ammonia or nitrite spike (it rises above 0), you will need to do lots of water changes every other day to keep it low and wait the 6 weeks or so ,I mentioned before, before getting any new fish.

You'll know your tank is cycled when ammonia/nitrites remain at 0. Water changes and plants should keep nitrates low. Once your tank is cycled, a nitrate test every week before a water change should be enough to show you whether you are keeping up with maintainance correctly (nitrates always under 40).

 

[norbie]

im just about to go and get my first fish hopefully!

got to take a water sample for lots of tests to the shop!

 

[norbie]

i failed miserably on the nitrate!!

apparently it was way off the scale!

i've been given tetra fin 'easy balance' and have been told to do a 50% water change and use this stuff, then go for another check later.

apparently it 'reduces nitrate to permanently low levels'

 

[sylvia]

I doubt it I think it would just be best for you to do a large water change. Do you know whether your tap water contains nitrates? You may want to have that tested as well. If that's high you'll need to get fast-growing plants to keep those nitrates down in your tank as water changes obviously won't help if the water you are adding already contains nitrates anyway.

 

[norbie]

thanks for your reply sylvia

i will take a sample of tap water up too.

i spoke to someone up the ship who said they took some up to check it and it was fine... so we'll have to see. ive done a 50% water change and we'll see if this stuff ive just been sold is a miracle worker...

 

[sylvia]

Good luck! And do let us know whether that stuff they sold you works!

 

[norbie]

i will do!

heres some more about that stuff...

http/www.tetra-fish.co.uk/tetraeasybalance/index5.html

 

[rvm]

i failed miserably on the nitrate!!

apparently it was way off the scale!

i've been given tetra fin 'easy balance' and have been told to do a 50% water change and use this stuff, then go for another check later.

apparently it 'reduces nitrate to permanently low levels'

That stuff is next to useless!! I've used it before and it does nothing!! I wouldn't bother wasting your money on any chemicals for your tank other than dechlorinator (and meds when you need them)
Once the tank is cyclyed and has a healthy stock of fish, all you should need to do is maintain regular water changes and an good feeding routine and you should have no need for any additional chemicals.
The only time I would use nitrate reducing chems is if you have a particularly sensitive fish stock like rays or discus (which you don't) or have high tap water nitrates.

 

[norbie]

damn!

 

[norbie]

my tap water was off the scale!

im now to do a 50% water change with rain water and go and get it looked at again

 

[norbie]

today i've done 2 50% water changes:

once with tap water - which proved to be very high in nitrate,

and once with 50% rain water - which i've just has tested. it's not as bad as the others so it's getting better but it still showed up high in nitrate.

i've been told to do a 50% water change with rain water tomoro and again on monday then take a sample up to be tested.

its not fair

 

[sylvia]

Rain water is acidic and will reak havoc on your pH as it is rather variable. I'd advise strongly against this - get yourself a few very fast-growing plants instead. They'll take care of your nitrates for you. Before you do a water change, fill up a bucket with de-chlorinated tap water the day before and put some plants in it. They should remove a lot of the nitrates and the plants in your tank will take care of the rest.

 

[norbie]

its too late!

ive already done a 50% with rain water

the nitrate wasnt as high, but for now i am ceasing all work on the tank as we're getting the water board in to test our water as high nitrate in tap water is very dangerous

 

[sylvia]

Oooh... the suspense! Do let us know what they say...

 

[norbie]

blimey that took a long time!

i got results back from water board who say that the nitrate levels are fine, so i went and bought a pair of guppies today

they appear to be fine at the moment - one male +one female chasing each other around the tank and eating well as well!

how much should i be feeding them? they seem to be constantly looking around the tank for food, but i've already fed them some flakes and some dried bloodworms!