Nw Member, New Tank

[Knighty]

Hi all, been a fish keeper for quite a few years, just the tropical stuff.

After a few years with our old 4ft tank we thought after doing the lounge out recently we would treat ourselves to a new tank.
Looked at quite a few new and used decided on the New design Fluval Roma 240 in light oak. Our local store didn't stock it but could get one in, they were a little wary about one as they already have new seals on order for one that is leaking from the through glass connectors. I read many reviews and all looked good so i ordered it as they even gave me a 20% discount if i collected from the store. Worked out £50 cheaper than anywhere on line. I know Seapets and the like throw in free stuff but i don't need gravel, food or a net so the £50 saved paid for a backing, Api water test kit, digital timer, all the sand i need and some door buffers to stop the doors slamming as the hinges are quite strong.

All i can say is the assembled tank looks fantastic, solid piece of kit. Bit wary of not using polystyrene under the glass which Fluval say MUST not be used, some kind of floating plastic frame used instead. Today getting the washed sand in and filling up then let it mature a few weeks before transferring the fish over.
Was sad to loose my large Synodontis after having to move the tank out of the lounge for decorating and new carpets. Don't know if it was the stress or largish water change or poss old age as he was around 10 years old.

Anyhow happy days and the Roma is a fantastic bit of kit. Unit assembly instructions left a lot to be desired but got there in the end, bit disappointed when it's advertised as being oak framed when it's all coated chip board but it a sturdy unit.

 

[garyspence84]

Nice 1 awesome tank.

Make sure to add pics of your tanks progress and keep us all updated.

 

[Knighty]

No probs, added sand and filled her up today, all looks good kept checking the through tank seals and all looks fine.
Must say the Argos play sand looks fantastic under the two T8 tubes supplied, looks like builders sand until the lights go on then turns a lovely off white colour.
Just the waiting game before transfering the fish over. Put some of the round hoola hoop type things and a foam pad from my Fluval 205 into the new 306 filter and added some existing water from old tank so hopefully will give it a kick start

 

[Knighty]

In my old tank i have just plastic and silk plants but with the new one which is only on day 3 cycling i fancy putting in real plants. I have washed Argos sand which does look great under the lighting, nice just off white colour.

Will have a word with local shop for best hardy plants but anything special i need to do with planting them in sand and when is the best time to introduce them in a new set up ? Think most are supplied in little root baskets, is it best to leave those on in the sand ?

Thanks in advance.

Rich

 

[fluttermoth]

You don't need to do anything special to plant in sand, but you do need to take off any lead strips or baskets and as much of the rock wool as you can; doing that under a running tap helps.

Plants are best added at the end of your cycle; perhaps during your qualifying week would be the best time.

 

[garyspence84]

You can put plants in whenever you want, now if you want. Plants will only help the process of cycling your tank.

I usually take plants out of they pots you get from pet stores. There really just to weigh them down in the tank, well, the ceramic ones anyway.

G

You don't need to do anything special to plant in sand, but you do need to take off any lead strips or baskets and as much of the rock wool as you can; doing that under a running tap helps.

Plants are best added at the end of your cycle; perhaps during your qualifying week would be the best time.

Really? Oh well... I stand corrected. I thought it would ok? Pretty sure iv read threads on here advising folk to add plants during cycling process.

 

[fluttermoth]

Lots of people do, it does mean you don't have to stare at a bare tank for the whole time!

The problem is is that first, the plants will absorb some of the ammonia, which makes the cycle (slightly) harder to monitor; you can never be sure whether your ammonia is going down because the plants are absorbing it or your bacteria are multiplying.

Secondly, if you have plants, you have to have your lights on, and light + ammonia = algae.

 

[snazy]

I cycled one of my tanks with ammonia, plants and lights on and didn't have one bit of algae, just some diatoms that disappeared fairly quickly and is normal. I am cycling a second one at the moment, dosing ferts and CO2 as well so I'll see about the algae myth again.

 

[Knighty]

Thanks for replies, think i will leave them for a while then and add later then monitor the water before putting the fish in the new tank.
Been giving the sand a bit a stir round with the filter off, loads of gassy bubbles rose up, read it's good to do that occasionally when established but with new sand suppose it just releases the trapped air.

 

[fluttermoth]

I do hope you're doing a full, fishless cycle, OP?

 

[Knighty]

Yea, new tank, no fish just water and sand, and some Hagen cycle additive stuff the tank came with, some of my old water and a filter pad from my current 205 filter which fitted the new 306 filter in there as well to hopefully give it a kick start.

My existing 4ft tank with the fish in are in the hall patiently awaiting their new home

 

[fluttermoth]

If you're moving all the fish from the smaller tank, then you can just move all your media into the new tank's filter, at the same time as you move the fish, and you won't need to bother cycling, it'll already be cycled for the amount of fish you have now

 

[Knighty]

That's interesting i assumed i would have to let it cycle through. it's filled with new water with a few gallons from my other 4ft tank. It's a Fluval 306 and a 205 on my old tank. If i transfered all media over would i still not have to leave it a while before i put the fish in. Assumed as it is a bigger filter and new water i would still have to let it cycle through.

 

[fluttermoth]

No; tanks and water don't cycle; filter media does. Try to think of your filter media as being paired with the fish, not the tank or the filter. So, if you're moving all the fish, move all the filter media, and that will give you an 'instant cycle', as your filter media is already cycled, for that amount of fish. If you were moving only half the fish, half the filter media would go with them.

You have to move the media and the fish at the same time, or feed the bacteria with ammonia, or the bacteria just starve to death.

As long as you're sure everything is up and running properly (heater, filter, making sure your plants are where you want them, no leaks, etc), the water is up to temperature and dechlorinated, you can move everything over as soon as you want to.

 

[Tuxyu3]

That's interesting i assumed i would have to let it cycle through. it's filled with new water with a few gallons from my other 4ft tank. It's a Fluval 306 and a 205 on my old tank. If i transfered all media over would i still not have to leave it a while before i put the fish in. Assumed as it is a bigger filter and new water i would still have to let it cycle through.

Nope, its not about the amount of water, just the amount of waste, if anything it will be better than the small tank immediately as it will take bad substances longer to build up in more water.

And about you comment on not using polystyrene, most good makes i know of manufacture tanks so they don't need it and using it can actually damage the tank. This is because there is a material (plastic i assume) between the glass and the surface that takes the place of polystyrene and doesn't look as unsightly.

Edit: i actually recently got a new tank and put my fish in immediately after the water was at the correct temp. along with the media of course.