Sal Goes Rio With A Bit Of Vision

[Salam]

Lol, you filthy girls I hadn't noticed!

Can I add my first fishies and if yes which ones?

 

[Tizer]

filters cycled i presume? i've lost track of what you are doing already

 

[Salam]

It's supposed to be silent cycling. In the other it is working well, as I got many plants already, but not sure about this one. And I don't know if two dwarf gouramis would produce enough bioload at all, hence I am wondering whether to try adding the dwarf rainbows (ten of them), make sure I'm on top of water changes if necessary and get the cycling proper started and the plants will hopefully grow with it.

 

[ian]

it will cycle, the plants won't utilise all the ammonia, then you will be getting some leaf melt which would add to the ammonia. This is the reason why it's good practice to do daily water changes in a planted tank.

 

[Salam]

Sorry, I'm confused Ian (still on first coffee), do I add fish and if yes which ones?

 

[Tizer]

I don't think there is enough plants for you to sit on your hands and cycle it without daily water changes, it would just be a fish in cycle. Correct me if i'm wrong and i'm sure Ian will, but to do silent cycles, you really do need to pack the tank out with a lot of plants and you don't even scrape together 1% of what would be needed.

 

[minnnt]

70% roughly.

 

[Salam]

So, do I need to get more of the moss first to cover about 70%? Really need help here. If I had stuck to the ammonia cycling I would have known what to do, so please don't shoot me for asking silly questions. Just want to get it right.

 

[ian]

it's normally 70% with faster growing stuff...you're first plant list would have been ideal. Especially with the aponogetons. Moss doesn't really count, as it's quite slow growing. However, as Tizer says, with daily water changes you can add as many fish as you want (within reason). I thought you might have had a read through the old Parc topics on silent cycling before you went ahead.

saying that i'm not against a fish in cycle (don't tell the freshwater section!). IMO it's the one of the best ways to get you 'proper' bacterias. Ammonia will only grow certain bacs, not all the biofilms that fish need and want.

 

[Salam]

Thanks Ian. The first plant list was the original one for the mopani tank which is now fully planted anyway and I'm happy with what I got. Those were just my initial ideas on plants I liked. I never really knew what to do with the second tank until recently.

I haven't seen the topic, but will go and look for it now. Sorry, should have been more prepared.

I have successfully fish-in cycled before, so I know what I am doing if this tank ends up to be one. I am very strict on water changing regimes and happy to do daily water changes for a while (I actually enjoy changing water a lot, call me mad).

I think I'll add the dwarf rainbows then for now and keep on top of water changes.

One more question - Should I get another six mesh (they are 5x5cm) on ebay or will the ones I have eventually cover the whole right hand side?

 

[Salam]

Ah, just had a thought after reading the PARC thing. I got eight neon tetras that I don't know what to do with yet (whether to keep or not). Can I add them to start the cycling? I think they'd be a good in between, not too much ammonia but not too little.

 

[Tizer]

It will probably kill them, or poison them and damage them for life, Neons suck in new tanks, let alone one you are trying to cycle. personally i would stick the moss in your other tank, turn off the lights, ramp it up to 30 degrees, dose it with ammonia and sit on your hands for a month while you fishless cycle it. Cycling with plants, makes you want to put the lights on and lights + ammonia will create algae both on the glass and plants too. Its just a pain in the neck. While its all nice and new and fresh at the moment, things can easily turn manky and horrible which ultimately leads to a lot of disappointment.

 

[minnnt]

It will probably kill them, or poison them and damage them for life, Neons suck in new tanks, let alone one you are trying to cycle. personally i would stick the moss in your other tank, turn off the lights, ramp it up to 30 degrees, dose it with ammonia and sit on your hands for a month while you fishless cycle it. Cycling with plants, makes you want to put the lights on and lights + ammonia will create algae both on the glass and plants too. Its just a pain in the neck. While its all nice and new and fresh at the moment, things can easily turn manky and horrible which ultimately leads to a lot of disappointment.

Especially if you're as lazy as Tizer is. What a C.A!!

 

[Tizer]

back in your cage!

 

[ian]

Don't bother with the ammonia now you've planted. Just do. The 25% daily water changes.