Setting up a tank

[ian]

hi guys.
i have today set up my first aquarium. i think i have followed all the basic guidlines e.g clean the gravel e.t.c but after a few hours i have a film over the top of the tank. is this common or have i done something wrong. i have no plants or fish in it yet. only the gravel and a few rocks and driftwood are in the tank. what is wrong?
please help...

 

[Duncan]

Hi ian

the film is probably from the gravel, when I set up my tank 5 1/2 weeks ago, I had white-ish marks up the glass as I filled up my tank. it was easy enough cleaned off. You could try and use a jug to scim the film off to see if that works.

Duncan

 

[adeyc]

Duncan. Is it natural gravel or the coloured stuff you used? and you did rinse it in cold water. it's quite common in a new setup don't worry. Best thing is to skim it off the top like Ian suggested.

 

[Macquatic]

Use kitchen roll, just lay it on top of the water 'til it gets wet and lift off . Removes the scum without taking away any water. It's not unusual for this to happen on a new setup. Do you have a filter & heater running?    Mac.
BTW Ian, a warm welcome to the forum.

 

[Davy Reynolds]

Yip I agree, with all above. I use Mac's way to get scum of the surface

 

[pete]

I have had this problem before and as suggested i used kitchen roll to remove it........no matter how well you might think youve washed the gravel in my experience it always has so small particles left in it that invariably float to the surface on a new setup :what:

And welcome to the forum i hope you enjoy your stay

 

[Great Lakes]

Welcome to the funnest fish site on the web.
Sounds like you already have more than enough good advice, so I will just welcome you to the hobby.

 

[Kenliz]

Hi ian how do you intend to cycle your tank. The two methodes used are,
1) The use of hardy fish like Danios or platties and can take between 4 and 6 weeks.
2) the fishless cycle with the use of Ammonia solution and can take between 10days and 14 days with the added advantages of not harming any fish, Stocking your tank quicker and with exactly the fish that you want. Definatly not livebearers unless you've got some nice oscars for them to play with. Only kidding.
Here's a link to my last fishless cycle that took 11days for a 300l tank. www.eheim-uk.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi
Hope this is of help to you.

 

[pete]

Are you the Cory site i stumbled across while looking for Ehiem filters Kenliz?? lol

If so you really had me going for a moment :laugh: