Ok, Im set up to cycle with out fish. Ive become convinced that will be easier on me as I dont know how I will handle fish if they die. I will be so sad!!! I know its going to happen, but I really do want the happiest fish. So... I got my 29 gallon, filled it, put in the conditioner (came with the tank) started the filter, put the heater up to 80 (I read this makes cycling go quicker), got the gravel, silk plants and ornaments in (with lots of help from my kids- kind of gaudy but it will do)and I stuck the thermometer to the wall and put up the background wallpaper. Ive left a few inches from the top so the filter "waterfalls" into the tank to make more oxygen and tomorrow Im getting a sponge from an established neighbors tank for my filter.
This is where I think I screwed up. I dumped about a half a cup of store bought clear ammonia in the tank, THEN I read you're supposed to put DROPPERFULS in, not squirt it right out of the bottle. Tomorrow I will be getting a plug to make my outlet hold the 3 cords I need (filter, light, heater) and a testing kit (the test strips I got at Walmart didnt test for ammonia- go figure).
I guess Ill have to wait to test the ammonia- but what if I did put too much in? Could I fix this by replacing water (I dont know, like 50%?) before I put the seeding sponge in the filter? Would it be better if I just stuck the sponge in the tank or should I put it IN the filter?
The tank looks cool- its very cloudy but that could be b/c of the gravel- I did rinse it off but there was still quite a bit of 'dust'.
I also need a few taller plants I think but I think Ill wait till the water clears first. The background will show up better then I think.
Im so excited to be finally starting! So glad there's someone I can tell all this to. Thanks guys!
Nancy asparagus.
This is where I think I screwed up. I dumped about a half a cup of store bought clear ammonia in the tank, THEN I read you're supposed to put DROPPERFULS in, not squirt it right out of the bottle. Tomorrow I will be getting a plug to make my outlet hold the 3 cords I need (filter, light, heater) and a testing kit (the test strips I got at Walmart didnt test for ammonia- go figure).
I guess Ill have to wait to test the ammonia- but what if I did put too much in? Could I fix this by replacing water (I dont know, like 50%?) before I put the seeding sponge in the filter? Would it be better if I just stuck the sponge in the tank or should I put it IN the filter?
The tank looks cool- its very cloudy but that could be b/c of the gravel- I did rinse it off but there was still quite a bit of 'dust'.
I also need a few taller plants I think but I think Ill wait till the water clears first. The background will show up better then I think.
Im so excited to be finally starting! So glad there's someone I can tell all this to. Thanks guys!
Nancy asparagus.
