Taking Water readings??

[Markos84uk]

Hiya fish people,

Thanks by the way to all who welcomed me yesterday. Not only am I new to the forum, I am new to keeping fish... this site is a saviour for me. Brilliant.

I've had a couple of questions answered already so thats great, but I'm not sure on when the fishless cycle will end, I DONT just want to throw in some fish and hope for the best. People are talking about taking readings, how do you do this? And is it expensive?

My tanks is.. 13 (UK) gallons (64 litres)
I have, 5 plants, a pump/filter thingy, a heater all in the tank working.
I haven't dechlorinated the water yet, because we forgot the gravel and real rocks. Is it ok to add them and THEN dechlorinate, then begin the fishless cycle?

Thanks in advance, and thanks for making me welcome

Yours nervously, Mark

 

[tstenback]

Welcome to the forum Mark
In order to take the reading of your various levels you need test kits. These come in 2 main types, liquid and test strips. Each has pros/cons...the liquid tests tend to be more accurate in the lower ranges, they do take slightly more time to do and the test strips (at least those used by me) are not as accurate in the lower ranges but are very quick and easy to use. The test strips are more exoensive but convenience has its price.
You will need at least tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate as well as PH there are other tests available but for now those should be the ones to get.
The tests have directions that are easy to follow and will give you a good indication of what is happening in your tank.
When you post a question about your tank the readings are a benficial and sometimes essential piece of information for this forum to give you solid advice. HTH

 

[Markos84uk]

Thats great Terry, Thankyou

We were just on our way to the pet store now anyway, for some more bits and bobs, so i'll ask for them.

The other thing is... i've got everything running, pump heater thermostat plants are in but not planted as we forgot the gravel. I haven't dechlorinated the water yet as I thought it would be best to add the clean gravel and real rocks, and THEN dechlorinate, and then start the fishless cycle. Is this ok?

Sorry for any trouble

Mark

 

[tstenback]

No trouble at all

You can dechlorinate anytime right now as you have no fish but once the fish go in dechlorinate before you put it in the tank or atleast as you put it in the tank.
Remember to really clean the gravel well in a bucket and stir it up and refill and stir it up and refill and stir it up...until ther is only clean water coming out of the bucket.
I have heard that pure ammonia is hard to get in england except at the chemist??. To test if it is pure give it a shake it should not foam up.

 

[Markos84uk]

Thanks again Tstenback,

I now got the gravel, I cleaned it well, but its still a little bit cloudy but the lady in shop said it would settle. I will let it settle then dechlorinate. Apparantly, the starter kit I had, the sample bottles start the cycle for me, which figures as the bottle is 'Nutrafin 'cycle''

I went to a different store today, and I am gona get my fish from here, the store I got my tank from, you would be disgusted.... all the tanks were proper green and dead fish on top of most of them . I thought this might of been normal as it was the first time I had seen fish in a store, but I went to this other one and its is soo clean, and the fish are reeeally well looked after.

My tank looks really cool now I put all the plants and ornaments in, and we're really looking forward to being fishy Daddy and Mommy, when they are in, we'll take a pic and post it.

Thanks again and we'll definatley be posting, what a brilliant site!!!

Mark