The Petco Bookshelf Aquarium: Prepping For Cherry Shrimp Colony

[Salam]

This is very impressive indeed!

 

[-FighterFishh]

I've had a bit of success with Bottled Bacteria before. I found that adding in the bacteria, leaving for a week and then adding a couple of fish each time actually works. It's very interesting to see the results in test form though!

 

[Gvilleguy]

36 hours - still going in the right direction. If ammonia drops to zero I will only top off to 2-3 ppm, since it looks like I'm approaching the nitrite phase faster than I expected.

Ammonia still 1.0 (looks like it might be between 1 and 2, but I thought closer to 1)
Nitrites up to 1.0
Nitrates up to 10 (probably between 5 and 10)

 

[Gvilleguy]

Interesting three day results on the 'bacteria in a bottle' cycle: tonight ammonia has dropped to zero! And nitrites, after going up to 1.0+, have now dropped to 0.50. Nitrates are somewhere between 10 and 20. This is excellent so far. I have added ammonia to the tank to top off.

 

[Salam]

Well, it will definitely not take you 72 days again to cycle this tank. Going well

 

[garyspence84]

Waw, so it looks like this stuff just might ACTUALLY work after all then.

I'm stunned

 

[Gvilleguy]

To be honest, I, too, am surprised, and guardedly optimistic. There are some extremely vocal nay-sayers when you even hint that these products might actually work. In my case it looks pretty good.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Processing about 4 ppm ammonia to zero within 48 hours now, and nitrite was zero tonight. Nitrates still hanging in at 20. So this puppy is almost cycled, five days in! Picked up a large clump of Java Moss today from a fellow aquarium owner in the area. Things are coming together.

 

[garyspence84]

Can't believe your getting these kind of results only after 5 days!

Looking forward to seeing the progress of this

 

[Gvilleguy]

This is the final entry I plan to make in this journal with regards to cycling. CONCLUSION: bacteria in a bottle can work, if you get a good batch! (I know some others have not had success with various brands) I essentially cycled in a week rather than 6-8 weeks (my typical fishless cycle times).

If I had no mature media, and needed to cycle a tank, I WOULD spend $13 and use this product again. (Dr. Tims)

My ammonia and nitrates are both zero after 24 hour intervals. Nitrates at 40. My work schedule prevents 12 hour tests, but I will get some 12 hour testing done this weekend. But here is my full log so far, and I will only post more about the cycle if I have any trouble. Not really expecting any.

Date.........Ammonia...Nitrate...Nitrate...pH........Temp(F)...Notes
07-Sep-2012...4.0......0.0.......0.0.......7.4/7.6...78.5F.....After adding 0.4 ml ammonia
08-Sep-2012...>1.......0.5.......5.0.......7.4/7.6...84.5F.....
09-Sep-2012...1.0......1.0.......10.0......7.4/7.6...84.7F.....
10-Sep-2012...0.0......0.5.......10-20.....7.4.......84.3F.....+0.4ml ammonia
11-Sep-2012...>1.......0.5.......20.0......7.4.......82.4.....
12-Sep-2012...0.0.......0.0.......20.0......7.2................+0.4ml ammonia
13-Sep-2012...0.0.......0.0.......40.0......7.2.......84F.....+0.4ml ammonia


So, my next steps are:
1. Allow a qualifying time frame to make sure the cycle is good (into next week)
2. Purchase and stock my first ever Betta
3. Purchase and stock Cherry Shrimp

That's all I plan to put in the tank. Getting excited! Hopefully in the home stretch here.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Quick update - the past few days I've only had time to feed ammonia into the tank and test at 24 hours intervals, although the one time I managed to test at 12 hours the ammonia/nitrites were zero. So things are still looking good. I had a small aqueon heater with no thermostat that caused the tank temp to remain up around 83F, so I bought a Theo 7" with a thermostat and installed it yesterday. Hoping to stabilize the temp down to 78F with that new heater.

This weekend I hope to wire up (DIY) four white LEDs to install on the left and right part of the hood. The stock light does not light the ends of the tank well, which is where I have clumps of java moss. I don't want those to stay in shadows.

So I'm likely to add a Betta this weekend if I find one I like.

 

[SharkWeek]

Hello, I'm an aquatic specialist at a Texas Petco and have never been really keen on the idea of the book shelf but after seeing this I have a whole new opinion of them now. Just Bravo.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Thanks, Sharkweek! When I first saw it in the store I thought "no way". But then I thought about it some more. I really love the 24" width of the tank to give fish maximum swimming length in a small tank.

I wired up four white LEDs and have two hanging inside the light hood on the far left and right sides. It just adds a bit of accent light to those shadowy parts. Helps a little.

Tonight we went to Petco and the kiddos picked out a blue/red Crown Tail Betta. I'm currently floating the cup in the tank and adding tank water to it every few minutes to slowly acclimate it.

I have two remaining concerns with this tank:

1. The tight fitting hood combined with the 18" light seem to make the temp stay higher - around 79 to 80. I'm not sure this tank will go any cooler with lights on. But we'll see. That temp should not be a problem for the Betta, anyway, from what I've read.

2. Even with the filter flow turned all the way down, I am worried that the current will make the Betta unhappy. I'll see how it does and make changes if needed.

Will post pictures tomorrow.

 

[SharkWeek]

I wouldn’t worry about the temp so much as the filter. Iv noticed that when bettas are in a filtered tank their tails semms to get caught up and get torn, so I would just be on watch for that.

 

[Gvilleguy]

I didn't want to wait. Posting pictures tonight!

Petco Bookcase aquarium....in my bookcase! (the green wire is gone now - all wires go in the back.

Two accent LEDs wired on each side of hood:

In the Petco cup. They had MANY Bettas on the shelves in cups.

Cup floating in tank to match temp. Added a little tank water to it every few minutes.

And finally in the tank. My first occupant.

Angry fish:

Amazing coloring:

Aquarium accent lights with main light off (Betta on lower left):