A few questions from a n00b

[Dakfish]

Ok, I've done tons of research in hopes of getting this right the first time. So far I think I'm on the right track or at least close to it. But, I can't find the answers to a few questions so am hoping someone here can help me out.

46g Bowfront
Homemade stand
XP2 canister filter
Hagen Glo dual T5HO's
Stealth heater
4 bags of Flourite
Heavily planted
6 platy's

This is my first tank and wanted to do a fish-in cycle. The LFS was out of the tetra Safestart stuff so I picked up the Stresszyme product. I started the tank last Friday, took me all day to set up. I washed the flourite like crazy which paid off as the tank was pretty clear after the water was added. I put in some driftwood (also from the LFS) that had been soaked for 1.5 weeks with frequent water changes.

Tap water has a ph of 6.8 and zero's on everything else. I filled the tank, and added the Genesis dechlor stuff. Testing daily, the ph has stayed the same while the ammonia has twice got up to .25 (zero NO2 or 3) at which point I have done a 30% water change. So far only 2 changes this first week with another one coming up tomorrow. I'll also be adding some javamoss to the driftwood tomorrow as the LFS was out last week.

Finally the questions:
1) Is the stress zyme any good? Meaning should I pour in a bottle of the Tetra Safe start tomorrow? I ask this because most of what I've read about the SZ is that it sucks, if so, is it too late or even benificial to add the Safestart?

2) When will I see some NO2? Or will the plants mask this?

3) Anything I'm missing here?

Thanks and here's a couple of pics from last Friday of the tank and stand

http://heymarz.smugmug.com/photos/456391538_yVNPo-L.jpg

http://heymarz.smugmug.com/photos/456391479_yxyRv-L.jpg

http://heymarz.smugmug.com/photos/456391883_9QdEB-L.jpg

[rocker92]

wow, setup looks VERRY good!!!!

[cellodaisy]

That is a beautiful stand! You made that? Wow.

[snappyguy]

Sounds like you're off to a good start. Your water changes may be masking any nitrite and nitrate levels because you're constantly lowering them.

[irishspy]

First off, great job on the tank and stand. (I envy people who are good at crafts.) :thm:

Regarding the cycle, I wouldn't add any more fish for a few weeks. Check your ammonia and nitrite levels daily and do large partial changes frequently. Looks like you're already doing that. I wouldn't expect the plants to scrub the ammonia much; you wrote "heavily planted," but it doesn't look heavy to me. Lots of plants + fishie cycle is called a "silent cycle," and you need quite a few more fast growing plants to do the trick. I did that for my 10g and it worked well, but the tank was crowded with plants from the start.

I don't think you need the Stress-zyme or the Safe Start. Most of those bacterial starter products are very hit or miss. You're best off letting the cycle run with just the fish in there now and doing regular large water changes until the ammonia-nitrite-nitrate cycle has run its course.

Platies are a great choice, btw. I love them. :hearts:

I think you're off to a good start. Don't be shy about asking questions; we're all happy to help. :)

[StarStruck8]

My homemade stand doesn't look nearly as good! I love the driftwood too. As for the questions, I'll let more knowledgeable people answer. :)

[UnderWaterDiver]

Wow, you made that stand yourself?
looks very good

[DrNo]

Strong start dak and welcome to the forums. Fantastic looking tank and stand. I'm guessing you're in AZ...

[Dakfish]

Thanks everybody for the kind words! I love building things so when I started to gather all the equipment to get into the hobby (a life long desire that I'm just getting to), I saw a cool looking stand in the store for the tank I purchased. But at 250 bucks for some cheesy press board I knew I could better for half the price and twice the structural integrity.

In the end it cost me 70 bucks for wood, 10 for hardware, 20 something for the finish and 12 hours (over a couple of days) to make. The hardest part was gluing up the poplar into planks with biscuits. Once glued up, I set the tank on the top and bottom and traced the tank with a 1 inch relief. Then routed the edges.

I kinda eyeballed how wide the sides and middle should be, cut those and attached to the top and bottom pieces with screws and glue. Cut the door, routed the edges and attached with barrel hinges. The back of the stand is 7 ply 1/2 in. plywood that I drilled 3 large holes at the top center to run tubes and whatever else and 2 large holes in the bottom center for wires and plugs.

I stained it with gel stain mostly because poplar's kind of a pain to get a good even finish on, and then shot it with 3 coats of satin varnish. I like it. It came out nice. Now if I can figure out this whole fish keeping thing! :)

[colinsk]

I found this heavily planted aquarium on flicker:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/66/192872262_8e69c2fcce.jpg

I wish mine looked as good. :)

[Dakfish]

Yeah, that's a nice looking tank! I'm putting more plants in tomorrow. JM for the driftwood and more anubias for the foreground.

Here's a link to some pics I found showing growth rates and yes, this a pampered plant tank, but it gives me hope! :)

3 months from this

http://www.projectaquarium.com/aquariumImages/valleyEast_images/small_3.jpg

to this

http://www.projectaquarium.com/aquariumImages/valleyEast_images/small_2.jpg


http://www.projectaquarium.com/aquariumImages/valleyEast_images/small_light.jpg


and finally

http://www.projectaquarium.com/aquariumImages/valleyEast_images/small_1.jpg

and a link to the page
http://www.projectaquarium.com/default.aspx

[DAVIDFBT]

That's some awesome progress for 3 months, we need up close pictures! Do you use CO2 injection on the last tank?

[Dakfish]

That's some awesome progress for 3 months, we need up close pictures! Do you use CO2 injection on the last tank?

That's not my tank! I wish it was, maybe someday I'll have those kinda skills. Follow the link I posted and you can see more of that guys work.

I just wanted to show that a newly "heavily" planted tank looks a little bare at first, but fills in over a few months time.

[shawnhu]

Thanks everybody for the kind words! I love building things so when I started to gather all the equipment to get into the hobby (a life long desire that I'm just getting to), I saw a cool looking stand in the store for the tank I purchased. But at 250 bucks for some cheesy press board I knew I could better for half the price and twice the structural integrity.

In the end it cost me 70 bucks for wood, 10 for hardware, 20 something for the finish and 12 hours (over a couple of days) to make. The hardest part was gluing up the poplar into planks with biscuits. Once glued up, I set the tank on the top and bottom and traced the tank with a 1 inch relief. Then routed the edges.

I kinda eyeballed how wide the sides and middle should be, cut those and attached to the top and bottom pieces with screws and glue. Cut the door, routed the edges and attached with barrel hinges. The back of the stand is 7 ply 1/2 in. plywood that I drilled 3 large holes at the top center to run tubes and whatever else and 2 large holes in the bottom center for wires and plugs.

I stained it with gel stain mostly because poplar's kind of a pain to get a good even finish on, and then shot it with 3 coats of satin varnish. I like it. It came out nice. Now if I can figure out this whole fish keeping thing! :)

Seems like you are pretty handy with wood. That is really a great looking stand, well worth the hrs and cost of materials. I love building things myself, but something about choosing the right materials for the right application, gets me fustrated. I always want the "best" materials for the "right" job. I end up not making anything at all!

If you plant to cycle a tank with plants, you may very well not see anything at all, since the plants may take up all the waste produced. I would consider your cycle complete once you get readings of 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites over a period of 2 days. Your bioload will be small, and whenever you increase the load, it'll be a mini-cycle until you get 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite again.

[StarStruck8]

Yeah, that's a nice looking tank! I'm putting more plants in tomorrow. JM for the driftwood and more anubias for the foreground.

Here's a link to some pics I found showing growth rates and yes, this a pampered plant tank, but it gives me hope! :)

and a link to the page
http://www.projectaquarium.com/default.aspx


I've seen that tank before...one of my personal favorites!

[Dakfish]

Update:
Yesterday I added javamoss to the driftwood. This turned out to be a pain and had to take the wood out of the tank in order to get it tied on properly. I also planted giant hairgrass in the back middle, and put dwarfhair grass in the front along with some baby tears. I don't have high hopes for the foreground stuff as they both require high light and I'm still uber-confused on how much light I have.

Before yesterdays gardening
http://heymarz.smugmug.com/photos/460567255_dKWsy-L.jpg

And after, cloudy water and all
http://heymarz.smugmug.com/photos/460567804_X73Pg-M.jpg

http://heymarz.smugmug.com/photos/460568079_USw6a-L.jpg

I purchased some Flourish and Flourish Excel with the intent to upgrade to CO2 down the road.

And I added one small fish thinking that he wouldn't upset the tank balance too much at this point. An Albino Blue Eyed Bristle Nose Pleco

Isn't he cute!
http://heymarz.smugmug.com/photos/460567702_EScvX-M.jpg

Checking out his new buddies
http://heymarz.smugmug.com/photos/460567595_UagFF-M.jpg



And finally, my favorite pic so far
http://heymarz.smugmug.com/photos/460567547_zPuf7-M.jpg

[bushwhacker]

dak as a cabinet maker for 30 years i can see quality work and that stand is great. your tanks looking good man it'll fill in.. not to mention the superb photograpy

[irishspy]

Wow, great pearling on the sags!