Hi,
After done some research from the web and saving for a while, I recently got a 160 Gal/ 608 L Tank (5ft x 2ft x 2ft) with the following setup
Lights :
Hood with 3 x 4 ft flourescant lights - 2 Pinkish Light and 1 White Light (according to lfs) - forgotten about the power consumption of the tubes but was told my lfs 2 of these are plant lights.
HOT Tricker Tower Filter - 4 layers
2 Power Heads - Each rated 3700l/ hr; Water falls back to tank via 3 drilled holes in the middle via gravity
Layer 1 - Sponges
Layer 2 - 4 - Diff type of Bio media (Claimed to develop aerobic nitrifying bacteria)
2 RUGF - Each Power heads rated 1200 l/ hr
Gravel - 2 inch of Crushed corals
Decorations :
3 pieces of drift wood - boiled and cured for 1 week, no leaching
4 Plants - All Anubias Bateris
The above setup turnover the water > 12 x
Cycling Reagents :
1. Microbe-lift - Contains 2 types of benefitial Ntiro Bacteria
(Could not get Bio Spira or pure ammonia - I just moved and unfamiliar with the new city)
2. Water Conditioner : Not branded Anti-Chorine/ Chloroamine/ Ammonia solution
3. Used some soiled sponges/ crushed corals from lfs when first setup
Test Kits :
Sera - NH3, No2, No3 liquid based test kits
PH - Digital PH meter from LFS.
Water Chemistry :
Day 1 :
PH : 8.2
NH3 : 0 mg/l
No2 : 0 mg/l
No3: 0 mg/l
Day 3 :
PH : 8.2
NH3 : 0 mg/l
No2 : 0 mg/l
No3: 2.5 mg/l
Day 5 : (Added 4 goldies of size 2 - 3 inch each - 2 Orandas, 2 Ryukins)
- Coz felt frustrated that no apparent ammonia and worried if cycling is proceeding ; perhaps lack of patience too. These are not feeder fish coz they are exceptionally beautiful - to me.
PH : 8.1
NH3 : 0 mg/l
No2 : 0 mg/l
No3: 2.5 mg/l
Day 7 :
PH : 8.1
NH3 : 0 mg/l
No2 : 0 mg/l
No3: 2.5 mg/l
** SInce day 1, the water is crystal clear till now. And so far all water parameters are holding steady. Keeping a close eye - daily testing
In retrospect, I could have been more patient and wait out the cycling period of 4 - 6 wks but not getting the right ingredients for cycling (could not get pure ammonia or Bio Spira) and based on recommendations from lfs, the microbe-lift stuff work well too (claims to cycle within 1 wk) , I gave it a shot.
ON day 5 after adding the goldfish, all parameters seems to hold out (perhaps due to its BIG tank) and the godies are happy in the new planted and spacious tank. They eat normal and are lively as can be. No signs of stress yet like hiding in corners or appearing adnormal)
I am planning a 20% - 25% water change on Day 8 with water treated with the above water conditioners (aerated for 24hrs) but not planning to cleanse the filter media for fear any good bugs are destroyed. Will do some gravel vacuuming too but will try to keep it light. - to safeguard good bugs breeding ground in the gravel.
Will keep a close eye on the fish and the water parameters over the next month or so but I am curious :
1. Is this tank cycled ?? I doubt it myself but putting fish to create ammonia has not helped, perhaps the plants have taken their fair share of nitrates and some bio bugs have grown to remove ammonia/ nitrites too.
2. If the tank is not cycled and more fish added (same size) over the next few days/ 1 week but keeping an eye on the parameters .. will it help to speed up the cycle or jeopardize it ??
3. Can a tank be un-cycled but based on careful monitoring and all, healthy goldies can still prosper and grow in such environment ?? This is my biggest concern .. unstable tank.
4. What do you recommend ?? I hold out till the NH3, No2, No3 spikes and falls - as per normal cycling before I put more fishes ?? From the looks of it all, I have added too many vairables - plants and some good bacteria agents and may not see the spike that goes with normal fish/ fishless cycling ..
Hope to hear from all the other goldie lovers out there or anyone with similar past experience ..
I love goldies and am anxious to do it right to create the best environment for my goldies.
Gerald (Baffled and Anxious)
After done some research from the web and saving for a while, I recently got a 160 Gal/ 608 L Tank (5ft x 2ft x 2ft) with the following setup
Lights :
Hood with 3 x 4 ft flourescant lights - 2 Pinkish Light and 1 White Light (according to lfs) - forgotten about the power consumption of the tubes but was told my lfs 2 of these are plant lights.
HOT Tricker Tower Filter - 4 layers
2 Power Heads - Each rated 3700l/ hr; Water falls back to tank via 3 drilled holes in the middle via gravity
Layer 1 - Sponges
Layer 2 - 4 - Diff type of Bio media (Claimed to develop aerobic nitrifying bacteria)
2 RUGF - Each Power heads rated 1200 l/ hr
Gravel - 2 inch of Crushed corals
Decorations :
3 pieces of drift wood - boiled and cured for 1 week, no leaching
4 Plants - All Anubias Bateris
The above setup turnover the water > 12 x
Cycling Reagents :
1. Microbe-lift - Contains 2 types of benefitial Ntiro Bacteria
(Could not get Bio Spira or pure ammonia - I just moved and unfamiliar with the new city)
2. Water Conditioner : Not branded Anti-Chorine/ Chloroamine/ Ammonia solution
3. Used some soiled sponges/ crushed corals from lfs when first setup
Test Kits :
Sera - NH3, No2, No3 liquid based test kits
PH - Digital PH meter from LFS.
Water Chemistry :
Day 1 :
PH : 8.2
NH3 : 0 mg/l
No2 : 0 mg/l
No3: 0 mg/l
Day 3 :
PH : 8.2
NH3 : 0 mg/l
No2 : 0 mg/l
No3: 2.5 mg/l
Day 5 : (Added 4 goldies of size 2 - 3 inch each - 2 Orandas, 2 Ryukins)
- Coz felt frustrated that no apparent ammonia and worried if cycling is proceeding ; perhaps lack of patience too. These are not feeder fish coz they are exceptionally beautiful - to me.
PH : 8.1
NH3 : 0 mg/l
No2 : 0 mg/l
No3: 2.5 mg/l
Day 7 :
PH : 8.1
NH3 : 0 mg/l
No2 : 0 mg/l
No3: 2.5 mg/l
** SInce day 1, the water is crystal clear till now. And so far all water parameters are holding steady. Keeping a close eye - daily testing
In retrospect, I could have been more patient and wait out the cycling period of 4 - 6 wks but not getting the right ingredients for cycling (could not get pure ammonia or Bio Spira) and based on recommendations from lfs, the microbe-lift stuff work well too (claims to cycle within 1 wk) , I gave it a shot.
ON day 5 after adding the goldfish, all parameters seems to hold out (perhaps due to its BIG tank) and the godies are happy in the new planted and spacious tank. They eat normal and are lively as can be. No signs of stress yet like hiding in corners or appearing adnormal)
I am planning a 20% - 25% water change on Day 8 with water treated with the above water conditioners (aerated for 24hrs) but not planning to cleanse the filter media for fear any good bugs are destroyed. Will do some gravel vacuuming too but will try to keep it light. - to safeguard good bugs breeding ground in the gravel.
Will keep a close eye on the fish and the water parameters over the next month or so but I am curious :
1. Is this tank cycled ?? I doubt it myself but putting fish to create ammonia has not helped, perhaps the plants have taken their fair share of nitrates and some bio bugs have grown to remove ammonia/ nitrites too.
2. If the tank is not cycled and more fish added (same size) over the next few days/ 1 week but keeping an eye on the parameters .. will it help to speed up the cycle or jeopardize it ??
3. Can a tank be un-cycled but based on careful monitoring and all, healthy goldies can still prosper and grow in such environment ?? This is my biggest concern .. unstable tank.
4. What do you recommend ?? I hold out till the NH3, No2, No3 spikes and falls - as per normal cycling before I put more fishes ?? From the looks of it all, I have added too many vairables - plants and some good bacteria agents and may not see the spike that goes with normal fish/ fishless cycling ..
Hope to hear from all the other goldie lovers out there or anyone with similar past experience ..
I love goldies and am anxious to do it right to create the best environment for my goldies.
Gerald (Baffled and Anxious)
Hopefully with my overfeeding .. the decaying food would add up the ammonia for the bio bugs food. Will still keep a close eye on the water chemistry as well as the goldies over time. 
