Afterall - I am just a NEWBIE [Archive]

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Junky123

10-29-2006, 6:40 PM

First the specs:
Tank - 55Gl (48 x 13 x 24)
Filter - Fluval 405
Heater @ 83F (recommended from LFS)
Tank for Tropical Community
City - Santa Ana, Orange County, California

Mistake #1
First in my excitement, I set-up my tank and threw in some goldfish. A few days later and reading from various forums, I realized I had to go through a fishless cycle. Now I had to set-up another tank for the goldies.

Mistake #2
After setting up my tank, I discovered the decorations and color of gravels were unsuitable for my taste. I had to restart over again.

Mistake #3
During my second set-up, I accidently plugged the heater in without water. Guess what happened next? It melted - I immediately unplugged and put it in the sink, turned on the water and I heard a loud pop.

Mistake #4
Come time to set-up the new filter (Fluval 405), washed and cleaned as instructed, slided the filter in upside down - no fit. Got frustrated and pushed it down, cracked the container. After a couple of hours, I managed to patch it together.

Mistake #5
Left the inktake/outtake hoses too long, filter did not have enough pressure to pump water. Another two hours lost.

Mistake #6
Bought this "Cycle" to speed-up the fishless cycling process. I read somewhere it's waste of $$$. Am I? Where do I get this bio-spira?

Mistake #7
Not happy with the decorations, had to add and rearranged things again.

OKAY - So I am a NEWBIE and after two days and closed to $1K, I have set-up a new tank. I poured in some water conditioner to neuralize chroline, chloramine, ect. However, I am determined NOT to make anymore mistakes (I know it is impossible for a newbie like me). So I need some helps from the experts and here are the questions:

Q1: Should I set temp @ 83F? The heater instruction stated 78F.
Q2: During and after fishless cycle, do I need to change water? If so, how often and how much %?
Q3: Any quick tips or indications when the cycle completed? How long do I have to wait? I bought a test kit.
Q4: How often do I change filters/media?
Q5: Any help on how to stocking fish once the cycle completed? What kinds and in what order? I am planning to add 2-3 per week.
Q6: How many fish can I put in a 55gl tank?
Q7: Is there any other ways to speed-up the cycle process?

I know I asked a lot of questions and perhaps they have been answered already. However, I appreciate any tips and answers to help me avoid more mistake.

Thanks guys/gals.

Rbishop

10-29-2006, 6:53 PM

For starters read this....

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

then..

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42633

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85182

Don't forget you will need a good liquid test kit to handle ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH.

Then, post her again and we will hit your questions one at a time.

Welcome aboard to AC! :D:D:D

Junky123

10-29-2006, 7:05 PM

Thanks for quick links. I will read them later tonight.

I have a liquid master test kit. I will post the test results within a couple of days.

christie71

10-29-2006, 11:30 PM

Gold fish don't need a heater they are cold water fish- if that is what you plan to have save the $ on your heater:)

fishcatch22

10-29-2006, 11:32 PM

she said in there that she set up a separate tank for the goldfishes, and i'm assuming that it's not heated. also, goldfish do not mind heat one bit. I mean, they don't need it, but they certianly can live with it.

wataugachicken

10-30-2006, 12:45 AM

"some goldfish", as in maybe 3 or 4? or more? you'll need at least a 70g tank for them, depending on what kind you got, all goldies get big, you might just want to take them back now unless you have the room for them.

did you cycle the goldfish tank too?

CoreyMac

10-30-2006, 1:33 AM

Q1: Should I set temp @ 83F? The heater instruction stated 78F.

I would say that 78 is fine.

Q2: During and after fishless cycle, do I need to change water? If so, how often and how much %?

No. No WCs in a fishless cycle.

Q3: Any quick tips or indications when the cycle completed? How long do I have to wait? I bought a test kit.

Liquid test kit? Watch for a spike in ammonia, then nitrites, then they will fall to 0 and you will finally have nitrates.

Q4: How often do I change filters/media?

No idea on the canisters. I would imagine it is similar to others, just rinse in old tank water. Replace when the media starts to fall apart.

Q5: Any help on how to stocking fish once the cycle completed? What kinds and in what order? I am planning to add 2-3 per week.

I can't help you with what and in which order, but the 2-3 per week is good.

Q6: How many fish can I put in a 55gl tank?

Depends on the size of the fish.

Q7: Is there any other ways to speed-up the cycle process?

You can add pure ammonia. Not sure of the exact amounts. Read the links above for that.

Junky123

10-30-2006, 10:04 AM

Thanks CoreyMac and everyone.
I have a 10gl tank set-up for the goldies - no heater. There are three of them in there, feel a bit crowded for them - 2" long each. I did not cycle this tank but I hope the goldies will pull through. I may take them back.

I woke up this morning and found the temp on 55gl @ 88F. Another newbie stupid mistake. I have readjusted it and glad there is no fish in there. Once again, thanks for all the aswers. I will be testing the water every few days and post the results.

wataugachicken

10-30-2006, 10:11 AM

take the goldies back. keeping them in a 10g is not a good idea. they are messy and if you're not doing big water changes every day then they are going to get sick from the buildup of ammonia. if you know you have to go through a fishless cycle for the 55, why wouldn't you do a cycle for the 10g? they need a safe clean environment just like any other fish. please, return them today.

Pangong_ilong

10-30-2006, 10:11 AM

W/ filter/media, change your biomax every yr or so. Don't use carbon and ammonia chip cuz you don't nned them if you do w/c frequently.

CoreyMac

10-30-2006, 12:58 PM

Do use the carbon. It's not expensive and it won't hurt anything.

CaptnDan

10-30-2006, 1:03 PM

Do use the carbon. It's not expensive and it won't hurt anything.Unless you happen to want live plants...

Junky123

10-30-2006, 9:38 PM

Here is a picture of my tank. Yeah I know - It looks newbie but that is the best I could come up with for now.

I will be away a few days in Thanksgiving. After I come back perhaps I could add 2-3 hardy fish.

amyandlars

10-30-2006, 9:45 PM

What kind of goldfish do you have? I would say take them back. Trust me on this one. I've learned the hard way that goldfish do not belong in 10gal tanks. If it is a common goldfish, that is even harder to take care of. I have 1 goldfish in a 10gal and b/c it was not cycled had to do 4 w/c's a day of 50% or more to keep the ammonia down. And that is only feeding the fish every other day.

CoreyMac

10-30-2006, 11:07 PM

Unless you happen to want live plants...

Explain this. I have live plants and use carbon and haven't had any problems.

SirWired

10-31-2006, 6:21 AM

I'm with the others... return those goldies. You REALLY don't want to do the MANY water changes a day those guys are going to require in that tiny tank. If you REALLY want to keep them, use them to do a fishy cycle in the large tank, and leave them there. Even then, you can only hold a tiny few. (The coldwater fish board here can help you more. Goldfish are not tropical fish so the expertise on this forum is limited.)

If you do return the goldies, remember to put an Ammonia source in your tank to do the fishless cycle. The tank will NOT properly cycle without an Ammonia source. Just letting the tank sit there with no Ammonia to perform a "fishless cycle" is a common mistake seen here.

SirWired

Junky123

10-31-2006, 9:47 AM

Thanks for the advice on the Goddies. I will return them this weekend.

Can I go to my LFS and ask for some cycled/seeded materials? I heard they contained full of bacteria and could really help speed up the fishless cycle.

Cityfish

10-31-2006, 10:18 AM

You can seed the tank with “bio spira” It is a frozen form of the denitrifying bacteria. You still need to provide an ammonia source to feed the bacteria and foster the nitrogen cycle. There are two bacteria that form. First a aerobic form which converts ammonia to nitrIte and then an anaerobic form that converts nitrIte to nitrAte. Finally nitrAte is remove by the water change.

All this may seem daunting at first but if you remain inquisitive and to the leg work. (use the search tools) it will begin to make sense quickly. Remember there are a lot of opinions and even more ways to do things. Listen to everyone then decide what you think is best for you in your area. If you care enough about your fish and the process to be here reading theses posts you’re off to a good start…. So good job…. We have all made tons of mistakes….. I wish I had found AC sooner myself….

BTW….plant people (which I am) don’t use charcoal in there filters because it can remove nutrients from the water column. But the effects of charcoal are so temporary that it really doesn’t effect anything (odor or plant nutrient) for very long, and simply becomes another Bio-media surface in you filter. I think I read that even Plantbrain(super guru) occasionally uses charcoal to “scrub” tank water. So on this one subject there are many strong opinions and not “one” answer.

Good luck… Have fun… Keep it simple…

Tony

Squawkbert

10-31-2006, 10:39 AM

wataugachicken

10-31-2006, 11:58 PM

refrigerated, not frozen. cold keeps it dormant, freezing will kill it.

Junky123

11-01-2006, 11:29 AM

4 days into this fishless cycle, I decided to conduct my liquid test today. Here are the results:
PH = 7.6
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0

Things I have done:
Added water conditioner
Added "Cycle"
Heater @ 82F
Filter and Airpump have been running continuously.

Am I ready for some fish? :Angel: j/k
My guess is the cycle has not been started yet. How do you add ammonia by the way? Remember folks, I am VERY green at this aquarium thing so please go easy on me.

wataugachicken

11-01-2006, 1:53 PM

go to walmart, or kmart and look in the cleaning supplies for bottled ammonia. when you find it, give it a shake. if it gets sudsy, don't buy it. you want the kind that doesn't make bubbles. add a few drops to the tank, enough to give you a reading of 3 to 5 ppm.

leave it there, keep your lights off. test your water daily. when the ammonia starts to go down, add enough to keep it at 3 -5 ppm every day. eventually you'll see nitrites, then nitrates. when you see nitrates, and 5ppm of ammonia can be processed in 24 hours, you're ready to add fish. do a big water change to get your nitrates down below 20ppm, and you're set.

don't add 'cycle', it doesn't do anything.