Temp: 79 F
PH: 6.2
Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate levels: 0
30gl community tank, planted (sparsely)
Added today: 7 Zebra Danios. 1 Mickey Mouse Platy. 1 "Red" Swordtail.
We just setup our tank yesterday and let it run 24 hours. We need to cycle and our only option right now is cycling w/ fish.
We added dechlorinator to our water (we have very little chloramine, but used a product that breaks it down). We tested levels and everything seemed to point to hospitable conditions with no beneficial bacteria, what we need to start cycling.
Our ph is a little low, and our water is quite soft... about 25ppm. Our alkilinity is therefore quite low and we have very little buffer but we are monitoring ph and although I have received conflicting information the presence of plants and the cycling process should bring the ph to a neutral level, as it is the water is only slightly acidic and apparently this won't hurt. I have read several postings/articles on the cycle and other chemistry so unless you consider your opinion to be vitally important in these aspects please keep it to yourself as the information available is conflicting and plentiful. I have to make decisions about credibility and to some extent I have made those, with my LFS and fish hobbyist friends.
I am starting this post to get the information out there, in case I have emergencies and need to ask more specific questions.
The one that I have is actually in regard to one of those pieces of information which varies depending on whom you pose the question to...
As we cycle the tank we expect to make changes, and we expect fish to die. If you think our tank is already overcrowded, I am sorry. I understand fish may suffer in these conditions until the tank is cycled, but at least I chose fish I will keep rather than goldfish I would flush after cycling (as one LFS reccomended to a customer this morning).
TEMPERATURE!
Its 79. That's green on the temperature guage, which is very far from the heater. Green is usually good, but I think the specific fish might enjoy something around 77 instead. Should it be lowered? The fish are new to the tank today and only one seems unhappy. The swordtail, who was the last of his stock and is probably going to go first.
Should I lower the temp?
I have heard.. 72-80, 72-82, 74-80, 76, depends on the fish, 75-77, 72-77, etc. etc.
I think "depends on the fish" makes sense but is entirely too broad. This is a community tank, so it seems the temperature is going to be a tad less than desirable for at least some of the species, but within tolerances. Will most fish tolerate 79, or is that way too high?
PH: 6.2
Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate levels: 0
30gl community tank, planted (sparsely)
Added today: 7 Zebra Danios. 1 Mickey Mouse Platy. 1 "Red" Swordtail.
We just setup our tank yesterday and let it run 24 hours. We need to cycle and our only option right now is cycling w/ fish.
We added dechlorinator to our water (we have very little chloramine, but used a product that breaks it down). We tested levels and everything seemed to point to hospitable conditions with no beneficial bacteria, what we need to start cycling.
Our ph is a little low, and our water is quite soft... about 25ppm. Our alkilinity is therefore quite low and we have very little buffer but we are monitoring ph and although I have received conflicting information the presence of plants and the cycling process should bring the ph to a neutral level, as it is the water is only slightly acidic and apparently this won't hurt. I have read several postings/articles on the cycle and other chemistry so unless you consider your opinion to be vitally important in these aspects please keep it to yourself as the information available is conflicting and plentiful. I have to make decisions about credibility and to some extent I have made those, with my LFS and fish hobbyist friends.
I am starting this post to get the information out there, in case I have emergencies and need to ask more specific questions.
The one that I have is actually in regard to one of those pieces of information which varies depending on whom you pose the question to...
As we cycle the tank we expect to make changes, and we expect fish to die. If you think our tank is already overcrowded, I am sorry. I understand fish may suffer in these conditions until the tank is cycled, but at least I chose fish I will keep rather than goldfish I would flush after cycling (as one LFS reccomended to a customer this morning).
TEMPERATURE!
Its 79. That's green on the temperature guage, which is very far from the heater. Green is usually good, but I think the specific fish might enjoy something around 77 instead. Should it be lowered? The fish are new to the tank today and only one seems unhappy. The swordtail, who was the last of his stock and is probably going to go first.
Should I lower the temp?
I have heard.. 72-80, 72-82, 74-80, 76, depends on the fish, 75-77, 72-77, etc. etc.
I think "depends on the fish" makes sense but is entirely too broad. This is a community tank, so it seems the temperature is going to be a tad less than desirable for at least some of the species, but within tolerances. Will most fish tolerate 79, or is that way too high?