1st tank - need input on cycling, etc.

D

deedee58

AC Members
Feb 6, 2007
41
0
0
Tewksbury, MA
I have a 46-gallon bow front aquarium. The substrate is silica sand and pea gravel. Decor includes driftwood, pagoda rock and some silk plants to start.

I have filled the tank, added Prime to declor, and lowered the PH to 7.0 by using Acid Buffer. It needs to heat up a but more, is at 72 degrees now.

I am about ready to cycle and have gotten mixed advice. I have researched both fishless and fishy cycling. The latest input is from the LFS guys that are telling me that I can add fish and bacteria at the same time to start the cycle.

A website recommended one fish for every 2-3 gallons of water to start. That seems like a lot of fish to play russian roulet with. I am thinking of using danios to start but would like advice.

I am very newbie and need all the advice I can get.

Thanks,

Dee Dee
 
Let me start off by saying that most people in the hobby nowadays will tell you to go with a fishless cycle. More info here:

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

There are ways to speed up the process such as placing your bio pad from your filter in a friends filter (dont take theirs out, just squeeze yours in somehow). You could also take some gravel from your tank and place it in a new pantyhose and place it in a friends tanks as well. Do that for a week or so and then transport back into yours for a decent start at growing your own bacteria colony.

Also, I will dare to bet, most others in the hobby will likely advise you to NOT mess with adjusting your PH unless it is absolutely necessary. You lower it and then it creeps back up. Again, you lower it and it creeps back up. This roller coaster ride will really affect your fish.

Hope it is helpful.
DeMonZ
 
Thanks for the advice, DeMonZ. Our water supply ph averages between 9.5 and 10. The test I ran was off the charts, I am assuming that isn't good for fish?
 
What kind of a test kit are you using?
 
You may want to check out your local aquarium society or LFS to see what fishkeepers in your area are doing to deal with the PH situation. Going from a 9.5 to a 7 seems kind of wild to me.
 
Just having 9.5 seems unbelievable to me.
 
My tap water (Philadelphia - Baxter Plant) used to come out off the charts hard and alkaline. Suddenly last month it went to soft and neutral. Point - consistently test your tap water.

Anyway if this is the truth of your source water, 9.5 is far too much for a community aquarium. You would definitely need to lower it. But using an acid buffer is not a good way. As stated before, it will only creep back up again and cause unstable conditions.


The safest and easiest way to lower hardness and pH is through peat filtration. But this will cause a "blackwater" effect that some people find undesirable.

Your other choice is to go R/O, which can be either with a unit that you buy or some supermarkets (Acme here in Philly) are selling R/O water on the cheap. Another would be to get bulk spring water of a low pH like Poland Spring or Deer Park. Expensive though.


Try African cichlids maybe? They prefer very hard, alkaline water. Most livebearers will probably do quite well in those conditions too.


And finally - there is no reason to spend money on Bio-Spira. Just have some patience if you can't get some "seeding" from a friend's tank like demonz said. All it takes is a few weeks and a small bottle of ammonia to fully cycle a tank without fish.
 
Thanks for all your input. I found a LFS in Austin that sells pure, balanced water for the aquarium at $.25 per gallon. This is probably the best way to go. Sure will make my life easier. Ammonia drops will do, as I have no friends or family that are around here.

Thanks again for the help
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom