DAVIDFBT
Extinct? Since when?
If you can get some bacteria from an established FW tank, you can add the neons in about 2 weeks. You can also add basically any plant you want, you have more than enough lights.
20L build, for freshwater noob
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plants will eat the nitrogen compounds that can harm your fish. If you are able, get some java moss/water sprite/hornwort/anacharis.
You should probably do at least 15% per day till your tank is fully cycled. Do you have a test kit? If not, get one and do daily ammonia and nitrite tests. Keep the levels under .05, preferably under .025 by doing water changes as large as you need to. Adding plants is a good idea, more fish definitely not until your tank is completely cycled and you are getting consistant zeros on your ammonia and nitrites.
yes i have test kits, and ill keep doing the water changes. My plants get shipped out tuesday so i should get them sometime later in the week. I got about 3 or 4 different types. Also i was wondering does anyone have bamboo in their tanks? I like the look of them and wanted to know if it was okay to put some in there.
Thanks. you guys have been very helpful.
Thanks. you guys have been very helpful.
DAVIDFBT
Extinct? Since when?
You can have bamboo in your tank, put make sure the sprout is out of water, It will rot in your tank if it is fully submerged and kill all of your fish.
ok just an update on my tank. It seems to be done with the cycle, since all the tests have come out good for the past 2-3 days. I am still doing about a 15-20% water change every other day but so far it's all good. I now have 8 neon tetras and they all seem healthy and schooling. I also got a gourami, but he seems to be a bit aggressive so not sure what to do with him? should I return it or is there a way to make him less aggressive, because from what i read they are supposed to be pretty peaceful fish.
I can absolutely guarantee that unles you got some established filter media from somebody, you are not cycled yet. It can go faster than a month if you seed it with mature media but no way less than a month otherwise.
For now it means no more fish and keep testing. Have you read the posted sticky on fish-in cycling? The essence of it is to change water every time that your ammonia or nitrite levels approach 0.25 ppm. When you can go a week or more with no water changes and no detectable ammonia or nitrite levels in your water and you have increasing nitrate levels you might be cycled. At that point give it another week without a water change and see if you are right. With the small fish load that you should have for a fish-in cycle, the levels will not change quickly.
If you increase your biological load, the chemical levels will start to move faster and you will end up with a crisis in water parameters unless you are truly fully cycled. If you are fully cycled, you can add a few small fish every week or two until you reach the capacity of your tank.
For now it means no more fish and keep testing. Have you read the posted sticky on fish-in cycling? The essence of it is to change water every time that your ammonia or nitrite levels approach 0.25 ppm. When you can go a week or more with no water changes and no detectable ammonia or nitrite levels in your water and you have increasing nitrate levels you might be cycled. At that point give it another week without a water change and see if you are right. With the small fish load that you should have for a fish-in cycle, the levels will not change quickly.
If you increase your biological load, the chemical levels will start to move faster and you will end up with a crisis in water parameters unless you are truly fully cycled. If you are fully cycled, you can add a few small fish every week or two until you reach the capacity of your tank.
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