A few questions from a n00b

D

Dakfish

AC Members
Jan 3, 2009
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Ok, I've done tons of research in hopes of getting this right the first time. So far I think I'm on the right track or at least close to it. But, I can't find the answers to a few questions so am hoping someone here can help me out.

46g Bowfront
Homemade stand
XP2 canister filter
Hagen Glo dual T5HO's
Stealth heater
4 bags of Flourite
Heavily planted
6 platy's

This is my first tank and wanted to do a fish-in cycle. The LFS was out of the tetra Safestart stuff so I picked up the Stresszyme product. I started the tank last Friday, took me all day to set up. I washed the flourite like crazy which paid off as the tank was pretty clear after the water was added. I put in some driftwood (also from the LFS) that had been soaked for 1.5 weeks with frequent water changes.

Tap water has a ph of 6.8 and zero's on everything else. I filled the tank, and added the Genesis dechlor stuff. Testing daily, the ph has stayed the same while the ammonia has twice got up to .25 (zero NO2 or 3) at which point I have done a 30% water change. So far only 2 changes this first week with another one coming up tomorrow. I'll also be adding some javamoss to the driftwood tomorrow as the LFS was out last week.

Finally the questions:
1) Is the stress zyme any good? Meaning should I pour in a bottle of the Tetra Safe start tomorrow? I ask this because most of what I've read about the SZ is that it sucks, if so, is it too late or even benificial to add the Safestart?

2) When will I see some NO2? Or will the plants mask this?

3) Anything I'm missing here?

Thanks and here's a couple of pics from last Friday of the tank and stand

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wow, setup looks VERRY good!!!!
 
Sounds like you're off to a good start. Your water changes may be masking any nitrite and nitrate levels because you're constantly lowering them.
 
First off, great job on the tank and stand. (I envy people who are good at crafts.) :thm:

Regarding the cycle, I wouldn't add any more fish for a few weeks. Check your ammonia and nitrite levels daily and do large partial changes frequently. Looks like you're already doing that. I wouldn't expect the plants to scrub the ammonia much; you wrote "heavily planted," but it doesn't look heavy to me. Lots of plants + fishie cycle is called a "silent cycle," and you need quite a few more fast growing plants to do the trick. I did that for my 10g and it worked well, but the tank was crowded with plants from the start.

I don't think you need the Stress-zyme or the Safe Start. Most of those bacterial starter products are very hit or miss. You're best off letting the cycle run with just the fish in there now and doing regular large water changes until the ammonia-nitrite-nitrate cycle has run its course.

Platies are a great choice, btw. I love them. :hearts:

I think you're off to a good start. Don't be shy about asking questions; we're all happy to help. :)
 
My homemade stand doesn't look nearly as good! I love the driftwood too. As for the questions, I'll let more knowledgeable people answer. :)
 
Thanks everybody for the kind words! I love building things so when I started to gather all the equipment to get into the hobby (a life long desire that I'm just getting to), I saw a cool looking stand in the store for the tank I purchased. But at 250 bucks for some cheesy press board I knew I could better for half the price and twice the structural integrity.

In the end it cost me 70 bucks for wood, 10 for hardware, 20 something for the finish and 12 hours (over a couple of days) to make. The hardest part was gluing up the poplar into planks with biscuits. Once glued up, I set the tank on the top and bottom and traced the tank with a 1 inch relief. Then routed the edges.

I kinda eyeballed how wide the sides and middle should be, cut those and attached to the top and bottom pieces with screws and glue. Cut the door, routed the edges and attached with barrel hinges. The back of the stand is 7 ply 1/2 in. plywood that I drilled 3 large holes at the top center to run tubes and whatever else and 2 large holes in the bottom center for wires and plugs.

I stained it with gel stain mostly because poplar's kind of a pain to get a good even finish on, and then shot it with 3 coats of satin varnish. I like it. It came out nice. Now if I can figure out this whole fish keeping thing! :)
 
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