Complete Newbie needs a bit of help

You can find a sample curve of what happens in the middle of this page. Note that those ammonia and nitrite levels shown in the graph are deadly for fish, which means that you need more water changes, as rbishop said.

And yes, cats tend to be envious of other pets getting food. My cat even eats the completely vegetarian algae wafers for the pleco.
 
Thanks Ulan and rbishop for the help you have given me.
A little update I went to the LFS and got also their opinion. Apprently I might not even experience any ammonia or nitrite levels since the tank was cycled with Nutrafin cycle for about 4 days plus a helpful handful of their substract put in the same day as the fish went in. Mind you I have plants in the tank also. So because the fish went in on the Wednesday I will do a 25% water change (according to the LFS shop owner) the following Wednesday. ALso keep monitoring the Ammonia/Nitrite/PH levels every say 2 days.
Hopefully this all goes to plan.

In the next couple of days I will try to upload a picture of the aquarium if I can.
 
Its Saturday here in Melbourne,

I decided instead of waiting for the Wednesday, I would attempt to do the water change today as I like to be able to do the water changes every Saturday. Anyway after some much drama with my 7 year old also assisting, I did it. Upon siphoning out 25% of water into a bucket- I soon realized that I was not going to be able to pick the bucket up to chuck it out the door.

Instead after dragging it ever so carefully over the carpet- managed to pour it out the doorway. I tried the siphon- doesn't work for me from the bucket to an open window as the window is higher than the floor. Thus the reason for me to drag it to the door.

Once that was done- I thought I will never be able to refill the bucket and pour it in. So I took the hose and stuck it in the aquarium and refilled whilst adding the appropraite de-clorinators and conditioners etc. I chucked in Nutrifin Cycle again.

Although I had great gratification in doing the task and seeing that the tank is in prestine condition again- is their any other tips anyone can give me that may make the job a little easier? How does most of you siphon water out?
Thirdly is anything wrong in the way I did it??
 
Well, the problem with the using the hose, (the one for the garden and yard I presume), is possible contamination and adding undesirable bacteria from the outside, which may affect your bacteria that maintains the cycle. Also, the possible introduction of chemicals that could poison your fish. Also, if filling from an outside tap, it is probably not connected to your hot water system, and you could be causing some thermal shock on your refills.

How long is the siphon hose you have? It sounds like you need a longer one so the discharge end can get out your window far enough so it is substantially lower than your tank, greating the height difference you need.

I use a Python for my draining. It is not used for any other purpose than for my tanks.

http://www.petsolutions.com/Python+No+Spill+Clean+Fill-I-94002514-I-C-10251-C-.aspx

The sink attachment that comes with it...

http://www.petsolutions.com/Faucet+Pump-I-94000132-I-C-10251-C-.aspx

can be used two ways. One, to act as the driving force to pull water from your tank and send it down the sink drain. However, I do not like wasting water just to get water out of my tanks. That is why I just use the hose part of the Python to siphon water out a window or door.

The other way for the attachment to work, that I do use, is to refill the tanks from the sink tap. I can adjust the hot and cold taps to the desired temperature and then fill. No mess, no fuss, NO BUCKETS.

I also would stop using the cycle. You should only need a good water conditioner that removes chlorine/chloramine, like Prime. What other conditioners are you using? Most are completely unnecessary.
 
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Well I got one of those Hagen Marina Easy Clean 24" 60cm syphon gravel cleaner. That python is as far as I know is not available here in Australia. Did a search for it to no avail. So that may be a import job for me.

Ok I am using 3 dirfferent water conditioners Bio-Black, Bio Min, and Bio Safe. I think they are made by a local firm here in Australia as you have probably never heard of it or them. Heres a description on what it says on each bottle.

Bio-Min - A mineral water conditioner, designed to increase the general hardness of the aquarium without increasing the carbonate hardness or PH. Ideal for newly setup aquariums or for acidphites.

Bio Safe- A general water conditioner removing chlorine, chlorimine, fluoride and heavy metals. Bio-safe also adds vitamin B1 to the water and reduces stress during water changes. It also protects the fishes muchous membrane.

Bio Black- Is a black water develope, adding all the trace elements, humic acids and tannin required to form a stable aquarium. Black water is a naturally occuring condition in rivers.

Most imported stuff are pretty expensive and I am not sure if Prime is available here.

I was also told to add the cycle on top of all this along with a plant fertiliser for aquarium plants.

A quick question the python sink attachement- Does the tap need to have a thread for it to attach the adapter to? Because our bathroom taps and kitchens taps dont actually have thread on the nozzle part of it. This is how most taps are the exception for the garden taps which do have a threadable nozzle. As I would like to get this Python if it will fit onto our taps etc
 
Do you have a link you can post for your Bio additives? It sounds as if the bio-safe is all you really need, and possibly any ferts you add for live plants.


Some black water additives are good if the right water conditions exist and your water doesn't have the necessary items. But most often, unless you are breeding certain species, it isn't needed for routine care.

Yes, the Python connects via threads. Most faucets here in the States have a cap at the end where you can unthread a strainer assembly. On others, the threads are internal and not visible from the outside for appearance reasons.

Be creative, and check if your local hardware store has some fittings you can use to build your own adapter with some poly tubing or a garden hose that you only use for your tanks.
 
Unfortunatly the company who produces these three products are not online. Well the local Aquarium shop is using these ones so it mush be ok I guess. I havent seen any adverse re-actions in the tank and everything looks pristine since yesterdays 25 percent syphon and refill.

Upon closer inspection I have found our taps do have a small assembly that you may be able to connect the python up to- so I think I am going to purchase it and see how it goes. Your link is probable the best place to start rbishop.
 
Rbishop- Do you have any links where I can get this Python "100 foot" that ships internationally. I am having trouble trying to find a place that does it to Australia.
 
I think I am going to need the 100ft one of the python as they dont have 100 ft in the Lees brand. Thanks much appreciated
 
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