first 10g tank for son
- Thread starter slvrcvc
- Start date
try this product amquel+ plus
"removes nitrate,nitrite,ammonia,chlorine,chloramines..
i put about a capfull a day into my 10 gallon .. the smell is gone.. and the tanks completely clean...
its baout 3 bux for a 2 month supply
"removes nitrate,nitrite,ammonia,chlorine,chloramines..
i put about a capfull a day into my 10 gallon .. the smell is gone.. and the tanks completely clean...
its baout 3 bux for a 2 month supply
First off, don't use anything that binds ammonia, ever. Cycle your tank properly the first time and you will never need to add anything extra to remove ammonia. Having something handy in case of unforseen circumstances that cause a drop off in nitrifiers can be handy, but on a regular basis, no.
Using goldfish to cycle is bad for the goldfish, ageed. But the ammonia produced by goldfish waste is the same ammonia produced by tropical fish waste. Also the same bacteria is being build up, increasing the temp. for tropical fish won't affect your cycle or nitrifier colonies.
Your filter is fine. The guy at the store was trying to make a sale. If you've got good water flow (3x tank volume per hour, if memory serves) and some sponge/floss, you're all good. You don't need carbon or ammolok or anything other than sponge/floss and wool. These do the job of mechanical filtration and provide tons of surface area for bacteria.
Don't be shy of plants, they're all good. But you may want to rethink your cycling approach. Cycling builds up nitrifiers, plants will outcompete them for ammonia, decreasing nitrifiers, but I'll let Chuck say it (spend some time on this site btw):
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_newtank.htm
Don't worry about airstones or anything like that, they're unecessary. If you want to cut down on surface agitation from your HOB:
1-make sure your water is level with the bottom of the outflow, i.e. water shouldn't be splashing down into the tank, just flowing
2-take a filter sponge, cut a slit down the middle just (and I mean just) wide enough for it to fit over the lip of your outflow. Squeeze the outflow into the slit, the back part of the sponge should be securely wedged between the back of the tank and the filter. The front part will catch the outflow water so that it moves gently into the aquarium.
I've also done this by suspending some filter wool from the inside, hanging out so that it hangs a bit into the water.
hth
Using goldfish to cycle is bad for the goldfish, ageed. But the ammonia produced by goldfish waste is the same ammonia produced by tropical fish waste. Also the same bacteria is being build up, increasing the temp. for tropical fish won't affect your cycle or nitrifier colonies.
Your filter is fine. The guy at the store was trying to make a sale. If you've got good water flow (3x tank volume per hour, if memory serves) and some sponge/floss, you're all good. You don't need carbon or ammolok or anything other than sponge/floss and wool. These do the job of mechanical filtration and provide tons of surface area for bacteria.
Don't be shy of plants, they're all good. But you may want to rethink your cycling approach. Cycling builds up nitrifiers, plants will outcompete them for ammonia, decreasing nitrifiers, but I'll let Chuck say it (spend some time on this site btw):
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_newtank.htm
Don't worry about airstones or anything like that, they're unecessary. If you want to cut down on surface agitation from your HOB:
1-make sure your water is level with the bottom of the outflow, i.e. water shouldn't be splashing down into the tank, just flowing
2-take a filter sponge, cut a slit down the middle just (and I mean just) wide enough for it to fit over the lip of your outflow. Squeeze the outflow into the slit, the back part of the sponge should be securely wedged between the back of the tank and the filter. The front part will catch the outflow water so that it moves gently into the aquarium.
I've also done this by suspending some filter wool from the inside, hanging out so that it hangs a bit into the water.
hth
figured out what was causing the rotton plant smell. The filter that came with the petsmart 10g kit had barely any carbon inside the filter bag.
I went out and bought some High density carbon and a new filter and added more carbon into the new filter. After about 4 hours the smell was drastically reduced. The smell of the water now has that good earthy soil smell.
hope this find might help another beginner like me in the future.
I went out and bought some High density carbon and a new filter and added more carbon into the new filter. After about 4 hours the smell was drastically reduced. The smell of the water now has that good earthy soil smell.
hope this find might help another beginner like me in the future.
I would guess that it was rotting plants that were causing the rotting plant smell, not the lack of carbon.
Carbon is just an adsorption medium. It binds organic (in this case, read smelly) molecules. It will suppress the smell, even get rid of it for a while. But unless the source of the smell, likely the hornwort, is removed, it will return when the carbon is exhausted.
Carbon is just an adsorption medium. It binds organic (in this case, read smelly) molecules. It will suppress the smell, even get rid of it for a while. But unless the source of the smell, likely the hornwort, is removed, it will return when the carbon is exhausted.
ok here it is!
quick summary:
after getting rid of that awful rotting plant smell I decided to upgrade on a couple things.
a new flourescent hood, a new 50w heater with a visible thermostat by Proquatics (works nice), a new power filter (Marineland Millennium 1000; also very nice).
link to filter:
http://www.marineland.com/products/consumer/con_millennium.asp
I was also lucky enough to find some bio-spira and used it. A bit expesive though $11.99 for 1 oz! this better be good
heres a link to that
http://www.marineland.com/products/mllabs/ML_biospira.asp
I poured a 1oz. packet inside the tank and into the bio-grid filter plate (venturi valve full on to give max air for bacteria growth)with at the time my single, very cool-looking, blue Betta. I monitored the water chemistry for the next 3 days and saw an increase of ammonia and a drop in ammonia then an increase of nitrite and its gradual drop. Seems like the bacteria were taking hold and my temps and pH were constant: 76F and 7.2-7.3pH
(tap water here in so. cali was 7.6-7.8pH, used pH down to soften it in seperate clean and empty milk jugs)
I then went out and got 6 neon tetras, one died, but the rest are healthy
Then waited some days and got a cory with 4 ghost shrimp
found some bio-coat and bio-blend foodand got them and used them since i was kinda impressed with the bio-spira. The bio-coat seemed nice to have here is a link to that:
http://www.marineland.com/products/mllabs/ML_biocoat.asp
so far only1 losse of life then neon tetra, 10-20% water changes every other day, daily chem readings.
My son and I like it very much and thank all of you for all your wise advice and suggestions. Wouldnt have gotten anywhere without the reading up on the tons of info available on the net.
Overall, I think a successful newbie tank that me and my are quite proud of
PS the betta is hilarious! with his new neighbors I was worried about his temperment but he seems to love investigating the other fishes and the cory is a valiantly cleaning in and out of the caves I think I will get him another cory to keep him company and then my tank will be maxed out for stocking.
in a couple months I'm going to try my hand at a planted 20-30g gourami tank, after I save up some extra cash
here is a link to than plan of mine
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29669
quick summary:
after getting rid of that awful rotting plant smell I decided to upgrade on a couple things.
a new flourescent hood, a new 50w heater with a visible thermostat by Proquatics (works nice), a new power filter (Marineland Millennium 1000; also very nice).
link to filter:
http://www.marineland.com/products/consumer/con_millennium.asp
I was also lucky enough to find some bio-spira and used it. A bit expesive though $11.99 for 1 oz! this better be good
heres a link to that
http://www.marineland.com/products/mllabs/ML_biospira.asp
I poured a 1oz. packet inside the tank and into the bio-grid filter plate (venturi valve full on to give max air for bacteria growth)with at the time my single, very cool-looking, blue Betta. I monitored the water chemistry for the next 3 days and saw an increase of ammonia and a drop in ammonia then an increase of nitrite and its gradual drop. Seems like the bacteria were taking hold and my temps and pH were constant: 76F and 7.2-7.3pH
(tap water here in so. cali was 7.6-7.8pH, used pH down to soften it in seperate clean and empty milk jugs)
I then went out and got 6 neon tetras, one died, but the rest are healthy
Then waited some days and got a cory with 4 ghost shrimp
found some bio-coat and bio-blend foodand got them and used them since i was kinda impressed with the bio-spira. The bio-coat seemed nice to have here is a link to that:
http://www.marineland.com/products/mllabs/ML_biocoat.asp
so far only1 losse of life then neon tetra, 10-20% water changes every other day, daily chem readings.
My son and I like it very much and thank all of you for all your wise advice and suggestions. Wouldnt have gotten anywhere without the reading up on the tons of info available on the net.
Overall, I think a successful newbie tank that me and my are quite proud of
PS the betta is hilarious! with his new neighbors I was worried about his temperment but he seems to love investigating the other fishes and the cory is a valiantly cleaning in and out of the caves I think I will get him another cory to keep him company and then my tank will be maxed out for stocking.
in a couple months I'm going to try my hand at a planted 20-30g gourami tank, after I save up some extra cash
here is a link to than plan of mine
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29669
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Your tank is very pretty but I don't think it is exactly for the 9 yr old any more! I told you a few posts back that you were hooked Dad. You have gotten the bug and there is no cure! I wish you all the best.
Yes, the cory needs some company.
