I'm in the process of doing a fishless cycle on my very first tank ever. It's a 29 gal freshwater tank planted with anubias nana, java moss and a red sword (I'll also be adding a jungle val this week). I'm using all seachem products including Flourite for the substrate and prime as the conditioner. I'm using ammonia and stability to cycle the tank. We have an airstone as well as an AquaClear 50 filter with a sponge, matrix carbon, filter floss and biomax.
So far the cycle is going pretty well. We are about a week in and we have 0.5ppm Ammonia, 0.25 ppm Nitrite and 5 ppm Nitrate.
I know it will be a while yet before I should add any fish but I'd love some input as I have some concerns about pH and tank size. This is meant to be a community tank and my husband really wants to have a few guppies, a couple mollies, and a marble veil angel.
My biggest concern is the Angel. We have hard water even with a softner system. After a 24 hour rest, our tap water tests at 8.4 and with driftwood in the aquarium the tank water is holding steady at 8.2 pH. (I have ordered a GH/KH test, but it hasn't arrived yet). From what I have read Angel's prefer an acidic to neutral pH and besides that I am afraid a 29 gal tank with other fish may prove to be too small for the angel. We aren't opposed to getting a larger tank but I don't want the Angel to outgrow our current tank before we are ready (although our timeline could be easily changed). Much more important, I don't want to even get the angel if our water conditions are not good for it.
I have read we can add peat to the filter to bring down pH and/or use a buffer but as this is my first try at a tank ever I would feel much better getting some additional input. Can an Angel thrive in highly alkaline water and if not is using peat or buffers a reliable solution? Thanks!!
So far the cycle is going pretty well. We are about a week in and we have 0.5ppm Ammonia, 0.25 ppm Nitrite and 5 ppm Nitrate.
I know it will be a while yet before I should add any fish but I'd love some input as I have some concerns about pH and tank size. This is meant to be a community tank and my husband really wants to have a few guppies, a couple mollies, and a marble veil angel.
My biggest concern is the Angel. We have hard water even with a softner system. After a 24 hour rest, our tap water tests at 8.4 and with driftwood in the aquarium the tank water is holding steady at 8.2 pH. (I have ordered a GH/KH test, but it hasn't arrived yet). From what I have read Angel's prefer an acidic to neutral pH and besides that I am afraid a 29 gal tank with other fish may prove to be too small for the angel. We aren't opposed to getting a larger tank but I don't want the Angel to outgrow our current tank before we are ready (although our timeline could be easily changed). Much more important, I don't want to even get the angel if our water conditions are not good for it.
I have read we can add peat to the filter to bring down pH and/or use a buffer but as this is my first try at a tank ever I would feel much better getting some additional input. Can an Angel thrive in highly alkaline water and if not is using peat or buffers a reliable solution? Thanks!!