it's all gone terribly wrong....i think?

B

blondified

AC Members
Sep 6, 2007
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Hello everyone.
:wall:
Pretty much how I feel!
Set up my tank, did everything text book....and I've come across a few problems....if any of you could please help me at all I would be so so grateful.

It's been many years since I kept fish so I decided upon coldwater fish to start (I feel the guilt increases with the temperature of the water, in the case of fish dying!).
So anyway, I washed my gravel, cleaned my ornaments, all in tap water and no soaps. I put my filter in, which is working like a dream. I couldn't set up my air pump to it's ornament as I didn't have a check valve (still unsure to what this does). so I left that out. I put the treatment in the water and about 2 flakes of food (apparently this helps start the bacteria in the filter?) I was very happy and sat in awe of my work of art :) That was two days ago.... now it's turned cloudy and the air tubing and myself had a bit of a falling out. I've now broken the little part which controls how much air is flowing. the problem with the air pump was that it was all plugged up and in the right place but there was no bubbles in the tank.
Is there a better alternative? it was just a cheap ornament from a local pet shop....is there a better kind of ornament I should get?

Oh someone help me I'm really gutted it's cloudy and that the stupid air thing isn't working.

Many regards,
Loren :headbang2:
 
The cloudiness could be the start of a bacterial bloom (which was your goal with the flake). Are you doing a fishless cycle?
 
yes it's fishless.
i was going to leave the tank for a good 2 weeks before i put anything in it, and also so I can teach my 2 year old to keep off it!
 
lol, i hear that one. Its easier to use ammonia to regulate the levels than fish food. Make sure you keep feeding the developing bacteria. Do you have a good test kit? Most people will recommend aquarium pharmaceuticals liquid master test kit. This has ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate tests as well as ph.
 
ooooooooh the talk of physics sends me to sleep. lol i have many kits! so i should be treating it now? it didn't occur to me that i had to treat it without fish in....but that makes sense lol. how many times should i do it...every 2 days?
you got any ideas about my blasted air pump?
 
thankyou very much for your help. between episodes of spongebob and reading this i've got the jist lol i shall read that link when everyone is asleep!
once again many thanks!
Loren
 
blondified said:
Hello everyone.
:wall:
Pretty much how I feel!
Set up my tank, did everything text book....and I've come across a few problems....if any of you could please help me at all I would be so so grateful.

It's been many years since I kept fish so I decided upon coldwater fish to start (I feel the guilt increases with the temperature of the water, in the case of fish dying!).
So anyway, I washed my gravel, cleaned my ornaments, all in tap water and no soaps. I put my filter in, which is working like a dream. I couldn't set up my air pump to it's ornament as I didn't have a check valve (still unsure to what this does). so I left that out. I put the treatment in the water and about 2 flakes of food (apparently this helps start the bacteria in the filter?) I was very happy and sat in awe of my work of art :) That was two days ago.... now it's turned cloudy and the air tubing and myself had a bit of a falling out. I've now broken the little part which controls how much air is flowing. the problem with the air pump was that it was all plugged up and in the right place but there was no bubbles in the tank.
Is there a better alternative? it was just a cheap ornament from a local pet shop....is there a better kind of ornament I should get?

Oh someone help me I'm really gutted it's cloudy and that the stupid air thing isn't working.

Many regards,
Loren :headbang2:
Click to expand...


A check valve is simply a way to keep water from flowing into your heater in case of a failure. Most aquarium check valves are a rubber "diaphram" which will only let air travel one way, as soon as something "water" tries to flow the opposite way the valve closes preventing water from entering pump. You can buy one for about 3 dollars at your lfs. IMO, you should skip the orniment and just get an air stone. It will probably need to soak for 24 hours before use but they are much more effective and dont look like a silly ornament. You can even buyr the air stone under the gravel and it will look pretty decent.
 
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Check the tubing and make sure there's no holes in it. I have a cat who loves to chew on tubing so it's always the first thing I look at. If it's still not bubbling with an airstone and the tubing's o.k. then it's likely a problem with the pump itself. I don't use a check valve but I do keep the pump on top of the tank so it's above water level.
 
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