New Tank; Checklist

[Trumper]

Ahoy Mateys.

KK, I'm a noob and I'm setting up a new Nano Cube 12. My goal is to have a medium-heavy planted tank with a few fish. The plants are ordered and will arrive tomorrow (basic assortment; moss for the wood and one red Tiger Lotus for the focus). Tank was set up last night, lights went out (timer is set for 10 hours a day).

I noticed this morning that there's some very small (pinhead size) algae looking stuff (dark green) on parts of the wood. Is that gonna be an issue?

I haven't taken readings yet, but I have a master test kit as well as Kh/Gh. Water temp is set for 75 and it's hovering right near there.

The substrate is eco-complete. I used Stress Coat to dechlorinate when I added the water (tap).

Should I test for...what?

Since the goal is a fairly heavy planted tank with otos, shirmp, then maybe a few tetras, what should my temp and ph goals be?

Is this algae that appears to be starting up on the wood a problem or will it go away when I add plants?

Edit: OK, just did first tests--ammonia .5ppm and the low ph seemed darker than the top reading. So I did a high ph reading and it looks like it's right about 8.0.

Here's a pic at this stage just for reference.

This is fun! I can't wait to get this going but I'm a worrier and don't want to mess up in the initial stages....

 

[dismantle me]

I think the algea will go away once you get the plants in there. The plants should over power the algea (by getting most of the nutrients). If they dont, it shouldnt be too much trouble to scrub it off. Hope this helps and Good Luck!

 

[stingray4540]

if you plan on adding fish you will need to cycle your tank first. Once cycled your readings should be 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrites, and less than 20ppm nitrates. Once the cycleing is complete you moniter the nitrate levels whith water changes. I guess you can do fishless cycleing, but I just get 3 giant danios per 10 gallons and let them cycle it. They'll live through all the amonia and nitrite spikes, and at least you'll have something in your tank to look at while your wating for your final fish. Most lfs will give you a store credit for returned giant danios once your cycle is done. If you plan on keeping tetras your ph levels are going to need to be neutral to acidic (7.0 or lower). Also, tetras tend to be pretty delicate so do your research and set up the tank to properly accomodate them. Go to www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=864 click on freshwater to see the different requirements for different fish.

 

[Trumper]

Yeah,
research, research, research. I'm going to take my time cycling...I'll check with the LFS on the Danios....

I notice in StingRay's sig that you have gobies in your tank! I thought I recalled reading someplace that those guys are pretty much solitary fish as they don't play well with others.... Is that true? I love those guys and the way they look, but I'd dismissed them as a possibility for my tank....