ubject: New 18g tank: advice please
From: "Vicki PS"
Date: 9/26/2004 6:24 AM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

Hi all

I'm a newbie to the group, and a new, rapidly becoming obsessed, fish owner.
I acquired a new 24"x12"x15" tropical tank set up 8 days ago -- running a
Resun Magi-200 internal power filter. I filled the tank with tap water
treated with AquaMaster Chlorine Neutral, let the filter run for a day, the
added the recommended new tank dose of Cycle. The tank doesn't have live
plants, just plastic/silk plants plus some resin rocks, and a small gravel
substrate.

Four days later, I introduced 1 male and 2 female platys, and a further dose
of Cycle. The platys weren't real happy at first. Water tests next day
showed pH above 7.6 (not knowing better, I only got a narrow-spectrum test
kit), ammonia 1.0ppm, nitrates 0.3ppm. I haven't got test kits for GH/KH,
but the LFS tested and said the water is pretty hard. Our local water
supply has a high pH straight from the tap: not sure about hardness, but the
city was originally called Limestone! (Just a mild complaint -- test kits
here in Australia are quite expensive. And I wish I'd read up about
fishless cycling sooner).

Water yesterday -- pH: still 7.6, NH3/NH4: 0.51.0ppm, NO2: 0.1ppm. I did
a 25% water change and added 1/2 tsp pH-Down. pH afterward was 7.2.
Today's tests show pH back up, ammonia under 0.5ppm and nitrite 0.3ppm. The
platys are happy and eating well (tropical flake). I'll retest in 2 days.

I hope someone wouldn't mind answering a couple of questions or giving some
sage advice:

1. From what I've read, it seems like opening a big can of worms to try and
adjust the pH with pH-Down or other additives, especially before the tank
has cycled. (I understand that the pH will tend to acidify somewhat as the
cycle completes anyway, is that correct)? I figure I'd be better off
concentrating on fish species that will tolerate alkaline conditions, rather
than messing too much trying to get a lower pH.

2. The tank water smells like cat pee! (And no, the cat hasn't been peeing
in it, to forestall the obvious first question Is this normal? Any
thoughts? I wondered if this could be an effect of adding Cycle, or maybe
the tank decorations. Everything was washed well in plain tap water before
adding to the tank, and nothing had an obvious cat-pee smell.

3. Am I correct in thinking that the tank is still cycling, since ammonia
has dropped but nitrite risen slightly? Should I fork out more $$ for a
nitrate test kit? I should mention that the weather here has been quite
warm, up to 27 - 28 deg C during the day, if this has any influence on the
cycle. As it's too late to try fishless cycling, will 3 little platys be
sufficient to provide the biological load to keep the process going without
too much distress to them?

4. Has anyone had any experience with Geoliquid: is it worth using?

5. My thoughts on stocking the tank (focusing on small, hardy, peaceful,
alkaline-tolerant species):
a pair of dwarf blue or honey gourami
4 or 5 platys (including the 3 I've already got)
1 molly or 1 female betta
5 or 6 glolite or flame tetras, or else some WCM minnows
For the bottom: maybe a couple of bumblebee gobys, or else a peacock
gudgeon (if I can find one).

Does this sound reasonable? I'd appreciate advice on time span to
progressively introduce further fish, and whether it's best to introduce
them in any particular order?

Thanks in advance for your help. I've been reading as much as I can in this
and other groups, FAQs, aquaria web sites etc and am learning heaps,
especially about the fundamentals of the nitrogen cycle, and the importance
of good maintenance and regular partial water changes! I just hope I'm not
making too many huge blunders along the way.

Vicki PS




First thing you should know is that product "Cycle" will not help cycle your
tank. It's bunk. "Snake Oil" as some would say.
The other products on the market that are "cycle starters" also do not work, as
they all have the wrong type of bacteria in them.
The only product that does have the corrct type, is marineland's Bio Spira.
It's harder to find because it needs to be kept refrigerated and not all shops
want to find space for the mini frige the company sends with it.
Non of my local shops carry it, but a major chain store does, PetLand.
Here's the link for the product:
http://marineland.com/science/nspira.asp
You can learn about the correct bacteria in the info.
It amazes me that the other ones can still legally claim they "cycle" the tank
when it's wrong stuff.
Anyway, you tank is smelling a little like "cat pee", as you said because of
the building ammoina in the tank.
Hopefully, the Platies you bought were healthy and strong so that they can
survive the cycle period.
I would not suggest buying any more fish until the process is complete (unless
you can find Bio Spira in stock).
After the cycling period is over you can add new fish, only 1-2 at a time. Let
the nitrifying bacteria build up to the new tank load (newly added fish means
the bacteria colony has to create more of themsleves).
I like to wait 2 weeks between fish being added. Some folks wait 1 week.
Being that the tank is cycling, you must not slack off on the water changes.
If you do, the ammonia / nititrite levels can rise to a toxic levels and kill
off your fish.
I do a 20% water change weekly, and every other week a light gravel vacuum.
Don't worry about removing the "good" bacteria with a water change, because
they're not just floating around in the water...they're sticky and stick to
every surface available in your tank. Gravel, plants, the tank wall, anything.
Feed daily, but lightly, as normal.
If after feeding, if there's a tank floor full of flake food...you fed too
much. Trust me, so many newbies make this very common mistake figuring the fish
will eventually eat it up. Not so. It will simply decay and pollute the tank.
As for messing around with the pH, leave it be. It's fine.
You can actually cause more havoc on your tank's water chemistry by trying to
"fix" it.
I am not familiar with the product you asked about..Geoliquid. What is this?

In regard to your stocking wish list:
The Gouramis you've listed...I don't know the specifics on those two types, but
with Gouramis, if you're going to get a pair, just make sure it's either 2
females or male and female. 2 males will harrass each other for territory.
The Molly is acutally better off in Brackish water (half salt half fresh
water).
WCM minnows do better in cooler tanks.
BumbleBee Gobies are brackish fish. They're not going to do so well in
freshwater.
The Peacock Gudgeon sounds like a lovely fish. I've read that it's freshwater,
and that it's brackish. So...somebody with better knowledge of the species will
have a better answer for you.