79 replies to this topic

[Anka]

Hi there,

I've taken some photos on my phone of my newly set up bichir aquarium. Last photo is with the moonlight (shitty camera quality) - I'll be adding a moonlight unit in the middle this weekend.

No fish in the tank yet but I'm hoping to pick up my 1st (~25cm male) senegal bichir sometime this week/weekend.

I'm a bit worried that after adding the 3D background in my 4x1.5x2 that there isn't a whole lot of space for the fish. What are your thoughts?

Cheers,

Andrew

Edited by Anka, 05 January 2013 - 05:02 PM.

[Kleinz]

Any fish in there keeping it cycled?

[Anka]

Filters were already cycled (>8 months). When I was cleaning out the old tank I cleaned the filters (tank water of course), left a little humidity in the cannisters and then shut them off for just over 24 hours. The bacteria should have gone into hibernation until I started them back up.

I then dosed the tank with like 2-3g of ammonium chloride. Ammonia was >3ppm last night (off the charts!). Tested again tonight = 1.76ppm. I did a 25% water change to reduce it a bit more. Gonna test in 1 hour and hopefully have it around 1.0-1.3ppm.

I'll start testing nitrite and nitrate tomorrow.

I have a photometre that gives me a digital reading within 3% accuracy so I'm feeling safe

[Anka]

Just tested the water again. Got >3.0ppm after a water change... something isn't right here...

I must have screwed up one of the tests. HNNNG.

[Bowdy]

Left the canister sitting to long and to much bacteria died.

[Anka]

My thought's exactly. Been dosing with Seachem stability. Hopefully that will sort things about by the weekend but I'm not going to be taking chances.

[Bowdy]

Time to get some goldfish to re cycle. Or some koi. Think Werdna may have some.

[Anka]

Ammonium chloride should do the trick surely? I don't like the whole sacrifical fish thing.

[Bowdy]

Not sacrifical if you don't kill them.

[Anka]

Is there any benefit of using goldfish over ammonium chloride?

[zach16]

Hay Anka dont put goldfish in there they carry alot of diseases put some cichlids in.

[Anka]

I'll just keep using stability and ammonium chloride. I don't want to buy fish that will eat my plants and I won't have anywhere to put them afterwards

Zach, fingers crossed everything will be good by the weekend but I'm not all that confident and don't want to take chances

[Bowdy]

I wouldn't trust chem's to cycle a tank where expensive fish are concerned. I'd do it the old fashioned trust worthy way if using fish. Murry river rainbows $2 each perfect and they look nice

[choombies]

Why wouldn't you trust chemicals Raymond??? It's the same as the fish produce.

[Anka]

Ammonia 1.26ppm tonight. Not sure why lat night it was 3ppm. Gonna do another wc tomorrow.

[CichlidLife]

Dodgy readings I think...

Ive got a aqua one 2200 canister with juicy festering long term bacterial filled water/sludge in it sitting in the garage.. I'll bottle some and send it over

[Terry]

Any fish can be used to cycle a tank and a good LFS will not knowingly sell diseased fish.

[zach16]

Any fish can be used to cycle a tank and a good LFS will not knowingly sell diseased fish.

Im just saying in my experience goldfish carry alot more diseases then tropical fish.

[Fox]

If you dont want to use goldlfish, use some fish food with plenty of aireation..

[Poncho]

Tidied up thread.

Keep it on topic and be warned that we won't be tolerating inflammatory posts