OKnights112's 1st Aquarium - Day 66 Update

[OKnights112]

So after some talk and planning I have started an aquarium for the first time. I really enjoyed going through this forum and reading, learning and looking at all the amazing tanks. I have decided to go with just rocks for my first attempt.

So here is what I started with.

Tank:
38 gallons - 30L x 18W x 16H – Custom Made at Aqua Zoo in Houston

Stand:
Custom made by Justin Henry

Substrate: (ADG is the best – the staff was really nice)
2 bags of PowerSand Special-S (2L)
1 bag of Aqua Soil New Amazonia Normal (9L)
ADA Nile Sand

Aquascaping Materials:
Seiryu Stones

Filter:
Ehiem 2213
Hydor Koralia Nano 240

Heater:
Ehiem Jager 150W

CO2:
Paintball Setup
AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini with Integrated Solenoid for Paintball Tank (R-78)
Diffuser

Lights:
Finnex LED RAY 2 30”

Plants:
Anubias Nana
Rotala rotundifolia "green"
Rotala Indica
Eleocharis Parvula
Lilaeopsis Brasiliensis

Fish:
4 – Corydoras Trilineatus
6 – Ember Tetras
8 – Green Neon Tetras
5 – Otocinclus
20 – Amano Shrimp

Fertilizer:
5 Drops of Green Bacter
7 Pumps of Green Brighty Step 1
7 Pumps of Brighty K



Day 1:
I placed the substrate down and managed to do an ok job of aquascaping. I places the Seiryu stones in a matter that I thought looked pretty good. I stood back for a while and looked at it and decided it was time to fill this bad boy up with water. I used a plastic bag over my substrate and began pouring the water in. It really helped. Still my sand and Aqua Soil got a little mixed in. My friend and I had one issue and that was getting the filter to start working. It had a lot of air in it and took a while to get out. I took the normal water measurements for the first time which was pretty fun. Here was the water condition results.
Ammonia - .25ppm
Nitrates – 0ppm
Nitrites – 0ppm
PH – 7.4

So here are some pictures of Day 1.

[OKnights112]

Day 2:
Well I decided to go buy some fish and plants from my local fish store. I picked up two Anubias Nanas. I talked to the owner and decided to get four Corydorus julii. I got home and put all them in the tank. I just did the water condition results and here they are:
Ammonia - .5ppm
Nitrates –20ppm
Nitrites – 0ppm
PH – 7.4

So here are some new pics from Day 2.

[Jeffww]

You put fish in a tank with uncycled amazonia?

[Dx3Bash]

ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia will produce high ammonia levels. Your plants will be fine, but the fish will likely die. You need to wait to add fish until your ammonia levels come back down.

[Dx3Bash]

By the way, nice set up. Great choice in filter and lights. Stand has a ton of room for equipment. Well done.

[OKnights112]

Well took an ammonia measurement this morning and it was at 1.5. I was going to do around a 50% water change today when I get home for work. I will just have to keep an eye on the ammonia. Thanks for the tip.

[OKnights112]

Day 3:
So when I got home I did my first water change today, I would probably say it was about a 40% change. My Julii Corys are still swimming around.

Water parameters:
Ammonia before water change – 2.0ppm
Ammonia after water change – 1.0ppm
Nitrates –20ppm
Nitrites – 0ppm
PH – 7.4

Will update again after the weekend.

So here are some new pics from Day 3.

[sarahspins]

I will be shocked if your cories surivive your cycle. Did they know when they sold them to you that you were putting them into a brand new tank, especially one with amazonia in it? I'd consider returning them to your LFS and finishing your cycle without putting their lives at risk.

1.0ppm ammonia is way too high when you have fish in the tank. Higher than .25 starts to stress them out.. they might be "alive" now but they won't be for long especially as your ammonia levels continue to climb (you're at 2ppm on day 3, I expect they'll get much higher within the next week).

If you want to keep them you may end up doing water changes daily - and I'd suggest doing more than 40%.. you need to get that ammonia down to under .25ppm, and that would be difficult with a normal fish-in cycle, nevermind adding a substrate into the mix that is also adding ammonia to the cycle.

[Jeffww]

Originally Posted by sarahspins

I will be shocked if your cories surivive your cycle. Did they know when they sold them to you that you were putting them into a brand new tank, especially one with amazonia in it? I'd consider returning them to your LFS and finishing your cycle without putting their lives at risk.

1.0ppm ammonia is way too high when you have fish in the tank. Higher than .25 starts to stress them out.. they might be "alive" now but they won't be for long especially as your ammonia levels continue to climb (you're at 2ppm on day 3, I expect they'll get much higher within the next week).

If you want to keep them you may end up doing water changes daily - and I'd suggest doing more than 40%.. you need to get that ammonia down to under .25ppm, and that would be difficult with a normal fish-in cycle, nevermind adding a substrate into the mix that is also adding ammonia to the cycle.

Not necesarily true. Low ph and temperature renders ammonia relatively harmless....
http://dataguru.org/misc/aquarium/AmmoniaTox.html

Also you should be doing daily doses for prime. It detoxifies a large amount of ammonia.

I would take the cories out and put them in a spare tank with a sponge filter or something. They will be dandy there. Don't worry about it too much we all make mistakes. I did this recently as well. I thought I cycled it since ammonia was reading 0. Then when I did a water change at my new residence the next day it was 4ppm.

[OKnights112]

Originally Posted by Jeffww

Not necesarily true. Low ph and temperature renders ammonia relatively harmless....
http://dataguru.org/misc/aquarium/AmmoniaTox.html

Also you should be doing daily doses for prime. It detoxifies a large amount of ammonia.

I would take the cories out and put them in a spare tank with a sponge filter or something. They will be dandy there. Don't worry about it too much we all make mistakes. I did this recently as well. I thought I cycled it since ammonia was reading 0. Then when I did a water change at my new residence the next day it was 4ppm.

Thanks for the article. Since my tank is at 78 degrees I feel a little better. I am going to do another water change tonight and try to get the ammonia down.

[Conrad283]

I really like the setup of those rocks on the left. Really looks good

[OKnights112]

Originally Posted by Conrad283

I really like the setup of those rocks on the left. Really looks good

Thanks.

[OKnights112]

Day 4:
I was not feeling to well last night and so I decided to check the water parameters and here is what I got.
Ammonia – 1.0ppm
Nitrates –20ppm
Nitrites – 1.0ppm
PH – 7.4

I am going to do a water change tonight and hope I can lower the ammonia level again.

[Brian Mc]

What an irresponsible store owner who sold you those fish! Get a bottle of Tetra Safe Start, I have cycled 2 tanks instantly with this stuff. Doing water changes will only delay the cycle further. HTH

[Wolf19]

Nice scape, but poor fishies