New 10G tank setup - Recommendations and Tips Plz

[CivicSiR]

Hi all.

Newb to aquariums and would like some tips and precautionary help. Any tips and suggestions are appreciated.

I started cycling my 10G tank on the night of Feb 7, 2013 (day of purchase). There's nothing in it atm. Been adding a pinch of top fin dried blood worms twice a day to help cycle the tank. I haven't tested the water yet, but plan to get a API Fresh Water Master Kit soon. Water temp is kept at 78 degrees.

I plan on purchasing some PFS soon and add some java moss to the tank to create a back drop. For the java moss any safe methods to disinfect them b4 adding it to my cycling tank? I read from many different forums that 1:19/1:20 ratio of bleach to water would do the trick. Anyone can support this method?

Planning to add upto 6 ghost shrimps from petsmart after cycling and possibly a male or female beta a few weeks after adding the GS.


Thanks

[sonoralinda]

Hi there, I'm also a newbie at trying my hand at a planted tank. The advice I would give you is to purchase your master kit pronto so you will know if you're coming or going. Know what I mean? You can't possibly know what's going on with your ammo or NO2 or NO3 without the tests. Hope this helps, Linda

[Kinection]

Originally Posted by sonoralinda

Hi there, I'm also a newbie at trying my hand at a planted tank. The advice I would give you is to purchase your master kit pronto so you will know if you're coming or going. Know what I mean? You can't possibly know what's going on with your ammo or NO2 or NO3 without the tests. Hope this helps, Linda

I agree on this, I wouldn't add any livestock yet.

[CivicSiR]

Thanks for feed back. I got my kit today (API FW Master Kit) after work and already tested ph, ammonia, and nitrite.

Results:
-ph 7.2 relatively good
-ammonia is between 0.25 and 0.50 ppm (couldn't tell precisely since the two colors on the chart is very similar.)
-nitrite 0ppm

Today is the 6th day of cycling with daily feeding dried blood worms. How come I have such low ammonia levels? Am I doing something wrong here? Water was not conditioned prior to testing. I used tap water when I setup the tank. I added prime afterwards. I will do another ammonia test tonight after work.

Tank Info:

-Petsmart 10g starter kit
-Been cycling with internal filter (rated at 60 to 90 gph) from the stater kit
-Added a Aqueon Quiet Flow 10 (rated at 100 gph flow) power hob filter today, so that I can remove the internal filter for my 1g ish backup/QT tank after cycling. Added on Feb 12
-Kept temp at 78F using Eheim Jager 50W heater
-Bubble wand since day 1 of cycling
-increased heat to 81F on night of Feb 12
-Will be picking up a 50lb bag of PFS from great west pool and spa. They say ph will not change. light tan brow color. Busy weekend cleaning the PFS and setup.

[homemadepopcorn]

A pinch of food might not be enough and it also takes a few days for the food to actually start degrading and producing ammonia. Your filter might be a little small for that tank, but you said you'll be keeping a single fish so I don't think it'll pose a problem.

To speed cycling along, you can crank up the heat.

[CivicSiR]

Hi admin,

My post prob shouldn't be in the low tech section. If you may, please move it to beginners section.

Thanks

[Wicket_lfe]

Hi cousin. Did you add the cocktail shrimp that most ppl recommend? also adding substrate will allow more surface area for bacteria to grow on.

I also recommend you check out the Canada swap n shop. Remind me to bring you some plants next time I go to Van.

[lochaber]

I'd suggest trying to find some pure ammonia, and using that to cycle your tank. It sounds like a lot of people get theirs from ace, I found the stuff I'm using in just some random convenience store.

Make sure the label states pure ammonia, and check the ingredients - you don't want anything with scents, dyes, fragrances, surfactants, etc. Also shake the bottle a bit to make sure it doesn't foam up any more then a bottle of water would.

Once you find some, fill a 5 gallon bucket (or some container of known volume), and add a couple milliliters, mix it up, and do an ammonia test after a bit.

If you know the concentration of the ammonia, this can make it a bit easier (at the bottom):
http://www.fishforums.net/aquarium-calculator.htm

Then you can determine how much you need to add to raise the ammonia by 1 ppm. just test for ammonia everyday, and then add what you need to get to your desired range (I think usually ~5ppm)

I think this is a little easier, and more reliable, since you have a much greater amount of control over things then you would get by just trying to add in fish food or frozen shrimp. Take a look at some of the other fishless cycling threads, Diana has a pretty good how-to that she posts in some of them.

[CivicSiR]

Appreciate the replies.

I'm getting PFS this Saturday from great west spa and pool in Richmond BC.
Will continue using powdered freezed dried blood worms until I find 100% ammonia.
I'll be adding PFS and java moss this weekend to complete my decor.

Cheers

[Wicket_lfe]

What happened with that old tank next to the TV in the basement?

[CivicSiR]

Originally Posted by Wicket_lfe

What happened with that old tank next to the TV in the basement?

I finally cleaned it up and it will be my QT/Hospital tank once I get some GS and future beta.
I got the aqueon quiet flow 10 hob filter for my 10g and the generic internal will go to QT after cycling. I also got extra air line tubing and the T-splitter so that I can share the air pump with it.

Potential setup:
http://aqadvisor.com/AquStockImage.p...:200909300079: