Need advice : setting up an Aquarium

Froglet

It may have been running but unless ammonia has been added to the water in small amounts and the water tested regularly,it will not have matured;it can take up to 5 weeks to get the balance right.It used to be the case that people would put in hardy fish and let this happen over time but sadly it just ends in the fish suffering the ammonia spikes.Running a pump/filter without adding anything is just a complete waste of time.

This explains it better than i can http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_51/fishless-cycling-article.htm

Sui_Generis

Forgot to ask earlier - does anyone have recommendations for a book on tropical fish? I'd rather have something smaller format I can carry with me than a coffee table one if poss. Also do you rate any fish magazine better the rest?

Must say I am enjoying watch my little 'uns. The three Danios seem to have decided which part of the tank is their 'territory' and the middle sized one seems to enjoy chasing others away. The two largest White Clouds were doing some interesting parallel displays earlier. They'd square up to each other and then extend their fins and a couple of times one gave the other a slap with the tail. Any idea what if anything that signifies? They all seem perfectly happy.

Sui_Generis

*bump*

re. the literature?

Froglet

Like the site(which is down at present,that is why i didn't link in my last post) I can recommend Practical Fishkeeping 100%.I had the magazine for years and made a couple of scrapbooks for reference from all the relevant articles.One for the ponds and one for the tropicals.

Then once they got their website and messageboard up and running i stopped the mag and refer to that instead.Book wise,why not go to the library and get them out for free.

Sui_Generis

Froglet wrote: »

Then once they got their website and messageboard up and running i stopped the mag and refer to that instead.Book wise,why not go to the library and get them out for free.

Good point! Haven't been there for a couple of years.

ixwood

Spudette wrote: »

Biorbs are definately the easiest Aquariums to keep, they are the bread and butter of fish tanks. Simple to keep and clean and they look fab. I have had all sizes of Biorbs but the 30L was the best size I thought personally. The 60L didn't quite look right.

HTH

Sorry, but that's rubbish.

They're the overpriced, impractical, tacky, verging on cruel things that people that know nothing about keeping fish think are brilliant.

Sui_Generis

Just an update: our Danios and White Cloud are extremely happy and today they have new neighbours - Glowlights. Hopefully they'll be as happy.

Still waiting on a new heater and just ordered a ton of plants so that'll be fun for the fish when planted up. Once the new heater can be proven to hold the temp then we shall get some colour! Also ordered an LED to test to replace the halogen with luck.

Anyone know of any good cheap underwater LED lights? I think I'd like more dispersed lighting in the tank.

Sui_Generis

I think I should have painted some fish on the side of the tank rather than buy the Glowlights, they just hide behind a plant and that's it. No desire to swim in the tank or mix with the other fish...

Froglet

Are you testing the water chemistry? if you are not ,then the filter may well not be mature yet and you could have dangerous levels of ammonia in the tank which will make all the fish,but especially the new ones,feel very sick and could even die.You need to be doing LOTS of water changes.New fish should not be added so soon after setting up.

Jimx26

Froglet wrote: »

Are you testing the water chemistry? if you are not ,then the filter may well not be mature yet and you could have dangerous levels of ammonia in the tank which will make all the fish,but especially the new ones,feel very sick and could even die.You need to be doing LOTS of water changes.New fish should not be added so soon after setting up.

I echo the above with a new set up you should be testing for nitrate,nitrite and ammonia at least once a week