Can someone help a beginner?

[Sica118]

Hey guys so it has been a couple of years since I took down my 20 G tank. I'm starting It up again and I'm looking for advice. I'm trying smothering different this time and that is using sand in freshwater setup. I just set it up and it is a little cloudy.



These are the chemicals I put in it. Prime conditioner, topfin water clarifier, and topfin bacteria supplement. So what do you guys think? Let the water run for a day or two and see what happens?

 

[Ulrichsd]

Looks good! Get some liquid ammonia and an API master kit and get your fishless cycle going, takes about 4 weeks but you will avoid a thread titled "help, my fish are swimming in circles or gulping at the surface, or i woke up and half were dead, etc"

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[Mattyfelts]

use a raw prawn in a filter bag, probably cheaper.

 

[Sica118]

Alright I will keep everyone updated

 

[Mar_]

I took a long shot with this app but I'm happy I did! Everyone was so helpful and now I'm supper excited to start! Long weekend project! Thank you everyone!

Ps. Be nice peeps ??


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[Sica118]

Well here it is

 

[Sica118]

So is there any reason why the fish swim up against the glass?

 

[Mar_]

So is there any reason why the fish swim up against the glass?

Looks so nice!!


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[jasonfishaddict]

Just getting used to new digs.


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[Sica118]

4 Molly's swimming into glass at the corner. Any suggestions why. Also shutting up to the top of the water.

 

[Fishfanatic16]

Looks good


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[jasonfishaddict]

Where did you get the mollies?


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[Sica118]

A Petco store

 

[jasonfishaddict]

May be poor stock.


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[Caliban07]

A Petco store

You need to purchase a reputable liquid test kit such as the API master test kit for freshwater. Did you do a fishless cycle or have you put fish straight in?


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[Sica118]

I have a test kit, and yes I waited for days.

 

[jasonfishaddict]

It takes weeks to properly cycle, not days. Research the nitrogen cycle for freshwater aquariums.


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[CoryFan]

Plastic plants can snag and tear delicate fins, which has happened to my betta. Silk plants are safe, as are live ones.

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[Sica118]

One if my Molly's died today. My nitrate is between 1-3 any advice?

 

[azmodan]

What are your readings for ammonia and nitrite? Is your test kit a liquid one?

Read this article and pay special attention to the part of the nitrogen cycle: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/guide-to-starting-a-freshwater-aquarium/

You're in the midst of a fish-in cycle, which means you have to keep ammonia and nitrite under .25 otherwise your wish could suffer and die. Fish-in cycles generally entail 1x-2x 50% water changes a day, particularly with high bioload fish like mollies.

Good luck! The work is all worth it in the end!