Newbie - advice wanted!

[FishEggs]

you want the nitrItes to go down to zero not stay at 10ppm. NitrAtes are ok at 10ppm.

[sarahsunshine]

Originally Posted by FishEggs

you want the nitrItes to go down to zero not stay at 10ppm. NitrAtes are ok at 10ppm.

Yes, you are quite right. What I meant to write was... that nitrites are at 0.1 ppm - not 10ppm... the lowest that my test tests... and if they stay down (or non-existent), then I'll be psyched! Then I can think about other fish!

Thanks for the correction!

[sarahsunshine]

Yay! I just set up my new Eheim 2213 on my 20g tank. I set it up according to he instructions. I also emptied a bucket of aquarium water and used that to rinse off the filter, and get it primed and checked and ran it for 5 minutes or so in the bucket. I think I did everything right. Then I moved it to the Aquarium. I've left the HOB AT 5-15 to help with seeding. My nitrites were at 0.3ish before the 50% change, so I assume they are at 0.1ish now (haven't checked yet - was going to tonight).

Questions:
I have 2 Ryukin and a small goldfish (each about 1.5"). Since I set the filter up, they've been swimming around really fast. One Ryukin is hanging out at the surface periodically, and the other is constantly going up and down in the bubbles. Is this normal?

Is the flow too high (it seems like there's a lot of flow and TONS of bubbles)? Would it be OK (enough O2) to aim the water at the glass to reduce the flow?


Will the flow be too much for the other fish I plan to put in this aquarium (neons, kuhli loaches, gourami)?

Is there anything I should watch out for other than a mini cycle?

[mfdrookie516]

as long as you keep the other filter in there, you wont see a mini cycle, or shouldnt anyways... as for the fish, that could be a good sign... if theyre more active now, the increased filtration and oxygenation of the water could be very good for them

[dkpate]

My kuhli loaches do laps around their bubble thing hooked onto the side of the tank lol. I don't think the bubbles will bother them of you end up getting some.

[jsoong]

Ryukins are pretty strong swimmer so I don't think they will have much trouble. You only need to worry about current with bubble eyes or some veils. <For reference, my return pump puts out 750 gph & the fish are fine with it. That is way stronger current that the Eheim.>

If you want, you can aim the return diagonally across the tank. This would create a calmer area at the near corner to the output. I do this so when I feed, the food don't all shoot across the tank & end up in the sump. This also gives an area with less current for sleep or rest. But for now, it seems like your fish are playing in the bubbles & enjoying themselves.

[sarahsunshine]

For an update...

Not only do I have 1 cyled tank, but 2!

Fish have been separated - goldfish (2 that I now know are calico Ryukin that I bought for 4.99 each!!! and one feeder goldfish) are in a 10g tank - which will last for a short while because they are small. Then they will go in the pond for the summer. Next fall I will need to find a bigger home for them.

In the 20g tank are 6 neons, 5 kuhli loaches, and as of today, 6 Harlequin Rasboras. I thought the Harlequins looked boring from all the photos, but these ones are very orangey-red in the right light!

[mfdrookie516]

yay... 2 tanks... now im just waiting on the bigger 3rd tank that youre going to post about

[dkpate]

My Rasboras are kind of red too! Glad you went with them, they are funny and cute!

[sarahsunshine]

Originally Posted by dkpate

My Rasboras are kind of red too! Glad you went with them, they are funny and cute!

Actually, DH chose them. He nixed the Lemon Tetras!