bronxbomber
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I am a new aquarist. Last week I bought a used 55 gal tank. I researched nitro cycling and bought everthing I thought I could need to get started. No fish, like advised.
I started w/ freshwater, added Prime and Cycle, 11 live plants and bought a Hagen AquaClear 70 filer, set it to high. I added several sponges I got from the LPS. I got a very good test kit and took base line level. ammonium was at 1.0 nitrite was at 0 and nirate was at 0-5. I waited 24 hours and tested again. 0, .5 and 5. I read the Cycle instructions wrong and added another full dose. I tested the next day and was at 0,0,10. My water turned a little brown. I believe from tannins from a large Mopani wood I added.
I suspectly went to a LPS and met what I think is a very knowledgable employee. He advised adding some fish. I added 3 red wag platy. Next day I tested: .25, 0, 10. I waited. Next day tested 0,0,5. I waited. Next day tested 0,010. I added 1 red flame gourami. Next day .25,0,5. Wait. Next day 0,0,10. Added 1 Bumblebee Goby and 4 Harlequin Rasboras. I also added 5 tsp of salt to some tank water and mixed it in the tank. Next day. .25,0,10.
Will all my fish die next week? Or do things look OK so far. My goal is 2 Kuhli Loaches, 6-8 more Harlequins, a RT Shark, a crab?, another Goby (definitely) and 3 Bosemani Rainbows.
I started w/ freshwater, added Prime and Cycle, 11 live plants and bought a Hagen AquaClear 70 filer, set it to high. I added several sponges I got from the LPS. I got a very good test kit and took base line level. ammonium was at 1.0 nitrite was at 0 and nirate was at 0-5. I waited 24 hours and tested again. 0, .5 and 5. I read the Cycle instructions wrong and added another full dose. I tested the next day and was at 0,0,10. My water turned a little brown. I believe from tannins from a large Mopani wood I added.
I suspectly went to a LPS and met what I think is a very knowledgable employee. He advised adding some fish. I added 3 red wag platy. Next day I tested: .25, 0, 10. I waited. Next day tested 0,0,5. I waited. Next day tested 0,010. I added 1 red flame gourami. Next day .25,0,5. Wait. Next day 0,0,10. Added 1 Bumblebee Goby and 4 Harlequin Rasboras. I also added 5 tsp of salt to some tank water and mixed it in the tank. Next day. .25,0,10.
Will all my fish die next week? Or do things look OK so far. My goal is 2 Kuhli Loaches, 6-8 more Harlequins, a RT Shark, a crab?, another Goby (definitely) and 3 Bosemani Rainbows.