superfly
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Okay, hello all! First, I want to say I am a reptile guy. Have been for the past 10 years or so. Always liked aquariums but never tried my fancy. Then learned I cannot keep reptiles here, only a max 30g aquarium.
I have been a member a while and have spent the time reading and researching.. a few weeks ago I went to the LFS and bought everything I thought I would need. Set it up, let it run, and tested..and tested.. and still tested.. until I nearly gave up and realized I, being new, poured too much ammonia into the tank from the get go. My test kit only goes to 8ppm and that is where my test read until a few days ago when I did a 50/60% water change which got rid of most of the ammonia.
Now, tests show 0 ammonia, 20-40ppm for nitrate, and roughly 5ppm for nitrite. PH is consistently 7.5-7.8. The water here is very hard and basic. Temp stays steady at 79-80. Here is my set up:
-29g
-gravel
-aqueon heater
-hang on back aqueon power filter 30
-lot's of real plants from petco I do not know the name of but am researching
-air pump with two air stones on either side of tank
-light hood that came with the tank not sure if it is conducive to growing plants or not. I have been researching that and bought a book on it but most info is kind of confusing.
-I currently have 1 silver molly. It was 2 but one died. They were placed in the tank last night along with the new plants I bought from petco.
-I will post pics as soon as I can.
My question is how am I doing so far and why potentially did my molly die? Any and all advice/criticism/anything is welcome and don't sugar coat anything. I want to learn and I can take much more than you can dish out I promise
Thanks!!
Brien
I have been a member a while and have spent the time reading and researching.. a few weeks ago I went to the LFS and bought everything I thought I would need. Set it up, let it run, and tested..and tested.. and still tested.. until I nearly gave up and realized I, being new, poured too much ammonia into the tank from the get go. My test kit only goes to 8ppm and that is where my test read until a few days ago when I did a 50/60% water change which got rid of most of the ammonia.
Now, tests show 0 ammonia, 20-40ppm for nitrate, and roughly 5ppm for nitrite. PH is consistently 7.5-7.8. The water here is very hard and basic. Temp stays steady at 79-80. Here is my set up:
-29g
-gravel
-aqueon heater
-hang on back aqueon power filter 30
-lot's of real plants from petco I do not know the name of but am researching
-air pump with two air stones on either side of tank
-light hood that came with the tank not sure if it is conducive to growing plants or not. I have been researching that and bought a book on it but most info is kind of confusing.
-I currently have 1 silver molly. It was 2 but one died. They were placed in the tank last night along with the new plants I bought from petco.
-I will post pics as soon as I can.
My question is how am I doing so far and why potentially did my molly die? Any and all advice/criticism/anything is welcome and don't sugar coat anything. I want to learn and I can take much more than you can dish out I promise
Thanks!!
Brien