Hi, this is my first post, so it's probably going to 100% stupid and predictable. Please bear with me.
I am writing this because I have recently joined this fascinating hobby, and I have obtained a tank and some fish, but I am worried that my lack of knowledge and probable failure to cycle properly before adding fish will cause harm to my pets. My primary source of information has been asking at the local pet store, but I've increasingly become unsure whether that information is complete. I hope I can explain my situation and that you can help me understand if what I am doing is good or bad, and help me plan ahead.
Here is a log of sorts, of what I've done:
7th of September: I bought a Juwel Primo 60 (60 liters, 15 gallons) Led tank with included lighting and filter. I added 10kg of dark gravel that I washed before putting in the tank.
10th of September: I bought 2 plants and a couple of driftwoods.
11th of September: I added Tetra SafeStart bacteria.
14th of September: I tested the water at the store. They tested ph, nitrite, and one more thing I can't remember. They gave me a thumbs up to put fish in it.
15th of September: I bought 4 Neon Tetras per store reccomendation, and added them after 1 hour of gradual temperature and water acclimatization. I love my new fishies and want them to be happy, so I felt encouraged to read and watch about the species and aquarium keeping in general. I learn that Neon Tetras can be stressed in too small groups, and more about their preferred water parameters. I learn more about the nitrogen cycle, and begin to worry that they are lonely and that the water might not be good.
16th of September (today): I go to the pet store and buy 2 more neon tetras because I read that 6 is minimum, and I figured 6 less stressed fish is better than 4 more stressed fish, despite the risks. I also buy a Pro JBL 7 in 1 test kit to ensure the water is good, even though the store told me it was. I also bought a third plant with long leaves that float to the top and create some shade from the light, which I read the Neon Tetras like.
I go home and test the water, and see the GH is >3, which is a !!! red/bad, and KH is !! and yellow/borderline, and it also gives a slight reading on chlorine. So I am kind of freaking out and immediately goes back to the pet store and buy some salts for the GH and Tetra AquaSafe to neutralize the chlorine. (When reading about AquaSafe I learned that this is usually encouraged by pet store staff even though it is often not needed, but my area has a bit of chlorine in the tap water and they never mentioned it when I asked multiple times if there was anything missing / needed to check / needed to buy). I added those and the chlorine now seems to be good, but it's a bit hard to measure the color on the test strips. But I think that it is ok. The GH is still low, but I didn't want to add too much salts too fast, since there is fish in it. Will gradually increase over the coming days.
I read and watch more about water paramaters and the nitrogen cycle. I have a 0 reading on nitrite and a 0 reading on nitrate. My test does not measure ammonia, but I will get that ASAP along with some more accurate chlorine tests. So I realize that my tank probably just barely started the bacterial growth necessary. And I'm a bit worried about the coming weeks and my ability to keep my fishies happy and healthy.
If you made it this far, thank you so much for your time. Please give me advice on how to provide proper care in this situation. I can't unstupid the past, but maybe the future.
I am writing this because I have recently joined this fascinating hobby, and I have obtained a tank and some fish, but I am worried that my lack of knowledge and probable failure to cycle properly before adding fish will cause harm to my pets. My primary source of information has been asking at the local pet store, but I've increasingly become unsure whether that information is complete. I hope I can explain my situation and that you can help me understand if what I am doing is good or bad, and help me plan ahead.
Here is a log of sorts, of what I've done:
7th of September: I bought a Juwel Primo 60 (60 liters, 15 gallons) Led tank with included lighting and filter. I added 10kg of dark gravel that I washed before putting in the tank.
10th of September: I bought 2 plants and a couple of driftwoods.
11th of September: I added Tetra SafeStart bacteria.
14th of September: I tested the water at the store. They tested ph, nitrite, and one more thing I can't remember. They gave me a thumbs up to put fish in it.
15th of September: I bought 4 Neon Tetras per store reccomendation, and added them after 1 hour of gradual temperature and water acclimatization. I love my new fishies and want them to be happy, so I felt encouraged to read and watch about the species and aquarium keeping in general. I learn that Neon Tetras can be stressed in too small groups, and more about their preferred water parameters. I learn more about the nitrogen cycle, and begin to worry that they are lonely and that the water might not be good.
16th of September (today): I go to the pet store and buy 2 more neon tetras because I read that 6 is minimum, and I figured 6 less stressed fish is better than 4 more stressed fish, despite the risks. I also buy a Pro JBL 7 in 1 test kit to ensure the water is good, even though the store told me it was. I also bought a third plant with long leaves that float to the top and create some shade from the light, which I read the Neon Tetras like.
I go home and test the water, and see the GH is >3, which is a !!! red/bad, and KH is !! and yellow/borderline, and it also gives a slight reading on chlorine. So I am kind of freaking out and immediately goes back to the pet store and buy some salts for the GH and Tetra AquaSafe to neutralize the chlorine. (When reading about AquaSafe I learned that this is usually encouraged by pet store staff even though it is often not needed, but my area has a bit of chlorine in the tap water and they never mentioned it when I asked multiple times if there was anything missing / needed to check / needed to buy). I added those and the chlorine now seems to be good, but it's a bit hard to measure the color on the test strips. But I think that it is ok. The GH is still low, but I didn't want to add too much salts too fast, since there is fish in it. Will gradually increase over the coming days.
I read and watch more about water paramaters and the nitrogen cycle. I have a 0 reading on nitrite and a 0 reading on nitrate. My test does not measure ammonia, but I will get that ASAP along with some more accurate chlorine tests. So I realize that my tank probably just barely started the bacterial growth necessary. And I'm a bit worried about the coming weeks and my ability to keep my fishies happy and healthy.
If you made it this far, thank you so much for your time. Please give me advice on how to provide proper care in this situation. I can't unstupid the past, but maybe the future.