Good evening all, after a 20 year absence I've jumped back into the aquarium hobby. It's amazing the amount of information available today compared to back then. It started off with my 4 year old wanting Santa to bring him a pet fish. He got a basic 10 gallon set up from a big box store. No big deal, I had a 10 and 45 when I was younger.
First, the 10 gallon generated a lot of excitement across the entire family, my wife and I reminisced and next thing you know we're putting together a 75 gallon set up, and the Internet research began to make sure I do it right. Meanwhile the 10 gallon tank was struggling. 20 years ago I didn't know what cycling was, I just did what my uncle or the pet store clerk told me to do. The 10 gallon was overstocked, over fed, had a poor filter, no aeration, and we were losing fish. I bought an API master kit (you don't want to know the first readings). I put a Penguin 100 in and took out the filter that came with the kit (put some of the media from the first into the new) and put an air stone in. Happy to say it's nursing it's way through the cycle, water changes are bringing the levels back down and fish are much better and healthier.
Now on to my question around the 75. I put an Emperor 400 and a Marineland C360 canister, along with two large air stones. The tank has been running for 8 full days now. Against my better judgement and research, I was a little nervous about the amount of fish we put in initially. However, after 8 days the water is amazingly clear, fish are healthy and colorful, ammonia has not gone above .25 ppm, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates. I've only done one 10% water change just for good measure even though the levels have not rose, even today the ammonia appeared closer to zero rather than .25. I used some Top Fin bacteria supplement at the beginning but nothing since. I know a larger tank can be easier but any tank I've ever started usually clouds up by the 2nd or 3rd day and what I now know as the cycle begins.
Should I be concerned? Are there any steps I should take? Sorry for the long post, just wanted to give some background on my first post. Thanks for your help.
First, the 10 gallon generated a lot of excitement across the entire family, my wife and I reminisced and next thing you know we're putting together a 75 gallon set up, and the Internet research began to make sure I do it right. Meanwhile the 10 gallon tank was struggling. 20 years ago I didn't know what cycling was, I just did what my uncle or the pet store clerk told me to do. The 10 gallon was overstocked, over fed, had a poor filter, no aeration, and we were losing fish. I bought an API master kit (you don't want to know the first readings). I put a Penguin 100 in and took out the filter that came with the kit (put some of the media from the first into the new) and put an air stone in. Happy to say it's nursing it's way through the cycle, water changes are bringing the levels back down and fish are much better and healthier.
Now on to my question around the 75. I put an Emperor 400 and a Marineland C360 canister, along with two large air stones. The tank has been running for 8 full days now. Against my better judgement and research, I was a little nervous about the amount of fish we put in initially. However, after 8 days the water is amazingly clear, fish are healthy and colorful, ammonia has not gone above .25 ppm, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates. I've only done one 10% water change just for good measure even though the levels have not rose, even today the ammonia appeared closer to zero rather than .25. I used some Top Fin bacteria supplement at the beginning but nothing since. I know a larger tank can be easier but any tank I've ever started usually clouds up by the 2nd or 3rd day and what I now know as the cycle begins.
Should I be concerned? Are there any steps I should take? Sorry for the long post, just wanted to give some background on my first post. Thanks for your help.
