mattoid
Aquarium Advice Activist
Hi All,
This is my first post so apologies if this is covered elsewhere, and apologies as I am at work! and don’t have the hardware info. Only been looking after fish for 6 months. I am currently cycling my planted 4 foot by 18” X 18” (240ltr, 64 US gal, 53 UK gal) tropical freshwater tank and am concerned that everything is a bit too good to be true. I started it 10 days ago with 4 neon tetras, no plants, an in tank filter capable of handling 400-600ltrs (105-158 US gal, 88-132 UK gal) and a very small internal filter for bacteria addition purposes that I was running for 3 months in a healthy 2 foot tank with another filter. 7 days ago I added 4 corys (2 bronze, 2 peppers). Only one 10% water change so far 1 week ago just prior to adding corys.
I was informed that this wouldn’t be enough ammonia input. 1 week ago I put the neons back in the 2 foot and replaced them with 10 serpae tetras and lots of plants leaving the corys in. They get fed nightly with discus food and algae wafers.
2 days ago I removed the small in tank to go back into the 2 foot and installed an external filter capable of handling up to 300ltrs (80 US gal, 66 UK gal). Due for second 10% water change tonight.
Due to a nitrate spike from helpful children feeding the 2 foot, I removed my 2 small angels last night and put them in the 4 foot hoping they would add some ammonia too. I take readings every 1 or 2 days including last night and there has been no change. Temp. sitting at 24-26C (75-79F), Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5, ph 7.0-7.2 (reduced last night to 6.8). I thought I should at least see some ammonia by now given it has been over a week? Water is clean and soft from Yarra Ranges in Victoria, Australia if that helps.
Any input/help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
This is my first post so apologies if this is covered elsewhere, and apologies as I am at work! and don’t have the hardware info. Only been looking after fish for 6 months. I am currently cycling my planted 4 foot by 18” X 18” (240ltr, 64 US gal, 53 UK gal) tropical freshwater tank and am concerned that everything is a bit too good to be true. I started it 10 days ago with 4 neon tetras, no plants, an in tank filter capable of handling 400-600ltrs (105-158 US gal, 88-132 UK gal) and a very small internal filter for bacteria addition purposes that I was running for 3 months in a healthy 2 foot tank with another filter. 7 days ago I added 4 corys (2 bronze, 2 peppers). Only one 10% water change so far 1 week ago just prior to adding corys.
I was informed that this wouldn’t be enough ammonia input. 1 week ago I put the neons back in the 2 foot and replaced them with 10 serpae tetras and lots of plants leaving the corys in. They get fed nightly with discus food and algae wafers.
2 days ago I removed the small in tank to go back into the 2 foot and installed an external filter capable of handling up to 300ltrs (80 US gal, 66 UK gal). Due for second 10% water change tonight.
Due to a nitrate spike from helpful children feeding the 2 foot, I removed my 2 small angels last night and put them in the 4 foot hoping they would add some ammonia too. I take readings every 1 or 2 days including last night and there has been no change. Temp. sitting at 24-26C (75-79F), Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5, ph 7.0-7.2 (reduced last night to 6.8). I thought I should at least see some ammonia by now given it has been over a week? Water is clean and soft from Yarra Ranges in Victoria, Australia if that helps.
Any input/help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.