Nonie
Aquarium Advice Regular
Hi there,
ZxC gave me some great advice in the Getting Started forum (Lead me by the hand please) and has suggested I start a build journal for my 29 gallon tank.
I have been having cycling problems in my 5 gallon Fluval Spec and am transferring my 3 critters (George, the Betta; Emmet, the Bristlenose Pleco; and Fred, the Zebra Nerite Snail) over to an old 29 gallon tank my brother gave me a week and a half ago.
I am starting with an AquaClear 50, Ehiem Jager 100W, Fluval 3.0 LED plant light, and an active sponge from Angelsplus.com.
I will be moving the filter media from my Fluval Spec into a smaller Aqua Clear filter my brother had (assuming it works!), plus the aquarium sand substrate and some of the decorations.
I have 3 betta moss balls that will move over, plus some duckweed.
I am getting Java Moss and Hornwort from Angelsplus.com. Supposed to arrive today with the active sponge.
I filled the tank last 5 days ago. I put in a catappa leaf 2 days ago. I have some rocks, a jar, plastic dinosaur, and a couple of fake plants in there now. I added the heater, thermometer, and new filter yesterday. The light came today. Lots of settings! What's a good setting for that light?
I took water readings of the 29 gallon tank today and they are:
pH: 8.0
Ammonia: .5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
Where's that ammonia from? This is with nothing alive in the tank as yet. I do have old aquarium gravel from my brother (last used about 20 years ago) and one of his old fake plants in there. I also moved the thermometer over from my 5 gallon tank yesterday. Ironically, that tank's ammonia is now starting to come down, still no nitrites, and the same nitrates.
I took readings of our well water. We have very hard water here.
pH: 8.0 (if not even 8.2)
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
I also dosed the 29g with a double dose of Prime yesterday in anticipation of moving the fish over when the active sponge arrives today. How often should I dose it with Prime during this cycling phase? And after that? I was told that since I am using well water I don't really need to use a water conditioner. Correct?
I will post a pic when I get it all set with the new plants and the fish moved over. (Side note: I posted a pic of George in the welcome forum, but couldn't figure out how to turn it right side up. Someone did it for me there, but how on earth do you do that?)
I welcome advice as to what to plant in it as well as how to stock it and with what when it is completely cycled. George, Emmet, and Fred are going to need some company in that big thing!
Driftwood to take down the pH? I thought the catappa leaf was supposed to do that. Maybe add another leaf? I have another leaf, but don't have driftwood.
Let the Adventure begin! =)
ZxC gave me some great advice in the Getting Started forum (Lead me by the hand please) and has suggested I start a build journal for my 29 gallon tank.
I have been having cycling problems in my 5 gallon Fluval Spec and am transferring my 3 critters (George, the Betta; Emmet, the Bristlenose Pleco; and Fred, the Zebra Nerite Snail) over to an old 29 gallon tank my brother gave me a week and a half ago.
I am starting with an AquaClear 50, Ehiem Jager 100W, Fluval 3.0 LED plant light, and an active sponge from Angelsplus.com.
I will be moving the filter media from my Fluval Spec into a smaller Aqua Clear filter my brother had (assuming it works!), plus the aquarium sand substrate and some of the decorations.
I have 3 betta moss balls that will move over, plus some duckweed.
I am getting Java Moss and Hornwort from Angelsplus.com. Supposed to arrive today with the active sponge.
I filled the tank last 5 days ago. I put in a catappa leaf 2 days ago. I have some rocks, a jar, plastic dinosaur, and a couple of fake plants in there now. I added the heater, thermometer, and new filter yesterday. The light came today. Lots of settings! What's a good setting for that light?
I took water readings of the 29 gallon tank today and they are:
pH: 8.0
Ammonia: .5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
Where's that ammonia from? This is with nothing alive in the tank as yet. I do have old aquarium gravel from my brother (last used about 20 years ago) and one of his old fake plants in there. I also moved the thermometer over from my 5 gallon tank yesterday. Ironically, that tank's ammonia is now starting to come down, still no nitrites, and the same nitrates.
I took readings of our well water. We have very hard water here.
pH: 8.0 (if not even 8.2)
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
I also dosed the 29g with a double dose of Prime yesterday in anticipation of moving the fish over when the active sponge arrives today. How often should I dose it with Prime during this cycling phase? And after that? I was told that since I am using well water I don't really need to use a water conditioner. Correct?
I will post a pic when I get it all set with the new plants and the fish moved over. (Side note: I posted a pic of George in the welcome forum, but couldn't figure out how to turn it right side up. Someone did it for me there, but how on earth do you do that?)
I welcome advice as to what to plant in it as well as how to stock it and with what when it is completely cycled. George, Emmet, and Fred are going to need some company in that big thing!
Driftwood to take down the pH? I thought the catappa leaf was supposed to do that. Maybe add another leaf? I have another leaf, but don't have driftwood.
Let the Adventure begin! =)