kirty Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 So I have just purchased a second hand 4ft tank. I'm picking it up on Wednesday and will start cycling it then. Any tips for cycling it would be much appreciated as its been years since I set up a new tank. I want to have tropical fish in this tank and would love some suggestions on what species I could try. Also, where do you guys buy fish from. I rescue cats and dogs, so to me, pet shops are bad places! LOL! We have a few nice aquarium shops nearby though - are they OK for buying fish or are their fish breeders that you can buy from? Any advice is much appreciated! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournebetta Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 What great timing... There is a fish fair coming up: Details are on this thread Plants, Fish mafia, breeders, Fish, Stalls, joy, fun, The Victorian Betta Group - what more could anyone want? -persuasiveNess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGirl13 Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 (edited) One might want to live in Melbourne!! There is some great info on cycling your tank pinned at the top of this forum, and heaps of links to give you ideas for set-ups. Our planted tank comp. may give you some ideas too. A good site to visit for stocking etc. is Aquadvisor. Have fun and be patient NannaJo B-) Edited May 22, 2011 by FlameDragon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yanagi Posted May 23, 2011 Report Share Posted May 23, 2011 To cycle get a big ol prawn from the deli, put it in a filter bag and smoosh it up good. Leave in tank until you can no longer walk past the tank without dry heaving. Leave to brew for a few weeks. I made a list of good fish for a 4ft tank for another member the other week so I'll copy and paste that. Some of my favourite groups.. Note that you may have to sell the Angels and such when they get big enough to snack on Rasbora.. Not that mine do. They haven't touched any of my little fish, not even my dwarf rasbora. 4-6 Angels 10+ Fire red rasbora 6 Dwarf chain loach 8 Praecox 5 Gouramis (Pearl look particularly nice in planted tanks) 10 Cherry barbs and/or Odessa barbs 8 Panda corydora 10+ Neons or Cardinals 5 Discus A pair of Apistos (love the opal borellis but they can be hard to come by) or Blue / Neon Blue / Gold Rams 10+ tetra or rasbora, I like rummynose with Discus Some peppermint bristlenose or maybe some Julii Corydora That should give you some ideas, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirty Posted May 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2011 Thank you so much for the links and info! Will definitely head along to the fish fair, and the pinned articles were great! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirty Posted May 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2011 Alright, I've had a read of the articles but they seem to be American, so can anyone tell me where/what ammonia they buy/use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yanagi Posted May 23, 2011 Report Share Posted May 23, 2011 Anything that's rotting will give you ammonia. Smooshed up deli prawn, a bit of food thrown in the tank, etc. Not sure where you can get straight ammonia. :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGirl13 Posted May 23, 2011 Report Share Posted May 23, 2011 The other alternative Kirty is to get the tank planted and set up with the filter running and get yourself some Seachem Stability, works a treat :cheer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girlz0r Posted May 24, 2011 Report Share Posted May 24, 2011 There's the classified forum as you've already checked it out, boronia aquarium has a good classifieds section too.. but nothing will beat the auctions or fish fair which is soon!!! and I'm super dooper excited >=D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul Posted May 24, 2011 Report Share Posted May 24, 2011 You can get straight ammonia from the deli. The prawn would work in theory, but seriously Yan, you sure you want that smell in your room!!! The ammonia is available as a powder form that is used in cooking as a raising agent in pastry cooking as an alternative to baking powder. This is safe for human consumption (but only in recoomended methods/cooked off in oven) and thereby should be safefor cycling a tank. It's potent stuff, so you only need a TINY amount to put the ammonia readings off the scale in your tank. Other people on this forum have used cleaning agents (cloudy ammonia etc) to do fishless cycling. Others say this is not a good idea because it is ofeten mixed with detergents which you want to avoid in your tank. You could do fishy cycling - pop some live fish in to give a natural source of ammonia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirty Posted May 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2011 Thanks everyone. I want to try fishless cycling - had a bad run with animals the last month or so, not sure I could handle losing anymore! Only one more sleep! LOL! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirty Posted May 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 Sooo the tank is here and set up and I love it! Some progress pics: Setting up the gravel and rocks: And with water and background: I used the cooking oil method to attach my background and it looks so great! The colour is much more vivid compared to just taping it on. I've been feeding the tank every day (much the the amusement of my husband lol) and am adding plants tomorrow. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 Please explain the "cooking oil method". Looks good. Can't wait to see it with some plants and fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yanagi Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 Looking good. I've just move that rock in the middle over to the left further and angle it, it looks too central there. Have you decided on your fish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 you rub oil on the back of your tank to help a backgroud like coloured paper to atach to the glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 Thanks Matt. Will try it with my community tank I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 I tried it once, it seperated after a month or so, Next time I set up a tank I will just paint it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadoh Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 It's easy enough Paul, it is what I used to hold the background onto my tank... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGirl13 Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 I just use hand-painted 3mm MDF sillied to the exterior back of tank. But then I do have a lot of artist acrylics lying 'round doing nothing!! :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirty Posted May 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 I had my water tested today and results were: Ammonia: 1.0 Nitrite: 0.15 Nitrate: just over 0 Ph was perfect apparently. The lady said I need to add a heap more conditioning salts and also lots of KH powder, so I've done that. I also bought some plants today, so the tank is looking a bit greener. Need to add more and play around with them but I ran out of time today and just wanted to get them in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritch33 Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 Personally I think conditioning salts are a waste of money and not needed IMO as for for the kh powder crush up a little eggshell place it in a stocking inside your filter just a small amount and monitor your KH some people use a little shell grit or lime stone just keep an eye on the ph what is perfect ph by there definition? I run at 6.4 using a ph controller but in generall I would reccomend around 6.8 for plants, Melbourne tap water is around 7.2 currently? although that is not bad but a little wood in the tank helps reduce it a little I find melbourne water pretty good for plants and fish although from time to time i do add a little calcium carbonate and bicarb but very rare and these are the only additives I add other than fertiliser and Co2 for my plants If you find your PH a rising a little add some wood to the tank if you have not done so (sorry cant see picks at work)also beware of tannings leaching into the water Also I dont do any water tests and dont own a test kit so you may not want to trust me LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirty Posted June 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 Haha thanks for the tips. I already have conditioning salt and KH powder, so I'll use it until it runs out but wont bother buying more. I dont test the water of my other tank but I just want to get the conditions right to start with, and then I'll feel more confident! Off the top of my head, I think she said the ph was about 6.5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neffy Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 Hey kirty looking good, love the rock formations! Id suggest maybe bringing the rocks forward a little so bigger/ taller plants can be planted behind them ! I think that would look nice with the smaller plants already infront of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritch33 Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 You need to seperate your plants a little dont plant them as they came in a bunch they tend to rot, give them room to grow and fill out as per Neffy I agree with moving the rocks forward a little, maybe removing one and add a little wood into the tank but confirm your PH first as wood will drop it lower 6.5 seems low for melbourne water or your not metro area or using tank water? Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirty Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 There are already plants behind the rocks (but I am also leaving space behind one for a sponge filter) but I have rearranged the plants a bit and added a few more from my other tank. I have been keeping an eye out for a nice piece of driftwood but I do like the rocks. The water is crystal clear now! So exciting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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