This is how I learn the ropes

CmdrSlack · 10-11-2010, 10:01 PM

Hi all,

I am not a huge fan of intro posts, as my normal forum communities tend to eat those who post intro posts. But hey, the auto-sent private message told me to do so.

My brother-in-law has been promising my daughter a fish tank for 4 months. He has some old, scary looking acrylic ones. The guy was never going to actually do it (he has a tank with no fish, but loads of algae and nasty stuff that has needed cleaning for years.)

Like a stooge, I went to PetSmart, got a 10gal tank with biowheel & filter + heater. The girl tells me 24 hrs is enough run time to get a tank going. Tells me I can load in a bunch of fish right away.

Fortunately, I posted on my normal forum asking if anyone had fish tanks. Unfortunately, my 4 year old was already sold on "new fish tomorrow."

I now have two guppies and a damio. I went to our LFS and also got some of their water to add to my tank. I am hoping these three live long enough to get the tank cycled.

Having already read The Nitrogen Cycle for Dummies, I'm starting to realize that this tank is going to deeply satisfy my inner science nerd.

NursePlaty · 10-12-2010, 03:37 AM

Congrats for your daughter getting a 10g tank. Remember to not add too much fish at a time. I thinkt he 3 fish is enough until it is cycled. Once it is cycled, you can continue adding 1-3 small fish a week if you choose to. It make take a month or longer to cycle a tank. If you want to speed it up, take some filter media from another healthy mature disease-free well established tank and put it in yours. It is fully saturated with beneficial bacteria that will jump start your cycle. It might even decrease cycling time by 2 weeks. Also, if you're having problems keeping ammonia or nitrite readings down, add some plants called Anarcharis (Elodea), they should be sold at most Petsmart/Petco. They grow fast and suck up ammonia right out of the water, you need a bunch.

jrman83 · 10-12-2010, 11:08 AM

Welcome. Good to hear you're up on the cycle. Be sure to pick a liquid-type test kit so you can keep track of what your tank is doing. The majority of us choose the API master kit. It has most all you need to get started. Just stay away from the strips.

beaslbob · 10-12-2010, 11:15 AM

I recommend you do a planted tank.

It not only satisfies that science nerdy need but results in an easy to maintain system

and welcome

my .02

CmdrSlack · 10-12-2010, 11:28 AM

I am thinking of waiting a week or two to add plants. I only have a gravel substrate (this is a starter tank by every definition), but I like the idea of some live plants. I figure once I can see what my water is doing, I will know what I need to add to help balance out the levels.

Or is there something I'm missing here?

beaslbob · 10-12-2010, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CmdrSlack

I am thinking of waiting a week or two to add plants. I only have a gravel substrate (this is a starter tank by every definition), but I like the idea of some live plants. I figure once I can see what my water is doing, I will know what I need to add to help balance out the levels.

Or is there something I'm missing here?

You might check out our planted forums here.

To me it is very important to include plants right from the start instead of being an after thought (or to add later).

also some peat moss in the substrate will allow you to keep more varieties of fish.

but that is just me

and my .02

gypsyfla · 10-12-2010, 04:56 PM

Hello and welcome

CmdrSlack · 10-12-2010, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaslbob

You might check out our planted forums here.

To me it is very important to include plants right from the start instead of being an after thought (or to add later).

also some peat moss in the substrate will allow you to keep more varieties of fish.

but that is just me

and my .02

So I've actually read some of your posts in the other subfora -- if I want to add peat moss at this point, I would basically need a second tank is the impression that I get. Unless, of course, these fish die a horrid death and I have to start over.

Something tells me I'll be taking those lame cases from the other attorney in the office more often. "$500 bucks to draft a contract? Sounds like a nanoreef to me, I'm on it."

Zook · 10-12-2010, 07:24 PM

When I was a kid,I usually got the fish before the tank...he he

snail · 10-13-2010, 06:40 AM

Does the tank have a light? If you want to get really nerdy high light, co2 injection etc planted tank is the way to go, but I'd say keep it simple seeing as this is your daughters tank (and it's already started). If you really get into it set up your own tank in the future.

For easy, low light, no substrate needed plants java moss, java fern and anubais are hard to beat.

Big Dog · 10-13-2010, 08:30 AM

Welcome to this great forum. Nice to have you here.

10-11-2010, 10:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
CmdrSlack Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 37 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4 Times Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	This is how I learn the ropes Hi all, I am not a huge fan of intro posts, as my normal forum communities tend to eat those who post intro posts. But hey, the auto-sent private message told me to do so. My brother-in-law has been promising my daughter a fish tank for 4 months. He has some old, scary looking acrylic ones. The guy was never going to actually do it (he has a tank with no fish, but loads of algae and nasty stuff that has needed cleaning for years.) Like a stooge, I went to PetSmart, got a 10gal tank with biowheel & filter + heater. The girl tells me 24 hrs is enough run time to get a tank going. Tells me I can load in a bunch of fish right away. Fortunately, I posted on my normal forum asking if anyone had fish tanks. Unfortunately, my 4 year old was already sold on "new fish tomorrow." I now have two guppies and a damio. I went to our LFS and also got some of their water to add to my tank. I am hoping these three live long enough to get the tank cycled. Having already read The Nitrogen Cycle for Dummies, I'm starting to realize that this tank is going to deeply satisfy my inner science nerd.

10-12-2010, 03:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
NursePlaty Queen Platy NursePlaty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 932 Name: Annie Pham Location: Dallas Ft Worth, Texas Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 266 Times Said "Thanks" 41 Times Was Thanked 186 Times in 180 Posts	Re: This is how I learn the ropes Congrats for your daughter getting a 10g tank. Remember to not add too much fish at a time. I thinkt he 3 fish is enough until it is cycled. Once it is cycled, you can continue adding 1-3 small fish a week if you choose to. It make take a month or longer to cycle a tank. If you want to speed it up, take some filter media from another healthy mature disease-free well established tank and put it in yours. It is fully saturated with beneficial bacteria that will jump start your cycle. It might even decrease cycling time by 2 weeks. Also, if you're having problems keeping ammonia or nitrite readings down, add some plants called Anarcharis (Elodea), they should be sold at most Petsmart/Petco. They grow fast and suck up ammonia right out of the water, you need a bunch. __________________ 55gallon Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans

10-12-2010, 11:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,463 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,382 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: This is how I learn the ropes Welcome. Good to hear you're up on the cycle. Be sure to pick a liquid-type test kit so you can keep track of what your tank is doing. The majority of us choose the API master kit. It has most all you need to get started. Just stay away from the strips.

10-12-2010, 11:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
beaslbob beaslbob's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3,325 My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 339 Times Said "Thanks" 32 Times Was Thanked 835 Times in 761 Posts	Re: This is how I learn the ropes I recommend you do a planted tank. It not only satisfies that science nerdy need but results in an easy to maintain system and welcome my .02 __________________ fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

10-12-2010, 11:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
CmdrSlack Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 37 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4 Times Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: This is how I learn the ropes I am thinking of waiting a week or two to add plants. I only have a gravel substrate (this is a starter tank by every definition), but I like the idea of some live plants. I figure once I can see what my water is doing, I will know what I need to add to help balance out the levels. Or is there something I'm missing here?

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10-12-2010, 04:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
gypsyfla gypsyfla Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 938 Location: Davie Fl Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,304 Times Said "Thanks" 42 Times Was Thanked 194 Times in 181 Posts	Re: This is how I learn the ropes Hello and welcome

10-12-2010, 07:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
Zook Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 78 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 26 Times Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: This is how I learn the ropes When I was a kid,I usually got the fish before the tank...he he __________________ Mt.Shasta,CA

10-13-2010, 06:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
snail snail's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,636 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,935 Times Said "Thanks" 360 Times Was Thanked 632 Times in 589 Posts	Re: This is how I learn the ropes Does the tank have a light? If you want to get really nerdy high light, co2 injection etc planted tank is the way to go, but I'd say keep it simple seeing as this is your daughters tank (and it's already started). If you really get into it set up your own tank in the future. For easy, low light, no substrate needed plants java moss, java fern and anubais are hard to beat.

10-13-2010, 08:30 AM	#11 (permalink)
Big Dog Big Dog's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,786 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,422 Times Said "Thanks" 29 Times Was Thanked 607 Times in 603 Posts	Re: This is how I learn the ropes Welcome to this great forum. Nice to have you here. __________________ Help those in our hobby to exceed beyond their expectations. Aquatic Engineer

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