75g Cichlid

First topic message reminder :

75 is on its way to be up and running and ready for the moori to arrive....will post pics as i progress.....Holey rock is currently basking in the sun

Its a very safe way to get the ammonia going. Some people buy bottled ammonia, I really don't trust that method though, You never know what else is in it other than ammonia. But the safest ways are either feeding the tank with fish food or throwing some frozen shrimp in there. I prefer the fish food method though.
Those methods are the only ways to start a tank from scratch w/o losing fish.

Fern wrote:

Some people buy bottled ammonia, I really don't trust that method though,
.

Sponge filters that are cycled work good also.

Everything is running, feeding everyday, added some of the bottled stuff that is kept cold and boy does the tank smell.....all the windows are open...I mean this shizzz is foul!!!!

Got a baby pleco from the LFS. Lets hope he can start spreading some

Ok.....so the pleco is doing 100% better than the minnows ever did....he has made it through the night ....I will continue to feed him and see if we can this bacteria up and running

Since there were some issues with the moori shipment, I have more cycle time!!!!

Just got back from a weekend in SA.....Pleco is doing great....gonna have to test the water tomorrow and see where we stand.......

Nice. What did you do in SA?

KMX wrote:

Nice. What did you do in SA?

Not much....just went to see the brother in law and his girl friend....Also stopped by Dave's to see what he had

Get one or 2 of those cinnamon brooms from the store, Just do not open the plastic they are wrapped in. Put them by the tank and it will help mask the odor.
That odor is a good thing, it means that the tank won't take the usual month to cycle.

Here's a good read for you;
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_ciclo.php
And;
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_fishless.php

Fern wrote:

Get one or 2 of those cinnamon brooms from the store, Just do not open the plastic they are wrapped in. Put them by the tank and it will help mask the odor.
That odor is a good thing, it means that the tank won't take the usual month to cycle.

Here's a good read for you;
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_ciclo.php
And;
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_fishless.php

The smell is gone......I am going to test the water then clean the tank....there is food everywhere

Just tested the water again...Here are the resluts:
PH = 7.8
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0
Ammonia = 0

cichlid mania wrote:

Just tested the water again...Here are the resluts:
PH = 7.8
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0
Ammonia = 0

Good work! The Moori will be here in a few. We are setting up air cargo.

Sweet! Hopefully we get some big ones LOL

philuponthepho wrote:

Sweet! Hopefully we get some big ones LOL

I have to add a second heater to the tank....Water temp will not go above 68*

KMX wrote:

cichlid mania wrote:

Just tested the water again...Here are the resluts:
PH = 7.8
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0
Ammonia = 0

Good work! The Moori will be here in a few. We are setting up air cargo.

Sweet

How many watts is the heater?

philuponthepho wrote:

How many watts is the heater?

Not 100% sure....I have had it for a long time now....the little light doesn't even shut off anymore

Id prob get a new one. By the way, dont turn the thermostat all the way up unless u want some boiled fish

philuponthepho wrote:

Id prob get a new one. By the way, dont turn the thermostat all the way up unless u want some boiled fish

To late...its already all the way up!!!! It wont heat past 68*

Lol! shouldnt ur house warm it up to at LEAST 70?

House is set at 73*

cichlid mania wrote:

Just tested the water again...Here are the results:
PH = 7.8
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0
Ammonia = 0

Your not cycled at all! You need to get Nitrate readings then you are close. Its nitrite then nitrate is the process of the cycle read on a test kit.
Cleaning the tank set you back to the beginning......

The fish that are in there are doing a lot better than the first batch did.....zero deaths