VC 240L beginner freshwater

[VC]

Just done some plant maintenance and it’s looking more green!definitely going to fill more of the tank with plants and a couple of pieces of hardscape.



Anyone have any experience of using water sprite as a floating plant?

[TropicalFishForums]

[VC]

Exciting development! Two weeks after adding 4ppm Ammonia I’ve just tested water and there’s finally some changes!



I hope I’m reading correctly but I see it as pH 6.4, NH3 0.25 and NO2- 2.0.

My understanding is that when ammonia is zero, top up to 2ppm and test until ammonia and nitrites are zero and there are nitrates present?

Also should I be worried that the pH has become quite acidic? Tap water pH is 7.0. There is driftwood which has leeched some tannins and I am using easy carbo and fluorite fertilisers.

Edit: the temp is 26oC.

[Gingerlove05]

Good stuff
The ph should be ok as long as it stays stable, it might rise again when the tanins finish leeching out.
But your right, wait for ammonia to hit 0ppm and top back up to 2ppm, nitrites will remain high for around 10 days or more. Once the ammonia is  dropping to 0ppm in 24hours and nitrite is at 0ppm you can do a large water change and then stock

[VC]

Good stuff
The ph should be ok as long as it stays stable, it might rise again when the tanins finish leeching out.
But your right, wait for ammonia to hit 0ppm and top back up to 2ppm, nitrites will remain high for around 10 days or more. Once the ammonia is  dropping to 0ppm in 24hours and nitrite is at 0ppm you can do a large water change and then stock

Thank you for your help!

[VC]

Ammonia at zero! Next phase of cycle has begun.



NH3 0, NO2- 5.0, NO3- 20 (I think!)

Ammonia topped up to 2ppm.

[Gingerlove05]

Nice
Just remember to top the ammonia back up

[Feliss]

I did try water sprite as a floater but I didn't really like it as one. To me it looked better planted. It also didn't seem to do too well in my tank as a floater and better planted. But all of it eventually melted away!

[VC]

Ah ok thanks for the feedback! It’s currently out of stock in aquarium gardens anyway!

Another question: if I’ve cycled fishlessly with 4ppm ammonia does that mean I can add all my stock in one sitting? (Tetras and corydoras - maybe a honey gourami as showpiece?)

[Gingerlove05]

Yep
Normally you start with 4ppm and then reduce to 2ppm once things start moving. But either way it means the bacteria that deal with the fish wastes etc will be in an abundance.
Although there is the belief there are a number of other processes that go on besides just the “cycle” itself before a tank is mature, but its just a belief nothing concrete.

[thebendyfox]

Ah ok thanks for the feedback! It’s currently out of stock in aquarium gardens anyway!

Another question: if I’ve cycled fishlessly with 4ppm ammonia does that mean I can add all my stock in one sitting? (Tetras and corydoras - maybe a honey gourami as showpiece?)

Yes - that’s the beauty of a fishless cycle in that it’s much more controllable and measurable than any other method, and as long as you are dosing ammonia properly and it’s all being processed in a 24hr period - you can then stick fully.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[VC]

Thank you!

I’m also now considering a pair of Bolivian rams instead of gourami. Been watching lots of videos on different fish and they seem like a ‘beginner’ fish. Correct me if I’m wrong of course!

[Stephen]

You have very soft water in Manchester (lucky you) but it is low in carbonates & bicarbonates.
If your pH has dropped then it is more than likely that your KH (carbonate hardness) has dropped, I would add some potassium bicarbonate otherwise the fishless cycle may stall (the beneficial bacteria love using up the carbonates & bicarbonates).

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can be used instead but the sodium has no real use in an aquarium whilst the potassium (potassium bicarbonate) will be taken up by the plants.
How much bicarbonate? 7ml of either bicarbonate will raise the KH level by one in a 240L aquarium.
Dissolve the bicarbonate with tank water before adding to the tank.
Keep an eye on the pH as this will give an indication of your KH level, try to keep the pH slightly above pH7.0 during the cycle.
As a temporary measure you could do a 50% water change and then top up the ammonia to 2ppm, this will replenish some of the bicarbonates.

All the best

[VC]

Thank you. Is that just during cycle? I read on he article here that pH will fluctuate during cycle so didn’t think much of it.

Is potassium bicarbonate readily available? Or is it a specific product such as seachem?

[Stephen]

Thank you. Is that just during cycle? I read on he article here that pH will fluctuate during cycle so didn’t think much of it.

Is potassium bicarbonate readily available? Or is it a specific product such as seachem?

You should be fine after the cycle is complete when the beneficial bacteria have established; future weekly water changes will replenish the carbonates/bicarbonates.
Potassium bicarbonate is available from eBay and it's fairly cheap (Link), I have this tub in my cupboard.

[VC]

I’ll keep testing the water and see how it is after the big water change post cycle.

It’s definitely in full force though. I’m topping up every other day. Just waiting for nitrites to start dropping.

Is seachem equilibrium a similar thing?