Author Topic: Jackie's 1st tank log (Read 4906 times)

whippet-gal · « **on:** July 07, 2013, 01:59:28 pm »

Just set up yesterday. It's a Juwel Rio 125l, which has 100l of water after all the 'stuff' has been taken into account.

The substrate is about 3/4" sand, then 1-2mm quartz gravel, topped off with ordinary gravel.

I'm using plastic plants as I wanted an instant buzz (!) but these will be gradually replaced by real ones, later on, to help deal with the nitrates.

I'm doing a fishless cycle & after much reading up on the matter decided to go with Seachem's stability. I've got an API master test kit & will be doing first tests today before I add the 2nd dose of Stability.

My tap water tests as 7.4 pH.

I intend to keep neon tetras, gold white cloud mountain minnows, dwarf cories & small shrimp in a coolish tank.

Here's what it looks like.

TropicalFishForums

MartF · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2013, 04:48:29 pm »

Didn't think I would ever say this about fake plants - but - that looks really good and just shows what can be done with plastic plants!

Very artistic, well done.

emma1454 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2013, 06:54:31 pm »

Looks great Jackie! It'll be simply stunning with real plants, you certainly have an eye for aquascaping. Fingers crossed for a quick cycle

whippet-gal · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2013, 10:10:15 pm »

Thanks for the lovely comments - I did quite a bit of very enjoyable research, looking at what other people had done with their tanks - mostly on this forum - & found some great inspiration & good advice.

I meant to post my test readings, but they're in the kitchen & I don't want to disturb the whippets who are both asleep on me!

They're pretty unremarkable, anyway, but at least I discovered nitrates in my tap water are 40ppm

bwarwicker · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2013, 10:29:09 pm »

That's really impressive with fake plants. I generally hate fakes but you've done well with them there.

MartF · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2013, 11:22:47 pm »

Quote from: bwarwicker on July 07, 2013, 10:29:09 pm

That's really impressive with fake plants. I generally hate fakes but you've done well with them there.

Thats exactly what I was saying, and you know how I love (real) planted tanks and would never entertain the idea of plastic, yet that really does look good - there I said it again!

Jennifer26 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2013, 11:32:53 pm »

I agree with the others, you have done a great job, normally fake plants look tacky but u have managed to make this look really nice!

whippet-gal · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2013, 03:45:51 pm »

Shucks! Thanks for saying it looks good. It turned out a lot better than I expected it to

Log so far:

Saturday Began cycling with Seachem Stability. Added 2 & half capfuls for 100l. Then for next 6 days I add 1 & quarter capfuls. My tap water tests as 40ppm for Nitrates.

Sun Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0.5
Mon Ammonia 0 Nitrites 2.0 Will start testing for Nitrates tomorrow (?) Removed carbon filter sponge from internal filter

leeanne · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2013, 04:08:55 pm »

Tank looks really good. Thought id mention one thing re plastic plants not sure if anyone else has had a problem with any fish hurting themselves on them? One plant I had recently was quick a sharp jaggy bushy type and new cory that I got somehow swam right into the plant when putting them in the tank, looked like it was stuck so I helped it out and threw the plant straight in the bin, after that I did wonder as 2 cardinals in the same tank had died and were in the plant but I assumed died and floated in the plant which is probably more like it but fish like cory who rummage in plants I would maybe worry about but perhaps my experience was just unlucky!

whippet-gal · « **Reply #9 on:** July 09, 2013, 09:07:01 am »

I'll look out for that - thanks Leeanne.

whippet-gal · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2013, 04:37:05 pm »

8/7/13 Added daily Stability dose & added ammonia to bring the tank up to 4ppm.

9/7/13 (Day 4) Test Results: Ammonia 4.0 Nitrites 2.0

10/7/13 (Day 5) Test Results: Ammonia 2.0 Nitrites 4.0 Nitrates 40 (same as my tap water)

I pleased with the results so far.
Won't add any ammonia today, as I think I should keep it at 2.0 until the nitrites spike.

jimmyphoenix · « **Reply #11 on:** July 11, 2013, 11:26:56 am »

That's a really nice looking tank, great aquascaping... i'm just starting out too so i'll be looking at ideas of what to expect here.

whippet-gal · « **Reply #12 on:** July 11, 2013, 04:27:22 pm »

Thanks, jimmyphoenix

Thurs 11/7/13 Test Results: Ammonia 1.0 Nitrites 4.0 so added 0.3ml ammonia to bring it back up to 2ppm & the usual daily dose of 1 & quarter caps of Stability.

Have been to a few fish stores today & after noting which community fish I liked, I came home & looked them up for what sort of water parameters, heat, numbers in shoal etc. they prefer.

I'm now thinking of getting the following:

Silver tip tetra (7)
Glowlight Danio (7)
White cloud mountain minnow (OK, they're cold water, but should be fine in 22-23C)
Pepper cory (5)

I'd rather be slightly understocked, but whether I'll stick to that is another matter

leeanne · « **Reply #13 on:** July 11, 2013, 04:36:34 pm »

Have you run that through aqua advisor probably not to bad stocked really I would get more cory maybe 8 :-D

I would also be tempted to get a larger group of of of they fish instead of 3 types, bet you end up with something totally different!

whippet-gal · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2013, 05:54:07 pm »

Friday 12/7/13 Test Results: Ammonia 1.0 Nitrites 5.0 so added 0.3ml ammonia to bring it back up to 2ppm & the usual daily dose of 1 & quarter caps of Stability.

This is really day 4, as I wasn't adding ammonia for the first couple of days.

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Author Topic: Jackie's 1st tank log (Read 4906 times)