Setting up an aquarium!

[NutBucket]

The use of activated carbon is not needed or recommended until after establishment of both nitrosomanas and nitrobacter colonies. This takes 4-6 weeks. Once you see a measurable level of nitrates, ammonia is near zero and nitrites are coming down you can begin partial water changes and introduce the use of activated carbon. Always use a good carbon, that will crackle, hiss and get hot when rinsed with distilled water. If your home water is chlorinated do NOT use it to rinse your carbon! Carbon should always be rinsed to remove excessive dust before adding it to the filter system.

That's interesting. I've never read anyone recommending carbon be added after the tank is established. All I've read says to use carbon initially until everything comes into equilibrium.

I haven't run any carbon in my tank for about a year now after switching from a HOB to a canister. Haven't had any issues.

 

[micrometers]

So here's something weird: the snails are at the top of the tank, half out of the water line. One snail was out for so long that his shell was actually dry to the touch.

Any idea why?

 

[NutBucket]

Clearly the snail is not happy about something in the water...or it is sick.

 

[Matthiasa]

When an animal is able to leave adverse conditions it will.
So either the water is bad or you have the wrong type of snails...
The water being bad is the most likely reason though given all the steps that were not followed in setting up the tank.

 

[micrometers]

7.4 PH

4.0 Ammonia

0 nitrite

 

[Howard]

7.4 PH

4.0 Ammonia

0 nitrite

4.0 what? And the fact that you have any ammonia at all is bad.

 

[Jodell88]

4.0 what? And the fact that you have any ammonia at all is bad.

According to the OP, having a planted aquarium means that he doesn't have to cycle the aquarium. The newcomer has more experience than those who have been in the hobby for more than a decade. We're watching a master at work here.

 

[Rubycon]

4.0 what? And the fact that you have any ammonia at all is bad.

Most tests are in ppm. pH of 7.4 makes it a bit more toxic then if it were neutral.
What is of more concern is nitrites being zip. This means you have zero (or near zero) cycle initiated!

OP: Purchase some Seachem Stability:

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Stability.html

This will help in establishment of beneficial bacteria. What kind of filter do you have? Filters for biological filtration need to be run continuously, not intermittently. Some hobbyists use DE (diatomaceous earth) filtration on an intermittent basis to polish the water. Of course in any healthy, mature system this is hardly necessary. Overcrowding and overfeeding will always lead to problems. Always.

 

[micrometers]

Most tests are in ppm. pH of 7.4 makes it a bit more toxic then if it were neutral.
What is of more concern is nitrites being zip. This means you have zero (or near zero) cycle initiated!

OP: Purchase some Seachem Stability:

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Stability.html

This will help in establishment of beneficial bacteria. What kind of filter do you have? Filters for biological filtration need to be run continuously, not intermittently. Some hobbyists use DE (diatomaceous earth) filtration on an intermittent basis to polish the water. Of course in any healthy, mature system this is hardly necessary. Overcrowding and overfeeding will always lead to problems. Always.

I'm just using the filter that came with the kit, which I got from walmart.

I just threw in some coffee grounds, which should help with the high PH problem.

 

[randay]

I'm just using the filter that came with the kit, which I got from walmart.

I just threw in some coffee grounds, which should help with the high PH problem.

coffee grounds? lol

 

[Modelworks]

Zero nitrite with high ammonia means you have no bacteria doing the work it should be doing. My tanks that have been set up for years always show some ammonia, just barely detectable , and low nitrites and these are planted tanks. Usually when a test reads zero either the test kit is bad or the bottle containing the chemicals wasn't shaken well. There are a number of test kits out that has stuff that settles on the bottom of the bottles and needs to be tapped on a table to loosen and shaken vigorously. Never trust a perfect zero reading.

I run all aquaclear filters now after getting annoyed with canister failures and seal leaks. Put 2 aquaclear 70 on each 50 gallon and filled them with sponges and never had any issues since. For Ph balance I use crushed coral in the filters, but I have high Ph loving fish, cichlids.

 

[micrometers]

argh. I just read on some gardening forums that coffee grounds actually aren't that acidic at all.

their ph is like 6.4

because it all comes out when it is brewed.

They are, however, a source of nitrogen.

Meh. I think I'll drop in some lemons to try to lower that PH.

 

[Leros]

Coffee grounds and lemons? You're an either an idiot or a blatant troll. Either way, you're not worth our time at this point.

 

[Jodell88]

argh. I just read on some gardening forums that coffee grounds actually aren't that acidic at all.

their ph is like 6.4

because it all comes out when it is brewed.

They are, however, a source of nitrogen.

Meh. I think I'll drop in some lemons to try to lower that PH.

Nice trolling OP. :thumbsup:

 

[micrometers]

fish LOVE lemons. wow, they're eating away at it.

 

[Soccerman06]

Is there a sigh emote?

 

[micrometers]

I've been shining this on the aquarium

http://www.amazon.com/Uplift-Technol...5735368&sr=1-1

could the light be killing bacteria?

 

[Matthiasa]

Given the UV filter it shouldn't, unless you are heating up the water to much with it.
Boiled fish wound probably not taste that good though.

What you are trying to do takes way more time than you are giving it...

 

[NutBucket]

Its not killing them..they just need time to establish in your tank. It doesn't happen overnight.

 

[randay]

I've been shining this on the aquarium

http://www.amazon.com/Uplift-Technol...5735368&sr=1-1

could the light be killing bacteria?

lol

 

[Kaido]

I've been shining this on the aquarium

http://www.amazon.com/Uplift-Technol...5735368&sr=1-1

could the light be killing bacteria?

But at least it's making the fish happy :awe:

 

[Kaido]

btw, Joe's LED's now sells a $39 aquarium LED light kit which is pretty cool: (and waterproof!)

http://ledaccentlights.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=33&products_id=152

 

[randay]

now do one where you put your bong water into your aquarium and then your fish got really hungry or something.

 

[micrometers]

HOLY CRAP.

IT CYCLED.

I am not making this up.

Latest test shows

7-7.2 PH

0 Ammonia

0 nitrites.

There must have been some super bacteria in the coffee. Or maybe the lemons. Or maybe the plants took it all in. Some are getting really big and green.

edit: okay, there is some small amount of ammonia, under 0.5.

 

[micrometers]

ahhhH!!!!!

platy gave birth!!!!

what should I do?