Hi. I'm new on here and have a Q
- Thread starter 2bfishy
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Why don't you look into fishless cycling with ammonia instead of adding fish? Potential spikes will be a problem as you would need to do large water changes to save the health and long term well being of the fish, and in a size that large, it will be a chore. Ammonia and nitrite are not much likely to kill a big fish but they're very likely to trigger disease outbreaks 4-6 months down the line....
If you fishless cycle, you could nearly add what you want at once without worrying for spikes, once the tank completely cycles. This can take 7-8 weeks. I think its a bit too soon adding fish....
While waiting to add fish, think about some decor....emersed plants for example, aquaponics set up, etc...The suggestion of bog filter is good but you could just have some plants sitting their roots in water. The plants will look pleasing and help water quality too tremendously. Have a look at my mini pond below, not difficult to do...These are planted in hanging baskets filled with clay pebbles(you need to soak the pebbles first or they'll float). I've had plants like that in my tanks for years and it does play a big role in water quality, though I don't keep monster fish. No maintenance required for the plants, and fish can't get to them....
Also, you do need a 2nd filter for redundancy. I would never rely on just one filter.....
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Why don't you look into fishless cycling with ammonia instead of adding fish? Potential spikes will be a problem as you would need to do large water changes to save the health and long term well being of the fish, and in a size that large, it will be a chore. Ammonia and nitrite are not much likely to kill a big fish but they're very likely to trigger disease outbreaks 4-6 months down the line....
If you fishless cycle, you could nearly add what you want at once without worrying for spikes, once the tank completely cycles. This can take 7-8 weeks. I think its a bit too soon adding fish....
While waiting to add fish, think about some decor....emersed plants for example, aquaponics set up, etc...The suggestion of bog filter is good but you could just have some plants sitting their roots in water. The plants will look pleasing and help water quality too tremendously. Have a look at my mini pond below, not difficult to do...These are planted in hanging baskets filled with clay pebbles(you need to soak the pebbles first or they'll float). I've had plants like that in my tanks for years and it does play a big role in water quality, though I don't keep monster fish. No maintenance required for the plants, and fish can't get to them....
Also, you do need a 2nd filter for redundancy. I would never rely on just one filter.....
Hi CoryLoach,
I love your mini pond! The plants look healthy and vibrant. What plants do you have in there? Do you have to use any special lighting? What lighting do you use and how many hours in the day do you have the lights on?
Actually I was thinking of doing a fishless cycle using raw shrimp instead. I know a lot of people cycle their tanks that way. I've never done it. Do you just put a raw shrimp in a pantyhose and dangle it in the water or do you leave it submerged on the bottom? Then how long do you leave the shrimp in there? A few days? A week? Can anyone guide me on doing this?
Thanks
I love your mini pond! The plants look healthy and vibrant. What plants do you have in there? Do you have to use any special lighting? What lighting do you use and how many hours in the day do you have the lights on?
Actually I was thinking of doing a fishless cycle using raw shrimp instead. I know a lot of people cycle their tanks that way. I've never done it. Do you just put a raw shrimp in a pantyhose and dangle it in the water or do you leave it submerged on the bottom? Then how long do you leave the shrimp in there? A few days? A week? Can anyone guide me on doing this?
Thanks
I wouldn't use raw food because it has the potential to develop unwanted organisms. Get bottled pure ammonia without surfactants instead and a pack of test kits. Dose to about 4ppm. Wait until the level drops to zero, then dose again to 3-4 ppm. In a week nitrites will start rising. Don't let them rise beyond 5ppm or the cycle will stall. You may need to do a water change to drop then down. Then dose ammonia again. When 4ppm ammonia and the consecutive nitrite drop to zero in 24hrs, you're good to go.
The plants are a parlour palm and a peace lily. They do need light to grow well. The duration could be anything from 6 to 10-12 hours, up to you. If you want to go cheap, you can get LED flood lights, if not, get aquarium LED lights designed to grow plants. I have a kessil 360 and a flood light at the back aimed at the plants.
I use clay pebbles as media in the baskets. You'd need to pre-soak them first so they don't flow out of the basket or just level the baskets for a week or two so the water doesn't flow over them. Eventually drop them a bit lower., a bit lower than the base of the plant. You want tank water to flow over them. My baskets also have holes drilled all over so water gets in and out that way as well.
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