Mungo's Tank Diary

 Well this is it - I have taken the plunge and got myself a tank.

 

Pic deleted.

 

I have a Tetra Aqua-Art 60 L

Have added gravel, 'real' plants a air pump, heater and filter. I did a pH test and it was about 8.5 - 9.0

Today I started the new aquarium start up kit - added fresh start and filter start. And am going to leave the light on for 24 hours like the kits says.

I'm not sure if I should add dried food daily, like sugested on this site? 

Are you sure you did the pH test correctly? 8.5 - 9 seems awfully high to me, and there are very few fish that will tolerate that amount of alkalinity in the water. I'd get a second opinion on the test if i where you!

 

Yes, it's a good idea to put some flake food into the water, it will break down and produce ammonia, which will in turn feed the good bacteria in your filter. You ideally need to get some other test kits, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, as these will tell you how your tank's coming along. I reccomend the API ones, they're easy to use, and you can pick up a master test kit for around £20, which will have all of the tests you need in it. 

 The PH test was done before I added the stuff from the start up kit.

Ok I will add fish food daily - thanks for keeping an eye on me  

 

Edited to say - the colour of the Ph test is ontop of my tank in the picture. 

Which test kit are you using mungo as they are all different and turn different colours. For example, that colour using an API pH test kit would be much lower than 8.5 to 9

I agree with Nicola about a second opinion. Your lfs will do a test for you usually free.

Your tank looks very neat I would add more plants though. Some fast growing ones

I'd also separate the vallis stems and plant them individually as planting in a bunch can cause the stems to rot.

Vallis is the one you have in the middle of the three at the back

 

 Hello Froggy

 

The kit I am using is made by Interpet called new aquarium start up kit.

So would Pets At Home do a water test for me??

Yes I do intend adding more plants, I got a web address from here (Greenline) and will be buying some plants you guys suggest on the forum.

I had to laugh Froggy when you mentioned the plant in the middle (Vallis) as I had no clue what it's name was - I have also learnt from this site that I should have taken the plants out of their pots - I will get onto that in the morning. What is a good plant food for aquariums?

 

I am getting so impatient - I want to see fishes LOL 

 

Thank you for all your help so far folks - much apreciated  

Hi looking good mungo

I would do as lilac_froggy has said and seperate the vallis,also add alot more plants,{as many as you wish}

Some plants will grow ok,other's will die for know appareant reason{it happens in almost every tank,new - or old}

You can buy plant food to add to the tank,but not used it myself so cannot comment i'm afraid

I do not know if pets at home will test water for you? maybe ask and see what they say? If not get the test kit recomended by Nicola

ps is this your first ever tank?

 Hi

 

Yes this is my first ever tank.

I have got myself some plants from ebay, I thought they were a good deal - we'll see!

Am going to syphon off some water when the palnts get here and replant the vallis as you suggested. I'm also going to get some root tabs for them, I want to give them a good start.

I have noticed little white spots on the inside of the tank, not sure if it is dried water splashed from filling the tank or something else is going on.

Will keep ya'll posted   <----- I love that smiley!

Here is the update. More plants added and pebbles.

• Ammonia test 0.50
• PH 7.6
• High Range PH 8.0
• Nitrite 1.5

I have one snail that must have come with the plants!

What numbers should I be aiming for?

0 ammonia
0 nitrite

then you can start the stocking process.

nice tank by the way

 Thank you!

Here are my test results for today, I'm getting sick of waiting now.

Pictures deleted!

I have noticed I now have 3 snails, (I still don't know what they are) I'm thinking of getting a small cheap tank from ebay and keep snails in it - I knew this hobby would cost me a blinking fortune Have added some tank start today to see if I can get things moving on this cycle, have also turned heat up to 28degrees - will test again in a couple of days.
Any tips more than welcome

you can how the need for more tanks start to esculate out of control, just think what happens when you get some fish. di  

 OMG yes all this without fish yet

 Have put my Ramshorn snails in today, I brought 10 and they sent me about 20!

I have spent most of the day watching them LOL it's so nice to have something 'living' in my tank - how sad do I sound LOL

Going to do all my tests again tomorrow - fingers crossed I might be able to get some fishes at the weekend

Hi Mungo the tank is looking great
Any luck with the last lot of readings? The cycling process can seem to take ages but its the best and safest way to go! {also the least problematic?}
Ps love tha cheer leader smiley,is it you