Tropical Fish Forums

Magnum V8 · New Members Joined: 24 Dec 2006

Hey everyone! I'm new here.

This is my first real attempt at keeping fish. The tank is a 20g long. Its cycling now, or at least I hope it is. I've got the Emperor 280 bio-wheel filter, and yes, the water level is a little low in that picture. Its been filled since. A barb (not sure which kind, transplanted from a bowl) and 3 zebra danios are the current inhabitants. If you can't tell, all the plants are artificial. But, in the future I think I'm going to put all live plants in there. When I do that, I'd like to try to make it a little more dense. I'd also like to put in a rock hideout. This is all in hopes of keeping some rams and a couple other dwarf cichlids.

Any thoughts, suggestions? Have a merry, merry Christmas!

John

RaiderFan92 · Regulars Joined: 12 Jun 2006

I don't know about putting rams and more dwarf cichlids in a 20 gallon, along with the barb and the danios. Might get a little over stocked.

But other then that, looks good! Very Happy

tkipfer · Regulars Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada

looks good. I like the driftwood setup. if the tank is cycling fish shouldn't be in there though and not that many. how long has it been since the tank started cycling?
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Magnum V8 · New Members Joined: 24 Dec 2006

Well, you've confused me a little. To answer the question, the tank's been running for only a day and a half. But, how can the tank cycle without waste from fish? Am I wrong, fish waste -> ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate? Sorry, I'm new to all of this.

blake

more and more people are using fishless cycling by adding their own ammonia and not using the fish this way fish arent harmed by the taxic amounts of amonia are produced
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people who don't love fish are crazy

Magnum V8 · New Members Joined: 24 Dec 2006

Does that work faster?

blake

I'm not really sure if it does I allways add cycle to my tanks and it works faster I've done both and can't remember wich is faster
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people who don't love fish are crazy

sepgundamrg · Regulars Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Location: Arkansas

It may not be faster, but it is cheaper for you and safer for the fish.
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My tanks
http://www.aquahobby.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=55885

LunarFlame · Advisors Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada

In most cases, fishless cycling is faster and produces a more stable cycle than when cycling with fish.

Beautiful tank by te way Smile

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Magnum V8 · New Members Joined: 24 Dec 2006

I certainly don't want to harm the fish. Would doing a large volume water change keep the cycle going and at the same time keep the fish from dying? I did an ammonia test this morning and the result was .50 ppm. I'm not too sure what that means. The research I did revealed that the ammonia level should/would peak, then begin to drop, and likewise with the nitrite. So, with the .50 ppm ammonia reading, should I do a water change now, or would that interrupt the cycle?