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Getting a new tank ready!

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 00:46 — kellyvincent

I'm new to fish-keeping, and am preparing my first tank for a parrot cichlid.  I wanted to share what I've done so far, and see if there's anything else I need or should consider.

I have a 37-gallon tank, a 40-gallon filter, heater, digital thermometer, various water quality test strips, light, siphon/gravel cleaner, net, tank scrubbers, water conditioner, and cycle starter.  I still have to get gravel and some decor along with a good bucket.

I also know that I need to let the tank cycle for at least a week before adding fish.

Besides the fish and the food, is there anything else I need?

Comments

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 03:29 — dansakle

cycling

Are you doing fishless cycling (adding ammonia into the tank, before adding the fish)

Because the tank won't start to cycle until ammonia is introduced, either by adding fish and having them poop, or by adding ammonia yourself.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 16:59 — kellyvincent

Re: cycling

What I was going to do is fill the tank with water, let it run for a couple of days to make sure the filter is working and to get the temperature up with the heater. Then, I was going to put in a cycling additive--Tetra SafeStart--just before adding the fish.

Is this the right way to do it?

Thanks!

Fri, 05/21/2010 - 05:24 — dansakle

re: re: cycling

I've never used any cycling additives before, but basically in order for a tank to go through the nitrogen cycle, ammonia has to be introduced (like I said, either from fish poop or if you do a fishless cycle by adding pure ammonia(which I have never tried since I have never been able to find pure ammonia without surfactants)), then after some time is passed, bacteria will grow which eat the ammonia, and then will give off nitrites in your tank, then after some time, bacteria will grow which eat the nitrites and give off nitrates.

At the point where you have no ammonia and no nitrites, and a safe reading of nitrates, your tank will be "cycled." and thus safe for fish.

When I started up my most recent tank (two months ago), I added two blood parrots, and didn't use any additives. It took about 10 days for the tank to cycle with the fish in the tank. My setup consists of a 60 gallon tank with two power filters and a cannister filter. I am only using mechanical filtration (sponges) and biological filtration (bio-max rings.) I did 20% water changes every two days in order to keep the ammonia levels (and then nitrite levels) as low as possible.

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 01:34 — violette

Hi Kelly! It sounds like

Hi Kelly!
It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into your tank =) The only other thing I would recommend would be something for your blood parrot(s) to hide in. You can use little ceramic pots, caves, etc. If you get more than one BP you may want to get a hiding spot for each. I have two, and I use two little ceramic watering pots for them to hide in. They were very shy at first, and having a place for them to hide helps them feel secure until they are comfortable with their surroundings. I still have the pots in my tank, but they hardly ever go in them anymore.

Best of luck with your new set up!