My 55G Journal!

Byron

Yes. As I indicated earlier, using the "wrong" test will not give accurate results. And the "correct" test is the one that matches the tap water. If you test the tap water with both tests, they will be different; the one closest to what the water supply fellow said is the pH will be the test to use on the tank.

PonyMan

Funk growing on the shrimp sock, normal?

Attached Images

55GShrimpSock 010.jpg (21.4 KB, 39 views)

PonyMan

OK guys couldn't take it anymore. The smell is all over the house! And it's really that bad! Chunked the "funk" and am getting a bottle of pure ammonia this afternoon and will continue in that direction!

Byron

Are you planning on having live plants? If you are, you can avoid all this stuff and just plant the tank and add some fish. I'll explain if asked. I have set up dozens of new tanks and I never "cycle" because I have a lot of plants.

PonyMan

Yes Byron I have 5 small swords planted already. I got 2 water sprites in today and have them still in pots sitting on the bottom of the tank and also some Wisteria floating on top right now. This week I have a dozen or more vals coming in the mail for the tank too. I did read up on the planted tank in the sticky notes. Maybe that's an easier way to go for me? I bought the ammonia but haven't added any to the tank yet. I'll hold off until I hear back from you. I'm in no rush, just want to do it right.

Byron

First thing, I would not add pure ammonia to a tank with live plants. Ammonia is highly toxic to all life, be it plant or fish/animal. I'm not suggesting the level would get that high, but in my view it is best avoided.

It is so easy to set up a new tank that is planted. Just have lots of plants, including fast growing species. And Vallisneria, swords are in that category. Even better are floating plants. True floating plants like those in the profiles, but also many stem plants can be used floating and work equally well for this.

I would do a major water change to get rid of the ammonia/shrimp issue, add the new plants (dechlorinate the new water as you likely have some bacteria establishing). Then add a few fish. As this is your first time, go easy; the hardier fish but something you want, not a "cycling" fish or anything. I don't know what fish you intend for this tank, so I can't suggest which or how many at this point.

I reset my 115g last summer, and with new substrate and new filter media, I had all 95 fish back in the tank the next day. But I knew i had sufficient plants, plus I used much of the old wood which would have bacteria on it. Go slow and this will not fail.

PonyMan

OK sounds like a plan! I will do the water change tomorrow and add the plants mentioned. I also just purchased 10 dwarf sag plants and Java Fern to add too. I'm in no rush for the fish just yet. I'm leaning towards the cichlids but don't they eat plants? Oh and no ammonia added nor will I at this point! One more thing, I think I "might" have too much suibstrate? It's right at 2 inches, maybe a tad more> Is that too deep?

Steve

Byron

Two inches is fine. You can push some of it a bit deeper in the back where larger-root plants will naturally be, and leave maybe an inch along the front. Rock and wood can be used to create these "terraces." Is it gravel or sand? Either will work, just asking.

Which cichlids? Many will not eat plants. Larger ones may uproot some.

AbbeysDad

I don't wanna be a kill joy here, but the hoods like a lot like mine that 'feature' 1, 18", 15w florescent bulb in each of the two hoods. If so, this would likely be insufficient to support many rooted plant types.???

PonyMan

No kill joy here! It's all a learning process for me! What bulbs do you recommend? And Byron, it's a gravel substrate.