[willow]

Originally Posted by ScarlettAngel

I'm a newbie too, yet I'm already thinking I want a bigger tank!!
Enjoy it.
From the south coast of UK

hello and welcome to you.

[Christople]

you did a pressurized Co2 system didn't you.

[Byron]

Welcome to TFK. Glad to have you with us Corry.

Byron.

[SinCrisis]

Welcome to TFK!

[BarbH]

Welcome Corry I myself am new here to the forums along with keeping tropical fish. There is a lot to learn, but I have found this forum and the people on it to be very helpful and friendly. I have been on other forums in which the atmosphere did not seem as friendly as it does here. It is amazing the amount of money and time that you can put into this hobby.

[corry]

Thanks everyone, I am from Australia and think its great to be able to talk to everyone world wide. Hopefully won't be long before I can tell you all about my tank. I am hoping to get about a 150 litre. I want a corner tank as I have the perfect position in my house, will keep you posted. My daughters tank is going well, very healthy, happy fish!!

[willow]

do share pictures if you are able to.
and i love the fact that i can talk to people from all over the world too,
i never in my wildest dreams thought i would be able to do something like that.
and that's honest.
we rock.

[corry]

Hi I purchased an aquarium Aqua one AR-980 (abit bigger than I was going to get - but it was such a bargain I couldn't say no). It has a hood with the filter in it and sorry if I use the wrong terms but I am still learning.
I have a Jebo aquarium pump (50Hz, 18w-20w, 900l/hr) and in the hood there are three sections, the firsthasceramic rings in the bottom which is covered with a black what looks like a big scouring pad then some filter wool.
The middle compartment which is smaller has some more ceramic rings and 2 bags of charcoal (which I rinsed thouroughly) then it has the black pad then the filter wool on top.
The third compartment has the black pad on the bottom with 2 layers of filter wool on top.
Not sure if this is right. The filter has a long pipe which drips along these three compartments.
I have had the heater set on 26 degrees C (78.8 degrees F). And have had the airator on.
Mon 19th June I filled tank with water treated with conditioner, put on heater, filter and airator.
Tuesday 20th June (and everyday for 1 week) added "Stability" (new tank stabilization system)
Thursday 23rd June added 8 neon tetras
Friday 24th June ph - 7.6; ammonia - 0; nitrite - 0
Sat 25th June ph - 7.4; ammonia - 0.25ppm; nitrite - 0
Mon 27th June ph - 7.6; ammonia - 0.25ppm; nitrite - 0
Wed 29th June ph - 7.6; ammonia - 0.25ppm; nitrite - 0
Am I being impatient or doing something wrong, I thought I would get some changes by now. The fish are all happy and I have been feeding them twice a day, except yesterday I didn't feed them as they all looked overweight and I think I overfed them.
Any advice, help etc would be appreciated as I realise I have alot to learn.
Corry

[BarbH]

It is going to take some time for the tank to cycle. You will see a rise in your ammonia level, which will drop, followed by a rise in the nitrite levels with eventually getting a reading for nitrates. If you have not already done so you will want to be doing water changes of at least 30-40% to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels, when they start appearing, in check. Ammonia and nitrite is harmful to the fish, nitrite even more so. If you have live plants in the tank it will help with the cycling process. The important thing is to be doing water changes as the benificial bacteria is establishing in the tank and in the filter media. I have do not have experience with the type of filter that you are using, but from my understanding you will want to leave the media especially the floss alone for now while the bacteria is establishing itself. When you do change the floss you do not want to change it all at once, just a little bit at a time so that you keep the bacteria that has established itself. Others with more experience with this type of filtration will be able to give you more advice. Also what type of test kit are you using to check the parameters on your water? There is also some good links on the nitrogen cycle here if you have not read them yet which will help to give you a better understanding of what is going on in your tank.

[corry]

I am using an API freshwater master test kit, and at the moment I have fake plants but will change to real just not sure when I should do this?