I am curious for opinions on my tank? I am a new aquarium owner and chose a small 9 gallon Eheim aquastyle tank. I used CaribSea Instant aquarium gravel for my tank set up and all the levels tested perfect so in 1 week I added 2 PLatys then week 2 (today) I added 2 fancy guppies. I used water softened tap water.....we live in the country and have a well with high iron content so a softener was a must. I have a red crown tail Betta in a 1 gallon bubbler tank which is always crystal clear so I didn't give any thought to using the softened water in the 9 gallon tank. I plan a water change tomorrow as I've just left the tank alone up until now except for water testing. My 4 fish seem perfectly happy so far. I have had 1 problem though......I did not research natural driftwood well enough. I soaked it for several hours and the water seemed clear enough so I used it when I set the tank up. The next morning the tank was amber colored. I rinsed the filter a couple of times but it hasn't cleared. I'm told I should have soaked it for 3-4 days......live and learn I guess. I read about Seachem Purigen so I went to the only fish store in my area that sells it and bought some today. They said the tannins from the driftwood are not harmful to the fish and 10% weekly water changes should clear it. I added the Purigen to the filter tonight so we'll see how the tank looks tomorrow as I have read good reviews about quick results using it. I bought a Hydor heater and also added silk plants to the tank. I am using strips for testing for now and plan to buy the master test kit in the future as I have read the strips are not as accurate. I may be crazy but the tank looks clearer already or maybe I'm just wishful thinking? My plan is to add 2 Cory Cats and a couple Danios. I considered a Dwarf Gourami but I love Fancy Guppies and bought 2 of them instead. I look forward to advice, opinions, thoughts etc.
New Tank Advice
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First off welcome to the hobby! Now as far as your tank goes I would be careful cuz you may lose your fish due to not going through the nitrogen cycle before adding in your fish. Now guppies are a very hardy fish however spikes of ammonia and nitrites will occur in your tank which may kill your fish. This cycle is something all new tank owners must go through as it establishes bacteria in our tanks to consume the ammonia and nitrite buildups. You have a new tank so what will happen is your fish will give off waste in the form of ammonia and that will build up (ammonia spike) and then nitrosomonas bacteria will eventually grow and consume the ammonia and turn it into nitrite. Then that nitrite will build up over time as nitrobacter bacteria grow to the point to where they can consume it and bring down the nitrite levels leaving an end product of nitrate, which is removed through water changes as there is no other bacteria to consume the last product of the nitrogen cycle and turn it into another byproduct. You may have lots more questions on this cycle but it is the silent killer to a lot of new tank owners cuz it's something we can't physically see with our eyes. Check out my video and I hope it explains this cycle to you. And after a few water changes the water will continue to clear from the leaching drift wood
Best of Luck and keep at it! Post some pictures of the tank too :lol:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhBHxzV1jqI
Well the Purigen has not helped over night, the tank looks no better today. I will do a water change today so hopefully over time that will hlep. I will keep an eye on the tank levels and hope I don't lose my fish. The CaribSea makes its seem llike you won't have those problems and if I remember the label claims you can add fish almost immediately. Time will tell I guess. Thanks fo your respomse, I can use all the help I can get!!
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hello and warm welcome to you.
best not to add anymore fish,and let your filter catch up.
testing the water is a great help,i used to keep a diary in the beginning,
i found it helped.
the tannis will clear eventually,i hated it..
i've just changed some wood in my little tank because of this reason.
best not to add anymore fish,and let your filter catch up.
testing the water is a great help,i used to keep a diary in the beginning,
i found it helped.
the tannis will clear eventually,i hated it..
i've just changed some wood in my little tank because of this reason.
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156 Posts
WELCOME. Stick to it. The tank will eventually cycle and then you'll really enjoy it.
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