I have a fully cycled 29 gallon set up with rocks and play sand. I have hard water, but have not tested the Kh or Gh, I believe the Gh is around 15-18 (I had my tap water tested about a year ago). I have two hang on back filters, an aqua-tech 30-60 and an aqua-tech 20-40.
I have 6 P. saulosis scheduled to arrive in the mail tomorrow (Wednesday 10/6).
I've been cycling the tank with pure ammonia (diluted to 10%). My tank will process 2tsp (about 4-6ppm) of ammonia in 12-24 hours. I had not done water changes during 4 weeks while I was cycling the tank and checked the nitrate levels last night. They were over 100ppm. I did a 95%+ water change. I retested the water and nitrates were still close to 100ppm. I did another 95%+ water change this morning and nitrates are around 12.5ppm. I plan on doing a 50% water change again this evening to be sure to bring nitrates under 10ppm. I should have been keeping up with water changes during the cycling process, but I didn't expect them to get so high. It seems the tank will be ready by wednesday for the new arrivals.
I have not added any ammonia today or yesterday.
During the water changes I had the filter pads floating in a bowl of old tank water. The filter sponges are in a spare filter on my 18gallon until the fish arrive.
I have a couple questions:
A) I have a 295gph (Maxijet 1200?) pump. Should I use it in this tank? I've read P. saulosi like strong current, but is this too much current?
2) My wife will be home when the fish arrive tomorrow. They were shipped out monday. Should I just have her acclimate them to the tank right away or will it be ok if she just opens the bag they come in, add an aerator (bubbler) and a drop of prime to neutralize any ammonia that may be present.? I'll be home appx 6 hours after they are delivered and could acclimate them to the new tank then.
d) Would a small hob protein skimmer do any good on a freshwater tank or just a waste of money? sometimes I see a slight film of floaties in my tanks, but haven't really had any problems.
I have 6 P. saulosis scheduled to arrive in the mail tomorrow (Wednesday 10/6).
I've been cycling the tank with pure ammonia (diluted to 10%). My tank will process 2tsp (about 4-6ppm) of ammonia in 12-24 hours. I had not done water changes during 4 weeks while I was cycling the tank and checked the nitrate levels last night. They were over 100ppm. I did a 95%+ water change. I retested the water and nitrates were still close to 100ppm. I did another 95%+ water change this morning and nitrates are around 12.5ppm. I plan on doing a 50% water change again this evening to be sure to bring nitrates under 10ppm. I should have been keeping up with water changes during the cycling process, but I didn't expect them to get so high. It seems the tank will be ready by wednesday for the new arrivals.
I have not added any ammonia today or yesterday.
During the water changes I had the filter pads floating in a bowl of old tank water. The filter sponges are in a spare filter on my 18gallon until the fish arrive.
I have a couple questions:
A) I have a 295gph (Maxijet 1200?) pump. Should I use it in this tank? I've read P. saulosi like strong current, but is this too much current?
2) My wife will be home when the fish arrive tomorrow. They were shipped out monday. Should I just have her acclimate them to the tank right away or will it be ok if she just opens the bag they come in, add an aerator (bubbler) and a drop of prime to neutralize any ammonia that may be present.? I'll be home appx 6 hours after they are delivered and could acclimate them to the new tank then.
d) Would a small hob protein skimmer do any good on a freshwater tank or just a waste of money? sometimes I see a slight film of floaties in my tanks, but haven't really had any problems.
