Newbie...still confused???

T

trasler

Guest
ok this is where i am at I put in the fish food, didn't change my levels. My levels as of this morning were ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and nitrate 0 ph is still 8.3 ...talked to a few peaople at some local fish stores and they said to add in a couple damsels this weekend to get my tank to run threw another cycle.? Is this ok? I seen where someone said to start with cleaner fish and have read this to be controversal.... I was thinking of starting with 3 yellow tailed blue damsels and see how that goes for the next 3 weeks or so .... Am I on the right track...?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
NOOO...DO NOT put a live fish in there so it can suffer...if you want to start your ammonia, you can throw in a raw shrimp from your freezer...from what I understand, you shuold see a spike soon after (I have not done this)
A lot of people willdisagree with the live fish and cycling thing....but think about it...ammonia and nitrites are toxic to fish....although damsels MAY survive this...why put them through that torture and misery?
 
T

trasler

Guest
If you read in the early post I have went threw this cycle....The lfs said i could go threw another one when i add fish.
 
jdl

jdl

Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3067523
NOOO...DO NOT put a live fish in there so it can suffer...if you want to start your ammonia, you can throw in a raw shrimp from your freezer...from what I understand, you shuold see a spike soon after (I have not done this)
A lot of people willdisagree with the live fish and cycling thing....but think about it...ammonia and nitrites are toxic to fish....although damsels MAY survive this...why put them through that torture and misery?
so catching a fish in the ocean using various methods (cyanide one of them), then shipping it over and over in a box, then to multiple aquariums, to finally live in a glass box that is not its natural environment isnt torture and misery?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by JDL
http:///forum/post/3067527
so catching a fish in the ocean using various methods (cyanide one of them), then shipping it over and over in a box, then to multiple aquariums, to finally live in a glass box that is not its natural environment isnt torture and misery?
WELL ALL I can do is make sure I buy fish that are not wild caught...and I guess you and every other hobbyist can do the same....
OH...AND I am not the one out there catching them...I am only trying to provide them the best home I can
 
T

trasler

Guest
I don't know how these threads can turn into such an argument. I am on here trying to get advice, maybe i should just stick to my research and books. Everyone has a different opion on everything and it is just more confusing. It is sad that newbies get on here and get beat down by people who say they are experts and they have nothing nice to say!.... Maybe start out by saying in "just my opion" I would try this or that.... I asked for help not to be criticized, all i asked for was for a good honest opion from someone with info on the setup that i have that i have stated in the first post.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I'm sorry if anything I said made you feel that way,.....I was giving my opinion on the damsels, and I did say a lot of people will disagree....One thing about this hobby is there are a lot of different ways people do things...sometimes it gets confusing, BUT there is also a lot of GOOD HELP out here
You have to read it all...you have to take what you get out of what you read...apply it, and the do what works for YOU....
 
arvins

arvins

Member
Originally Posted by trasler
http:///forum/post/3067526
If you read in the early post I have went threw this cycle....The lfs said i could go threw another one when i add fish.
I think what your LFS meant was that if you have had your full cycle (i.e. ammonia, nitrite spiked then went to zero and nitrate did the same) then when you add your first fish you can get a slight spike. This is due to adding bioload to your tank which is why most people start with just the one fishy.
Question though, now that you have monitered your levels and seen the spike and the return to zero do you have a clean up crew. If not my opinion would be go this weekend and get a few snail and crabs feed the tank (very, very little) and test daily. If after about 1-2 weeks all levels remain at zero add your first fish, go slow after that to, moniter your levels then slowly add your fish one or two at a time a couple weeks apart, while also adding to your clean up with each fish. Now that is just my opinon and what I have been doing, I'm new to this as well but I'm up to my third fish this weekend and since the addition of my clowns the levels have stayed stable. Good luck, be patient and enjoy....stressing about it takes away from the joy of the tank
 
T

trasler

Guest
<a href="http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x266/trasler/?action=view&current=aquarium.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x266/trasler/th_aquarium.jpg" border="0" alt="aquarium" ></a>
ok im not sure if this will work or not but here is a picture of my aquarium befor i added the light and powerheads. So now you guys can have more of an idea of what i have. Once i figure out the picture thing I will post more pictures as i progess,
 
premilove

premilove

Active Member
are you using metal halides? show us some pics of your equipment. did you do a water test this morning? if so, what are your results? if your tank is still cycling, id take a nice piece of raw shrimp and put it in your tank..where are you getting the rest of your rock? make sure it is cured..try to get it from an established tank if that is possible. personally, i would stop listening to your lfs they seem to like your money.
 
T

trasler

Guest
Is it ok for my tempature to flucuate thoughtout the day? It seem to flucuate very slowly thoughout the day from 79 to 82. Was just wondering if this is ok before i start to add fish. It does this because the of the lighting that runs 12 hours a day.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by trasler
http:///forum/post/3069216
Is it ok for my tempature to flucuate thoughtout the day? It seem to flucuate very slowly thoughout the day from 79 to 82. Was just wondering if this is ok before i start to add fish. It does this because the of the lighting that runs 12 hours a day.
YES, it is from the lighting....If it is a slow fluctuation it should not hurt....I have a small fan that I keep on the corner of tank (can't even see it) and it is set to come on, and go off with my first MH light.
 
T

trasler

Guest
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3069225
YES, it is from the lighting....If it is a slow fluctuation it should not hurt....I have a small fan that I keep on the corner of tank (can't even see it) and it is set to come on, and go off with my first MH light.
I looked for a small fan this weekend and couldn't find one under 4 inches...how big is yours and where do u get it?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by trasler
http:///forum/post/3069227
I looked for a small fan this weekend and couldn't find one under 4 inches...how big is yours and where do u get it?
LOL...I got mine at walmart....I think it is about 4"...round
 
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