Just starting out! Currently have a 90cm, AquaH20 canister filter, 200Wtt heater, 2x 20Watt lights (White and Blue). Need some advice on setting up, which substrate to use, whic and how many fish and plants. Thanks
Welcome Aqua. Immediately go see your doctor and ask for a vacination against MTS before you continue setting up LOL
Welcome to TASA! For substrate I'd suggest riversand - well washed. Others prefer using pool filter sand. What sort of fish are you looking at putting in the tank? Your decision on what fish you'd like to keep will have a direct effect on quantities as well as tankmates.
Thanks All! @ Carping im not sure what MTS is actually???? @ Veegal, not entirely sure as to what species as yet but im def not going for Malawis.
MTS is the most dreadded decease on the site. Once you have it, there is no turning back..... It's Multiple Tank Syndrome
When you say just starting out do you mean totally fresh and know nothing about the hobby? This too will give us a guide line to work from.
New Tank Syndrome The Nitrogen Cycle & New Tank Syndrome Often a person just getting into aquarium fish keeping will buy their first tank set it up and add their favorite fish to it all excited to watch their new pets adjust to their new home. A few days later they find their fish have died and don't understand why. They give up thinking they will never understand what they need to do to keep aquarium fish. This scenario is very common and it has been given a name. It is called New Tank Syndrome and the cause of this is something called the nitrogen cycle or biological cycle. It is something that every aquarium fish keeper must learn about to be able to set up an aquarium. New Tank Syndrome New Tank Syndrome refers to what happens to a newly established fish tank for the first 6 to 8 weeks while it is establish a biological filter or bio-cycle. When a tank is first set up and some fish a placed in the tank they are living in fresh water and a tank with new decorations filter and aquarium substrate. The fish will produce waste which adds toxins to the water. These toxins are very poisonous to fish. As the level of toxins increase in the water it become armful to the fish and even fatal. This is why many fish will die in the first few day after being placed in a new aquarium. New Tank Syndrome happens to all new aquariums. It is something that every aquarium fish keeper will experience. So anyone keeping an aquarium must learn about it and know how to find a solution. There are two possible solutions. One solution is to buy a couple hardy fish to start in order to establish the biological cycle in the new aquarium. Hardy fish are certain types of fish that can tolerate the higher amounts of toxins that are present in the aquarium while it is cycling. Some hardy fish are zebra danios, female guppies, blue, opaline and yellow gouramis. The other solution is to cycle the tank doing what is called a fishless cycle. Instead of getting hardy fish for the new tank the aquarium owner can buy special kits at local pet stores. these kits contain chemicals that get added to the water to cycle the tank. The chemicals are similar to the ones that are produced by the fish that would be living in the aquarium. The kits will come with instructions on how to use them to establish the biological filter in the aquarium. Cycling a New Tank Can Take 6-8 Weeks The Nitrogen Cycle The Nitrogen Cycle also called the Biological Cycle is a cycle that all new aquariums must establish to be able to provide a healthy living environment for the fish that will live in the tank. When a brand new tank is set up it lacks the bacteria needed to break down the toxin produced by the waste products from the fish. These bacteria need time to grow. The time that it takes for the bacteria to grow is what is called cycling the tank. The cycle starts with wasted products entering the water from the fish. These products produce ammonia. Ammonia is very toxic to fish. As more ammonia enters the water some bacteria will begin to grow in the tank. This bacteria will eat the ammonia and the ammonia level will then drop. The ammonia eating bacteria produce another waste product that puts nitrite into the water. Nitrites are also very toxic to fish. As the nitrites in water start to increase another bacteria will then start to grow. This new bacteria will eat the nitrites causing the nitrites to drop. The nitrite eating bacteria produce their own waste products which give of nitrates. Nitrates are not as toxic to aquarium fish. Even though nitrates are not as toxic they should not be allowed to build up in the tank. Regular partial water changes are needed to keep the nitrates low. Once there are nitrates in the water and the other 2 toxins have pretty much vanished the Nitrogen Cycle is completed and the tank has establish a biological filter. Good Hardy Fish for Cycling an Aquarium Sometimes people may not want to look at an empty tank for 6 to 8 weeks while doing a fishless cycle. In cases like that the option is to cycle the tank with a few hardy fish. Here are some hardy fish that can be considered for cycling a tank. Zebra Danio - The most hardy of all the freshwater fish. 2 or 3 of them are perfect for cycling a new tank. Scissor-Tail Rasbora - Very hardy freshwater fish. 2 of them are good for getting a tank cycled. Female Guppy - A couple female guppies are great for cycling a tank. Do not get a male guppy as the high toxins could damage the tail fin of the male guppy. Silver Molly - No hybrid mollies because they are more susceptible to disease. A couple silver mollies are good for cycling a tank. Blue or Opaline Gourami - The most hardy of all gouramis and just 1 of them will be good for getting the tank cycled. Gold Gourami - Another very hardy gourami. 1 of them will be great for getting the tank cycled. Tiger Barb - Tiger Barbs are very hardy and are another good choice for cycling a new aquarium.
Thanks FishFantasy, this helps much.... I havent setup my tank as yet, still deciding on whether to keep the old stand that came with the tank or get a new one? the one i got with the tank is fairly old and users fairly thin tubing. I saw a nice bulky 40x20mm tube stand at my LFS. Once i setup im plaining to let the tank run for at least 1-2months prior to adding 1 or 2 guppies for a few weeks before getting all my fish.
Brilliant stuff!!!! if i had known about NTS I wouldn't have lost so many fish when i first started out. Heart breaking stuff!!!!! Also check the flow rate on the cannister filter if you have a 90cm then you flow rate should be about 600l - 700l to 1000l per hour & make sure you have a spray bar attached so you don't blast the fish all over the tank or even out of it. lol!!!!
