DavidF
Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2010
- Messages
- 85
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 8
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
- Country
- Australia
Hi All
The only stupid question is the question not asked......
I set up my 3ft / 150L tank a week ago. Cannister filter. Sand substrate with some 25-30mm river pebbles. A sandstone slab cave and a resin tunnel. Some plants are in too. No aeration.
A few mini 2cm fish were in for a few days as the canary in the mines type trick. Axies went in last night. 2 x 5 month old 10-11cm. One of my mini fish went missing last night...I suspect a murder.
I'm testing for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate daily. Everything is zero except nitrite at 0.2. pH=7. The axies seem ok, mostly just hanging out in the tunnel ornament.
So my question is this: some advice on this forum says 20-30% daily water changes to reduce the poisonous stuff until all readings are zero. They say do this even if the tank isn't properly cycled as yet. Other posts say don't change the water early on as it just ruins the cycling process. So I'm confused but the mixed messages. Do I split the difference and change just a little or the water?
Next question is aging the water and possibly the really stupid question but, heck, i don't understand the science. If I fill up some bottles, put the lids on tightly so little kids don't knock them over in the house, then leave it 2-3 days, is that ok? There is a lot of talk about buckets, thats all. Does putting the aging drops in my bottles mean the water doesn't need to be aged for any time at all?
Cheers
Dave
The only stupid question is the question not asked......
I set up my 3ft / 150L tank a week ago. Cannister filter. Sand substrate with some 25-30mm river pebbles. A sandstone slab cave and a resin tunnel. Some plants are in too. No aeration.
A few mini 2cm fish were in for a few days as the canary in the mines type trick. Axies went in last night. 2 x 5 month old 10-11cm. One of my mini fish went missing last night...I suspect a murder.
I'm testing for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate daily. Everything is zero except nitrite at 0.2. pH=7. The axies seem ok, mostly just hanging out in the tunnel ornament.
So my question is this: some advice on this forum says 20-30% daily water changes to reduce the poisonous stuff until all readings are zero. They say do this even if the tank isn't properly cycled as yet. Other posts say don't change the water early on as it just ruins the cycling process. So I'm confused but the mixed messages. Do I split the difference and change just a little or the water?
Next question is aging the water and possibly the really stupid question but, heck, i don't understand the science. If I fill up some bottles, put the lids on tightly so little kids don't knock them over in the house, then leave it 2-3 days, is that ok? There is a lot of talk about buckets, thats all. Does putting the aging drops in my bottles mean the water doesn't need to be aged for any time at all?
Cheers
Dave