Hi All Just got myself a 1.2 m tank - its going to be freshwater.I've read alot on fishkeeping but have no real practical experience.Im in Gordons bay/Stellenbosch. I want to start cycling my tank and I've read that the fastest way is to use water from another aquarium.Just wondering what ratio is optimal to get my tank going? I want a shrimp tank and maybe a school of smallish fish, but im def keen on different kinds of shrimp. Looking forward to being a part of the community!!
Welcome to APSA... Fastest way isn't to use water from an established tank, but actually the filter media (which is where all the bacteria colonise). Get yourself some of Microbelift's Special Blend (it's a bottle packed with beneficial bacteria)...I use it in all my newly set up tanks. Fish to live in harmony with shrimp...look at nano fish
The best way I found to cycle my tank is to tank your sponge off your existing filter and just squish out all of the brown gunk into you rnice clean water but dont let it touch the water.. just hover it above the tank. Or you can use Seachem stability..
For some reason i cant edit my first post, just wanted to add this : About myself : Im a software developer who loves my movies / series and gaming.I dabbled in fishkeeping of sorts a few years ago when i moved down to CPT by buying fairy shrimp eggs but they always kept dying (overfeeding i think). Looking forward to being a part of the community!!
Hi n00by and welcome to APSA Another gamer... definitely need to start the APSA team hahaha. Great advice already given regarding the quickest way to cycle a tank. Just remember that once you have the bacteria, they need to be fed otherwise they will die (fish food is useful for this).
Thanks guys, I got a very quick question that i dont think needs another thread. My tank has no foam at the bottom and my steel stand has no wood on top.Would it be advisable to put a piece of plywood/strandboard between the tank and the stand incase i might drop a rock inside the tank? thanks
High density foam is the best.. otherwise you can get a sheet of polystyrene from builders for cheap.
I had a bad experience with wood below my tank.. got a bit wet and then started to swell and finally cracked my tank..
the polystyrene or foam is more to protect the tank bottom from irregularities in the steel frame or cupboard it's standing on. Pressure points can cause the base to crack. I have my tanks on polystyrene...then on plywood then on the steel frame...
My tanks on steel frames are set up the same way JAX tanks are. The pressure from the water will cause the base to crack if there's nothing between the polystyrene and stand.
Cool, just wanted to hear from you experienced lot because I will be in big kak if that tank leaks or cracks.250 litres +- water...Wife will kill me lol
