Regular Member EvilVegan Posted May 7, 2012 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 7, 2012 Is there an easy way to test oxygen? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Captain Findus Goldfish Posted May 7, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted May 7, 2012 I think there are testers. But in my tanks I can see the little bubbles all mixing in the water. And the fish never gulp for air. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member EvilVegan Posted May 8, 2012 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 8, 2012 Anyone know the exact distance an aquaclear juts over the tank? I'm designing my tank stand and would like to know the dimensions. The only dimensions I could find are for the box everything comes in for shipping. The picture looks like it is about 1-2 inches. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member EvilVegan Posted May 16, 2012 Author Regular Member Share Posted May 16, 2012 Ok, so my equipment is on its way. I'm pretty sure I over-corrected... I got a wet/dry filter w/ overflow for up to 100 gallons, an aquaclear HOB for 70 gallons (in case the return pump fails on the wet/dry), a UV sterilizer, 2 LED aquarium grow lamps, and I built a DIY tank stand. I'll put up pictures this weekend! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member conisaxx Posted May 16, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted May 16, 2012 Ok, so my equipment is on its way. I'm pretty sure I over-corrected... I got a wet/dry filter w/ overflow for up to 100 gallons, an aquaclear HOB for 70 gallons (in case the return pump fails on the wet/dry), a UV sterilizer, 2 LED aquarium grow lamps, and I built a DIY tank stand. I'll put up pictures this weekend! Wow that seems interesting I'm curious about the DIY stand ! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member alistairw Posted May 16, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted May 16, 2012 Welcome to Koko's I have 3 Eheim filters running on my tanks and just have the output nozzles pointing downwards so there is a constant stream breaking the surface of the water in the tank. If you are worried about oxygen levels though (and i personally don't think that you should be, even with plants) you could always use a HOB filter with a Biowheel. The autotrophic bacteria supporting the nitrogen cycle only have to be wet, they do not have to be submerged. This is where Wet/Dry filtration, which includes Biowheels, establishes its advantage over submerged biomedia. Media that is exposed to the atmosphere is able to utilize oxygen from the atmosphere. This eliminates any concern of insufficient oxygen to support the bacteria and it removes the bacteria from competition with the fish for oxygen, which results in more oxygen being available to the fish. A good colony of BB's can actually consume more oxygen than a couple of small goldfish 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member EvilVegan Posted June 4, 2012 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 4, 2012 OK! I have my stand mostly built (need to put the cabinet doors on and the light they sent me was wrong, but I'll fix that later), I'm setting it up TONIGHT! I've got my ammonia ready, my tank and filters rinsed out, and I'm going to be running it without plants or fish until I have nitrates and 0/0 ammonia and nitrites. Questions: Should I add fish or plants first? Some sites say fish first, but imply it is for cycling (which I'm doing without fish). I'd like to have the tank conditions 100% ideal before stressing out my new fish. Here's the (mostly finished) stand I built: It's two separate parts, the hood covers the unsightly power cables and tubes and is where the air flow is. The back is open. There are two 220 MM fans for air circulation around the wet/dry filter. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member BriansMom Posted June 7, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted June 7, 2012 Dont have answers for you but your tank/stand is beautiful!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member amynmitchell Posted June 8, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted June 8, 2012 I love the stand! I would hold off on plants while cycling unless you are dosing them with Flourish or something like that. There won't be anything to feed them without the fish. I also want to suggest the Fancy Goldfish book by Johnson/Hess. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member EvilVegan Posted June 10, 2012 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 10, 2012 (edited) My wife got me the Johnson/Hess book as an early birthday present! I put ammonia in the tank and i can get some fertilizer, but they seem to be doing well enough. So far I just have some Anacharis and a sword. I'm waiting on the LFS to get in a madagascar lace and maybe some java moss... Here's a bad picture of my tank before I added gravel and plants... my phone broke and wiped my SD card so I don't have a better picture... Edited June 10, 2012 by EvilVegan 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member tithra Posted June 10, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted June 10, 2012 very nice! I can't wait to see the finished product 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Golden fishy Posted June 10, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted June 10, 2012 Very nice fish tank! I also have the johnson/hess book, it's a great book! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member EvilVegan Posted June 14, 2012 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 14, 2012 ... this bacteria needs to step it up... <goes back to staring at an empty tank> 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member EvilVegan Posted June 21, 2012 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 21, 2012 So... the pet store has the fish I want in stock (chocolate orandas), but my tank isn't ready because I over-dosed it with ammonia... I've got it back down to 4 ppm (down from 8-12 ppm, oops!). I think the anacharis that died amped it up too much. How do people feel about Tetra Safe Start for kickstarting this process? I've been researching and most sites say that the other bacterial supplements people get are from land-based cultures instead of water-based cultures, so they drown after a few weeks (which is why they crash and you have to keep buying the product); but Tetra Safe Start is a one-time dose of water-based nitrifiers.... I've seen sites that say "don't use supplemental bacteria... get seed gravel/filters with bacteria on it from friends/family or pet store" and as a pseudoscientist I can't see why that's better, faster, safer, or more stable than a store bought supplement (assuming it is fresh)? I can wait, just not sure they'll still be in stock when this thing is finally done. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Stratt14goldies Posted September 16, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted September 16, 2012 Welcome to the forum fellow Tennessean and vegetarian cousin (I'm vegetarian). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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