Pigmopad Fish Tank

[Desmo]

We were walking around our local Wyevale the other weekend and wandered in to Fins, the fish shop in there, just to have a look around. We saw a couple of nice tanks that we liked and said that in the future we might look at getting one.

About an hour later we're at my sisters when we mention the fish tank. My bro-in-law disappears in to the garage and comes back with one of these...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Fish/biOrbaquariumonly.jpg

:D

It's a biOrb 30 litre tank. Friends had given it to them but it was too big to put on their shelf so we've now got it. We didn't want to keep goldfish or similar so we're converting it to a marine tank. We've got the heater and last night I started to sort the rest, adding salt and various other goodies to get some bacteria growing to help keep the fish spick and span :)

We're probably going to pop in a couple of Clown or Humbugs along with a Dancing Shrimp or two.

I'll get some pics of where we're at right now later on tonight.

[leowyatt]

go go clean up crew!!! :D

Looking forward to seeing it all setup and everything tickety boo

[Tak]

*Imagines the next thread title*

"Pebbles-cat went fishing!" ;D

[Burble]

I miss my fish tanks!

Before I moved out of my parents place to go to Uni I had 3, 6 foot tanks. 1 was coldwater for goldfish, 1 was tropical and the other was marine.

[Admiral Huddy]

welcome to the club! :)

[Desmo]

Ah good, people who know what they're doing. Now I know who to pester ;D

[Burble]

Hold on there a second, I never said I knew what I was doing ;) Also it was over 10 years ago I got rid.

Cats + fish tank can be a great combination. My cat used to love a particular cat fish I had so much so that we'd put a chair in front of the tank and she would sit there transfixed for hours watching it. She never once (that any of us saw) touched the glass, let alone try to get into the tank.

[Von Smallhausen]

May I ask that you name one of your fish, Vonfish ?

No reason for my request, other than stupidity. :D

[leowyatt]

ours paw at the glass and yes they want a chair too ;D

[Admiral Huddy]

Hold on there a second, I never said I knew what I was doing ;) Also it was over 10 years ago I got rid.

Cats + fish tank can be a great combination. My cat used to love a particular cat fish I had so much so that we'd put a chair in front of the tank and she would sit there transfixed for hours watching it. She never once (that any of us saw) touched the glass, let alone try to get into the tank.


Cat fish!

[Kitten]

^^ we have those too! Think we have a 5ft tank do we? Mr Fishman?

[iCraig]

Call one of them Dr Zoidberg.

[Zirax]

Good stuff! I had been toying with marine tanks, however I remember reading that they need a few months to develop the ecosystem, then you add fish slowly?

[Knipples]

Can you name the stupid one after me?
:p

[Kell_ee001]

YAY for Nemo! :D

[Desmo]

Good stuff! I had been toying with marine tanks, however I remember reading that they need a few months to develop the ecosystem, then you add fish slowly?
It's roughly 4-6 weeks before you can add fish as you need to build up bacteria. The bacteria convert the fish ammonia in to nitrite which is poisonous to the fish. Then a second bacteria converts the nitrite in to nitrate which is still harmful, but not too bad. You need to clear the nitrate out by doing monthly water changes.

The initial setup is done by adding ammonia to the tank and letting the bacteria build up. Then once this cycle is complete, you can add your first fish :)

[Desmo]

Here are some pics :)

Ignore the ring of small bubbles. They'll gradually clear once the water settles.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Fish/DSCF2638.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Fish/DSCF2639.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Fish/DSCF2641.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Fish/DSCF2642.jpg

[Psymonkee]

My sister has one of those :D

Kinda freaky when a tiny fish becomes giant as it swims round in circles :D

My cat also tried to fish in the fish tank....shame there were no fish in it though :p

[Matblack]

Next time we come to stay I'm bringing my rod :)

MB

[Tak]

Next time we come to stay I'm bringing my rod :)

MB

:shocked:

[Haly]

Cool :D

[Piggymon]

Next time we come to stay I'm bringing my rod :)

MB

My Dad will only try to cuddle it ;D

[leowyatt]

Next time we come to stay I'm bringing my rod :)

MB

you leave yours at home :shocked: ;D

[Matblack]

My Dad will only try to cuddle it ;D

I like your Dad but he does seem to like putting parts of me in his mouth.

MB

[Desmo]

You weren't complaining ;D

[Knipples]

*runs out of thread screaming*

;D

[wicksta]

I've got a bioorb which I purchased in December 2007. Recently (ie in the last couple of month) a load of cracks have appeared at the top so I'm going to have to look for a new tank now. :( Will try to get some pics up, they are big cracks though I'm guessing due to temperature changes in the house. Its the tropical kit I have.

EDIT: here you go
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3563/3470555615_ceb93ed2b9.jpg

There are probably about 10 cracks like this so I've had to drop the water level. Looking for a new tank soon.

[Roberta]

Fishies!

[Desmo]

That looks nasty wicksta....hope ours doesn't do that :shocked:
Mind you, would be an excuse to get something bigger ;D

Been out shopping today. Bought myself some ammonia to start building up the bacteria needed. Also got some API Stress Coat + to dechlorinate the tap water for when I go my water changes. But probably most important is the API Master Water Test kit. This means I can check the water for ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

Just need to get this tank cycled and then we can start adding some fish :D

[Desmo]

The bacteria have landed :cool:

It's taken a while, but we're finally getting somewhere. Seem to have both types of bacteria growing now, converting the ammonia to nitrite and the nitrite to nitrate. Now I just need to keep topping up the ammonia until it can convert both ammonia and nitrite to zero in 12 hours.

[Dee]

Love it! I miss having a big tank :(

[Admiral Huddy]

Desmo, to speed up the process. Ask a nieghbour or someone you know if you can take a squeeze from their filter. Just squeeze some nasty water from the media into an air tight bag and pour onto your own. The matured bacteria will get things ticking along quicker.

I am having problems with my new one.. After 9 weeks, I can't get the ammonia below .50 even after 6 weeks, a squeezy and daily water changes - tis a bit of a pain tbh.

[volospian]

I've got a 190 litre freshwater tank with white mountain minnows, platties and a big fat fancy goldfish that was rescued from someone. Oh, and a loach and a siamese flying fox.

I loves my fish, in fact, they are having a water change tonight. :D

How are yours getting on?

[Desmo]

Huddy, I could do that but it's cheating ;D Actually, I'm quite enjoying getting this set up on my own although it's can be a little frustrating with the waiting. But it's all part of the learning curve.

Volo...we don't have any fish yet :( Still getting the water all set up. Ammonia is being cleared in approx 16hours at the moment but still waiting for the Nitrite to start making a move.

[Admiral Huddy]

So, how's the tank coming? Got fish?

[Piggymon]

No :angry:

We need to steal some bacteria from somewhere !

[leowyatt]

shouldn't your live rock have the bacteria?

[Admiral Huddy]

You're doing a fish less cycle aren't you?

How long are you into your cycle? What is your ammonia/nitrite levels at?

Have you been messing with your filter?

Any water changes recently?

What is your bust size?

[Piggymon]

30E... that's the only thing I can answer ;D

[Desmo]

You're doing a fish less cycle aren't you?
Yep.

How long are you into your cycle? What is your ammonia/nitrite levels at?
About 7-8 weeks
Ammonia is being polished off pretty quickly but nitrite just seems to rocket off the chart no matter when I test it.

Have you been messing with your filter?
Nope.

Any water changes recently?
None.

What is your bust size?
Too small to get you excited.

[Darrin]

30E... that's the only thing I can answer ;D


http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/boatdrinks/drool.gif :evil:

[Piggymon]

http://www.boomspeed.com/bofh1968/boatdrinks/drool.gif :evil:

I lied actually, I forgot I'm a 30F ;D


Don't get too excited, they aren't that big :p

[Admiral Huddy]

You're doing a fish less cycle aren't you?
Yep.

How long are you into your cycle? What is your ammonia/nitrite levels at?
About 7-8 weeks
Ammonia is being polished off pretty quickly but nitrite just seems to rocket off the chart no matter when I test it.

Have you been messing with your filter?
Nope.

Any water changes recently?
None.

What is your bust size?
Too small to get you excited.

Fish less cycle takes much longer to complete, twice as long as a stocked cycle. The fact that the ammonia is reducing is a good sign but this, as you know, needs to be zero. The process of nitrite converting to nitrate can take up to a month and twice as long in a fishless cycle. As you are 7 to 8 weeks in the cycle is pretty near the end. Once day day it you'll do a test and everything will be zero. I'm sure you know all this anyway.

However, I would just do a couple of partial water changes to help dilute the nitrite to give the biological system a fighting chance. Remember to keep feeding the bacteria to help preserve them and help them multiply. Put a tiny amount of fish food in every few days or so.

When everything is zero, then give it a week before adding a small quantity of fish. When you do, keep monitoring the ammonia/nitrite levels as adding stock will produce more toxins so the eco system of the tank will have to readjust. Hence the reason for adding food into the tanks before hand :)


I lied actually, I forgot I'm a 30F ;D


Don't get too excited, they aren't that big :p


Forum bust up haha get it bust up.. bust !!?? .. Nawwww!

[Darrin]

I lied actually, I forgot I'm a 30F ;D


Don't get too excited, they aren't that big :p


Pics or it didn't happen!!

Sorry, inside joke from another forum I visit. And please don't Piggyslap me. :D

[Piggymon]

I think you made that comment on purpose because you WANT a piggyslap.. I know your game ;)

[Desmo]

OK, well back to the fish :p

Finally we're pretty much there :D The tank is fully cycling now and today we got our first visitor.

Meet Albert....he's a Fire Shrimp :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Fish/DSCF2695.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Fish/DSCF2696.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Fish/DSCF2699.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Fish/DSCF2702.jpg

It's pretty tough getting some decent pics of him as he's hiding away on the rock at the back of the tank but I'm sure he'll come out to play soon enough.
In a week or two we'll be getting our clown fish as well.

[Pebs]

In a week or two we'll be getting our clown fish as well.

They're well funny! :D

[Piggymon]

Boom boom tish ! ;D

[Kitten]

*waves at mr albert*

[Fayshun]

Albert looks like he's shouting "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!"

[Admiral Huddy]

Here's my tank :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/hardhuddy/misc%202009/DSCF1960.jpg

I've cut the lamp hours to reduce the algae but this seems to have a detrimental effect on the plants.. I took this last week and things have improved a bit.

[Piggymon]

Ack, I forgot to post in here.. Albert died about 4 days after us putting him in the tank :/

I don't think the water was right and the reading we got was only because the water was more clear after a water change so we're still cycling to get it right.

The night before Albert died he was " dancing " like a looney and we were both laughing.... poor bugger was probably having some sort of fit.. felt very guilty :/

That tank looks lovely Paul.. can we steal some of your bacteria ? ;D

[volospian]

Oh, nightmare. :(

If you were near me you could have some platty's, the fish equivalent of rabbits. I started with 4, bought another 4 a couple of months later (but 2 died within a week of buying them, all the others were fine, including all the other fish in the tank. Suspect batch, I think) now I have, god I dunno... 40 odd??

[Admiral Huddy]

Ack, I forgot to post in here.. Albert died about 4 days after us putting him in the tank :/

I don't think the water was right and the reading we got was only because the water was more clear after a water change so we're still cycling to get it right.

The night before Albert died he was " dancing " like a looney and we were both laughing.... poor bugger was probably having some sort of fit.. felt very guilty :/

That tank looks lovely Paul.. can we steal some of your bacteria ? ;D

Did you check what acid levels he'd be happy in?.. Your tank should be fully cycled by now tbh :huh:


You can always have some of my bacteria haha :D

[Von Smallhausen]

Boom boom tish ! ;D

You mean boom boom fish ?

* applause *