chickadee

Snails are monstrous waste producers and crabs eat fish and shrimp can be lunch for some fish when they molt and lose their shells and yes they do count to a varying degree. Mostly by a lot. I would not plan on the first two at all and the latter is up to you but be prepared to need to replace them occasionally.

The flow of the water is not going to make a great change unless you have a torrent going and then it may make it hard for the bacteria to settle on anything. It may keep everything stirred to the point of keeping everything too unstable. I am not sure but it makes sense to me. A bit of movement should not hurt though as I know some tanks need movement to satisfy some of the inhabitants and it does not appear to upset the cycle but this is after the cycle is completed so you may want a steady flow but not a rapid one.

The filter wool on the power head thing as far as I have ever used it was to cut down on the amount of flow current to make it more manageable for the fish. This helps them get their "tank legs" so to speak in front of the filter outflow. It keeps them from being thrown when they swim in the direct line of the filter. Depending on the fish you choose for the tank though, the fish my enjoy the flow. This is done most often for fish who do not like strong flow. If Hatchet was referring to another purpose he will have to explain it. I do not know of another.

How are your readings coming? Is the cycle progressing to your satisfaction?

Rose

Blub

richard7467

rose thanks for the advice I decreased the flow a couple of days ago by slowing the air out put on the air wand,throttled back on the power heads and placed the out put of the cannister filter on top of the glass ledges inside the tank to create a slow flowing water fall instead of it belting out underwater and the result (this may be a coincidence) is the ammonia is now being processed nicely with the nitrites naturally increasing proportionally so im getting there steadily, i'm doing the add and wait method once again thanks for the in put.
Hatchet I was considering Mollies/Guppies in place of the Gourami's as I have definatly made my mind up with the Zebra's as they seem like an ideal starter fish for a newbie.

Blub

richard7467

Just looked at my tank and yeah I can see a few Platys in there cheers Hatchet with your patience but we are getting there so now its going to be 6 Zebras 3 Platys 5 Julii's could I fit a clown pleco in there as well or a kuhli.

Blub

richard7467

Okay first day when all the ammonia has processed. Ntrites through the roof Nitrates through the roof now raising ammonia to 4-5ppm to feed the bacteria keep adding ammonia daily til all the Nitrites have cleared and ammonia is being processed in 12 hours then do a 90% water to deal with the Nitates......am I on the right lines?

FL CommunityFans

Between the platys and clown pleco, you will have 4 heavy biolode producers. Just be sure of that and ready to vacuum a little more often as a result.

Blub

FL CommunityFans

If you have any driftwood in for the clown, his biolode will be nuts too! I feed 2 algae wafers to our BN and clown every other day, and let them eat off the tank and ornaments between wafer feeds.. clown comes out on that day, perches on the wood then proceeds to poop for about 2 hours! My daughter thinks it's hilarious. I think it's a chore! lol.

Blub

FL CommunityFans

We do Zucc a few times a week. They don't seem to like it on a regular basis. I put it in every other day it won't get touched. I do it once - twice a week and it's usually gone. I have to put 2 wafers, broken in to 8 total pieces ( 1 wafer = 4 quartered pieces) and scatter some on oneside of the tank as a distraction. The gouramis and guppys love the stuff, as well as the corys and yoyos!!!!! Even if I turn the lights off, come and check on things in an hour, gouramis, corys and yoyos are all piggin out on some wafer. I feed those hungry fools bloodworms every other day and flakes in between but they are ALWAYS hungry lol.

At any rate, Richard, you'll have fun watching the juliis and clown eat together

chickadee

Yes you are on exactly the right track and I am sorry the folks have been goofing and not answering your questions here. The Clown Pleco is going to be fine. I have one and he is a darling and not that big a nuisance at all.

Yes I am so happy for you that the ammonia is at the stage that it is and the Nitrites are doing well and the Nitrates are sounding like they are just where they should be. Now you just follow the example you are planning that you stated and you should be fine.

Rose

FL CommunityFans

Didn't realize I was goofing off? If it came through that way, sorry Richard. I was in no place to answer that question as I have only done the Bio-Spira route and that's all I know.

richard7467

No worries I was picking up on the feeding tips any how, just been down my lfs and he advised me to do a 20% water change to dilute my tank a bit well as my Nitrates and Nitrites are very high, my tank has been processing 5ppm Ammonia in 6 hours!....hope his right and I havent messed the cycle up.

Blub

richard7467

No I think it hasnt made much of an effect i've still got very high Nitrites and Nitrates and the Ammonia is being processed well....a bit to well I suspect though im processing 5ppm in under 6 hours is this okay?

Blub