mitch126

Hi I have just got what I think is a 20 gal tank its 2ftx15insx15ins and am new to fish keeping so any help would be appreciated . It has been filled since last Thurs and have done the tests all is ok except the pH levels a little high I think. it was 8.0 . I am from the uk so when I am on line most of you all are probably in bed!! its a great website regards to all .Peter

atmmachine816

Welcome to Fishlore

It is 23 US gallons or 19 UK gallons. Do you have any test kits, if so what type? I would read through all that you can find on this site and online, here's a good starting spot http://www.fishlore.com/Forum/index.php?topic=620.0 There's other members here from the UK and some US members who never sleep so don't worry, other's will be on when your on.

sgould

Welcome to the site! pH of 8.0 is not bad...will not bother most fish. Be sure to cycle your tank with an ammonia source before adding fish!

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

COBettaCouple

welcome to fishlore! you'll find we have a lot of members in the UK. Are you using the API master freshwater test kit? That's the best one and can tell you if your tank is cycled. what are you planning on putting in your tank?

Sabi

Welcome to fishlore! you'l enjoy it here!

Neville

welcome peter

mitch126

Hi All thanks for the info I did buy an API master test kit and the results were Ammonia 0.25 nitrite 0 PPM nitrate 0 ppm . ph76 and high range ph 8.0 the tank is really clear now so may leave for another week then get some fish ,just one thing that is concerning me when the lights have been on for an hour or so it gets quite hot is this ok ? the tank is a Jinlong RE 5620 don't know if anyone is familiar with these thanks Peter ps can't get the smilyes to work !!!!??

woodworm18

Welcome I am new here to I don't know what i would have done with out this place i think i would have a lot of dead fish. How hot does your light get. Is just the light or the does it heat your tank up?

mitch126

Hi the tank gets very hot at just one end after an hour too hot to put your hand on ouch !! at the moment i am only putting them on when I am at home . How do you get the smileys on ? Peter

woodworm18

Well sounds to me like you light is not working, it should never get hot i would not use it at all the light could start a fire may be you can take it back to the store as for the smiley's they at at the top and i just click on them

Amnagrla

Hi Peter! :-)

A couple of things...

Are you assuming that with the light shining on the tank it will heat the tank more? Or are you actually saying that your light gets too hot to touch? Fish tank hood lights are meant to be able to be left on for a long time without overheating. If you do feel it's overheating, don't use it. I'd return it or just plain buy a new one, maybe a different brand. But if it's something you just very logically got concerned about, unless it's acting funny, you're fine!

You've had the tank running for 1-2 weeks, right? It's great you got the API test kit. I know people posted the link for the nitrogen cycle. I would make sure that you read that... Two weeks most likely isn't enough time. I'd keep taking results and posting them. We can tell you when it's safe to add some fish. Also, are you feeding your tank anything? Something to start the cycle?

Congrats on beginning the world of fish!

mitch126

Hi ya Amnagrla thanks for your reply ,yes the top of the hood gets too hot to touch after being on for more than an hour I think I had better get back to the store where I got it and ask what he thinks could be faulty .I do plan to do the tests for the next week or two the tanks looking great at the moment crystal clear . Peter

Butterfly

Does the hood have flourescent or incandescent lights ? Incandescent lights get terribly hot and can heat your tank up a good bit as well as be hot to the touch.
Carol

mitch126

Hello Butterfly they are flourescent to my knowledge just white I think I will get in touch with the store tomorrow ,as I live in a high rise on the 12th floor I don't want to start a fire ,Iwill post the results when I find out. Peter

susitna-flower

[color=navy] Hi Peter, you may not know this but you have joined the best forum going, full of really nice aliens! Amnagrla asked if you are feeding your tank anything.
Have a cup and sit back this is a long one.......

You have to keep feeding it every day, or put a chunk of raw fish in the tank, OR put a few really tough fish in to start producing ammonia. Until you have a constant supply of ammonia the bacteria that break down the ammonia will not reproduce. They have to change the ammonia into nitrites, before the bacteria ( a different one) can grow, and flourish to change the nitrites into nitrates.
When you go up in ammonia and nitrites your tank IS NOT SAFE for fish, without your doing massive water changes every day, this is the reason many people will do a fishless cycle. The water IS SAFE for fish when the ammonia goes back down to 0, nitrites are 0 and nitrates have gone up around 5. So the only other thing you will have to watch is not to add fish too fast, keep the total number of fish down to 1 inch of expected adult size fish per gallon of tank. Then as you have fish in the tank, do regular tests on the water and if nitrates go up over 10 do partial water changes to try and keep them down between 5-10. One thing to watch to try to keep your nitrates down is don't over feed your fish, because the rotting food produces lots of ammonia. This whole Nitrogen cycle can take from 4-8 weeks! Don't rush things.
On the other hand if you want to speed it up, there are things you can do. You can purchase Bio-Spira from a fish store if you are lucky, or order it on line from one of the suppliers, OR you can put some gravel from an established tank (must keep moist at all times or the bacteria die), OR you can use some filter media out of an established cycled tank, and put it over in your tanks filter to seed yours with bacteria, (also have to keep this moist at all times).........Any of these MAY speed your cycle. But don't trust anything till you see those magic 00 on ammonia and nitrite.

Best of Luck!
Fish in the Frozen North

Tazmiche

Hello you......I'm in the UK too, there are quite a few of us!!

Welcome, you have found the BEST, possibly the most mad forum but you will get the most amazing support on here from around the world.
I have the API MASTER FRESHWATER TEST KIT. My ph was 7.8 (7.4 from tap) once tank first cycled (fishless) but coming down over time.
I took just over 5 and a half weeks to cycle my first tank last sept, i was chompng at the bit to add fish but spent that time researching on the net. I'm glad i did as all of my first fish have been great , healthy and still here.

Take time Peter and know that UK people are her....oh and FLBettaCouple never sleep!!! haha

COBettaCouple

Would you be able to post a pic of the tank and light? what is the water temp before the light is on and how fast does it go up 1 degree?

mitch126

Hi FLBettaCouple I would send a pic of my tank but I am still trying to work out how to use the forum properly not sure how to reply to each person that send me any info when I become more used to what I am doing I will give it a try , maybe it's because I am an old wrinckly pensioner but young at heart

mitch126

hello Tazmiche yes I did buy a API master test kit very good ,I do agree about the forum everyone is so helpful ,its only been a week since I put the water in so will wait a bit before adding fish as you said will take my time. byeeee

COBettaCouple

to attach a picture to a message click on 'additional options' when you reply. You'll see a "Browse..." button that you can use to attach 1 or more files. You may need to have a few more posts before that option shows up.

Stradius011

Welcome to Fishlore! You need 25 posts before posting picts.

Tazmiche

Wrinkly old pensioner, sure you are not!!!! You are a young newbie fish keeper!! Let tank cycle, go and scout out fish stores, you will learn alot if you go to many. Look at the fish in detail and compare them. Ask the staff questions that you have gained knowledge on from this site, you will be amazed at how thick some are. You will then see which LFS( local fish store) will be right for you. I did this and the cycling time flew by!

Good luck....Michelle

susitna-flower

Anyone who takes up a new interest whether young or old, is a hero in my book! Using the computer, getting on a forum, and enjoying fish is quite a lot all at one time, sounds like a worthwhile undertaking. These are the things that keep a person interested in life! I agree with Tazmiche, if you research your fish here first, you will have a better idea which Local Fish Store is worth your time. Many just sell fish......dead or alive.....Others care a great deal, and will help you with good service, good advice, and healthy fish. It really will be helpful if you will study all the links at the bottom of the this page, that have articles for beginners, on the nitrogen cycle, fish breeds, diseases and more. THEN you are armed with a way to tell the good LFS from the bad.

We are all happy you are here.

Fish in the Frozen North

mitch126

Hi evening to youall well it is here, I do thank you for the kind words re the pensioner bit . there is a good local fish store and quite helpful too .I have been back to the store about the light getting hot and the guy seem to think it was ok he did put a new plug on as it had a two pin continental type on it do seem a bit better it was not earthed before, is 6 to 8 hours a day long enough to have the lights on ? lots to think about but i will get there peter

COBettaCouple

6-8 hours a day would be alright.. around 8-10 might be better, especially if you have plants.. but when the room is getting enough light from windows, they can be off if you want.. we run ours between 9am and 9pm, turning them off some during the brightest times of the day.

susitna-flower

More than 10 hours of light a day and you risk algae growth. Depending on the daylight that might strike the tank through a window, you may only want to light it in the evening to enjoy the fish longer. That is until you DO get real plants. They do better also with a longer lighted time. These are totally optional decisions you as tank owner must make.

It is good you have a good store near you, I would still check their advice against fishlore as there are years and years of experience here to help, and often folks who work in a store may not have had that much experience.

Speaking of experience, since you are just starting fish keeping, what is your profession?

Fish in the Frozen North

mitch126

Hi Susitna flower thanks for your help I do get quite a bit of light in my lounge as I am south facing and get sun in from about 9am until 2pm thats when we get any sun ,also I do have two real plants in and they are looking ok . You asked what is my profession well I was a truck driver for about 35 years but am now retired so have lots of time on my hands . bye for now Peter

susitna-flower

Well, we need truck drivers! Have you seen any of the broadcasts on the History channel about drivers that cross the ice roads of Canada and Alaska?, Or the drivers that pioneered the Haul Road up here in AK, MY HATS off to all... As for retirement, I hope you have plenty of energy, health, and wealth to do everything you always put off.
Taking up fish keeping can be really fun, I only got started in it myself about 2 years ago, and am a true aquaholic now. Three big tanks, new projects all the time. The nice thing about this forum is that you can always find new and better ways of doing things, and there are always new project (like timg's DIY tanks), or new aspects like SW tanks.

Fish in the Frozen North

mitch126

Hi ya Susitina-flower don't know if you are aware I live in the UK so we don't get too much icy roads and I do have plenty of energy for an old un Ive just come in from the club and its now raining its spose to be summer now off to bed will talk to you tomorrow gd nite

susitna-flower