My 55 Gallon Journey

If you did the shrimp, it would likely make the water smelly and cloudy, but a few large water changes should fix it right up.

If you're going to be home at least once a week (or even every other week), then I would go ahead and add the cories. Remind me how much ammonia you've been cycling with?

I've been cycling at 4ppm. Are the cories the hardiest or just the best to add first?

 

They're hardier than rummynose, was my thought. But since you've been cycling with 4 ppm, really any of your fish would be fine to start with.

 

They're hardier than rummynose, was my thought. But since you've been cycling with 4 ppm, really any of your fish would be fine to start with.

I’d probably start with them then. The angels will definitely be last so they don’t get a territory established.

 

I’d probably start with them then. The angels will definitely be last so they don’t get a territory established.

After running the tank for a day, it looks like my cycle got locked. My pH plummeted to 6, so I did a 50% WC and got it back up a bit. I’ll need to do another to get the pH back to normal.

 

Can you test your KH? It sounds like you need to buffer your water.

 

Can you test your KH? It sounds like you need to buffer your water.

I'm sorry. What is KH and how do I test it?

 

pH GH and KH

API makes a test kit for GH and KH.

 

pH GH and KH

API makes a test kit for GH and KH.

Gotcha. I’ll get a test kit ASAP and test it.

 

API makes a test kit for GH and KH.[/QUOTE]

So I found this KH test kit...but it doesn't have instructions. Does anyone know how to use it?

 

Is there no insert or instructions on the back? I don't recall off the top of my head, but you can google the API KH test and likely find instructions online.

 

Is there no insert or instructions on the back? I don't recall off the top of my head, but you can google the API KH test and likely find instructions online.

Nothing. I use API for their other tests, but this one had the vial and the bottle.

 

Is there no insert or instructions on the back? I don't recall off the top of my head, but you can google the API KH test and likely find instructions online.

After asking around I found someone who knew what to do and apparently my kh is null. What’s the best way to raise it?

 

There should be instructions online too, to read how many drops equates to what ppm or degrees.

Buffering it with one of Seachem's products would work, or you could add crushed coral or limestone to your filter or the tank. I would aI'm for a KH of 4.

 

There should be instructions online too, to read how many drops equates to what ppm or degrees.

Buffering it with one of Seachem's products would work, or you could add crushed coral or limestone to your filter or the tank. I would aI'm for a KH of 4.

Ok. I'll see which one is more cost effective and go from there.

 

I've gotten limestone chunks from a landscape store for free, so that would probably be the cheapest option. Just decorate the tank with the chunks!

 

I've gotten limestone chunks from a landscape store for free, so that would probably be the cheapest option. Just decorate the tank with the chunks!

Could I put them in the filter? My scape is pretty set.

 

Yes. In that case, I would go with crushed limestone so it'll fit better in the filter and it'll have a larger surface area to volume ratio.

 

Yes. In that case, I would go with crushed limestone so it'll fit better in the filter and it'll have a larger surface area to volume ratio.

A couple sites say to use baking soda. They say it's more precise and measurable and direct. Is this safe?

 

You don't need to be precise, measurable, or direct with this. I've never used it, and you'll need to dose it with every water change. That's why I like crushed coral or limestone instead.

 

You don't need to be precise, measurable, or direct with this. I've never used it, and you'll need to dose it with every water change. That's why I like crushed coral or limestone instead.

I figured I could do some baking soda while I find crushed coral and get it in since it’ll take a while to get dissolved.

 

It shouldn't take longer than a few days to start seeing results from the crushed coral.

 

It shouldn't take longer than a few days to start seeing results from the crushed coral.

You mentioned limestone.
I have this rock in my backyard. It’s pretty chalky. Could I use it?

 

Do you know what it is or what it was used for?

 

Do you know what it is or what it was used for?

No idea what it is. It's really chalky and breaks pretty easy. I found it in a creek bed in Missouri.

 

I'd put a piece in a bucket of tap water. Check the tap parameters, and compare to the bucket with the rock in it, after the rock has been sitting in there for a few days or week or so. Just to see what it does! I imagine it would help, but this is a good way to check.

Does it break too easily? Might be worth putting it in your filter instead of in the tank then.

 

Hey everyone. It's been a while but we're back in business. I've been in and out of the house due to the holidays and family travel.

The cycle is no 100% complete and we're ready for stocking as I find it. I'm still sticking with a a stock of 2 angels, 2 pearl gourami, 8-10 rummynose tetras and 8-10 sterbaI cories. I'll probably also add some nerite snails to keep algae in control as well as some amano shrimp since they're ****. I worry about adding amanos with angles though. Is that a safe combo or should I only do shelled inverts? As for adding fish, I know with newly cycled tanks you never add everything at once. I plan on starting with the rummys or the sterbais (which ever I can find first) and then going from there. I've heard that quarintining is really important. What is this and what do I need to do it?



The plants are also doing good! The val is starting to send off runners, the needle java fern is starting to recover from when I had to trim a lot off due to black beard algae, the japan clover is starting to spread and grow, and the ruffle leaf sword is green and pretty (if anyone knows how to propagate this I would appreciate it).

 

The sword will send off runners up towards the surface, that you can then detach and plant separately.

QTing is keeping fish in a separate tank (something like a 10 gal would be fine for your fish, if the angelfish and gourami are juveniles when you get them) for a few weeks to watch for diseases, before adding them to the main tank. You won't need to do it with your first batch of fish (as there are no previous fish in the main tank to infect) but for subsequent additions, it's a good idea.

Here's some helpful information:
Quarantine Tank Setup for Aquarium Fish

 

Double post, sorry!

 

The sword will send off runners up towards the surface, that you can then detach and plant separately.

QTing is keeping fish in a separate tank (something like a 10 gal would be fine for your fish, if the angelfish and gourami are juveniles when you get them) for a few weeks to watch for diseases, before adding them to the main tank. You won't need to do it with your first batch of fish (as there are no previous fish in the main tank to infect) but for subsequent additions, it's a good idea.

Here's some helpful information:
Quarantine Tank Setup for Aquarium Fish

Ok. I imagine I would need a cycled filter for this. If I don't have one what should I do to make the QT?

Also, how far apart should I wait to add batches of fish?

 

You can pull some filter media from a cycled tank, if you have one, or you can just keep up with water changes and dosing Prime to prevent issues with water quality. I don't always cycle the QT tank - if you're doing large and frequent water changes anyway, then you can get away without it, since it's temporary.

Since it's recommended to QT for 3-4 weeks, when you can move fish out of the QT into the main tank, do a large water change in the QT, then add the next batch of fish into the QT. So you'll be adding fish every 3-4 weeks.

 

WE GOT FISH Y'ALL. I could only find the pearl gourami, so I got two of those. I need the rummy nose, the sterbais, and the angels (which will be last).

 

Hey everyone. Thought I'd share what has happened recently with the 55 gallon.

Fish

• The two pearl gourami are doing awesome. They have started to show more of their normal pattern and they're look phenomenal.
• About 2 weeks ago the LFS got in 5 sterbaI cories. After adding them, 2 died. We figured this was due to some misinformation on how to acclimate sensitive fish. I felt awful for not knowing, but it's part of it. Last week, they got in 15 more, so I got 7 to make an even 10. Of those 7 none are left. Even with proper acclimation, almost all of them died (usually one or two a day). Sad and upset that I failed again, I contacted my LFS to find out they had been hit with the same problem. Turns out there had been a bacterial infection that took out almost whatever remaining stock they had left. I felt a little better knowing it wasn't my fault, but still sad I lost so many fish. I hit the tank with some KanaPlex as a preemptive strike
• Other than those two I'm still waiting on the kanaplex treatment to be done before trying to add fish.

Plants

• The jungle val is doing well. It's sending out runners and everything. I found a guy who was giving away a bunch too, so hopefully I'll have a bunch more soon.
• The amazon sword is doing good. No runners yet. The tip of a leaf is turning brown, but hopeuflly all is well
• The hydrocotyle japan is doing great. Still growing. I'm still waiting for it to be long enough to thread on the driftwood.
• Plants I'm looking for: Dwarf lily, some kind of crypt (maybe balansae), more needle leaf java fern and something weird (crinum, apongeten, etc).

Misc

• I've gotten some BBA. Anyone have tips on how to get rid of it?

 

Next time, I would wait until the fish have been at the LFS for a week or so before bringing them home, if possible. This might save you some losses.

 

Next time, I would wait until the fish have been at the LFS for a week or so before bringing them home, if possible. This might save you some losses.

That's something else I learned. If I had waited I would have avoided getting the infection in my tank. The more you know. Now I know to wait a few days at least. Reduces the stress and allows for them show signs in the store.

 

Weird and easy to find plants would be Vesuvius swords and windolov java fern.

 

Weird and easy to find plants would be Vesuvius swords and windolov java fern.

The plants does look crazy! Any experience with them? Any idea where to find them?

 

Currently have both. Super easy to care for - the sword has very similar care requirements to amazon swords - and the windolov java fern has the same care requirement to normal java.
People on here may have some for sale, and depending on how well stocked your LFS is there may be some windolov for sale there.

(Other cool plants would be trident java fern, bolbitis, Pogostemon HelferI 'downoi', bucephlandra (many have bluish leaves which look amazing), anubias (stardust, pinto, white, golden to name a few ) numerous sword varieties (besides Vesuvius; ruffled sword, flame, red king seem to be interesting occupants - echinodorus sp. is interesting, besides the common amazon)

 

Alright. I’ll keep an eye out for those. I actually have a ruffle sword!

 

Hey guys. I need some help. I recently added 11 rummy nose tetra to my tank (Sunday). As of today I’m down to 6. I can’t figure out what might be the cause. Water parameters are all normal and there’s not tank aggression.

Should I do a general treatment of the tank?

 

I wouldn’t how long have you had them. Could just be stress. How do they look. How everything in the tank? Is it a qt tank?