Subj : Re: New Aquarium Question
To   : Jl
From : Carol Shenkenberger
Date : Sun Aug 08 2004 05:12 pm

*** Quoting Jl from a message to All ***

Jl> Tank is called a 55 gal but after I measured internal dimensions it wo
Jl> out to 43 gal approx.  Same tank at store is "55gal"??
Jl> (interior dimensions: 47.5 x 17 x 12.375 = 9992.8125 inches cubed =
Jl> 43.258929 US gallons)

US gallons are larger than the other standard.  This is most of your 
discrepancy most likely.

Jl> Set up tank, let pumps run for 24 hrs to allow chlorine to dissipate/w
Jl> to age, run tests.
Jl> Didn't think I'd find anything but wanted to establish base line and d
Jl> find 1ppm ammonia.  pH is high, 7.8 (tonight it tested at 7.2 at home)
Jl> Everything else 0.  Took water to store for free test (they also do
Jl> alkalinity, hardness, chlorine, and chloramine and to confirm I'm doin
Jl> tests correct.  They find 6.8 pH and 2ppm ammonia.  I get White Diamon
Jl> Ammonia-Neutralizing Crystals, put into mesh bag and laid in bottom of

Wince.  You killed the natural bacteria with that.  This will mean the tank is 
neither self cleaning, nor mainentance low.

Remove the crystals and most of the water and try again.  This time, let the 
tank cycle.  It *will* spike and that is expected.  Let it ride and it should 
establish naturally.

> start with 5 platys of various colors (following cycling instructions
> from The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums)

Yes.  Let it cycle.  Most tank problems are due to inadiquate cycling, IE 
getting in a hurry.

>
Jl> Once ammonia was at 0 we put in 4 Red Wag Platys and 3 Gold Crescent P
Jl> (Mickey Mouse Platys?)  *Just lost a pregnant GC Platy this morning*.
Jl> We'll leave them for a week or week and a half and add some more.  I'm
Jl> testing daily to watch the spikes as tank cycles.  Looking now for a b
Jl> feeder to start assisting in tank maintenance.  I'm feeding flake in t
Jl> morning and blood worms at night.

The feeding is fine but if the tank isnt cycled truely and you are controlling 
it by having to add chemicals all the time to 'adjust' then do not add more 
fish and stop the chemicals and let nature do it's thing.  You may lose some 
fish now over this, but in the long run you will keep fish healthy once all is 
cycled right.

Jl> My questions:
Jl>  1. Why is my tank called a 55 gallon when it holds 45 gallons?

US gallons VS Imperial

Jl>  2. Is my filter adequate?  Over filtering is good, right?

Your filtering seems fine.  Over is fine.  Do not change the filters out while 
cycling.

Jl>  3. Will the aeration of the filter(s) be enough, or do I need to
Jl>  supplement it? It keeps the water at the top moving pretty good.  May
Jl> much?

With your current load of fish, it is fine as it is.  Might actually be a bit 
much more than the fish want.

Jl>  4. Real plants are pretty much out unless I upgrade the light,
Jl>  correct?  Would Java Fern be ok or should I just go with plastic
Jl>  plants?

Correct.  Also with your current lights, you shouldnt have much of an algae 
buildup.  On Java vice plastic, you can mix them fine.
                                       xxcarol

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