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Re: Hey! I'm new - how are you?
Glad you're here! And it's great that you get to expand on your fishkeeping!
You've got a great start with the 2.5, it's good that you know the basics. I'll just put in my 2 cents here....have you done anything else yet? I would recommend filling up the tank with the gravel you won first. (check to see that it's level on the stand and everything) Make sure that it's the depth that you like. You might find out that you want a bit more gravel, but the 50 lbs will definately cover the botom of your tank.
Then I would fill it with water. If you still want to try out a few plants (if we didn't scare you!!), take a look at the post that was just put up with references to some of the great stores here in Houston. There are a lot of plants that will do wonderfully without much work at all. If so, just ask, I'm sure we'll tell you all about our own experiences. Anyways, if you get some plants, you might not want to fill it up all the way, just so you can have more of a handle of finding the right place in the tank for them.
So, with the tank filled, you can check for leaks. Then I'd say turn on the filter. And then it's all up to you!
The good thing about getting plants, is they can help push you along in the cycling, especially if they've been in the dealer's tanks for a while. Plus, you'll probably get a few snail hitchhikers, and that just adds more food for the bacteria :lick:
The problem with taking a sample of water to the fish store, or testing it within the first few days, is you're probably not going to get a reading on anything except pH, hardness, etc. In cycling you're looking first for ammonia, then nitrIte, then nitrAte, but like they said above, that might take a month or more.
I could definately keep rambling on, but I won't. Hope I didn't just add too much more to all the stuff running around in your head.
Let us know your progress, and keep the questions coming!
Glad you're here! And it's great that you get to expand on your fishkeeping!
You've got a great start with the 2.5, it's good that you know the basics. I'll just put in my 2 cents here....have you done anything else yet? I would recommend filling up the tank with the gravel you won first. (check to see that it's level on the stand and everything) Make sure that it's the depth that you like. You might find out that you want a bit more gravel, but the 50 lbs will definately cover the botom of your tank.
Then I would fill it with water. If you still want to try out a few plants (if we didn't scare you!!), take a look at the post that was just put up with references to some of the great stores here in Houston. There are a lot of plants that will do wonderfully without much work at all. If so, just ask, I'm sure we'll tell you all about our own experiences. Anyways, if you get some plants, you might not want to fill it up all the way, just so you can have more of a handle of finding the right place in the tank for them.
So, with the tank filled, you can check for leaks. Then I'd say turn on the filter. And then it's all up to you!
The good thing about getting plants, is they can help push you along in the cycling, especially if they've been in the dealer's tanks for a while. Plus, you'll probably get a few snail hitchhikers, and that just adds more food for the bacteria :lick:
The problem with taking a sample of water to the fish store, or testing it within the first few days, is you're probably not going to get a reading on anything except pH, hardness, etc. In cycling you're looking first for ammonia, then nitrIte, then nitrAte, but like they said above, that might take a month or more.
I could definately keep rambling on, but I won't. Hope I didn't just add too much more to all the stuff running around in your head.
Let us know your progress, and keep the questions coming!
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