New Tank

[eklikewhoa]

Most of the ones I have ran across were about $20-30 if you have seen them for much less do post up a link which would probably help push some of the newer members into purchasing since cost is of concern these days.

[R_sustaita]

I think I saw the API master kit for less than $30 on amazon not too long ago? I forget. Not bad.

They are 16 at amazon.

[eklikewhoa]

Amquel+plus is the bizzness!!!!

I've used Kordon's Amquel and NovaAqua for almost 20yrs now and a solid follower!

[LooksLater]

Cool. That's good stuff from what I hear.

[Chris.d514]

Amquel plus by kordon

[LooksLater]

the master kit is pretty affordable if ordered online.

I think I saw the API master kit for less than $30 on amazon not too long ago? I forget. Not bad.

[LooksLater]

For water changes, I would head towards a schedule that you can end up keeping consistent. Stability is probably one of the most important parameters. Im probably kicking a dead horse here but it is strongly advised you get at least a nitrATE test kit. This is probably the main indicator for water quality.

For planted tanks, I aim for 10 ppm after WC, and upwards of 20 before. How you feed, how you stock, your filter, and your plants (if you have them) uptake ability are all variables. So everyone is different, and there's no magic answer.

The only magic answer for a non planted tank is the lower the better, but you need a test kit to find that out. If I had a non-planted tank, I would probably aim for 10-20 ppms as well, someone with experience can probably chime in for that, but a simple google search probably yields all of the answers.

There are many ways to keep aquariums, but IMO there's one common denominator and that's consistency/stability.

Absolutely +1. The lower your nitrates the better, and consistency is key to a happy tank. Personally (for my non-puffer tanks), I pick a day and water change every week on that day. Don't worry, you're not going to loose good bacteria through water, it colonizes on surfaces and will continue to grow in the filter, substrate, etc. W/C is just for fishes' and plants' health. What kind of de-chlorinator are you using?

[eklikewhoa]

the master kit is pretty affordable if ordered online.

[Chris.d514]

I defiantly plan to get a test kit ASAP just waiting for funds to become available.

[eklikewhoa]

he has used that to much that its not even funny nor an insult.

They still find it amusing.

whether it's cause I said it or if it's just you.... either way. LoL

[digitallinh]

For water changes, I would head towards a schedule that you can end up keeping consistent. Stability is probably one of the most important parameters. Im probably kicking a dead horse here but it is strongly advised you get at least a nitrATE test kit. This is probably the main indicator for water quality.

For planted tanks, I aim for 10 ppm after WC, and upwards of 20 before. How you feed, how you stock, your filter, and your plants (if you have them) uptake ability are all variables. So everyone is different, and there's no magic answer.

The only magic answer for a non planted tank is the lower the better, but you need a test kit to find that out. If I had a non-planted tank, I would probably aim for 10-20 ppms as well, someone with experience can probably chime in for that, but a simple google search probably yields all of the answers.

There are many ways to keep aquariums, but IMO there's one common denominator and that's consistency/stability.

[Chris.d514]

So my tank has been running 2 weeks give or take I have done 1 water change on day 2 and no deaths so far should I do a water change soon or wait a bit?

[Chris.d514]

I have been using Stability by Seachem for both my tanks but the 3.5 keeps having issues and the 14 had had 0 deaths even being over stocked as I have moved survivors from the 3.5 over to it. There is something causing the ph to drop extremely fast and i'm not sure why but I am replacing it with a 10 this weekend and that should make life alot easier. As far as hiding places for the shrimp when i last added shrimp to the tank I had an anubis plant, water sprite, princess carriage decoration, and 4-5 pieces of cholla wood. With the 10 though I am going to add several more plants to the tank and plan to have just danios, endlers, and some shrimp.

[digitallinh]

This might be a little bit too late, but I've started all of my (3) tanks fully stocked with tetra's safestart experiencing very little (really zero) death. Before you do, read this thread, else you will likely fail -- http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/aq...safestart.html

Keep in mind, my results may have been due to having heavily planted my tanks at the start! But many people on the net will back up the claim that safestart is a effective and reputable product (unlike many of the other ("bacteria in a bottle")

Also, I'm not sure you can keep/sustain/grow cherry shrimp in a community without there being many hiding places for them.

[R_sustaita]

he has used that to much that its not even funny nor an insult.