casco
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by casco on Feb 9, 2019 11:28:15 GMT -5
Trying to get a 18 gallon blackwater tank to cycle with no results so far. Been running with plant, wood, and a whole assortment of tannin leaves and pods. Water is still very hard and basic due to well water. I have a ph of 8, hardness of 12 dGH, and ammonia/nitrite/nitrate all reading zero. I don't think the tannin material can compete with well water. Also might be why not cycling despite running for three weeks? Should I empty tank of three quarters of water and use distilled water? Then maybe the tank would cycle and get closer to the soft acidic water? I don't want to go the additive route, want to keep as natural as possible. Fish I want to add eventually is school of neon tetras and pair of german ram cichlids. Any suggestions or advice? Thanks.
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Post by spotfin on Feb 9, 2019 21:15:24 GMT -5
12 dGH isn't super hard, but may be enough to counteract the leaves, etc. I would try RO water. Can you add some test fish to kick start the cycle? I would think after 3 weeks you should have some readings.
As a side note, your rams and neons may do better at higher pH and hardness levels than trying to get these lower and having it fluctuate all the time. Most times constant levels are better than changing levels.
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casco
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by casco on Feb 11, 2019 13:48:53 GMT -5
Thanks. Will try RO water to keep it closer to soft acidic water. Will get a few fish to start cycle.
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Post by spotfin on Feb 11, 2019 14:45:44 GMT -5
Let us know how it goes. I’ve got some rams in our well water-high pH and soft. They are doing well so far. Neons in qt tank are doing well too, but have only had them 2 weeks.
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Post by spotfin on Feb 28, 2019 10:35:02 GMT -5
Update on your tank?
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casco
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by casco on Mar 5, 2019 21:14:07 GMT -5
I drained the tank water and filled it with RO water. So far the water is soft, but not acidic, its about 7.0 ph, a lot lower than the 8.4 well water. I have added more tannin materials to attempt to drop it more acidic. Does anyone ever add peat to the filter to make the water acid or does that swing it too much? I also add 6 neon tetras, and they are doing fine. Swimming around and eating well. Plants growing. No real ammonia spike that I have caught, but the algae in tank has taken off, so assuming that's part of the ammonia-nitrite-nitrate cycle? Just holding and doing water tests every couple of days to see how it goes.
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Post by spotfin on Mar 6, 2019 11:18:52 GMT -5
Sounds like the RO water helped. As for adding peat, that should help but I would monitor often to avoid swings in parameters. Start with small amounts of peat, and make sure there are no fertilizers, pesticides in it.
What kind of algae? Sounds like just part of the natural process, not really related to the ammonia cycle.
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casco
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by casco on Apr 5, 2019 16:56:42 GMT -5
Just wondering. I was watching aquarium videos on youtube and someone posted a video on a german ram tank with two aquaclear filters on the 20 gallon tank. One was 50 gallon filter and the other a 30 gallon. I have a just one 50 gallon filter on my tank. Wondering if a second would improve water quality, or should I get a air pump/with air stone in tank. I only have the tetras and they are doing fine. I cut back length of light run and that seems to have cleared up most of the algae issue. Just wondering with keeping tank at 80 degrees would a second filter or air stone help with oxygen and cleanliness of water. I do a 20% water change a week.
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Post by spotfin on Apr 5, 2019 20:26:38 GMT -5
I doubt the second filter would benefit, especially where your tank is 18 gals. The air pump will help with DO level, but you could probably get the same result if the outfall of the Aquaclear is just above the water level.
I have an Aquaclear 50 on my 26 gal bow front tank. The two rams are doing well.
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Post by gotareef on Apr 7, 2019 12:02:15 GMT -5
Years ago I used 2 aquaclear 110 on 55g
With dolphin cichlids and german ram.... everything was very happy... I have pics of the rams breeding to prove it lol
I eventually removed the aquaclears and used marine land sos dump
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Post by gotareef on Apr 7, 2019 12:03:27 GMT -5
Every freshwater tank I ever had a small corner bubble filter was a must have
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