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Initial water change schedule
- Thread starter J@mes
- Start date
Zeus.
Fertz Meister
Can be substrate dependant and also dependant on if a DSM was done or if hardscape and substrate was left with filter running and no lights for 6 weeks with no plants.
But if straight form scape to plant to flood normally best to do more than one 50% a week, I would go 50% every other day first week then reduce it down from there.
But if straight form scape to plant to flood normally best to do more than one 50% a week, I would go 50% every other day first week then reduce it down from there.
Keith GH
Member
J@mes
I have never seen a "MUST" do rule on any Forum. Over the years I found about 35% twice a week worked best for me. Being retired that was never a problem but for some they had to do a 50%+ once a week.
I only ever had Low Tech and 2-5mm natural river stones.
The answer is once the tank has settled after the installation work with what suits you the best as long as you do a good regular water change.
Keith
I have never seen a "MUST" do rule on any Forum. Over the years I found about 35% twice a week worked best for me. Being retired that was never a problem but for some they had to do a 50%+ once a week.
I only ever had Low Tech and 2-5mm natural river stones.
The answer is once the tank has settled after the installation work with what suits you the best as long as you do a good regular water change.
Keith
Nubias
Member
It’s hard to get your head around but from experience (not much) and what I’ve read I’d be going with the suggestions from Zeus.
I used ADA Amazonia and only changed 25-50% every 2-3 days the first couple of weeks. If I had my time again I think I would go 50% daily for the first week then every second day in second week etc until your down to weekly at week 6-7 which by then should be cycled.
I think this would of helped greatly with the initial ammonia spike from aqua soil as well as some other algae issues.
I used ADA Amazonia and only changed 25-50% every 2-3 days the first couple of weeks. If I had my time again I think I would go 50% daily for the first week then every second day in second week etc until your down to weekly at week 6-7 which by then should be cycled.
I think this would of helped greatly with the initial ammonia spike from aqua soil as well as some other algae issues.
Keith GH
Member
J@mes
Sounds all good at what percentage?
When I was doing a water change I would add all of the additives to the new water first.
Keith
Sounds all good at what percentage?
When I was doing a water change I would add all of the additives to the new water first.
Keith
A few companies have guides on starting aquariums. I have only use substrates/soil from ADA, ELOS and Tropica, Tropica and ADA have guides on setting up new aquariums on their webpages but I have not found one from ELOS (I have not needed one from ELOS as I started using ELOS after having used both ADA and Tropica, but I have just written ELOS to ask them if they have a setup guide out of interest).
Links here to the guides: http://www.adana.co.jp/en/contents/support/pdf/Lets_Start_with_A/Lets_Start_with_A.pdf (page 14) and https://tropica.com/en/guide/get-the-right-start/tropica-90-days-app/
I don't know what you are using in your aquarium, but a good place to start is the manufactures web based resources.
Links here to the guides: http://www.adana.co.jp/en/contents/support/pdf/Lets_Start_with_A/Lets_Start_with_A.pdf (page 14) and https://tropica.com/en/guide/get-the-right-start/tropica-90-days-app/
I don't know what you are using in your aquarium, but a good place to start is the manufactures web based resources.
Brilliant advice, so simple, why didn’t I think of that. Tropica even have a 90 day app! Love it, thank you!
@ J@mes
You are welcome, things are only as complicated as we want them to be (I like them to be very complicated).
My wife used the app from Tropica a few years ago when she was setting up an aquascape for a friend, mainly so that they could continue using it when they got the matured aquascape. She was not to happy with the app, mainly due to the automated features (not Apple features) not working as they should (so I guess the Tropica app features in essence were like the ones from Apple). She used it on an iPhone and iPad, and we have no current experiences with the app, so how well it works now, I can not say.
I just talked to ELOS, and they have opted not to make a setup guide as they feel that there are to many variables for them to make a guide that will be up to the standards they have. I have to admit that I love ELOS for just that reason, but my wife and I have split brands between us, so she gets to scape with ELOS equipment and I get to scape with ADA equipment...
You are welcome, things are only as complicated as we want them to be (I like them to be very complicated).
My wife used the app from Tropica a few years ago when she was setting up an aquascape for a friend, mainly so that they could continue using it when they got the matured aquascape. She was not to happy with the app, mainly due to the automated features (not Apple features) not working as they should (so I guess the Tropica app features in essence were like the ones from Apple). She used it on an iPhone and iPad, and we have no current experiences with the app, so how well it works now, I can not say.
I just talked to ELOS, and they have opted not to make a setup guide as they feel that there are to many variables for them to make a guide that will be up to the standards they have. I have to admit that I love ELOS for just that reason, but my wife and I have split brands between us, so she gets to scape with ELOS equipment and I get to scape with ADA equipment...
Sounds like you & the missus have a lot of aquariums!
That Tropica 90 day guide says on day 3 put amano shrimp in, 1 per 5 litres. I’ll have to have a proper read all the way through. I thought I’d done enough research but clearly not.
That Tropica 90 day guide says on day 3 put amano shrimp in, 1 per 5 litres. I’ll have to have a proper read all the way through. I thought I’d done enough research but clearly not.
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Matt @ ScapeEasy
Member
I agree that is a lot of shrimp! I can't imagine more than 10 in a 60cm. Having shrimp is one way to keep on top of algae I suppose... or you could try to not grow algae in the first place...
That’s what I thought! It’s only 4 days old but the tank already has that funky aquarium smell. I’ll work on getting 10 Amano shrimp, in a week or so.
Zeus.
Fertz Meister
When I buy amanos a get 10 to 20 at a time from my LFS a get them at £2.00 each as a bulk buy without any issues. Same with RCS.
The guys at the LFS did say it surprises them more folk don't barter like I do.
The guys at the LFS did say it surprises them more folk don't barter like I do.
Amano shrimp - males remain quite small 2-3cm maybe, females get large & tend to become fish food fanatics in hiding so not that useful as algae crew once fish are added to a scape
Tiger shrimp are amazing, red nose shrimp are the most efficient at BBA (but can be short lived depending on species & source)
Try to purchase shrimps in groups of 10-12, they really do prefer a decent “shoal” of their own
Various snails especially Clithon species are advocated for BBA - note any consumption of BBA is pretty much at the early stages (or clean up after you’ve done a chemical kill) (note Clithon species remain quite small so a group of 10 would be my starting point)
Before fish, take advantage & run the tank cooler, eg 20-22C (shrimp will be happy as well)
If you see visible algae, increase maintenance ie water changes & physical removal
Frequent water changes (especially daily) are very useful at limiting algae
Before livestock, you can also also run high CO2, CO2 24/7 (I usually increase surface agitation at night) etc
As plants & aquarium microflora establish, reduce water change frequency - use this as your guide rather than any “set” time, if you reduce wc frequency & observe visible algae or tank odour changes, increase water change frequency again for a week or two
Refill with cooler water - plants seem to appreciate this
Tiger shrimp are amazing, red nose shrimp are the most efficient at BBA (but can be short lived depending on species & source)
Try to purchase shrimps in groups of 10-12, they really do prefer a decent “shoal” of their own
Various snails especially Clithon species are advocated for BBA - note any consumption of BBA is pretty much at the early stages (or clean up after you’ve done a chemical kill) (note Clithon species remain quite small so a group of 10 would be my starting point)
Before fish, take advantage & run the tank cooler, eg 20-22C (shrimp will be happy as well)
If you see visible algae, increase maintenance ie water changes & physical removal
Frequent water changes (especially daily) are very useful at limiting algae
Before livestock, you can also also run high CO2, CO2 24/7 (I usually increase surface agitation at night) etc
As plants & aquarium microflora establish, reduce water change frequency - use this as your guide rather than any “set” time, if you reduce wc frequency & observe visible algae or tank odour changes, increase water change frequency again for a week or two
Refill with cooler water - plants seem to appreciate this
