Done. 100L out and 100L tap water with correct amount of stresscoat back in. Light turned off so as not to stress them as recommended (thought they'd like some light) and postponed feeding them for at least another 24 hours.

My wife has often prevented me from going out for a few beers on a Friday night and similarly if the kids were sick or whatever but never in a million years did I think some fish would prevent me having a few pints on a Friday night!!!

get use to it man......

look at me 4 kids and 3 tanks later and here I am on a friday night wondering why the cement won't stick to my DIY cave

Just a quick update to say I'm totally into this now. Spent the last two weeks alternating between panic when a couple of fish died and water test results looked bad to elation as I can now see the fish are all happy, healthy and really doing well.

I've received a lot of help here and just wanted to say thanks to everyone. I also want to publicly say thanks to Damien O'Kelly of www.aquaclear.ie who was fantastic to deal with especially for a novice like myself. He is professional, delivers what he promises when he promises it and is very responsive to all the questions I've had over the past two weeks regardless of how basic they were. I highly recommend him.

A month in now and couldn't be happier with my new hobby. All the family love the tank and it's a central part of our life now. What's happening with the fish is discussed with the kids and they love spotting the two new rusty plecos we intorduced two weeks ago who are thriving. All seem very well, fish getting bigger and seem well settled.

Did a large water change today (50% or so) becuase I got the following readings:-

Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 20
Nitrite - 0.50
PH - 7.8

Any comments on the readings anyone? Do they reflect a fully cycled system now?

Good to hear they are doing well - nitrite should be zero so you need to keep a close eye on that!!

Hi Dwarf, do I need to worry at all about the Nitrate?

Hi Ben,

Glad to see everyones happy with the tank.

Nitrites the one to worry about, I'd check it again in the morning and if it's not 0 do another water change. Nitrates 10-20ppm can be tolerated but not for to long.

How often are you doing the water changes.

Hi all,

Must be doing something right I guess becuase two of the orange female ‘Pseudotropheus saulosi’ are pregnant if that's what you call it when they are carrying their young in their mouth? Can't believe less than two months into this there's going to be babies!!

All the others are growing well and behaving (relatively) well and the plants are growing well to so I guess all is well. The last reading I did a few days ago was Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 20, PH 7.8. I wasn't planning to do a water change until the weekend but do I need to if the Nitrates are 20?

I introduced two juvinile Rusty Plecos 3 weeks ago and they have settled in very well so I'm giving them part of the credit for keeping the overall environment in good shape.

Comments or suggestions anyone? In terms of the babies I'm just planning to let nature take it's course, is that the right thing to do or should I intervene in any way?

Congrads Ben,
It's a great feeling to see them "holding".

Nitrates at that level can be tolerated so if you don't have time now the weekend would be ok.

Don't be to surprised if the females accidentally swallow the little cotton balls due to inexperience.

Keep us posted.....
Mark

Well Done Ben, welcome to the addiction that is this hobby, if you have a small tank i'd save what fry you can and grow them on in that otherwise you can "let nature take its course" and see what happens its your choice, or had more rockwork to provide more hiding places for the fry when they are released (if they are, first spawnings can be notorious for being eaten by inexperienced mothers).. best of luck with the tank, keep doing regular water changes and things will go well for you, let us know how things go
Seamus