Dub man on tour in Trim and a new fish keeper

Hi all

Just started a tropical tank 3 weeks ago, it is a juwel Rio 240 tank and currently i have 8 tetra neons, 2 guppies and 5 platies. Went for the 3d backround by juwel rock and root and have to say they look great when they are inplace. have artifical plants as i didn,t want the added hassle of live plants and co2 setups etc.
Always had an interest in tanks as the old man has one as long as i can remember. Unfortunately all he has now is one of those bio spheres circlular bowls, the mother finally won !!!!!!

Started the tank with this Organic Aqua product and mixed reviews so far, testing results are funny to say the least, Ammonia is good 0.1ppm, Nitrite very high 1.6ppm and Nitrate currently 100ppm.Ph is pretty constant at 8. Just done my monthly 25% water change today and tested the water before and after the water change and my test results are the same???

All my fish seem happy enough, lost a swordtail but i think he was a bit knacknered before i put him in the tank. Big lesson learned DON;T BUY FISH FROM A SUPPLIER WHO'S PLACE AND TANKS LOOK A TIP.

Entered into my second month of Organic Aqua use and i think the boo boo i made was not leaving the tank cover open to vent the gas so this month every thing is being done by the book and hopefully all works out

Have to say Steve from Organic is a sound man, called him twice ( probably wrecking his head already ), but he a a great source of info and advice so that is why i am willing to continue with the organic setup.

Right i say you are fed up with me rabbiting on after all this is meant to be an introduction not a essay:blush: so just to finish, I am looking forward to talking to other people about everything fishy, looked at other forum but this one definitely looks the best from the searches i done..

Cheers

Gerryberry

Hi Gerry
welcome to the forum! OA good product and and Steve will steer you along the right track!

and any problems every one here will be willing to help out thats what we are all about

Mickey

Hi Gerry and welcome to the forum.
I think you are wasting your time testing for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and phosphate when using organic aqua. The test results tend to be all over the place. You just have to put a bit of trust in the product and yes you need to open the lid of the tank a bit. Even open the back of the flap on top of the tank so the light is not shining in your eyes.

Hi Mickey and platty252

Thanks for the response, i think i will stop the testing as my head is so seriously melted:S . tested this morning to see if my nitrite fell over nite but no sucess but as you said platty252 i will have to go on the blind and put my faith in the product. in fairness the tank looks crystal clear this morning and the fish are all very active so everything looks good.

How often do you leave the lid open for, Steve said overnite is sufficient, whats your angle, experience on it. i am a bit concerned about foreign bodies getting in the tank while the lid is open, whats the best way of doing it???

Thanks again lads

Gerryberry

PS Is there any meetings held outside the big smoke for us fishkeepers in Meath??

Hi GerryBerry,

Welcome to the forum

Can't help you with OA as I have no experience with it.

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask though. I'm sure someone will be able to help.

Valerie

Hi Gerry

Welcome to the forum
I have no experience with OA but i would think the idea of having the lid open is to vent gasses? If so a small opening should do?

Regards
LB

Hi LB

Just looking at a few old threads, found your set-up thread for your 300l tank, very impressive, hope all is still going good. Did you change much since your lst entry???
Any problems or new arrivals??

Gerry

gerryberry wrote:

Hi LB

Just looking at a few old threads, found your set-up thread for your 300l tank, very impressive, hope all is still going good. Did you change much since your lst entry???
Any problems or new arrivals??

Gerry

Thanks Gerry

This tank is changing every day and I have had my problems
I have new equipment, plants and fish coming soon
I think I might do an update on my signature thread as I have had some problems and it’s a good way to see your tank progress

LB

Hi LB

Would be interested to see you updates on your thread again, it is a great source of inspiration for new fish keepers like myself to see updates and to see how other lads are setting up and controlling their tanks.

Have a few guppies, tetras and platies at the moment, looking for a show piece, any advice , recommendations??? ideally something colorful and bigger than my current fishes.

Cheers

Gerry

Ill do an update ASAP

I would recommend some clown loaches (about 4 depending on how your tank is going) there a beautiful fish and to me they have a great personality , I remember the first time I saw them on their side on the bottom and I thought no their dead so put the net in and realized they were just asleep cant wait to get my 2 loaches back from the babysitter

LB

Will look into it LB, i take it they are community fish. Will do a bit of research but thanks for the advice. Looking forward to the update.

Gerryberry

hi Gerry, Ive been using the OA for over 2 years now and find it great.Never had an issue with leaving the lid open.There is a small gap in my tank hoods which must be sufficient!! got a new 140L recently from Seahorse Aquarium which I am sorting out at the mo.I'd love to hear from members what their favourite fish are. Im thinking community/dwarf cichlids

@ Louis, dwarf cichlids are what im looking at now
So I would be interested in your findings

Cheers louis

Good to hear of someone using OA for such a long time and having no problems. tell me louis do you test the water??? Did you ever have any problems using the OA?? Do you follow the instructions given with the OA exactly or did you change anything in the process as you used it more and more.

Thanks

GB

hiGB, I suppose I stick to the rules.I just every month remove 25% of the water and replace it with heated tap water. I keep an eye on the PH as it sometimes drops to 6.8 from 7. In general I find water to be stable. I had been washing the filters in tank water but Organic Steve recently advised to wash them under the tap. I hav'nt used any medication in two years and find the fish to be healthy.I hav'nt replaced filters,dont even need to do a gravel vac.I think OA great hope it works for you. A little cost saving tip..... if you have 100L tank get pack for 200l and just use half each month.

Alright louis

What make and size and tank do you have??

Is it the same filter in your tank for the 2 years??

Have a juwel tank and was wondering if i should follow the bio filter change according to juwel, don't really see the points as i am not using the bio filter using OA instead. The only filters i was going to change was the mechanical and carbon filter.

On you previous question on lads favourite fish, i just found a new one, in a fish stockist and seem loads of gouramis. Couldn't help myself got 2 giant gourami's and the are amazing to look at in the tank


GB

i have a 90L aqua with 6 Neon tetras,3 Black Skirt Tetra, 3 head lite,3 penguin tetra,1 white tip tetra,2 Platty, 1 Gold Barb, 1 Firemouth,another two or three I cant remember at the minute. i dont use carbon filters, just a coarse and fine filter and it has to be at least 18 months since I replaced them.
I'm definitely no expert and am no way qualified or experienced enough to advise anyone but for me the OA works.
The Gouramis are now on the list

Thanks once again Louis, would be nice to see a few pic's of your tank definitely sounds like a good collection of fish.

GB