Photo Gallery :: Monthly cleaning and lots of new fish !

[Thinkskater]

Got a ton of new stuff for my tank this month.
- syphon system to help with the monthly water changes .... Thank god.
- two new rocks ..... Exciting right ?
- nine tetra
- three black neon barb
- two tiger barb
- two albino tiger barb
- two rosy barb
- one silver Molly
- one rainbow shark
- three hanging style plants fake though .....

All of these were experimental with the turtles. I have found out as long as you get fast fish and keep the turtles fed daily that they do not chase and pester the fish. On to the pictures !!?!




Everything taken out of the tank.



Syphon doing its thing while I sit on my bum.



Scrubbed and cleaned all the glass



Everything out back in including fish

The whole process took two hours , worth it though to keep the turtles healthy.

Now some random pictures of the fish and then the turtles. Keep in mind I took these with my cell these fish a very mobile.



Tiger barb



Rainbow shark



Most of the tetra tiger barb up front and the black neon in the back.



Gator being a creeper.



Find hippo the turtle



Safe to say petunia likes new rocks lol.



Anyways thanks for reading and looking everyone !!

[Thinkskater]

My next project will be some sand in the bottom and and led strip which the led's are on the way
.

[RosesNKeeks]

Wow that's a lovely tank! The fishes and turts are really cute too!

[Thinkskater]

Thanks much !

[steve]

Looks like a great upgrade, looking forward to the finished pics!

[Thinkskater]

Still waiting on the led..... Thanks Steve . I am trying to get other things in the tank that are more fun for the turtles. Sand is a first though. Fish poo looks terrible at the bottom of the tank.

[turtlenana]

Your setup is gorgeous.

[Linus]

Very nice.

I'm sure you've been warned but one day your fish will probably start disappearing (especially because they all hold lots of color which the turtles can see).

Also, I don't recommend doing a full water change ever. You always want to keep the bacteria in the tank alive, and keep the ammonia cycle going, or else you're going to have to recycle your tank which is never good for fish.

[Thinkskater]

Very nice.

I'm sure you've been warned but one day your fish will probably start disappearing (especially because they all hold lots of color which the turtles can see).

Also, I don't recommend doing a full water change ever. You always want to keep the bacteria in the tank alive, and keep the ammonia cycle going, or else you're going to have to recycle your tank which is never good for fish.

The fish are fast so of the turtles get them they earn it. Lol

What is the point behind keeping the bacteria and the ammonia cycle ?

[Thinkskater]

Your setup is gorgeous.

Thanks but you should check out the other setups , mine is child's play compared to most.

[Linus]

Basically, if a tank isn't cycled correctly, it can be unlivable for many fish. Adding all new water and putting the fish in is never good. That new water should sit in the tank for at least 2 weeks to get rid of all of the chlorine in the water, which kills them.

http://www.bluecrayfish.com/cycle.htm

[PridgNYC]

Very nice.

I'm sure you've been warned but one day your fish will probably start disappearing (especially because they all hold lots of color which the turtles can see).

Also, I don't recommend doing a full water change ever. You always want to keep the bacteria in the tank alive, and keep the ammonia cycle going, or else you're going to have to recycle your tank which is never good for fish.

The fish are fast so of the turtles get them they earn it. Lol

What is the point behind keeping the bacteria and the ammonia cycle ?

Part of the filtration that occurs in your tank involves what is called the nitrogen cycle. This biological filtration involves certain bacteria. The cycle begins with the production of ammonia, which the animals produce as waste, and is a waste product of decomposition. Ammonia is poisonous, you don't want it to build up. The next step in the chain involves beneficial bacteria that consume ammonia and produce nitrites as waste. Nitrites are also poisonous. A different type of beneficial bacteria will consume the Nitrites and produce nitrates as waste. Nitrates are relatively harmless, provide food for plants and algae, and can only be consumed by the aforementioned plants/algae, or anaerobic bacteria, which are not usually present in sufficient quantities to affect the nitrate level. Most people do partial water changes every week or two to reduce nitrates.

When we say a tank is cycling, it is in the process of establishing the colonies of beneficial bacteria necessary to reduce ammonia and nitrites. During this process ammonia levels will spike initially then drop to 0 as nitrite levels spike, when nitrites and ammonia are both at 0, the beneficial bacteria is fully established and keeping your poisons under control. Doing a full cleaning/water replacement can upset the balance of these colonies, especially if you replace all your filter media at the same time. This is why it is important to have biological media in the filter, and not replace it when cleaning the filter. You can rinse it, but keep it wet, if it dries out it will kill the beneficial bacteria.

[Thinkskater]

I have not replaced the filter or the media either just clean them weekly.

[Linus]

But when you do a water change, these bacteria that live in the filter media die as well.

[Thinkskater]

Okay so the reason behind not changing the water is the chlorine and nitrate levels at a level in which the bacteria that is beneficial can be kept.

My main concern would be keeping my animals healthy of course, but keeping the algae under control as well. And changing the water seems to help with that. Are there any additives that lower chlorine and nitrate levels?