240g Hap/Peacock setup...800 watts of Metal Halide light, DIY wetdry...PICS

[NOLAGT]

Well it has now been a week and a day that the fish are in the tank...and I did a water test...everything is still 0. The ammonia IF its not 0 is CH past it...cant tell on the kit but I can tell a slight difference if I test tap water. I really think the safestart might have worked.

I picked up 3 Syn petricola today...could resist...been eying them up at a lfs for a while now...they had them for like 6 months now so i have seen them grow lol. I love them! One is a darker brown...one a lighter tan and one has a semi greenish tint.

Vid time again...it seems a little more blue in the vid than it really is. Tank is still slightly hazy...like any other new tank I ever set up. This vid you can see theripples better from the MH.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLB-Nj4eFuE&feature=channel_page

 

[jtalley]

tank is looking awesome, love the kitchen too

 

[LowCel]

Your tank is simply amazing. I enjoyed the video but I am looking to seeing future video's even more.

 

[NOLAGT]

In the future I will have some vids in high def

 

[JohnM]

Looking good!!!!!!!!
On the safe start what is your nitrate reading at??

 

[NOLAGT]

I just tested everything...its all 0. I tested the tap ammonia too next to the tank...its at 0. I just cant believe that after 9 days of 16 fish (some decent size) that are fed twice a day (a hefty amount) that there is not enough fish to start a cycle IF the safestart didn't work.

The test kits are about a tad over a year old. I have been using them on my pond, turtle, and bro n laws 135 african and they have shown high levels of different things through out this time so I feel the test kits are working. The ATE will show if I test my pond thats much older than the tank. Liquid (drops) test kit....

Thoughts....

 

[JohnM]

I have been watching your thread(GREAT THREAD BY THE WAY) with a lot of interest. Now take into account that I am a newbie and I jumped into this great hobby with both feet not knowing anything about the nitrogen cycle. Thinking about it and want to get your opinion. You have a 240g tank and started out with a few fish( not remembering how many).Do you think with that much water that you didnt have enough amm build up and the bacteria that was in the bottle starved and died before they had enough of the bad stuff to sustain them.

 

[NOLAGT]

That idea is possible....but I started with 16 fish. 2 are 4" and the 2 catfish I had at first were at least 3-4"...the rest are a solid 2-3". And I feed them heavy...till the belly is all big and fat....twice a day and those catfish are PIGS. So I have a hard time believing that I didn't have enough to get this party started.

I didnt use safestart on my bro n laws 135....and I think we started it with like eight 2-3" africans and no catfish. That was enough to get his rocking...

Another thing about the safestart...it says to add fish when you add the stuff...so theres no need to build up the ammonia to feed the safestart stuff...according to them. I would guss there is something for them to eat pretty quick....

I will be 100% convinced if it makes it to next tuesday with showing 0...that would be 2 full weeks. A LFS is getting africans today too...and if I see some I like im going to get them. IF I would have some spike of something I have a 300gal pond I can always dump them in....after I remove my turtles. I can also squeeze some BB from the pond sponge. I just think that is all going to be necessary.

 

[JohnM]

Like I said just a thought. I just think you should have some measurable nitrates after e week.

 

[NOLAGT]

Totally cool...think away it dont bother me. I dont agree with the ATE thing tho. I have had and seen tanks that are well kept that have 0 ATE's all the time.

To me unless it shows AMN or ITE its a cycled tank......I could be wrong.