Is your tank well-planted? I believe plants consume ammonia.

I've been travelling around, visiting different shops in the east Manchester area recently, and have noticed how some are so much better than others, in different respects.

At one well-presented place, when I asked for 3 Zebra Danios, a slack-jawed assistant told me that they "only sell them in fives, because of the oxygen".
Now is it me, or what? I stil puzzle over what she meant... perhaps someone here can explain!?
I have also realised that several of the fish I have bought from that shop have died. I asked a fish-keeping guy at work which shop he uses... I asked him if he used the one I'm referring to, and I was surprised when he answered, "Nah, most fish I buy from there, die within a week". Is it possible that a shop can have something so wrong?

I visited another shop in Manchester yesterday. It was a little tatty in the tanks area, but its an old shop. I was rather shocked to see Siamese Fighters floating in bags in marine tanks! I'm presuming that was a very temporary measure.
In another tank, there were some large fish pinned down to the bottom few inches of water, by two thick condensation covers that appeared to have fallen into the water, but when I tried to move them, they felt to have been jammed there on purpose. I didn't buy anything from that shop.

Next, I visted a shop that I used to know over 20 years ago. They have moved now, but I was keen to go, because I remember how good they were in the past. Oasis is a superb shop.. helpful staff and really well-presented tanks. There were some nicely stocked and planted tanks on display too. I recommened you try them I have no connection with them, before someone asks! ;)

Any shops you recommend in the NW? I don't mind a Sunday afternoon drive to a good one

Rotating the spraybar.. that's an idea to try, though it might be just as noisy if the jets of water are breaking the surface?
I may try it though... it's just that I've almost become used to the sound of it all now.

Yes Goldy, I have plants in the tank.. they are growing like crazy! I have been leaving the air-curtain on, as I said above.. I've become used to the noise now. I'll just turn it down on the few occasions peace is required ;)
The tank is in the kitchen btw.

Thanks Calico.
I did have the spraybar above the water level, but found it a little noisy, with the water splashing. Perhaps I'll experiment with it a bit more, and turn the filter flow down.

I've fitted a Fluval spraybar to my Fluval 3+ filter, to reduce the water flow around my tank. It works well, but I have it placed below the waterline to keep noise down.

As the flow from the spraybar doesn't really break the water's surface, should I use additional aeration?
I have a 12" air-curtain thingy, but I don't have it running in the evening as it's pump makes a racket.
Thanks

Quote:

I've read through the original post but I can't see any link or instructions on how to do a fishless cycle of the tank. Have I missed something?

Also, is it true that you have to do a 100% water change after a fishless cycle? It seems to me that the old method of adding a couple of hardy fish is easier?

EDIT: It's ok, I've since found some interesting websites with more details

Interesting!
How do you light them up using LEDs?

Thanks Goldy.
I'll be removing that Fluval 1+ filter as the flow from it does appear to be too strong in the little tank. I've bought an airstone operated filter on eBay, which should give the fish an easier time!
We'll be looking at getting my lad a larger tank pretty soon as well.

Yes I know about maturing a tank before introducing fish, but certainly not all the ins and outs. As it's such a long time since I've maintained an aquarium, I will be doing some re-learning.

Thanks for your reply and for the link

Hello, I'm new to this forum. I kept fish many years ago, but I'm a bit out of touch now.

My son won a goldfish at a fair and so we bought him a little glass tank for it, 12x8x8. It became cloudy quite quickly, so I bought him a Fluval 1 filter, which was recommended for this size of tank.
I'm concerned that the flow from the outlet seems very powerful, with the fish swimming in the current just to remain stationary! The fish has found the odd place in the tank where the flow isn't so strong, so he can at least get a little rest, but my question is, is this filter ok?

This has actually rekindled my interest in tropical fish and so I'm about to buy a Fluval Duo 800 kit