Hey!

I just wanted to let EVERYONE know that i've Finally ordered my new fish tank!! Yippeee! I'm so excited!!!! We eventually decided to go with the Juwel Trigon 190... basically cause we wanted a corner tank and its the only one that comes in a nice colour to match our other furniture!, and i know the filtration wont be good enough for the goldies but I plan to get an external one to help out!

Ok, SO! I need a wee bit of advice setting up my new tank to make my goldies have the nicest home possible....

This time, i want to do a fishless cycle...... just so I can make eveything easier and the changeover as smooth as possible..... fingers crossed

Ok, so I need to go read and swot up on the fishless cycling post...
How long does the fishless cycle take!?

Last thing to say..... my tank should be here within a week i think!!!

Sorry I cant contain my excitement!

That is ok..I can't wait til i can get my big tank..

The fishless cyle can take up to 6 weeks or more (depends on what you do)

Congrats!!! Is there a link somewhere that we can see the tank? As for a fishless cycle, I think that how long it takes depends on numerous factors. However, Fishy Fish (Debbie) did one on her tank and her "diary" is still around for you to read if ya want.

6 weeks!?!?!!? :thudNickie, will post some piccies when i get it set up etc!!

It could take longer than that. Just want you to be prepared. I hope that you have a fast cycle, though. You can start by checking your PH and KH. I set my tank up in October. It never cycled!!! I was doing wcs everyday!!! A few weeks ago, some members here told me that my ph was too low (6.8) and that I needed to check my KH. I finally got a good drop test kit for KH and it was at 35!!! I started adding baking soda (recommended by more members) to my tank and got my ph up to 7.4. Then, I was told to get some crushed coral to bring my KH up. The baking soda itself brought my KH up to about 71.6. I have had the coral in for a few days and my ph is now 7.6 and the KH is up to 89.5 and I finally got some nitrites TODAY!!! After almost 5 months of doing daily wcs! I just wish I had the sense to check my KH a long time ago!

Congrat! We would love to see it

Hi Nickie - yeah i think i had the same problem with my current tank... i dont think it ever cycled and my pH was down at 6.5 when i finally tested... (tap water also about 6.5 ) So i started adding baking soda with water changed and got a wee bag of crushed coral from my pet store and its now at a happy 7.6 ...but thats when my cycle seemed to have started properly!! So i'm like you, now showing some nitrates (about 10ppm) (as well as still some nitrites and tiny amount of ammonia)!! so its getting there!...just when i decided to get a new tank!

I know my wee guys need to be in more space so i'm thinking that I may run the cycle with them in the tank... they seem to be quite hardy and are surviving the parameters at the moment very well... i'm also salting as well to help them out...
additionally i'm hoping that going from a 60 litre to 190 litre will dilute things much more and it will be easier to manage!!!! Any suggestions welcome!!!