Stephen's new 425L SeaBray Elite tank log

[Stephen]

Friday 05/May/2023
The new 425L SeaBray Elite aquarium arrived.
We unpacked it.

(click image to enlarge)






Saturday 06/May/2023
Painted the first coat of the background black.
Must wait 12 hours before painting the second coat.
Watched the King's coronation.

Sunday 07/May/2023
Done a second & third coat of painting the background.

Monday 08/May/2023
The aquarium & stand is in it's final position and level.
The 5L of Tropica Plant Substrate and the 40kg of sand (Maidenhead Aquatics Speckled Sand) is in the aquarium.
I like the feel of this sand (better than the Unipac that I used to use).
It all needs levelling now.
Dechlorinated water is in.

Tuesday 09/May/2023
Set up the 2 x Eheim Pro4 600 external filters and 2 x Hydor 300W in-line heaters.
All turned on and working fine.
Started the fishless cycle using Dr Tims Ammonium Chloride Cycle.

Wednesday 10/May/2023
Set up the Fluval Plant Spectrum 3.0 Bluetooth LED 59w.
Well ... I got it working .. I'll probably take a look at the manual sometime soon.

Thursday 11/May/2023
I've been playing with the Fluval Plant Spectrum 3.0 Bluetooth LED 59w.
I made a note of the default settings for both 'Tropical' and 'Plant' and created my own settings which I saved.
The gradual coming on and going off (fading in/out) I set for 2 hours for each.

Friday 12/May/2023
Ordered a 500W internal heater as I don't want to upset the external in-line heaters settings.

Saturday 13/May/2023
New 500W heater arrived.
I topped up the ammonia to 2.0 ppm.
I also added potassium bicarbonate to increase the KH by 2 (my tap water is around 3-4dKH)
I set the new heater to 26C to help speed up the fishless cycle.

Sunday 14/May/2023
The ammonia had dropped from 2.0 ppm to 0.50 ppm.
So I topped the ammonia back up to 2.0 ppm.

Monday 15/May/2023
Ammonia = zero
Nitrite = zero

Just a quick image.



Tuesday 16/May/2023
Ammonia = zero
Nitrite = zero
Nitrate = 10.0 ppm

Wednesday 17/May/2023
Ammonia = zero
Nitrite = zero
Nitrate = 80.0 ppm

I believe I have cycled in 8 days (completed a mini-cycle).
I will do a partial water change tomorrow.
I have some new plants coming from Aquarium Gardens Friday and will add the décor and new plants then.
I have arranged to collect new fish next Wednesday.

[Stephen]

Today (Friday 19/May/2023) I have added the décor (bogwood) and planted up.
It looks more like a fish tank now.

preview: without the canopy (click image to enlarge)


preview: with the canopy (click image to enlarge)

[Andys temperate tank]

Magic Stephen mate.

What are you doing about liquid ferts? Dosing pump?

[Stephen]

Magic Stephen mate.

What are you doing about liquid ferts? Dosing pump?

Thanks Andy.
I have my liquid ferts already.
I will dose using a syringe but have considered a dosing pump.

[lunar jetman]

That looks good. I’ve got the 48” Seabray and went for a T5 light setup so would be interested to see how those lights do as I’m always looking at them and wondering!

[Stephen]

Just ordered 14 x Corydoras caudimaculatus on-line (cost a small fortune); they'll be here Friday.
The other fish I'm collecting Wednesday.

Ammonia = zero, Nitrite = zero, Nitrate = 10
Tank water temp = 24C, will try to lower it by half a degree to 23.5C (may be difficult).
I will do a large water change tomorrow (Tuesday) before collecting fish on Wednesday.

Excited

[lunar jetman]

Just ordered 14 x Corydoras caudimaculatus on-line (cost a small fortune); they'll be here Friday.
The other fish I'm collecting Wednesday.

Ammonia = zero, Nitrite = zero, Nitrate = 10
Tank water temp = 24C, will try to lower it by half a degree to 23.5C (may be difficult).
I will do a large water change tomorrow (Tuesday) before collecting fish on Wednesday.

Excited

Where are you ordering fish from if you don’t mind me asking? Thought about it before but have always been near several fish shops but curious to whether it would be worth it.

[Stephen]

Where are you ordering fish from if you don’t mind me asking? Thought about it before but have always been near several fish shops but curious to whether it would be worth it.

Generally I buy fish from my favourite LFS (65 miles away) or locally.
As my tanks are themed on a certain river (Río Mamoré, Bolivia in this case) some fish species are harder to find.
I have been known to travel 100+ miles to collect a certain fish species.
A 200 mile round trip (example) probably costs £25 in petrol plus meals out.
It is therefore more convenient and cost effective to have fish delivered (fish by post).
I have had 'fish by post' several times and normally use Aqualife, Leyland (Leyland, Lancashire) but there are other suppliers.
Sweet Knowle Aquatics (Stratford-upon-Avon); Abyss Aquatic Warehouse (Stockport) just to name two others.
On this occasion I am using a different supplier for my Corydoras caudimaculatus called Corys4U (Bradford) (see their Facebook page) as Aqualife are out of stock.

[lunar jetman]

Where are you ordering fish from if you don’t mind me asking? Thought about it before but have always been near several fish shops but curious to whether it would be worth it.

Generally I buy fish from my favourite LFS (65 miles away) or locally.
As my tanks are themed on a certain river (Río Mamoré, Bolivia in this case) some fish species are harder to find.
I have been known to travel 100+ miles to collect a certain fish species.
A 200 mile round trip (example) probably costs £25 in petrol plus meals out.
It is therefore more convenient and cost effective to have fish delivered (fish by post).
I have had 'fish by post' several times and normally use Aqualife, Leyland (Leyland, Lancashire) but there are other suppliers.
Sweet Knowle Aquatics (Stratford-upon-Avon); Abyss Aquatic Warehouse (Stockport) just to name two others.
On this occasion I am using a different supplier for my Corydoras caudimaculatus called Corys4U (Bradford) (see their Facebook page) as Aqualife are out of stock.

Thanks Stephen, I’ll have a look at these sites.

[Stephen]

We have fish (see signature) more to come

I did see some very nice Corydoras eques today but at £25 each or £60 for 3 I was not tempted, although I was half tempted.
Corydoras eques