Putting it in place

The new carpet is down - and covered with off cuts to protect it whilst I fill the tank! Counting each jug of water as I walked from bathroom to study, 70 litres of water went into the Roma 90 and there's still space at the top of the tank.

But it's absolutely icey! Had to put my hand in to rearrange the gravel slightly as that had been battered about. The gravel was just 'yellow river gravel' - washed in a bucket in the bath with a shower hose to get rid of the grit. Used about three quarters of the 10kg bag - so about 7 - 8 litres.

Added to the water the prescribed quantities of cycle & aqua plus additives to settle it down and an optional carbon pad to the standard Fluval heater - trying to get the tank clear!

Tested the water as a base. Strangely, showing 0.5ppm ammonia - must be from the gravel, surely our water isn't that bad! Quite hard water (180), ph 7.0 and no nitrite / nitrate.