Cleaning My New Tank!

Lamby_Lee · May 30, 2008

I have recently set up a new tank. after a couple of days i added a few fish. as its a new tank when do i start to clean it. ive tested the water and my ammonia levels are starting to build. i guess this is the start of biological filtering. do i do a water change and clean my filter sponges or just leave it. Please Help! :unsure:

Fishlove · May 30, 2008

I assume you didn't do a fishless cycle then. In which case I guess you should do partial water changes regularly and such. But if you clena your filter dont rinse it in tap water, the chlorine will destroy your build up of good bacteria. So if you do a water change then wash off your sponges in the water you took out. Other than that i'm not totally sure.

JenCliBee · May 30, 2008

if your amonia levels are rising then yes regular water changes must be done 2 be honest u shouldnt really have fish in there but if ur amonia levels rise 2 much u wont have 2 worry about that cause ur fish/s will die anyways .

i would suggest taking the fish/s u have back 2 the LFS and finish cycling fishless

hope this helps

jen

Fishlove · May 30, 2008

I agree with Jen, I think it'd help you massively to do a fishless cycle.

ALEXF · May 30, 2008

I agree with them as well, but if your not going to do that i would do large water changes daily and i wouldnt clean the filter until it becomes clogged, as that is where the benefitial bacteria grows. and if you do have to clean it, only in tank water from a water change. Tap water will kill of all the benefitil bacteria.

lizjamie · May 31, 2008

As for how you clean it have you got a gravel vac? It is basically a big tube with a thick plastic end and a thin tube end. If you have decided to keep the fish and go for water changes then you need to use the gravel vac to siphon out some of the water from your tank into a bucket. If you disturb some of your gravel with the end then you can suck out the debris (fish poo, uneaten food etc) at the same time which will give you a cleaner tank. You can then replace the water you have removed with fresh water from the tap, but remember to decholrinate it first! You might also want to wait a bit before you add it if it comes out the tap really cold.....

Hope is helpful but am just starting myself!

Lamby_Lee · Jun 1, 2008

thanks for ur help

rabbut · Jun 1, 2008

As above, you are now cycling with fish :angry:

It is risky to the fish if you don't know what you are doing (mind, it's risky if you do know what you are doing :shifty:

), so you need to get clued up fast :good:

I'd start with [topic="224306"]this thread[/topic] that explains how to fish-in cycle, so that you fully understand the process and how to go about helping it along :nod: