Is my tank ok?

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hi,

My tank is second hand and is a 5 gallon, I currently have no fish in there but b4 i filled with water i had scrubbed in with water (hot and cold rinses) also i added new filter spnges..

Ive had water in their for about 4 days now and i just opend the lid and got the most smeliest fishy smell also, there is like dust on the surface of the water flowing aorund....shouldnt this get cought in the filter?

 

[copeina]

1) Your tank is not ready for fish yet, but you already know that (right?)

2) Take out the media from the filter and toss it. Also dispose of the used gravel and any ornaments. It is cheaper to buy new than risk a "negative experience".

3) Pour a stiff mix of bleach into the tank - be careful of your clothes and the surface the tank is sitting on... I know.

4) Leave the tank to run for a day, then dump out all of the water, repeat your initial cleaning process, and refill it with fresh water.

5) Leave it to run for another day or so, then do a 100% water change.

6) Install new media in your filter, new gravel, maybe some water or gravel from a friend's healthy tank to kickstart your filter (some people like to do this, others don't), and start introducing fish!

Good luck!
/Kris

 

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1) yeah i know, but i was going to do a fish cycle coz i wanted to see fishies asap so i was goiing to get mollies or summit.

2)why do i have to toss the filter? i bought it brand new from a shop and put it in the filter casings

3/4/5)....seems alotta work and i want fishies now! heh

6) no1 i know has fishies to gimmie bits + all i got in there is red gravel (brand new) and two plastic plants (also brand new)

 

[corrosive]

i wouldnt do any of that seems apsolute crazy to me, just do what your doing, seems fine .

 

[copeina]

2)why do i have to toss the filter? i bought it brand new from a shop and put it in the filter casings

Just toss the insert. The filter itself is fine and will be cleaned by the bleaching. the floss will not stand up to the bleach, and if it has carbon, it has already absorbed some of whatever was left in the tank.

It sounds like a lot of work, but for a 5 gallon it really isn't. A friend of mine who does import/export goes through this everytime a tank is going to be used for a different group of fish and has excellent success at controlling any potential issues.

Do it right, and make it a hobby. Do it wrong or in a rush, and someone else will be buying your tank at a garage sale.

Good luck!
/Kris

 

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It seems fine now anyway..

the dirt has mostly gone through filter and gone and i must of imagined the fishy smell