Just to clarify

[Rodders]

Ok, so you get some media or gravel from a muture tank and put it in your new tank.
Now you need an ammonia source to get the filter bateria going, this is correct?
So by adding the media or gravel, this has the bacteria in and also some ammonia?

 

[sylvia]

Yes to the first.

Not exactly to the seccond - once you've added filter media from an established tank you need to add ammonia in the form of pure ammonia, fish food or live fish. Otherwise the bacteria starve. The media/gravel doesn't contain adequate ammonia to feed the bacteria.

 

[Rodders]

So putting in some flakes will be ok?
This is why you shouldnt over feed cause it breaks down and turns to ammonia?

I think im learning something?!?!?!

 

[yvez9]

actually, if you use mature filter media, you can add fish already

ammonia will instantly break down into nitrates so there will be no spike.

Just add fish slowly and everything will be good!

 

[sylvia]

When I said ammonia source 'or live fish' that's what I meant - however, if you can't or don't wan to add fish right away, your assumption about the fish flakes are correct and you can use those as they rot, producing ammonia that feeds the beneficial bacteria And yeah, that's why you shouldn't over-feed

 

[Rodders]

Learn something new every day.
Its for my mate, i did my tank wrong, lol. I want to give him the right info to do it right!!!!!

Thanks all