Need A Bit Off Help Plz :)

[the biffster]

hi there. i bought a fish tank yestarday (220 Ltr) and put a 25kg bag off sand init with out washing it as the pet shop didint tell me to wash it. its been in the water for 18hr or so dose anyone no how long it will take b4 the waters clear ? i have keeped the filtter on should i be leaveing it on or off ? . P.s sorry for the spelling

have a look at your filter, regularly. clean the impeller, but nothing else! no need to remove the sand. only causes stree to the fish, and more debris will be put in the water.

my sand was washed and washed, after 10 months i removed some. it took the tank 12 hours to clear (and that was washed sand!). dont worry, just keep an eye on your filter and all, should, be well.

i havint any fish yet i was told to wait about 5days afther setting my tank up b4 getting fish ? i just want a good tank lol is it much to ask for

dont do a fish in cycle you need to cycle the
tank first which could take up to two months
if you put your fish in without cycling it
you will be wasting your money as the will most
likely all die so you need to a fish less cycle read this link
http/theaquariumwi..._Nitrogen_Cycle
fish in cycling is to hard a lot of testing and a lot
of water changes waterdrop or oldman47 are the people
i would ask for advice

why not? fish in cycle is just something, some, prefer not to do. but there is no rule, or advantages, forcing fishless cycling. its up to the individual.

dont get me wrong i do fish in cycling
but i think its easier for a beginner
to do a fish less cycle and it would save the hart
ache of losing fish and also so wasting money
you know your self theres a lot of water changes and testing
to do a fish in cycle that's why this time i am doing fish less
cycle

 

[Shelby]

Fish In cycle is way more work with testing and water changes daily and in most cases twice a day. Otherwise you're just going to keep killing the fish you are trying to cycle the tank with.

On the Fishless cycle, there is one water change at the end unless of course your PH drops or something else odd happens.

It's definitely a personal choice and I guess you have to decide if you have tons of time or very little. You also have to decide if you want to watch the fish knowing that you are doing irreparable damage to it.

*shrugs* you decide.

**EDIT**
by the way I've done both. I prefer the Fishless cycle.

 

[oneblondebrow]

I did a fish in cycle on my first tank using 6 cherry barbs, also due to not reading up on fishkeeping first i did not do daily water changes only weekly, I lost 5 of the Cherry barbs but one survived so i purchased some zebra danios as now i had no real choice to carry on a fish in cycle, I did daily water tests and water changes when required to lower chemicals, Never lost a danio and that singular cherry barb is still alive, Found the tank cycled pretty quickly although had a lot of issue's with algae due to having traces of ammonia which was a pain.

Probably go for a fishless cycle next though as daily/bi daily water changes did become a bit of a pain.

 

[raptorrex]

lol. I'm a fishless freak. but, it's personal choice is all. mind you, it does let you fully stock the tank, right away, too!

 

[avoc]

thxs for all the replys and help ppl. spent hours cleaning that sand out!! even got free snails hitchhiking on the plants i bought . now onto this Cycle thing say i start a fish cycle and i carnt keep up with it an the fish keep dieding, can i stop halfway frew and do a fishless Cycle ?

 

[oneblondebrow]

thxs for all the replys and help ppl. spent hours cleaning that sand out!! even got free snails hitchhiking on the plants i bought . now onto this Cycle thing say i start a fish cycle and i carnt keep up with it an the fish keep dieding, can i stop halfway frew and do a fishless Cycle ?

As long as there is an Ammonia load then it should be fine, Although you should really decide now what you are gonna do, If you decide on Fish in Cycle then prepare yourself for daily water changes and checks, If you think this will not be possible then go for a fish less cycle. Wouldn't be fair on the fish who would be in the cycle if you have any doubts you will be able to keep it up.

 

[OldMan47]

Let me welcome you to the TFF site Avoc.
Just using a quick read of your first post, let me recommend that you remove as much of the new substrate as practical and clean it before placing it back into the tank. Although the filter will eventually clean up the silt from your gravel, it is far better to get that over and finished rather than force your filter to deal with it. I always clean new substrate by using a bucket that I have filled maybe 1/3 full of gravel and then rinse it using a garden hose, with frequent hand stirring, until no more muddy waters are produced in the bucket. Repeat with each sample of gravel until done. The entire process usually takes well under an hour and no filter cleanings are needed afterward. The cleaning in the bucket will eliminate most problems in the tank itself.
As far as the fishless cycle is concerned, I have a link to it in my signature area. One of our most knowledgeable members who helps a lot with fishless cycles is Waterdrop. His advice is almost always spot on and he can get you through your issues.