Please Help Me

[Communitytank1]

I have now purchased a new tank, it a cleair BSB1000 that I purchased from Swallow Aquatics at Nothfleet Kent. The measurements are as follows. 39 length, 24 depth and 15 width. All of this mesurments are in inches. firstly I like to query with you all about the filter that has come with the tank. Its a chinese pump which just looks like a power head to me, with a plastic pipe which go into a tricle tray. The power head is much too powerful for this tank, which has only been set up for a week. The power head is pushing the water around at a fast rate of konts. Of which I have no control over. There is no stopping it, its all or nothing. Would you change this for a external filter straight away.? If so which sort would you go for?

Also I have been reading all about the fishless cycle. How long does this take, etc and also can someone advise me as to when to do the water changes. I know that it is once a week when the tank has completed the cycle, but how about when it is in fishless cycle? Also I need to purchase a water test kit.

Most of the time I have been reading the Beginners Resource Center page which some has put a report in there about a with fish cycle. Is there something simallar to fishless cycle.

This is what I have been reading "A Record of cycling with fish"

I hope that this makes sence, I'm sitting here in knots myself, but your help will help me.

Thank you all very much.

 

[vinylman]

Yes, replace it with an external; you can find the Tetratec EX700 online for around £50; it's an absolute steal. I've also read things about far eastern equipment not being electrically safe or particularly reliable. I think if you search the PFK site there are a few items on there about it. Start off with an external and you won't go wrong. Just don't replace the media as often as the manufacturers say you should. Remove any carbon, too.

 

[rdd1952]

I don' think that filter will be big enough. That filter is rated at 700 liters per hour which is about 185 gallon. If I have figured correctly, the tank is about 60 gallon so that would only be processing the water about 3 times per hour. You need a filter that processes it at least 5 times an hour so you need one that is rated at least 300 gallon per hour and preferable 400 to 450. Extra filtration is always better and will aid if you overstock.

I do agree with removing the carbon. It is mainly a chemical filter and is fully absorbed in anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks. It can also function as a biological filter but there are better media available.

I would strongly suggest a fishless cycle. The link to the pinned thread on how to do one is in my signature. During a fishless cycle, you don't do water changes at all. If you choose to cycle with fish, you do them as often as needed to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels down. Just be sure to only start with 3 to 5 hardy fish and get a liquid test kit that can test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Don't add any more fish until the ammonia and nitrite have remained at 0 for 3 to 7 days without any water changes.

You didn't mention the heater that came with the tank. General rule of thumb on heaters is at least 3 watts per gallon and preferable 5. So a 200 watt heater will work but a 300 watt would be better.

 

[Communitytank1]

Many thanks for your help, please keep your replies coming.