Starting A New Tank And Don't Know What To Do!

[Teri]

When I got my tank, 6 mths ago, I didn't know what to do, and was relying on my dad, who last kept fish 15 yrs ago, his books and the busy staff at the lfs for advice. Nobody mentioned "cycling" etc to me, i just set the tank up, planted it, and left it 3 weeks before putting any fish in. I had one major disaster, where a lot of fish died, because I wsn't doing enough water changes (i was told that a well planted tank only needed changing evry 5 - 6 weeks) and wasn't putting any extra oxygen into the tank (I assumed itwould come with everything i needed). I still don't understand cycling, but am doing regular water changes, etc, and the fish seem happy enough.
However, as my guppies are now breeding like guppies (?), and I have a spare 3 ft tank in the garage, I've decided its now time to set up a second tank.
This time I want to doeverything properly, so please, treat me like an idiot, and tell me what I have to do!!
Thanx!

 

[Triggerobsessed]

When I got my tank, 6 mths ago, I didn't know what to do, and was relying on my dad, who last kept fish 15 yrs ago, his books and the busy staff at the lfs for advice. Nobody mentioned "cycling" etc to me, i just set the tank up, planted it, and left it 3 weeks before putting any fish in. I had one major disaster, where a lot of fish died, because I wsn't doing enough water changes (i was told that a well planted tank only needed changing evry 5 - 6 weeks) and wasn't putting any extra oxygen into the tank (I assumed itwould come with everything i needed). I still don't understand cycling, but am doing regular water changes, etc, and the fish seem happy enough.
However, as my guppies are now breeding like guppies (?), and I have a spare 3 ft tank in the garage, I've decided its now time to set up a second tank.
This time I want to doeverything properly, so please, treat me like an idiot, and tell me what I have to do!!
Thanx!

Cycling is allowing the formation of bacteria that break down harmful wastes in your tank. Usually when you first set the tank up and have water flowing in it, wait 2 weeks, and then add like 2 small fish and wait another week or two and add some more but never alot at one time. always test your amonia levels during this time and make sure they stay low. As for the live plants, once your tank is healthy and established then you can ease off on the water changes, but for the first 4 weeks dont let off.

 

[idlefingers]

The best way to go is to do a fish-less cycle which means adding ammonia by hand and then giving time for bacteria to build in the filter to process it.

There's a load of pinned threads on the subject:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=141944

 

[juwelfan]

When I got my tank, 6 mths ago, I didn't know what to do, and was relying on my dad, who last kept fish 15 yrs ago, his books and the busy staff at the lfs for advice. Nobody mentioned "cycling" etc to me, i just set the tank up, planted it, and left it 3 weeks before putting any fish in. I had one major disaster, where a lot of fish died, because I wsn't doing enough water changes (i was told that a well planted tank only needed changing evry 5 - 6 weeks) and wasn't putting any extra oxygen into the tank (I assumed itwould come with everything i needed). I still don't understand cycling, but am doing regular water changes, etc, and the fish seem happy enough.
However, as my guppies are now breeding like guppies (?), and I have a spare 3 ft tank in the garage, I've decided its now time to set up a second tank.
This time I want to doeverything properly, so please, treat me like an idiot, and tell me what I have to do!!
Thanx!

PLEASE CORRECT ME FELLOW FORUM READERS - I DONT WANNA KILL THIS GUYS FISH.

Read the Stickys on this forum for advice setting up your tank. I'll try and post you some links.

But anyway, here many idea, but i'm no expert or even well informed i just read stuff and went for it, but this is what i learned.

Put one of the filter sponges from you new filter into you old tanks filter for a few weeks, this will seed it with 'good' bacteria. Or run you new filter in you old tank for a good few weeks.
Clean it (make sure theres not cleaning product residues left in it, so give it a good mop down with clean water a few times).
Put your gravel/sand in (give it a very good clean first or you'll end up with cloudy water for weeks. Wash it till the poured off water is clear, this could take a long time).
Put in you airstones/air tubing and connect to your airpump (if your going to use one).
Now either put your plants in now, or do it after adding the water (you choose).
Add water (make sure you treat it all before you add it with something like Aquasafe to remove all the chlorine etc).
Put you decor/bogwood/plants/rocks etc in.
Leave it for 24 hours with your filter running (i'm assuming you know how to set up and run your filter).
Get some ammonia from a LFS and a test kit set. Add the ammonia as directed on the bottle.
You can put the sponge which has been in you old tank into you filter (that is, if did'nt run your new filter in your old tank and already transfed it to you new one).
OR you could try some TetraAqua Safestart (which contain 'good' bacteria), which in theory allows you to add some hardy fish straight away to help cycle the tank.
Monitor you ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels with your test kit.
Follow the directions on the bottles of ammonia/safestart depending which you went for.

Is this making sense, or am i 'just off on one'?

After about 6 weeks, you should see that the ammonia and nitrite levels are a constant 0ppm, as you lovely bacteria are breaking all you fish waste into nitrates.
Now you can slowly add more fish, IMO no more than 8 small (fully grown tetra size) or 4 medium (Gourami) at any one time. Otherwise you might cause an ammonia spike, leading to all sorts of problems.

anyway,

Juwelfan.

 

[vinylman]

I wouldn't worry about having enough oxygen in the tank; any decently-filtered tank will have plenty of oxygen in it already.