Stocking Help

[stephen57911]

hi iv just got my new tank and need some advice on what i should stock it with its a 300 litre tank and i have a fluval 405 filter ? im new to fish keeping and dont really just want gold fish

thanks steve

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi there, to the forum.

The first thing you need to do is cycle your filter; there are articles on how to do this in our beginner's resource centre, link for that is in my sig.

A fishless cycle (which is what we always recommend here) will give you plenty of time to choose which fish to stock.

Cycles go much faster with a heater, so I would recommend you get one, even if you eventually decide to stock temperate fish, as tropicals give you many more options; there really are not that many coldwater fish if you don't want goldies.

 

[stephen57911]

hi thanks for the advice mate i was given some old media from my lfs and some gravel and has been standing now for 2 weeks with the heater and filter on ?

do you think that it will be ok to add fish now ?

steve

 

[fluttermoth]

Unfortunately, if you haven't been adding any fish food or ammonia to the tank, all the bacteria will have died off.

 

[stephen57911]

yes ive been feeding the tank twice a day is that to much or not enough i did a bit of research before i got it lol

steve

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd get a test kit (a liquid one) for ammonia and nitrite as well before you risk any fish and make sure everything's ok; 'proving' the cycle is intact with some ammnoiia would be safest.